The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[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

Oh I forgot to add I use dried leaves & grass clipping all winter with great success. In the fall I put the leaf catchers on the tractor & dumped it into garbage bags that I left the tops open for a few days. I did have some spots deep in the middle that molded but I just threw those outside in the veggie garden. Never had a problem with the hens all winter and I had great broken down DL this spring plus a live earthworm in the middle of the deep freeze

 

[Leahs Mom]

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

Here's something you can read:
http://www.plamondon.com/faq_deep_litter.html

3 Parts on this one - links are at the top of the articles:
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Deep-Litter-1.html

 

[Ashdoes]

I love all the watering talk, since that was the hardest part of chicken keeping our first year. Dragging hot water out to the barn twice a day, below freezing, was not fun. Every time I go to my husband or FIL with a new idea, they sigh and then just figure out how to do whatever is in the picture I've gotten from this thread, it's quite funny. I like that pump idea. We've been talking about running plumbing to the barn.
We worked all day yesterday and got the ducks stall ready, then of course the news decided we're going to have freezing temps tomorrow, so the ducks are staying in the garage for two more days. Those little ladies stink, and I can't believe how much water they're going through. We're going to have to switch them to the five gallon jug, because one barely lasts half the day. They grow so fast! They'll be much happier in a bigger space.
Looking forward to more sun in the coming weeks.

 

[Pozees]

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

What's not to love?

 

[Eggcessive]

I recently read somewhere on BYC a comment about grandparents who had chickens and they had a water "pit" below the frost level, so that it would not freeze in winter. I can't find the comment again, and don't remember who said it. Does anyone know anything about such a thing, or how to build one? I think this is what I would like to do for my chickens in winter, the alternative is to take their waterer inside and swap it out a couple times per day.

They were probably talking about a frost-free hydrant which is placed under your area's frost level--here in the Ohio valley it about 2 feet deep. It's basically a pump that opens from your water line. Most farms have them for animals, and they are easily installed by anyone with a little plumbing experience. We've used them for 22 years, and sometimes, rarely, the handles will freeze in place, so you can break them if you force them (don't ask me how I know this.)

 

[chikenscratch]

Ok, thank you everyone for the input! I do have some vents in the coop, but not nearly enough. that's on the list of "to do" the eaves are open and covered with hardware cloth currently, and my husband is going to build me a roof vent. He was just waiting for the ground to harden up enough that his ladder wouldn't just sink out of sight.... I also have a window I can open (covered with hardware cloth on the inside) and the double front doors. It's still too cold to open the window at night, but I leave the double front doors open all day sot that things can air out. There is no ammonia smell, just a stinky poo smell. I don't think that they can spill the water, they do have water inside now, but it's in a cup waterer, and spilling it would be pretty hard. The food they COULD spill, I have a PVC trough, and feed Fermented whole grains. It doesn't seem like much of that gets dropped.

I'll fork out that area and put it in one of my raised beds though, just in case. I'll also give the corners a good turn while I'm at it and spread some wood ash around.... I've only had the DL going for about two months now, so it's not super deep yet and I haven't had to clean it out either. I was wondering if part of the problem is that it hasn't gotten going very well because I don't have a dirt floor?

I'd be careful about putting holes in the roof. It sounds like you have plenty of openings but that you don't have them open. Why? What temp is it there? I live in the most NE corner of Illinois. We get below zero here over the winter at which time ill close all windows and doors but all times above 15-20 degrees and up I have everything open. They have fluff and feathers to keep them warm.

 

[aaggjg]

So my crows were very busy this morning yelling at hawks... It seriously went on for 45 minutes?? My hens were standing very still listening ... I saw the hawk fly by a few times so I decided to move the girls into the run ... Better safe then sorry!

 

[CoopChick719]

Guys can I get photos of makeshift chick perches. My chicks are getting to the size they are ready to practice perching

Hi Camille, We just slid a wooden grade stake through the wire of the dog crate. Some of the chicks were up on it at 2 weeks old. Others took a little longer.

Thought I'd share some chicken-ish pics...
I spent my day in the garden, but every time I took a break I was in the shade with a cold drink and my camera... 91 today, blah. I felt bad for my poor Silkies

They didn't move around in one big mob today like they normally do, they were actually smart enough to hang out in the shade and follow the random cool breezes that blew thru (well, most of them were).

My little flock of Silkie Mutts (and 2 Showgirls) are just about all grown up now.
Fluffy Butted Yard Art


Silly young Roos trying to figure out how to get the Ladies' attention (amateurs!) Dancing in the heat was too much work


The guy on the far left is asleep, the guy on the far right was nodding off too, lol


Dumb and Dumber kept darting in and out of the sun, and panting


My Showgirl Hen... so ugly she's adorable (and smart enough to stay in the shade right next to the waterer with icecubes in it lol)


Handsome, 'cept for that red comb

My Showgirl Roo, so ugly he's... just ugly. And he's a bully

The only dummy in the bunch not smart enough to go get in the shade and STAY there.
I moved her to the shade at least 10 times

This is guy is a perfect example of why you do not breed White Silkies with anything but another White, lol.
(I didn't breed him, just hatched him)


There's a beak in there somewhere, I know there is cuz she squawked all day any time one of the boys got too close (chicken PMS maybe?)

My Goats needed a break in the shade too. Browsing and ruminating in the heat is hard work

Believe it or not the Black Turkey on the other side of the fence is a HEN, in full strut lol. I think she over heated and lost her mind

Can't wait to see how she acts once it hits 115+ degrees in June, lol.

Loving your fluffy butted lawn art!! 91??!! Would kill for one day like that right now!! Can't complain too much we hit 70 today.

Love all the pictures! It was BEAUTIFUL out this weekend, and we've been soaking up the sun. I know a few of you follow our Facebook page, so sorry for the double post of pictures, but I love to share here as well



Here is Henry and I enjoying Saturday. It was a little chilly Saturday, but today was tank top weather (for a Canadian anyway!


My parents bought a new tractor and we ended up with their hand-me-downs. I love it! Going to really come in handy..



One of the 5 baby bunnies @ 2 weeks


Margaret showing off her stump.


Doc Holiday



Lydia

and a chicken hug!

Wonderful photo of you & Henry snuggling...nothing like a hammock, a blanket & a dog...or in my case 3 dogs!!!

Gah...must stop showing my DD your pictures!! Now she wants bunnies!!

Chicken hugs are soo cute, aren't they?!

 

[CoopChick719]

Originally Posted by BlueMouse My DH also made me this!

What a good man that DH of yours is! Showing this to my DH!! I've been after him to make me a new waterer.

 

[countrygirl74]

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.

Okay, you guys have to share your recipes and instructions. We will be processing our first meaties in a few weeks. I need some new ways to cook chicken!



AOXA - LOVE all your new pics - the bunny is soooo stinkin' adorable!!