The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

wait wait, I do have swedish flower hen chicks!!!

ok, with all the attention on the little banty I haven't spent much time with the main group of chicks. And the time I have spent has been at night with just the red heat lamp for lighting.

the chicks were supposed to include 4 superblueegg layers - pale yellow/white chicks with yellow legs and a black spot. I had 4, but only one had the black spot. Now they are feathering out and...and....there! thats a swedish flower hen chick - wing feathers coming in light brown with white tips! There are 3 of them!! at least one is a pullet. I'm so excited.

No wonder I've been so confused about these chicks because they are not what I ordered. because if those are swedish flower hens then what happened to the other 3 superblue egg layer chicks? oh well I'm going to calm down and just enjoy whatever the heck they are. (Still trying to trade back that banty!)

I put the banty chick and buddy back in with the main group and it went great. banty is holding its own.

 

[pickitfarm]

Thanks again everyone for your answers! Happy Birthday Justine!!!!

I was turning the compost today and our BO found a snake and ran around for awhile with it since everyone wanted it and she finally found a place to be alone and slurped it on down! It never was so exciting turning the compost until I got chickens!

Who needs exterminators when you have chickens! Great pics.

 

[NanaLynn]

I LOVE using grass clippings that I dry our after mowing the lawn. I put down a layer of wood chips, then grass on top. They love it and make the nicest nests in there. After cutting the grass, I just rake some up, lay it out in the sun to dry, then store it in a bucket. Put more grass in as needed. They keep it clean and it smells good. I also throw some herbs that are anti-lice/mite once a week or so.





We've been dumping our grass clippings right into their free range area and they love digging through it and nesting in it there, so makes sense. I'll have to take your advice and dry some out. It will be hard with this crazy weather though, I agree with you armorfirelady this rain is making it hard to do anything in the yard. I'm going to plan on saving some grass back for the winter too, great idea.

I think I'll use some old windows screens and set up a drying area in the garage. My husband will think I am crazy, but if I tell him it is either free dried grass or buying nesting materials, he'll be fine with it.

Leahs Mom - Your chickens are beautiful especially the flower hen and they all look so happy. Which herbs are the anti-lice/mite kind? I grow a lot of my own, so I may have them already.

Thank you!!! - Lynn

 

[stonykill]

a few pics of nursing a lil duckling back to health. The link to the short story is in this thread.
the lil one felt safe hiding in my wifes hair


taking a little bath


drying off and warming up

 

[pickitfarm]

I almost died after I found out BYC has a bug that doesn't allow me to upload photos right now. I can still link, so I am okay lol. I have to share the Barred Plymouth Rocks we got this weekend. I am stoked. I LOVE them.

This guy reminds me of our Colonel. (He is beautiful!) Colonel is a gentle giant and the ladies love him. He is shacked up with two of his BR ladies right now. We have some of the eggs under a fiesty broody and some waiting to be put in the bater.

 

[NanaLynn]

Who needs exterminators when you have chickens! Great pics.

So true, chickens are awesome! and thanks!

Stony - Those are the sweetest pics of the duckling. I hope he/she gets better soon.

aoxa - Those chickens are so beautiful! I wish my BR's looked like that, but they're hatchery, so guess they won't.

lalaland- so glad to hear that you actually do have some swedish flower hens!

 

[jmarie]

So I have noticed that one of my astrolorps has started getting a little dull in the comb, the other is broody (on 7 SFH eggs

)
The broody has an extremely dull comb, I made her get off the nest and get food, water and while at it she took a quick dust bath. I also moved water closer to her on the nest since it seems like she just turns to do her business just outside of her nest and does not leave voluntarily.

So what is the best way to get her back to health after these chicks hatch??

I used to let the chickens roam my whole yard but have them fenced off to a 1/4 due to a border collie puppy who herds constantly and is still learning that chickens are not to be used as chew toys. my compost pile is in their area so they can get bugs and veggies scraps all day long, they also do get yard time everyday when I can supervise. so I am not sure what has made the non-broody Astrolorp start getting a dull comb as well. An thoughts?


small coop has broody mommy only

 

[bbsnooks]

Hello all..

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.. what a wonderful way to celebrate.. the new barn.. and the new inhabitants!

I've really got to learn how to concisely present my opinions.

Chooks .. I think you do a good job.. I wish i could articulate.. like you.. and you sing to my choir...

i have hope.. that - organic - permaculture and KNF and methods like these - could repair or at least help
if ... more farmers / ranchers.. would give it a try..
I think .. it take things like this thread and this group of people.. sharing knowledge on the internet and in person.. and passing it on..
thanks for sharing yours..

 

[aoxa]

I thought you guys may find this interesting..


At 48 hours into incubation, I candled to see if I could see veining for the first time in this round. Just out of curiousity as they are much anticipated Barred Plymouth Rocks. Unfortunately this one was cracked in two places and leaking Albumen (egg white) - so I had to toss it. Before doing so, I thought it would be interesting to see what was going on at 48 hours.

The heart continued to beat for roughly 5 minutes. I took this video after it had already started to slow.

 

[Eggcessive]

My goodness Justine that was an amazing video of the little chick embryo--you could see it's little face. Stony, glad your baby duck is back with Mama--you old softy!