The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[brandislee]

I was under the impression the bigger girls would hurt or be mean to the babies. I also don't have an ideal place to keep the babies so I though about keeping them shut in the coop until they could come out during the day.

Will PM you now, thank you!!

Is there a way you could make a little partition within the coop for the babies? My coop is tiny (6x9) but the back is a shelf (3x6), and I can partition off either under the shelf or the shelf itself for two seperate isolation areas, which is nice for new chicks. It doesn't take long for the littler ones to be big enough to hold their own- maybe 8 weeks max, especially if they see each other in the mean time.

 

[jime]

I have been lurking in here for a while and because of language barrier I don't post often.I finally catch with you guys you move pretty fast.
I want to comment in some things that have work for me or not .
I have 4 of those hydrants they are 4 foot plus below work really good, the only time i have a problem is when I leave the hose connected then the end of the faucet freezes and I just use a air blower to melt the ice.This year I still have to change the water lots of time but was because i have ducks as well and they were getting the water dirty, so my project for spring summer is cups or those nipple drips.
In my country specially the town where I grew up are lots of native people those that keep living out of trades chickens for rise and things like that , well my father been a dairy farmer need employes (over there is normal )so they will leave around the farm and you get to see how simple and efficient those people are.They have this way of heating water or anything that I think is pretty simple and easy obviously I could not make it here because I live kind of in the city and Colorado last year was big for fires so is a NONO, but this idea must work for some.
Is like a mud oven for bread or pizza (I have to get me one of those I miss fresh make bread in a dirt oven)my nanny makes bread and she call it her microwave because she can warm anything with that oven even after 24 hours.Ok back to the point this will be like a little scare in mud block the inside of the square is 1sq ' then you get your self some metal roof or pieces of those metal roof things to cover the top of the square,and that is it.The way it works you put wood inside in the morning and make it get to col then then you cover this and you put your water container on top or by the side depending what you have. The bricks will keep the heat al the way to the next day.People there use this for their animals to keep them warm.
There is a hospital museum in the town and the are for patients have this squares next to the beds (witch are make of mud breaks as well)and have little holes in one of the walls it is say that they use them for light and warmth once the wood turn into cool it was time to sleep.

About DL is more referring to the coops that smell bad mine was doing the same, mine has not dirt floor is wood floor I decided to go with Wood pellets and pdz so far is working great I have not add any of the two in like 4 months and I have not smell.I put the wood pellets as it is not with water so the pee and wet poop will transform them so far I still have plenty of pellets I turn this once a week and with a litter stop I take the big pieces of poop.Works great , I will take a pic tomorrow since today is snowing here.
Ok I hope this helps somebody and will be nice if somebody can try those wood warmers or I don't know how they will be call.

 

[cywiar merch]

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

A couple more deep litter questionns. I am still in the process of deciding what type of coop I am going to have. If I go for adirt floor with a DL, will it not eventually rot the wood in the coop? Does anyonehere stll use the hydrated lime as suggested in the second link?

 

[stonykill]

Mama and her lil ones a few minutes ago. I counted 7. No idea if any were hiding under her.

 

[lalaland]

welcome Jime!

I have always wanted to make an outdoor bread/pizza oven too -like that idea of making sort of an oven out of mud, maybe could use bricks - and have it hold the heat. Thank you!

What is the white under your roosts in the picture? paper?

 

[lalaland]

stony, lucky you!

 

[jeepgirl13]

I just found this in the dirt in the run. Anyone got any ideas?

Yes..... its GREEN

 

[jeepgirl13]

and its poop....

 

[Leahs Mom]

I don't use anything in my litter. I've never felt the need. If you do choose to use lime, be sure it's the right kind! Some kinds are caustic and, if I remember correctly, the hydrated lime is the caustic kind.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I just found this in the dirt in the run. Anyone got any ideas?
Yes..... its GREEN

Looks like the 3rd one on here: http://pluckandfeather.com/chicken-poo-chart-graphic.html