The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

Would I be right in thinking that the dung beetles wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing?  Would the chickens eat them?

They are good for the environment and chickens do eat them. yummy

STRANGE QUESTION OF THE DAY
(There should be an award for that, I think)

I have a little plastic bucket that I love.  It only holds 1 gallon, but it is very strong and has a good handle.  I can haul all kinds of things in it...just the right size.

But - somehow my little bucket got a slit in the bottom - about 1/2" long.  Almost looks like someone poked it with a knife.  The edges are tight together, no gap.

So here's the question:
[COLOR=008000]WHAT CAN I USE TO PATCH THAT SLIT THAT IS NON-TOXIC?[/COLOR]

I was thinking of some kind of "gum/putty" type patch on it on the outside of the bucket.  But I want to be sure I can still put water or ff in there (just to carry them from place to place so the ff won't be in it for longer than 10 min. at longest).

Your thoughts, please!

Duct tape

I used gorilla glue duct tape on the edges of the tarps I cut to fit the hoop coop. Even with all the rain we had a few weeks ago it didn't unstick. And it's not peeling with all the beautiful hot sunny days we have had the last 2 weeks either. It might work for your bucket?


Mumsy thank you for your explanation of the gardens. Your pictures are wonderful, I also wish you could help turn my yard into the wonderful paradise you have. I love the pics of the RIRs on the bench. They have grown so much !!


I have a question for those who have electric netting. I noticed today that the grass where the fence touches is browned. I don't remember it being that way a few days ago. Does anyone else's fence do this? The grass is not long where fence is.

The brown area is not all the way around the perimeter of the fence. Just in one area. It's been dry here but none of the other grass has browned. The only thing I can add is I heard 2 loud snap noises (electrical sounded like to me) while I was in my garage tonight. I was in & out of the garage all day and never heard it till then. I did unplug the fence after talking to my friend who set it up. He thinks maybe there is problem with grounding rod and maybe is trying to ground back in garage where charger is. He is going to check everything over again tomorrow.

 

[delisha]

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?
I did not line the seams..they seal all on there own.
This one will also hold water. It is really old. I do have a wooden barrel that at times I had used for rain water, but my DH does not like me using it for water. He thinks I will eventually rune it. I use it for grit and oyster storage mostly now.

 

[TipihlowLadies]

On the hemlock - where would you be able to find that? And on the oak, that's exactly what I was thinking - the old oaken bucket, the wine casks, the pickle barrels...weren't they all made of oak? Did they use pitch of some sort to seal the insides?

most white oak barrels hold water without pitch oak swells against steel rings when soaked .

 

[Pozees]

I used gorilla glue duct tape on the edges of the tarps I cut to fit the hoop coop. Even with all the rain we had a few weeks ago it didn't unstick. And it's not peeling with all the beautiful hot sunny days we have had the last 2 weeks either. It might work for your bucket?


Mumsy thank you for your explanation of the gardens. Your pictures are wonderful, I also wish you could help turn my yard into the wonderful paradise you have. I love the pics of the RIRs on the bench. They have grown so much !!


I have a question for those who have electric netting. I noticed today that the grass where the fence touches is browned. I don't remember it being that way a few days ago. Does anyone else's fence do this? The grass is not long where fence is.

The brown area is not all the way around the perimeter of the fence. Just in one area. It's been dry here but none of the other grass has browned. The only thing I can add is I heard 2 loud snap noises (electrical sounded like to me) while I was in my garage tonight. I was in & out of the garage all day and never heard it till then. I did unplug the fence after talking to my friend who set it up. He thinks maybe there is problem with grounding rod and maybe is trying to ground back in garage where charger is. He is going to check everything over again tomorrow.

On regular electric fence you can't let it touch any of the grass/weeds, I imagine it would be the same with the netting. I think it shorts it out.

 

[CoopChick719]

The gate above is too large for chicks to not get in the feed. That would be an issue. The feeder is just too big to use for chicks alone.. Now if you don't care about them stepping in the feed, they don't seem likely to perch on it like they would those red plastic ones.

Let me try it for chicks and I'll give you another review, how's that I have 30 meaties and 40 layers coming end of June. Am I in over my head? Maybe... lol

Rod is starting the barn tomorrow!!!!!! YAY!!!

Hooray on the barn!!! Love your plans for it!!

On the hemlock - where would you be able to find that? And on the oak, that's exactly what I was thinking - the old oaken bucket, the wine casks, the pickle barrels...weren't they all made of oak? Did they use pitch of some sort to seal the insides?

We found our hemlock beams at a local sawmill.

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.

These feeders sound interesting. Look forward to the pics.

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!

Good job DH!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

The brown area is not all the way around the perimeter of the fence. Just in one area. It's been dry here but none of the other grass has browned. The only thing I can add is I heard 2 loud snap noises (electrical sounded like to me) while I was in my garage tonight. I was in & out of the garage all day and never heard it till then. I did unplug the fence after talking to my friend who set it up. He thinks maybe there is problem with grounding rod and maybe is trying to ground back in garage where charger is. He is going to check everything over again tomorrow.

On the electric net - you have to keep the grass mowed down low where the net runs or it will lower the charge on the net.

The more grass or other items against the live wire near the bottom of the fence, the more you'll hear that clicking sound as it's grounding in more places.

The very bottom line of the poultrynet plus is NOT live..the first live wire is the second one from bottom. If you can keep that relatively free of grass/leaves contact you should be good!

Just move it over slightly and mow a line, then put the net back. I think you got the catalog from Premier...you can find their info about the grass height and the net wire grounding in there. Their website states 6" but that sounds kind-of high to me.


Quote:
From Premier website: http://www.premier1supplies.com/poultry/species.php?mode=article&species_id=6

 

[armorfirelady]

I

The brown area is not all the way around the perimeter of the fence. Just in one area. It's been dry here but none of the other grass has browned. The only thing I can add is I heard 2 loud snap noises (electrical sounded like to me) while I was in my garage tonight. I was in

On the electric net - you have to keep the grass mowed down low where the net runs or it will lower the charge on the net. The more grass or other items against the live wire near the bottom of the fence, the more you'll hear that clicking sound as it's grounding in more places. The very bottom line of the poultrynet plus is NOT live..the first live wire is the second one from bottom. If you can keep that relatively free of grass/leaves contact you should be good! Just move it over slightly and mow a line, then put the net back. I think you got the catalog from Premier...you can find their info about the grass height and the net wire grounding in there. Their website states 6" but that sounds kind-of high to me.

What about grass contact?

Too much is a serious problem as it lowers the voltage of the fence. So:

1. When grass gets 6" high mow carefully along the fence. If you mow into the fence your wallet, the mower and the net will all regret it! Turn off the energizer. Move the net into the mown strip by removing and reinstalling one post at a time. This takes about 5 minutes per net.
2. Or spray herbicide in a narrow strip under the fence. We prefer burn-down chemicals that don’t kill perennials. No herbicide lasts forever so expect the weeds to return in time.
3. Buy an energizer large enough to cope with extra weed contact.

will mow this morning but the grass really isn't high at all. I put the net up in an area where the grass is slow to grow. Hopefully mowing solves the problem I was just concerned on the sound I was herring in the garage also. Thanks

 

[aoxa]

I
will mow this morning but the grass really isn't high at all. I put the net up in an area where the grass is slow to grow. Hopefully mowing solves the problem I was just concerned on the sound I was herring in the garage also.
Thanks

Any one try vinegar to kill the grass under the fence? I have heard this is effective, but of course have not tried it yet.

 

[aoxa]

It's going to be 80 degrees tomorrow! Summer weather for us

 

[RedRidge]

Quote:

I rotate chickens, sheep, cattle, and maremma daily and have more than 20 rolls of Kencove poultry netting.
We use it in fields where hay will eventually get cut also.
The bottom strand is not hot, but even with certain parts of the netting touching some grass, the proper size charger will handle it.
Mowing should not be necessary... sometimes ours is knee high.
If you leave it for weeks on end during the fast growth season then grass will grow into it, but they way we use ours it is moved so frequently this is rarely a problem.
When buying netting the key is to get the double step in posts... the single spikes are much more prone to coming down in a high wind.

As a side note... the original intent of reading this entire thread was to find out if there is anyone on here who specifically uses whey on a regular basis to soak their grains... I have some questions for someone who has "been there, done that" Anyone using whey?

The two things I couldn't live without here on our farm are my maremmas and poultry netting... best two investments ever!!

Sheri
www.red-ridge-farm.com