The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mrs.SB]

Can you guys take a moment and check out our coop (not really a coop) page? I wrote from beginning to end. 

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/les-farms-the-barn-of-all-barns 

Beautiful ending to a sad beginning!! Love all the pictures

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa are you typing without having your coffee???

Every time I look at your pictures, I get misty-eyed. The barn is looking great. I am so excited for the both of you!

Lisa

Thank you Lisa!

Showed my contractor (here trimming and painting windows inside) your barn. He agrees it looks more like a HOUSE! LOL Made NO comment to him on how FAST yours went up......

You have a contractor painting windows? I love trim work. I'll probably paint the brooder room in this barn. Maybe even make a mural. I'm quite fond of painting murals!




Here are two I did in our last house.. The one we sold to keep our chickens. It was our dream house. It was a shame that it was located in such a place we couldn't stand to stay in.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Ok, here's the requested picture of the mystery chicken. I don't even know for sure what breed it is.... I got it in an assorted group. They were four weeks old at easter, so they're about 12-13 weeks old now.

I know that it's a terrible picture, but it was just me and the cell phone camera, and a not terribly cooperative chicken.... That is NOT the way that Bossy normally holds his/her tail either. that was in protest of the general instability of my hand as a perch.

I opened the "barn of all barns" thread and I'll read it at naptime. SO EXCITED to see it coming together!

It looks very much like my production RIR hens, but a touch lighter in color. I can't guess at breed but it looks like a female to me.

 

[aoxa]

It looks very much like my production RIR hens, but a touch lighter in color. I can't guess at breed but it looks like a female to me.

I'm with Sally on breed, it is a Production Red. Boy though, as girls wouldn't get combs like that until point of lay (or close to POL).


Here is a picture of one of my Pennies at 16 weeks old. You can see how light pink her comb and wattles are.

I also find that males have very thick combs early on.

 

[BlueMouse]

Rats. I keep hoping that Bossy will turn out to be a pullet after all, although I've had my suspicions from the start. he/she is such a friendly bird, but I already have a rooster, so any excess cockerels are slated for freezer camp at the end of the summer. I don't mind with the meat chickens, but I'm going to feel sad over Bossy. I know it's a fact of keeping chickens, but still.

 

[danib]

You can either sell your eggs or freeze them.

 

[danib]

TY for the dust bath suggestions, I've read of alot of people doingsand and ash. I think my dh wants the run to be sand, anyway. I can see how they do with just the sand and if they need more, I'll bring in a big basin and add some sand, organic dirt and ash. Thanks again

 

[aoxa]

Rats. I keep hoping that Bossy will turn out to be a pullet after all, although I've had my suspicions from the start. he/she is such a friendly bird, but I already have a rooster, so any excess cockerels are slated for freezer camp at the end of the summer. I don't mind with the meat chickens, but I'm going to feel sad over Bossy. I know it's a fact of keeping chickens, but still.

Roosters always seem more friendly at a young age.

It makes it easier when roosters are harassing the girls, or flogging you. Makes that decision much easier.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Rats. I keep hoping that Bossy will turn out to be a pullet after all, although I've had my suspicions from the start. he/she is such a friendly bird, but I already have a rooster, so any excess cockerels are slated for freezer camp at the end of the summer. I don't mind with the meat chickens, but I'm going to feel sad over Bossy. I know it's a fact of keeping chickens, but still.

Hold on to you hope, my RIR from Meyer all had large combs and looked just like your bird but darker when they were around 14 weeks old. I really thought they would be roosters at the time. I even put leg bands on them and tried to keep track of any that were acting mean. Turns out they were all hens.
But Aoxa does have way more experience than I do. So maybe start a detachment plan where you no longer fall in love with bossy the chicken.

 

[TipihlowLadies]

It looks very much like my production RIR hens, but a touch lighter in color. I can't guess at breed but it looks like a female to me.

I agre female comb is to light for roo at 13 weeks.