The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Ashdoes]

Fantastic video...I watched it twice to be sure where I was looking.

 

[aoxa]

Glad you guys liked it. I was afraid I'd offend or gross someone out.

Seems more developed than two days if you ask me, but I set them Sunday night at 7pm.

 

[countrygirl74]

Okay sorry if this has been discussed, I am 4,000 post behind and don't think I will get caught up anytime soon. For those in HOT areas do you use ACV in your water? This was posted on my Texas forum and just wanted to get others input. I use ACV with mother in both my water and fermented feed. Should I back off during our SUPER HOT summer? I have noticed that my shells are getting thinner even though they have oyster and crushed egg shell.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/784410/do-you-add-supplements-and-or-electrolytes/10

I don't ALWAYS use ACV - not necessarily because of temperatures, but just because I think it's good for them to sometimes have just plain old fresh water. I will alternate between using ACV and not... just my .02.

Absolutely stunning birds, Aoxa!!!

X3! I can definitely tell the difference between those and my little hatchery ones!

 

[CoopChick719]

Spent part of the day in court. Being sued by the guy that sold me his farm. Seems he refused to come in and sign a 2nd mortgage so now I have defrauded him. I have written proof of everything that I have said, but need an attorney to get me through Civil Procedure.... So it will cost me $5,000.00 or so just to defend myself when i did nothing wrong. Rest of the day, closed my mechanic shop and converting it to an Auction house. If I ever come back to this world, I want to come back as a much simpler being with a LOT less stress.

Sorry, not very Loin like, but just venting.
Thanks for listening, reading, skimming, laughing, whatever.

That really sucks, Loin!! I hate how some people decide to sue when they fail to do what they should have done!! Good Luck w/the proceedings & with the Auction House!

 

[CoopChick719]

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.








I hatched 19 HRIR for Camille 8 weeks ago. She just brought back a trio for me. I wasn't prepared to raise chicks 8 weeks ago, as I didn't have any place to put them, so she raised them for me in exchange for the hatch. They are adorable.

Your Rocks are GORGEOUS!!!

 

[CoopChick719]

I use shavings and grass clippings also. With some wood ash mixed in there. I need more grass clippings but the darn rain prevents me from drying it out lol. But my plan is to dry grass to save up for the winter for use in nesting boxes and DL.

Originally Posted by LeahsMom


I've started using grass in the run as well. I dumped a wheelbarrow full in the middle of the run. DH said aren't you going to spread that out? Me: Nope, the chickens will do it for me. Yes, the pile was strewn everywhere the next day.

This darn rain has been messing with the mowing schedule and keeping everything soaked. Right now we've got flood watches in effect for some rivers.

LeahsMom--how long do you let the grass dry? A day or 2 in good weather? I've started adding lemon balm & orange peels to my nesting boxes.

I also plan to save grass to use as bedding this winter. And yes, LynnEBC, my DH will think I'm crazy too until he hears that it will be less money spent on shavings!

 

[camilleathome]

I hatched 19 HRIR for Camille 8 weeks ago. She just brought back a trio for me. I wasn't prepared to raise chicks 8 weeks ago, as I didn't have any place to put them, so she raised them for me in exchange for the hatch. They are adorable.

And they look so happy there . After our weekend outing seeing your birds kevin and dereks I finally got the courage to free range my birds and It just warms my heart to see them having so much fun in the grass and sun

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I alternate on using it as well with the big girls. The tots always have ACV in their water for now. But I don't use the ACV with mother just regular ACV.

I used FF last year all summer without a problem. It may get a gray color on top of the FF but I just stir it back in. I do notice when its hotter out it drys out quicker so I just add extra water. I have never had a batch go bad. Our temps can get into the high 80s-90s some days.

 

[tammyfarms]

Hello everyone, i just found this thread. I am not yet all organic.. There is a farmer next door that sprays all sorts of nasty stuff every summer so it would be self defeating I am afraid. BUT I do what ever I can to keep things natural. I hope to learn from you all... will probably be more of a "stalker/researcher" than a contributor. I hope that is ok! I love the idea of drying grass clippings. I have been adding them to my runs for years. Will have to hold some back and dry for the inside of the coop. It is always good to save money! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Tammy

 

[starlingdaly]

Hello everyone, i just found this thread.  I am not yet all organic.. There is a farmer next door that sprays all sorts of nasty stuff every summer so it would be self defeating I am afraid.  BUT I do what ever I can to keep things natural.  I hope to learn from you all... will probably be more of a "stalker/researcher" than a contributor.  I hope that is ok!  I love the idea of drying grass clippings.  I have been adding them to my runs for years.  Will have to hold some back and dry for the inside of the coop.  It is always good to save money!  Thanks for sharing your knowledge.  Tammy

I too have a neighbor who sprays all sorts of chemicals EVERYWHERE and have learned I have to limit my organic gardening to specific areas that are not downwind from what he is spraying. I lost a couple of young raspberry canes earlier this year that were too close.
Can't wait to move to a more secluded area with lots of space!