The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[gevshiba]

I had that happen yesterday. BCM 5 week old cockerel was squished dead in the tractor under the lamp. It got into the 30's so i had it on the timer.

Sorry to hear that. Mine was also 5 weeks. I covered them last night, but didn't need to. Of course, one of the poults managed to get a string off the blanket and wrap it around both his feet. Silly things!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

Reminds me of a statement I once read a statement about 30 years ago in a weight-loss-diet-type-book. I think it really applies across the board and I've never forgotten it:

"IF GOD MADE IT AND MAN DIDN'T CHANGE IT, (...and I would add - "if you were designed to eat it") YOU CAN EAT IT."

[Like raw milk and meats from ruminants that browse or graze as they were created to eat and aren't fed soybeans and grains; like a piece of fruit rather than juice or fruit-flavored drinks, like animal fat instead factory-made oils, etc. etc.)

(Of course disclaimer for poisons (like soy beans and other items that can't be eaten in their natural state...I hope that's obvious), but when talking about real food items.)


I think I like your statement better! IF YOUR GREAT GRANDMA WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE IT AS FOOD, DON'T EAT IT!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I find it extremely hard to find any decent info on foraging. It used to be passed down from generation to generation, but it has been lost, and it is such area specific information it's hard to find books on it. I mean, I have plant identification books, but those don't help much. You need to know more than just plant ID, you need to know where to look, what time of year to look, etc. I'm learning slowly- I know several plants that grow on my property that are edible (arctic strawberries, purslane, violets, nettles, dandelions, lambs quarters, sheep sorrel...), but I'm sure there are many more. And I want to learn to forage in the wild, but I don't even know where I can go or where that's allowed.

I think I may buy that book that was referenced ( http://www.amazon.com/Backyard-Fora.../ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER )

Anyone have any other books to recommend on the subject?

ALSO:
Can I pick dandelion leaves and dry to save them for the future for tea? If so, dehydrator, or just lay out to dry naturally?

 

[CoopChick719]

It took me some time to read up on the thread today. This post has me wishing. I wish my silkies would lay turquoise eggs to match their gorgeous turquoise ear lobes. A wonderful 75 degree sunny day here. I weeded the potager beds, planted sweet Banana pepper plants, and watched chickens. A perfect day.

Ahh Mumsy... wouldn't those eggs be beautiful?!!

I had some bad new today. When I came back home I looked and there were only three little ducks in the pen. Al had fed and watered them for me while I went out with my mom and found one of my little call ducks dead .

Sorry to hear about your duck camille.

Well...when I look at the black breeds my mystery girl looks most close to the Black Australorps from what I can tell. Especially when I compare the shape of the head which is a bit different from the marans.

However...every time I bring up that it looks like a BA, people say the leg color is wrong...? Strangely, this girl has yellow pigmented toe nails.

O well... I'd love it if she turned out to lay those dark chocolate eggs of the marans for a little more "party in the egg carton". I guess we'll see!

Leg color is wrong? Weird... black looks like black to me! Hmmm..not sure what color Pitch's toe nails are. Ooooo....I hadn't even thought of egg color.

You still don't have grass yet?! Poor you!!



Here is what we did to the rock garden. Went down to -2C last night and perennials are doing great.. except the spiky one there that Henry decided to sit on. Little bugger!!



Here is the raised beds we built yesterday. We only filled one with dirt (after putting in weed cover). Yesterday was hectic, but awesome. Lots of gardening! This week ahead looks wonderful, and the contractor is starting Monday. The barn plans have changed in the exterior appearance to make it so the chicken part of the barn faces the morning sun.. we were off about where the sun rose... Anyway.. The front entrance is going to face to the right of where the last barn's front was.. So you'll be seeing only windows and no doors from the house. The back will face our neighbours, and the front will face out where the baby barn is.. oh man I'm bad at explaining...

Let's put up a reference..



So here.. the front you see there will be the side. The entrance will be facing the right, and the entire front side (what you see in this picture) will be the chicken area.. all windows pretty much. It will help warm it up in the winter. In the summer, they won't be in there much at all - but it is going to be insulated, so I think that will help cool it off some.

I don't think I'll ever get rid of that platform in the middle of the yard. It is great hawk cover, and they hang out under it a lot.

I love new construction! Can't wait to see your progress!!

 

[CoopChick719]

we need rain. Haven't had any real rain in a month

Thanks for the laugh, Stony! I'll have to send this one to my dad.

 

[brandislee]

I think I may buy that book that was referenced ( http://www.amazon.com/Backyard-Fora.../ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER )

Anyone have any other books to recommend on the subject?

ALSO:
Can I pick dandelion leaves and dry to save them for the future for tea? If so, dehydrator, or just lay out to dry naturally?

I like the Peterson's Guide to Wild Edible Plants (there's also a medicinal one). It's a good resource as well, but as I said it doesn't give you much on when to find them. I just ordered that Backyard Foraging book, it looks pretty helpful.

And yes, I always dry some dandelion leaves for tea... I've never done violet leaves because they don't have much in the way of medicinal value (although they're high in vitamin C, so are a great addition to the spring diet). I do it in the dehydrator- the faster they are dried the more of the medicinal and beneficial properties are preserved, as they break down the longer the fresh leaf sits. You could set them in strong sunlight as well, or in a solar dryer. Also keep in mind that dandelion roots are of great medicinal value... it gives me incentive to dig more of them, anyway, which keeps their population at bay.

 

[jeepgirl13]

WOW!!!! I knew there were many edible plants out there, bit had no idea there were sooooooooooo many! Growing up my mom wasn't fond of the outside and anything that didn't come from the store was poisonous if you found it growing in the yard. Even things like mint leaves..... and dandelions where deadly, if you touched them and put your hands in your mouth you were dead. I knew she was crazy, now I'm starting to see the full extent. Lol. I sure am glad I started following this thread!

 

[brandislee]

WOW!!!! I knew there were many edible plants out there, bit had no idea there were sooooooooooo many! Growing up my mom wasn't fond of the outside and anything that didn't come from the store was poisonous if you found it growing in the yard. Even things like mint leaves..... and dandelions where deadly, if you touched them and put your hands in your mouth you were dead. I knew she was crazy, now I'm starting to see the full extent. Lol. I sure am glad I started following this thread!

LOL! See, eating weeds is easy for me, I grew up eating a clover like plant that was sweet when you chewed it (I should look up what that was called- it was clover like and had yellow flowers, I believe) and my dad and grandma used to show me cool edible plants all the time. My grandma still eats lambs quarters even though she doesn't live on the farm any more. I think foraging is not only a great frugal thing to do, but important for health and well being also. Did you know that, if you eat only from the grocery store, you eat the same like 9 species of plants all year long? Foraging for wild plants (as well as hunting for wild meat) increases the number of micronutrients you consume exponentially. Not to mention the seasonality of foraged foods, and the fact that the seasonal plants just happen to contain compounds that are beneficial to our bodies during that specific time of the year (example- dandelions are mildly diuretic and stimulate the liver, which is beneficial in the spring after a winter of, if you're eating seasonally, meat and potatoes and nuts and beans and the like).

 

[stonykill]

WOW!!!! I knew there were many edible plants out there, bit had no idea there were sooooooooooo many! Growing up my mom wasn't fond of the outside and anything that didn't come from the store was poisonous if you found it growing in the yard. Even things like mint leaves..... and dandelions where deadly, if you touched them and put your hands in your mouth you were dead. I knew she was crazy, now I'm starting to see the full extent. Lol. I sure am glad I started following this thread!

lots of good books on the subject. You will be amazed what grows in your yard that you can eat

 

[midnightroo]

I have been interested I foraging for a few years. I don't have time now, but I slowly add something each season. I didn't know about the dandelion root for tea, but will look into. I follow a person on the East coast and West Coast about foraging. Both have foraging hikes they offer for teaching. There is also a site called herb mentor dot com that I haven't signed up for yet, but was told was a great resource for learning. They offered a series of foraging books for children with fairies as the herb that I got for my daughter to do as part of her homeschool cirrculum. I figured it would do double duty to teach me also.

Have to go move my coop, do some gardening, and try to set up for culling my roo tonight. He attacked my daughter again yesterday afternoon. It is a shame because he is so good with the hens, but he jumped up high enough to get her on the arm, no cuts though. Way to high for my comfort. Plus for some reason he went after one of the little chicks the other day.

Sorry about losing the little chicks. The pictures as always are too cute!

Oh, Justine, could you tell me about your hammock and the stand it is on? We have a stand and after seeing you in your hammock I thought it would be nice to sit outside and read to my daughter then being inside, but can't do it if I don't have a hammock. Do you like it? Big enough for two? Has it held up for the about of time you have had it?

Sorry off topic some more, but does anyone have a Hills Umbrella clothesline? I like them, but they are a ton of cash, which is fine if it lasts FOREVER.

Christine