The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[countrygirl74]

Delisha -
We are butchering our meaties tomorrow morning - I lost my notes about what you said about getting them on ice and your yummy mixture to soak them in.... is it possible to post that again or pm me? So sorry!
I just can't remember the right steps - like if I put in fridge or freezer when done processing the bird - immediately put in the "brine" or wait a few days to soak, etc. I honestly can't remember a thing and can't find where I wrote it down.
It is much appreciated!!!

 

[Ashdoes]

Looks like the cocoon they pulled out of the throat of the victim from the river in Silence of the Lambs .... 

Ew! It does!

 

[Ashdoes]

Our silkie is broody! We're so excited, she has 3-4 silkie eggs and I gave her a couple LF eggs. She picked a bad spot though, so we built a pen in the middle stall, and my husband is very worried about moving her. So, any tips?
Also, I tried a sourdough starter, made bread and it was pretty good but not "sour"....but then my starter went bad. What the heck went wrong? I want to try again.

 

[Leahs Mom]

One actually came through the roof steel roof . I love Oklahoma she keeps you on your toes.

Really? Through the steel roof?

How to you patch a steel roof?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Our silkie is broody! We're so excited, she has 3-4 silkie eggs and I gave her a couple LF eggs. She picked a bad spot though, so we built a pen in the middle stall, and my husband is very worried about moving her. So, any tips?
Also, I tried a sourdough starter, made bread and it was pretty good but not "sour"....but then my starter went bad. What the heck went wrong? I want to try again.

Explain "went bad". Did it start to smell rotten? Could have gotten out of balance (not enough acid) to keep the bad bacteria/mold from growing..

 

[aaggjg]

Our silkie is broody! We're so excited, she has 3-4 silkie eggs and I gave her a couple LF eggs. She picked a bad spot though, so we built a pen in the middle stall, and my husband is very worried about moving her. So, any tips?
Also, I tried a sourdough starter, made bread and it was pretty good but not "sour"....but then my starter went bad. What the heck went wrong? I want to try again.

I have never moved a broody but my silkies are SO persistent that I would think they would be easy to move!! The tips I have read say to move her at night and move her bedding material with her.... That way she will wake up in the new spot and when and if she decides to get off the nest she will go back to the new nest ... Good luck

 

[TipihlowLadies]

Really? Through the steel roof?

How to you patch a steel roof?

when it quit hailing I put mortro patch from a caulking gun all I had on hand its working . Call the insurance man and get in line easy fix with steel just take one off and put one sheet back on . Not the hole roof like comp.shingles .

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Nice duckling pictures Stoney. I hope to have ducklings soon. Ebay eggs should get here tomorrow or Monday. Wishing I had a broody chicken but I will make due.
Anyone have hints for hatching ducks instead of chickens?

 

[aoxa]

I have never moved a broody but my silkies are SO persistent that I would think they would be easy to move!! The tips I have read say to move her at night and move her bedding material with her.... That way she will wake up in the new spot and when and if she decides to get off the nest she will go back to the new nest ... Good luck

Never ever had an issue moving a silkie. Had issues moving pretty much every other breed though.. They all tried to abandon ship at least once before being convinced. Silkies go with the flow.

I even brought home a hen that was broody and she stayed broody and raised 21 chicks alongside my Barred Rock.

 

[aaggjg]

So 2 days ago I was down with my girls letting them roam the yard while I have my morning coffee like I do every morning ... I have 2 coops as my yard is on a hillside and its the only way to give them enough outside run space.... anyways my 2 Marans from the upper coop were down in the lower coop and started SCREAMING ... they are the loud mouths along with my Ameraucana. I moved towards them to try and quiet them and they flew up panicked like I was going to attack them. This is NOT usual behavior... The other girls were joining in nobody wanted to be quiet also not usual ..... and then out of the corner of my eye, right outside the back corner of the coop I saw some sort of 4 legged animal with tail run down the hill ... It was 5-10 feet from me maximum!! I picked up my shovel and made a bunch of noise. I'm not sure what it was ... but the next morning I saw a coyote in the riverbed ... So I am guessing it or one of its friends hopped the fence into my yard to look for a snack. I am paranoid letting the girls out now... and they do not like it!! I pace up and down my hill as they roam the yard. I don't know what to do ... I have so many blind spots in my garden that it is really hard to be completely vigilant

Urban coyotes are SO BRAVE!!!! I much prefer the deer & her 2 foals that were in the creek a week ago ..... oh those were the days ..... Anybody have similar problems ???