The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Some chickens don't synthesize their nutrient intake correctly so their eggs and meat will never match the best out there. Some of the very high production layers are not genetically predisposed to putting the full quality of their diet into their eggs even when on a more natural diet; however there's a few factors that affect this. I won't speak for backyard-reared or bred birds in this case, only hatchery-bought or production-keeper ex-layers.

Their eggs are much better once on a better diet but since there's a lifetime of 'catch-up' healthwise, they many take a year or more to lay truly healthy looking eggs. It's different once they've been raised minus the lack and damage of their ancestor's environments, and those hens I bred from high production layers were, by around the fourth generation, not noticeably different in quality from any other chook's. I see more American C.P.Layers looking red in the combs than I do Aussie ones and the genetic differences as well as feed makeup and vaccines etc is probably the deciding influence, I'd guess.

Mind if I ask what C.P. stands for?

You could very well be right on the life time of catch up. I wouldn't know. I've only raised my layers (which are Red Sex Links) from babies. They were incredibly healthy. They didn't seem to lay any earlier than heritage breeds (much to my confusion), but the size of the egg they laid was very large. They were faithful layers. Friendly, and great foragers. I raised all of mine by broody.

 

[tfletch]

I use wood ash in my coop - the chickens love dust-bathing in it, and I don't have any problems with mites or lice.  I put it in their favorite dust-bathing areas and let them go for it.  They don't seem any more bothered by the wood ash than the dust they threw around before I added the ash.

Silly question, so you can just put the ashes out from a campfire and its ok for them to bathe in? Love the simplicity in that!

 

[Bulldogma]

Silly question, so you can just put the ashes out from a campfire and its ok for them to bathe in? Love the simplicity in that!

There are no silly questions, and yes - you can let your chickens dust bathe in an extinguished campfire. Many may find it too dusty and prefer ashes mixed with dirt, though. What ever works!

 

[tfletch]

Thanks! I'm new to all this and want to raise my chickens as natural as possible.

 

[countrygirl74]

If you get to thinking about breeding, call me

Sorry, but I already feel like my RIR since I am my husband's favorite.

Good thing he can't have any more kids or I would be "hatching" every year...

Could anyone post some pics of bumble foot on a chicken?

I've never had bumblefoot on a chicken yet, but just finished curing it on my ducks with NO surgery! Here's a picture of it before I started treating it.

I have sent Susan the dimensions. She should take care of the rest (as it's my b-day present!) Birthday is this weekend. Hoping the barn will be finished for me by this weekend. I have no doors on any room other than the chicken room.

Happy Birthday!!!!

 

[Mumsy]

I had a few things I was wondering about that I thought all of you could help with, nothing urgent, I just was curious what others do or have done in the past.

Does anyone use nest pads in their nest boxes?

Never heard of a nest pad.

What do you use in your nest boxes? What have you tried and do not like and why?

Tried straw and shavings. I hate straw and won't use it now. Shavings was getting scratched out. I use local grass hay exclusively now.

Does anyone raise cx using a broody?

Nope. Not me.

What is the oldest hen or rooster that you have used for meat?

Three years old and up I make rich fat free stock and freeze it. Use it in the crock pot for all kinds of things from soup, stews, and slow cooked turkey drumsticks. When I was breeding Springer Spaniels, I would debone the boiled down carcass of old chickens and feed it to the mum or pups. Now days I give the remains from the stock pot to the flock.

 

[chooks4life]

Quote: Lol, sorry, I was just abbreviating 'Commercial Production' since I wax pedantic so often... I've really got to learn how to concisely present my opinions.

 

[lalaland]

I had a few things I was wondering about that I thought all of you could help with, nothing urgent, I just was curious what others do or have done in the past.

Does anyone use nest pads in their nest boxes?

What do you use in your nest boxes? What have you tried and do not like and why?

Does anyone raise cx using a broody?

What is the oldest hen or rooster that you have used for meat?

Lalaland: that is so frustrating not getting what you asked for when you got your chicks. I want to get chicks next year from a good breeder, but I am so scared I will end up not getting what I want or not getting good quality chicks. I would like to not buy from hatchery again and not have chicks that have to go thru the stress of shipping. It bothers me that people are just out there to make a buck and to take advantage of others! If I cannot find a good source next year, I’ll probably end up going to the hardware store that sells chicks or TSC, they’re not the best choices, but better then hatchery shipped chicks. Also better then someone just trying to take advantage of me. I hope that she takes the bantam back from you. Best of luck!

Lynn, I am pretty frustrated because I really really wanted sfh and I'm pretty sure I have none. I dont think she was trying to take advantage of me, I think she is just a bit disorganized. TH eicelandics and the cream legbars are beautiful from what I can tell so far. And it was fun to be able to add a few last minute chicks (lav orp, auracana, and a maran).

I dont' use nest pads, it would be, in my opinion, just one more thing to clean and deal with. I use hay, love it when it is fresh and clean, and the hens play with it while in the nest. It is really really rare to have a cracked egg in the nest for me - there is plenty of hay. I did actually see one happen - the hen was on the nest and suddenly stood up and pushed, out popped the egg and it dropped on the eggs already in the nest and cracked. It was kind of a freak accident.

 

[lalaland]

Happy Birthday Justine!!!!!!

 

[Alibabe]

Happy Birthday Justine!!!!!!

x2