The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

for the barn!!!!

I was talking about the ADULTS standing on the edges and tipping it over! My crazy birds still want to grip the edges of bowls.

Welcome! I use 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. With chicks, it's 1 teaspoon to those quart waterers. You will notice a big difference in your eggs than even the purchased organic! Have fun!


x2 on the barn! I am curious to hear about the feeders as well. I also have a couple adults that like to perch on the edge of my big ceramic bowls. If it's pretty full, it can usually hold some weight, but as soon as it starts emptying, it gets tipped.

I'll have to take some close ups for you guys. These troughs do not welcome perching birds. Not sure where they would do it.. It's less than 4 pounds, but has yet to be knocked over except for Henry trying desperately to get at the yoghurt I put in one..

It also has a spill free lip.. Not sure how to explain that better.. But it is less easy to spill the FF if it does tip over, so Henry gave up and ignored the feeder.

I love the top grate. It just flips over for refill. You don't have to snap in in or anything.. That's a plus.

 

[stonykill]

I have a question. I have 2 hens that have hatched chicks. They brooded side by side, and are both in a coop by theirselves. I am going to try and intergrate them with the others within a week or so. I would like them to be raised together, and the hens not have to go through being intergrated back into the flock weeks from now. My question is feeding the chicks. How do you keep chick feed out without the others eating it, or having them find it? I understand they shouldn't be eating the layer grade, due to the calcium.

I don't really think I am going to have too much problem with the intergration. One of the momma's is a big Blue Cochin, and is a bit anti social anyway, and has the brass to keep all others at bay. She doesn't pick on others, but she doesn't let them pick on her either. The other hen, is a Buff Orp. She isn't very high on the pecking order. She hope she surprises me with chicks involved. I have them in a pen where one side completely opens, and it also has a pop door. I will keep everything closed, except the pop door, so the momma's have a chance to teach the others to back off. I hope they can teach 25 other girls that valuable lesson!

Kacey

the easiest way is everyone gets chick starter. I use gamebird chick starter, non medicated for everyone when there are lil ones around like I have now through October.

 

[Kacey's Krazee's]

Thanks Stony, I guess that is actually a no brainer! I already offer them oyster/calcium on the side.
Thanks for making it easy!
Kacey

 

[stonykill]

Thanks Stony, I guess that is actually a no brainer! I already offer them oyster/calcium on the side.
Thanks for making it easy!
Kacey

 

[hotrodflash]

I have a question. I have 2 hens that have hatched chicks. They brooded side by side, and are both in a coop by theirselves. I am going to try and intergrate them with the others within a week or so. I would like them to be raised together, and the hens not have to go through being intergrated back into the flock weeks from now. My question is feeding the chicks. How do you keep chick feed out without the others eating it, or having them find it? I understand they shouldn't be eating the layer grade, due to the calcium.

I don't really think I am going to have too much problem with the intergration. One of the momma's is a big Blue Cochin, and is a bit anti social anyway, and has the brass to keep all others at bay. She doesn't pick on others, but she doesn't let them pick on her either. The other hen, is a Buff Orp. She isn't very high on the pecking order. She hope she surprises me with chicks involved. I have them in a pen where one side completely opens, and it also has a pop door. I will keep everything closed, except the pop door, so the momma's have a chance to teach the others to back off. I hope they can teach 25 other girls that valuable lesson!

Kacey

My broody stayed in the coop with the rest of the flock, they don't dare mess with her. If they get to close during free ranging she grabs them and knocks them down. She is a tough mama.

As for feed, I keep the layer pellets out of reach of the babies, hangs on a chain in the coop, and leave the chick starter down low for everyone. They have free choice of what they want to eat and oyster shell on the side. Fermented feed is put out in the morning and they free range all day. Coming and going to the coop and run to lay, eat and drink as they need.

 

[delisha]

Justine...woo hoo the barn is starting soon!!

Except - I may want to have my husband make me a wooden trough to feed from.

Stony - if you were going to make a wooden feed-trough, what wood would you use? I'm thinking a hard wood like maple or oak? Or...what?

Do you know what they make the old wooden dough troughs from?

I think mine is made out of plain ole pine

Hi! We're new to this whole chicken thing but want to keep it as natural as possible. We are raising chickens for eggs and for meat, and currently we purchase organic and/or free range eggs and meat, and we want to duplicate that with our own chickens.

I tried finding the answer but after reading a few pages I didn't see it...how much apple cider vinegar do you add to the water? I read somewhere else that putting garlic cloves in the water is a similar thing, does anyone do that?

Welcome to the group
1 tbs of ACV per gallon of water
and no garlic is not similar and yes some also add garlic to the water

I have a question. I have 2 hens that have hatched chicks. They brooded side by side, and are both in a coop by theirselves. I am going to try and intergrate them with the others within a week or so. I would like them to be raised together, and the hens not have to go through being intergrated back into the flock weeks from now. My question is feeding the chicks. How do you keep chick feed out without the others eating it, or having them find it? I understand they shouldn't be eating the layer grade, due to the calcium.

I don't really think I am going to have too much problem with the intergration. One of the momma's is a big Blue Cochin, and is a bit anti social anyway, and has the brass to keep all others at bay. She doesn't pick on others, but she doesn't let them pick on her either. The other hen, is a Buff Orp. She isn't very high on the pecking order. She hope she surprises me with chicks involved. I have them in a pen where one side completely opens, and it also has a pop door. I will keep everything closed, except the pop door, so the momma's have a chance to teach the others to back off. I hope they can teach 25 other girls that valuable lesson!

Kacey

Welcome to the group..I added below..

Quote: x2 or you can use these:

put a small bowl inside and the chicks can get in and adults can't.

 

[stonykill]

My broody stayed in the coop with the rest of the flock, they don't dare mess with her. If they get to close during free ranging she grabs them and knocks them down. She is a tough mama.

As for feed, I keep the layer pellets out of reach of the babies, hangs on a chain in the coop, and leave the chick starter down low for everyone. They have free choice of what they want to eat and oyster shell on the side. Fermented feed is put out in the morning and they free range all day. Coming and going to the coop and run to lay, eat and drink as they need.

I never have separated a broody either

 

[countrygirl74]

So... my regular feed that I order was completely out!!! And, of course, so was I. So, I had to get something local here. I was able to get an organic/non-gmo crumble (which I don't like fermenting after always using mash), but they only carried chick starter and layer.
I sent my husband to pick it up for me as I was busy with other things and I just love how he handled it. The feed store told him they didn't have a grower feed and that chick starter is the same thing. He told them "No, my wife said it's not the same thing - I will take the starter because she said NO layer." They asked about the age of the birds and he told them I have layers and I have babies ranging from 4-8 weeks. They tried to get him to just take the layer and that it would be just fine for all the babies. Good thing he knows me and he told them, "You don't know my wife - she's very particular and she knows the difference in the ingredients between all three types of feed. I will take the starter." And... he brought me home the starter. They will all eat starter until I get more of their regular mash in. They're not really happy about it but I guess they will really appreciate the fermented mash when it returns!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Did you have to line the seams with something or does the wood just swell due to the wetness of the feed?

Have you ever tried a wooden trough/bucket/barrel for a waterer?

 

[stonykill]

Did you have to line the seams with something or does the wood just swell due to the wetness of the feed?

Have you ever tried a wooden trough/bucket/barrel for a waterer?

no glue. Swelling of the wood does the sealing. No I have not tried a wooden waterer. Something I would enjoy doing if I ever found the time.