The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mrs.SB]

Hi guys we were out of town this weekend, got back late last night. My mom watched over the girls for us while we were gone...

I think I told you guys I'm down to 3 now and one was hurt. She is up walking around now but keeps her tail feathers down. Why is that? She appears to have a hurt leg or foot because she's limping and holds it up when she stands still. I'm not sure what to do with her... I don't think I could kill her and I've asked my husband, he hasn't said no but hasn't said he would either...

I enjoyed the discussion about the guard dogs for chickens! I would love to let mine free range but can't because of stray dogs... Do these guard dogs stay away from the road ok? We have about 80 acres but our house isn't far off the road and I worry about that... Our pet dogs are in a fence for that reason. Our older dog knows to stay in the back yard but the puppy is getting the best of me!! Lol

 

[Mrs.SB]

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[Mrs.SB]

Double posting. Sorry

 

[aoxa]

Hi guys we were out of town this weekend, got back late last night. My mom watched over the girls for us while we were gone...

I think I told you guys I'm down to 3 now and one was hurt. She is up walking around now but keeps her tail feathers down. Why is that? She appears to have a hurt leg or foot because she's limping and holds it up when she stands still. I'm not sure what to do with her... I don't think I could kill her and I've asked my husband, he hasn't said no but hasn't said he would either...

I enjoyed the discussion about the guard dogs for chickens! I would love to let mine free range but can't because of stray dogs... Do these guard dogs stay away from the road ok? We have about 80 acres but our house isn't far off the road and I worry about that... Our pet dogs are in a fence for that reason. Our older dog knows to stay in the back yard but the puppy is getting the best of me!! Lol

They will go to the road for sure. You will need a good fence system in place.

 

[smccuen]

I have kept a close eye and ear on the bantam cochin for the last couple of weeks since it began gargling every morning when I opened the pop door. I was worrying it was a rooster and would alert the neighbors to my henkeeping efforts. Then the littlest bantam, a white plymouth rock, began to put a LOT of red into its comb and I thought - well, they're only 8 weeks old - too soon to crow. I've got time to find them homes. NOPE. I'd not heard more than a peep from the white rock until I got home from work yesterday and he scurried to the highest point in the run and cut loose with three perfect cockadoodledoos in a row. So....the morning at work was distracted, to say the least, by efforts to find other chicken keepers that work here and at least one willing to take in a tiny rooster today, if possible. At lunchtime I boxed him and set him on the front seat of the truck then drove the three miles or so that takes me outside our small city limits. Pulling up in front of the house nestled deep in the woods I set off a cacophony of dog barking, including the incessant baying of their bloodhound, his paws on the gate, but his face friendly. And the quiet little rooster's immediate response was to launch another perfect cockadoodledoo from inside the box I held in my hands....just to let them ALL know he was now taking over. Apparently he has five hens to convince next. And I am relieved....and really, really watching that cochin.

 

[bgallentine]

Hey all - I've been here and reading from the start and offered a few comments - have rec'd no replies - no worries, may be a fault of my nteowrk connection or the site.
I have been doing my resaerch and was crazy excited about my new venture - and then found they've changed our municipal ordinances to: no roosters ever (okay with that), 1 bird housed not less than 20' from any structure designed or used for human habitation. No more than 20 birds not lessw than 50' from habitation. also goes on to state not less than 100' from properties of 3 or more family res.
I'm a realtor and see this as punitive or at the very least unreasonable as this rules out more 95% of properties in my city, Signal Hill / Long Beach, CA. I haven't yet called to speak with the Mgr of Animal Control who oversees the implementation of these reg.s. Not sure how I hope it could go - wishing for a miracle of getting a variance - kep dreaming. My only option now is to organise and hope for relaxing the numbers back to 25'.
I'm really broken-hearted! Sorry to sound so whiny. I know this is of no concern for those on a farm, must think any city peeps like me are dumb for trying. I'm still in the fight. Any advise from anybody who has experience with this situation is welcome.

Color me BUMMED,

Brian G

 

[aoxa]

Hey all - I've been here and reading from the start and offered a few comments - have rec'd no replies - no worries, may be a fault of my nteowrk connection or the site.
I have been doing my resaerch and was crazy excited about my new venture - and then found they've changed our municipal ordinances to: no roosters ever (okay with that), 1 bird housed not less than 20' from any structure designed or used for human habitation. No more than 20 birds not lessw than 50' from habitation. also goes on to state not less than 100' from properties of 3 or more family res.
I'm a realtor and see this as punitive or at the very least unreasonable as this rules out more 95% of properties in my city, Signal Hill / Long Beach, CA. I haven't yet called to speak with the Mgr of Animal Control who oversees the implementation of these reg.s. Not sure how I hope it could go - wishing for a miracle of getting a variance - kep dreaming. My only option now is to organise and hope for relaxing the numbers back to 25'.
I'm really broken-hearted! Sorry to sound so whiny. I know this is of no concern for those on a farm, must think any city peeps like me are dumb for trying. I'm still in the fight. Any advise from anybody who has experience with this situation is welcome.

Color me BUMMED,

Brian G

I'm sorry Brian. I don't know what to say. I live out rurally now, but started in a small village. No bylaws at all against it... left room for interpretation and one complaint left me with a notice to remove chickens. I said to heck with that and not only moved the chickens but myself as well..

I had the house on the market from February to November 2012. Was a very hard struggle but am so glad we did it.

bylaws are very hard to change.. Look at it from my perspective.. I didn't even have anything that said anything at all about livestock. What a load of chicken poo...

The same village is holding our Canadian National Poultry Show this fall.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hey, Brian! Sorry if we missed earlier posts.

That whole regulation thing is very discouraging. I know that lots of people have appealed in many cities and won way more favorable regs. I think there are whole threads here where folks talk about how to organize some folks in your communities to appeal together - strength in numbers you know...

Might try to google and see what you find on how some of them approached it. Probably a well-thought-out strategy would be a good idea!

 

[delisha]

I just have one thing I would like to reiterate about bio security and bringing in new birds to your property.

I have gone threw all of my post to double check I have always stated I confine the new birds for 30 days. They are in isolation. I have never ever made a statement about two weeks. I have been quoted as saying I do two weeks and I do NOT. I do not put new birds with any of my birds until 30 days are up.

Hi natural friends i have nine bantams, two barell rock pullets, four brown pullets and tom the white and black dinner turkey which we'll probly never cull. we live in rural nys. have many questions. just saying hi :-D for now...

Hello and welcome!!

Hi guys we were out of town this weekend, got back late last night. My mom watched over the girls for us while we were gone...

I think I told you guys I'm down to 3 now and one was hurt. She is up walking around now but keeps her tail feathers down. Why is that? She appears to have a hurt leg or foot because she's limping and holds it up when she stands still. I'm not sure what to do with her... I don't think I could kill her and I've asked my husband, he hasn't said no but hasn't said he would either...

I enjoyed the discussion about the guard dogs for chickens! I would love to let mine free range but can't because of stray dogs... Do these guard dogs stay away from the road ok? We have about 80 acres but our house isn't far off the road and I worry about that... Our pet dogs are in a fence for that reason. Our older dog knows to stay in the back yard but the puppy is getting the best of me!! Lol

Post a picture of your birds legs, feet, (bottoms) and over the top of your bird as it is standing.

Hey all - I've been here and reading from the start and offered a few comments - have rec'd no replies - no worries, may be a fault of my nteowrk connection or the site.
I have been doing my resaerch and was crazy excited about my new venture - and then found they've changed our municipal ordinances to: no roosters ever (okay with that), 1 bird housed not less than 20' from any structure designed or used for human habitation. No more than 20 birds not lessw than 50' from habitation. also goes on to state not less than 100' from properties of 3 or more family res.
I'm a realtor and see this as punitive or at the very least unreasonable as this rules out more 95% of properties in my city, Signal Hill / Long Beach, CA. I haven't yet called to speak with the Mgr of Animal Control who oversees the implementation of these reg.s. Not sure how I hope it could go - wishing for a miracle of getting a variance - kep dreaming. My only option now is to organise and hope for relaxing the numbers back to 25'.
I'm really broken-hearted! Sorry to sound so whiny. I know this is of no concern for those on a farm, must think any city peeps like me are dumb for trying. I'm still in the fight. Any advise from anybody who has experience with this situation is welcome.

Color me BUMMED,

Brian G

Welcome to the thread Brian..sorry I know nothing about law and ordinance changing..good luck!

 

[RedRidge]

I just have one thing I would like to reiterate about bio security and bringing in new birds to your property.

I have gone threw all of my post to double check I have always stated I confine the new birds for 30 days. They are in isolation. I have never ever made a statement about two weeks. I have been quoted as saying I do two weeks and I do NOT. I do not put new birds with any of my birds until 30 days are up.

Six weeks isolation here... I have healthy birds and I intend to keep it that way...