The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Yep, agree. I don't feed gmo or soy either. But if you're not "up to" mixing your own feed, there are some ready-made feeds that are non GMO and non soy out there.

 

[lalaland]

Absolutely...
Is your reasoning for wanting to avoid corn because most of it is gmo, or because you just don't want to feed corn?
Will be glad to help with ration... where do you live? do you have access to local grains? is there a feed store or coop that can order grains for you?

My goal was to develop a ration that was non-gmo and had no soy. I do feed corn, but feed non-gmo corn.
To that I add field peas and either wheat or oats.
I ferment that... then add Nutribalancer, Alfalfa, sometimes Kelp, and different amounts of limestone and Fish Meal depending on the management group I'm feeding (what levels of certain things they need like protein).

To get a decent amount of protein for layers without adding too much Fish meal (it's not cheap and too much will give you fishy eggs), using field peas is the best thing I've found. JMO of course.

its the gmo thing, otherwise am fine with corn in it. And with the 19 new chicks, I figure I will have enough chickens to start mixing my own feed in terms of quantity.

Yep, agree. I don't feed gmo or soy either. But if you're not "up to" mixing your own feed, there are some ready-made feeds that are non GMO and non soy out there.

I haven't found any here - local feed mills grinding their own have gmo corn and soy in the mix, plus they are on the vegetarian bandwagon. Or I can get purina, etc.

Redridge, if I remember right, your feed formula is posted on that thing?

 

[Sally8]

I've found that even when I throw out the mixed grains, the corn is mostly what's left. My job now (I quit working outside of my home) consists of watching my grand daughters so today I'm going up and throwing the Twisted Sisters off their nest. I'm so disappointed in myself for not checking sooner.
It's raining here today also but I planted some garden yesterday and our ground is still quite dry. We are fortunate enough to be able to stick a pump in the creek and pump it up to the garden. Any idea's on how to plant more in less space? We visited the Botanical Gardens when we went to Maine and I saw viney plants growing up in a tent fashion and low, shade loving veg's under. Anyone try this? We planted pumpkins that I had started inside but put a wire around them as I forgot about the chickens. Lol
The last of my incubatee's should start popping out today. I still have 15 turkey eggs. So tired of incubating but excited for next year.
armorfirelady, how are the chicks doing?

 

[elmtree]

They already did come back. Fences are down, feathers everywhere, at least 4 more dead. One bear down, we stalked the other for a while but couldn't get a clean shot on it. It had one of my chickens in it's mouth as it ran away. Since my husband works away I will be having an interesting time doing all my chores while holding a shotgun for a while. Exhausted and off to bed. Rest in peace girls

Oh my gosh!! I'm so sorry! I just had my first experience with predators. We think a fisher cat got my favorite EE bantam rooster, Norbert. He was 14 weeks. I have 8 Roos and they all fought to protect the girls. There are red rooster feathers EVERYWHERE! They did their job though, and kept all if the girls safe. How scary that you have to deal with this I. A regular basis. Good luck getting the other bear.

 

[midnightroo]

I've found that even when I throw out the mixed grains, the corn is mostly what's left. My job now (I quit working outside of my home) consists of watching my grand daughters so today I'm going up and throwing the Twisted Sisters off their nest. I'm so disappointed in myself for not checking sooner.
It's raining here today also but I planted some garden yesterday and our ground is still quite dry. We are fortunate enough to be able to stick a pump in the creek and pump it up to the garden. Any idea's on how to plant more in less space? We visited the Botanical Gardens when we went to Maine and I saw viney plants growing up in a tent fashion and low, shade loving veg's under. Anyone try this? We planted pumpkins that I had started inside but put a wire around them as I forgot about the chickens. Lol
The last of my incubatee's should start popping out today. I still have 15 turkey eggs. So tired of incubating but excited for next year.
armorfirelady, how are the chicks doing?

I have in parts it sort of worked. Had issues with insects since I couldn't keep a good enough eye on them. We are doing something similar, but for my daughter. We are planting beans and sunflowers around a tree so she could have a secret spot to play and read. Your granddaughters might like it too.

Good luck with the hatching today. Try not to beat yourself up about the Twisted sisters. We aren't perfect and miss things all the time even when we try our best.

Going to start ff, been meaning to anyhow, so I don't have issues with sour crop again hopefully. But I wanted to ask, is it normal for the he. With the sour crop to have watery poop? I have seen at least three and the. I found some with more solids in it. Fingers crossed that it means food is moving. She is totally not interested in yogurt unless someone else is eating it so I mixed whey in with the crumble for her.

 

[loanwizard]

Thanks for the Kudo's, it is much appreciated, not so much deserved. I answered an email from Mother Earth News sent out to subscribers and thought What the heck? Submitted a much longer windier, wordier version of what made it to print.... I know, big surprise..... I was thrilled that the article was chosen as a finalist, and even more thrilled that it made the final cut although somewhat miffed that my website was to be left out and the BYC left in..... had to change a couple things there. Also, they cut out a LOT, but..... it should generate some traffic and allow me to possibly expand not only from product sales but perhaps a mentorship program.

Thanks again for the accolades but guess what? I am still the same old Shawn, and still my hogs escaped a couple times.....

Took pictures of the covered feeder but left the camera at home.... Didn't care too much for it, but I will share it as soon as I can.

Gotta run, due in court in less than 2 hours and have to get some paperwork done.

Shawn

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: There are some feeds that you can order online but the prices are high. Azure Standard also has buying groups. If there is one in your area, they pool orders together to get better ship price. You can find local contacts on their website.

Delisha and I have feed formulas out there but RedRidge doesn't (yet).

Otherwise...
Some people have noticed that their chickens leave the corn when they get it in a mix like a scratch mix. If you see chickens leaving the corn, that means that the corn is most likely GMO. Animals can tell the difference and they will not choose to eat the GMO if they have a choice. So...if you ever see grown chickens rejecting corn (assuming they have another choice), you can pretty much know it is GMO.

 

[aoxa]

http://triptrapmountainhomestead.we...a-pygmy-goat-out-of-the-chicken-coop-101.html
Found an article on keeping goats out of the chicken coop via pop doors. Thoughts?

Del, you've had goats before right? Redridge - do you?

 

[danib]

I had no idea. I've never taken oregano oil for anything. Eaten lots of leaf oregano, tho.

I hope they never have worms, but now if I suspect that they do, I know a way to treat it. I am going to give them pumpkins and stuff..heard that's a good preventative measure/dewormer. Also, I just started putting garlic powder in their food. They're only 5 weeks old, but I wanted them to get used to the taste before they go outside. They don't seem to mind, but they are on my sunporch in a grow out pen, and it stinks like garlic out there.

I love garlic, but the smell is kind of unpleasant.

I want to rid them of pests naturally and thought garlic would be a great natural way to do it..if it worked. They won't be free ranging, because we live near the woods, Lots of hawks live in those woods, also..so they'd meet their maker pretty quicklyif they did. But I am going to do the chicken salad bar for them and try to give them as many greens as I can. I have also been putting ACV in their water, and read on a thread where some people say that is bad, and to just give them plain water. I was planning on giving LAB a try. I just want to be as organic as I can, and give them a healthy digestive tract and keep pests off. Anyone have any suggestions/opinions on this?
One more question:
What do you use for your chickens dust baths? Don't think I'm going to use DE, because it sounds unsafe to breathe in. Anything have similar advantages in keeping pests off that doesn't have that risk?
Thanks

 

[aoxa]

What do you use for your chickens dust baths? Don't think I'm going to use DE, because it sounds unsafe to breathe in. Anything have similar advantages in keeping pests off that doesn't have that risk?
Thanks

I use garden soil (organic) with wood ash. Some add peat moss, and I will most likely, but haven't bothered with that yet.