The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

our best broody Sumatra named Mama started her hatch today. I was out collecting eggs and was greeted with this

Wonderful! Wish I had a "mama" here. Who knows, maybe my red will want to brood again.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:

Thanks Del too, I wasn't gonna quote the huge post though.

 

[stonykill]

Wonderful! Wish I had a "mama" here. Who knows, maybe my red will want to brood again.

7 broody Sumatra's right now, a Broody Runner and it looks like my BO is finally going to sit instead of just being all grumpy all of the time

. The Runner is of course on Runner eggs, the Sumatra's are all on an undetermined amount of Sumatra eggs and if the BO is indeed finally broody she gets some Pekin/Runner mix eggs

 

[Leahs Mom]

Do you sell any of the hatched Sumatras or just keep them all for yourself?

 

[stonykill]

Do you sell any of the hatched Sumatras or just keep them all for yourself?

when I incubate which isn't often I sell some locally. Basically when the demand is enough I fire up an incubator. Broody born babies aren't sold here. There is no way I can bring myself to take a broody's chicks after they do all of that work teaching them to be chickens. Extra roosters, well ultimately they get 6 months of great living and 1 bad minute of life .

In case anyone asks I don't ship chicks. I just don't believe in putting live critters in a box and hoping the USPS doesn't kill them

 

[CoopChick719]

Hi LM,

Check out http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/7576...ue_3=Coffee Bean&quantity=1&productId=1255592


These things wear pretty well. DH has had a pair forever. Best thing is they will take them back no questions if you don't like them in a week, a month, or even a year from now!!

nk we talked about this a looonnnnggg time ago but I'd like to bring it up again...

I have a good pair of muck boots that I wear when I go out to work around in the coop or when it rains/snows, etc. They are full high calf boots, and I do use them year-round BUT -

I want to purchase a pair of shoes/short boots that I can use in the summer. Here's the criteria:

-Slip on/off EASILY (no ties, velcro, etc.) Want to be able to just get them on really quickly when I want to go out.
-Waterproof - or at least pretty water-resistant so I can wear them in rain/mud.

So...show me what you have/recommend. I want to buy something NOW.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Well, two meaties are resting in a light brine in the fridge. Gonna bake them up with two different recipes this Saturday. Each one weighed about 3 lbs after processing.

 

[delisha]

Well, two meaties are resting in a light brine in the fridge. Gonna bake them up with two different recipes this Saturday. Each one weighed about 3 lbs after processing.

Yum...I tried a brown sugar and oregano brine a few days ago and baked it last night for 45 minutes, than smoked in in the grill for an hour..OMG..it is to die for.

 

[armorfirelady]

[COLOR=FF0000]I've lost track of who asked about the stinky litter! [/COLOR] But I don't think anyone answered that.

Did you say you were using leaves and grass clippings?  I haven't used either of those inside yet.  But...when I use grass, I rake it our or spread it out on the driveway or lawn so that it can dry in the sun before I use them as litter (like drying hay).  I'd do that for grass and wouldn't put wet leaves inside either as I think they would have that rot/mold factor. 

I know some folks have said they MOW OVER THEIR LEAVES TO CHOP THEM UP FINELY especially if they're oak leaves as they don't break down very quickly.

CAN ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE USING THE LEAVES/GRASS AS LITTER INDOORS COMMENT ON THE STINK ISSUE?

Well my litter got drenched from the torrential rains we had a few weeks ago. I've been stirring the DL (hay & shavings) a couple times a week. I have the flaps at the bottom of the hoop coop up for the last few days so the breeze and warmth dries it out. Just turned it again tonight when I got home and still wet spots underneath but not as bad as before. Left all the flaps open since its suppose to be in the 70s all week. I also threw in fresh cut grass clippings today as well. Girls love to eat scratch thru them. And I refilled ther dust bath bin with peat moss and ashes. But of course a couple were happier dust bathing in the damp shavings lol

Aoxa & LM- on your heat source for water during the winter......this year for the first time I left my pond fish out all winter with a pond heater I bought. It heats from 5-100 gallons of water. It's plugged into a gfc outlet outside. The pond didn't freeze all winter And if the fish were cold they just stayed by the heater. It's also temp controlled so it shuts off if the temps are above 32 degrees. I might try it next year in a 5 gallon bucket nipple waterer for the hens when I will have more hens and need the extra heated dog bowl for feeding. I thought I had the box still but I can't find it

 

[camilleathome]

Speaking of deep litter. can I get a walkthrough of it? Pretty soon Im going to be geting the barn ready for the chickens