The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

RR

-What do you do when you integrate your littles into the new flock...what is your procedure?

-Sounds like your ff is going well! Good to hear Are you liking it/feeling comfortable enough to begin using it for the whole flock?

 

[aoxa]

You guys will really enjoy this article: http://www.weedemandreap.com/2013/05/germ-phobia-why-sterilizing-your.html

 

[aoxa]

Thought there were some new tips in this I hadn't heard before... not chicken related...but good natural tips...

http://www.kitchendaily.com/read/10...d=maing-grid7|main5|dl4|sec1_lnk3&pLid=311427

I just wanted to mention that we found organic strawberries for the first time EVER at Costco, and bought a lot... anyway.. I noticed that the organic strawberries lasted much longer than regular strawberries and I have no idea why..

We had them for two weeks before they became a little too ripe (very juicy) so we cut them up and froze them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thought there were some new tips in this I hadn't heard before... not chicken related...but good natural tips...

http://www.kitchendaily.com/read/10...d=maing-grid7|main5|dl4|sec1_lnk3&pLid=311427

You guys will really enjoy this article: http://www.weedemandreap.com/2013/05/germ-phobia-why-sterilizing-your.html

Thanks for those! I shared both with other folks!

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote:
Do you use chick starter only and doesn't it just mush up? I've been feeding FF to older hens and using grain based layer feed which remains nice and grainy. I'm expecting a hatch on Wed. and started the chick FF but I find it so mushy, maybe I need to make it really thick?

Also I'd like to use the bottom of the feeder (on the right). Do you think if I fill it to the top and maybe block the middle section so that they don't poop in it, that it would work?

 

[RedRidge]

RR

-What do you do when you integrate your littles into the new flock...what is your procedure?

-Sounds like your ff is going well! Good to hear Are you liking it/feeling comfortable enough to begin using it for the whole flock?

For integration refer to post # 13871 in this thread...

I am liking the FF a lot... now that I'm getting into the swing of things it is no more time consuming than preparing dry. I am using it on all groups of chicks (currently 4 now with a group due to hatch a week from Thursday). The only reason I am not feeding it to my layers is because I have quite a bit of dry already prepared for them and imagine it will take a little more thought to not have waste since they free ranging all day and only eat the dry occasionally. The advantage I have with the chicks is that I can learn what each group requires for amount and if my trial and error is really off I simply feed the extra to the next older group a few hours later. If I had only one group I suspect I would have waste and that would drive me crazy.
So... the chicks are being offered free choice dry also but are eating less and less of the dry as time goes on and I "learn" each groups FF requirement amounts.
My youngest group who is 7 days old today has had nothing but FF and it seems to be working quite well... they look great and seem to love it.
My only concern is that I have no desire to feed twice daily long term. I don't mind doing it short term... while I have chicks I will do this for the next few months. But long term I simply don't have the time to feed two times a day. I am wondering if that means I'll always offer free choice dry just to make sure they are getting plenty. I don't know... haven't figured that out. It's much easier right now because they free range this time of year - but when everyone get locked in their respective hen houses each fall for 4-5 months they get a little antsy by spring.
I'm sure my confidence will grow... and I'll finally feel like I've got it down pat by fall and then in Nov everything will change again.
We'll see.
Does anyone who feeds exclusively FF only feed once a day?

 

[stonykill]

graphic image. Bypass if the truth bothers you














7:30 this morning. This "nocturnal predator" was hungry and out chicken hunting. Was.

 

[RedRidge]

Quote:

Do you use chick starter only and doesn't it just mush up? I've been feeding FF to older hens and using grain based layer feed which remains nice and grainy. I'm expecting a hatch on Wed. and started the chick FF but I find it so mushy, maybe I need to make it really thick?

Also I'd like to use the bottom of the feeder (on the right). Do you think if I fill it to the top and maybe block the middle section so that they don't poop in it, that it would work?

As far as "starter" - I grind and mix all my own rations so I have never fermented store bought pellets.
I can tell you that I drain most all the liquid out of mine, then add my premix, then end up adding a tad bit of the ferment water to be able to more easily mix the fermented grains with the premix. I drain all the water first to enable me to weigh the fermented grains.
The larger groups of chicks I am currently feeding in the long red chick feeders but just using the bottom.
Yes they stand in in... I tend to "stir it up again" whenever I conveniently walk by the brooder again in the few hours.
Here is a shot I took yesterday after it got packed down a little from them walking in it - cute little stinkers.
I just didn't want to fool with the "lids with the holes" when they were this young. I used the lids when I fed dry so they didn't scratch in it, but that's a problem with the FF





Of the two feeders you have pictured above, I am currently using the bottom of the one on the "left" for FF for a small group.
Yes... it's meant for water, but I don't have to worry about them crawling in and out of the holes if the lid isn't on.
I just put the FF around the edge...

 

[armorfirelady]

Red ridge- I only feed once a day but of course I only have 4 hens lol During the winter I feed in the morning & warmer months I feed at night to encourage them to search for their own food. I feed enough so that there is some left over for the next day. I wanted to make sure they go to bed with full crops

 

[TexasLisa]

graphic image. Bypass if the truth bothers you

7:30 this morning. This "nocturnal predator" was hungry and out chicken hunting. Was.

Nice!!

Lisa