The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[FridayYet]

Here's a shot of my 3 cream legbars in their new, sort-of finished home. I was in a real hurry to get them set-up outside before I went out of town, so the henhouse only has 3 sides. To ease the transition, I flipped their brooder box on its side and tossed in some shavings. They sleep inside there in a pile in the corner





I still have to build a real screen door, the interior wall with popdoor, clean-out door and window, the nesting boxes and stain the rest of the wood. DH brought home some scraps of sod so I'll lay them in there tomorrow

All in all, they seem to like it and it is much better than living in a 50 gallon tub! So cute watching them march up the ramp and put themselves to bed every night!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Mumsy, sorry about the cockerel. That was weird. I have no input on the cause, and I like you do a lot of research. Love the Silkie pics though. Gonna do a shoot tomorrow of my kids. Some may get baths first.

 

[Ashdoes]

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..

I read the starter instructions and I think maybe my kitchen is warmer then i thought. So I used starter after 5 days, then fed the starter and within four days it got an alchohol smell and A LOT of liquid on the top. I know it takes a long time to learn all that stuff, so I'm not totally discouraged, but I was sad when I dumped the starter.

 

[Mumsy]

You know... I Iike looking at these so much - and the beautiful gardens they're in - that I just wanted to quote it again. Your gardens are so pretty and your little chicks, well, I'd have a hard time ever going inside. I'd just want to sit out there and watch them all day.

Thank you.

It was fun seeing all the beautiful pictures of pretty chickens, chicks, ducks, and things on the thread today. It was good.

Today for me was all about taking it easy. Sitting in the sunshine in the middle of the garden and playing with those chicks. I picked some lettuce and watered the pepper bed. It was lovely. Great medicine for my insides and my outsides. The weekend is supposed to be warm and glorious. I will soak it up along side the chickens.

 

[FridayYet]

Mumsy, your silkies are adorable.

Enjoy your nice weather! My parents are not too far from you in Port Townsend. Love the greenery up there, but I'm a sunshine addict and my brain probably wouldn't handle living in the PNW without a massive light box! (LOL)

 

[Ashdoes]

Cloud moved so well, the hardest part was moving Sprite while he was trying to protect her. I moved her eggs to a tub of shavings, then put her on the eggs then walked to the new pen and did the same thing again. Sprite was fuss'n, but fixed shavings around her and was ok. Hopefully all is good in the morning, thanks for all the help guys.

 

[mikkles]

quote name="Mumsy" url="/t/729605/the-natural-chicken-keeping-thread-ots-welcome/15600_100#post_11325756"]After all the sad postings and necropsy postings, here are some gratuitous cutie pie Silkie pictures. Two of my Catdance chicks got their first bath and blow dry today. The sun came out briefly just in time for some updated pictures in the Potager garden amongst the strawberry plants, lettuce, and pansies. The two Partridge chicks are female. I am so glad. I am not particularly fond of Partridge male coloring. I want to put these two cuties with a Blue Split male and start a Blue Partridge project pen. This little girl just wants to hide under that mop of a huge crest. She didn't want to show off her fluffy bum or fuzzy feet. Her sister doesn't have the huge crest yet but her feet are magnificent! They are such fun. A perfect diversion after yesterday. They aren't very old yet. Still under three months. [/quote] if you ever do that project, those would be some eggs I'd love to hatch! beautiful babies you have there!

 

[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!!!

NEVER MIND! I found it back in the 1330 pages with the herb lists and stuff - LOL

 

[lalaland]

Friday, that looks like a nice set-up. How old are your pullets?

 

[armorfirelady]

When I got home from work last night I checked on the Tiny tots.............they weren't with Edie roosting in the coop but they were ROOSTING in the run. All by themselves !!!!!

So while they were not in the coop I left them be. Temps were in the high 70s & they were protected if it decided to rain.

Leahs Mom I agree with you about Mumsys gardens. I would love to have my gardens look like that. Its beautiful Mumsy & so peaceful