The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[bluebirdnanny]

Wow Aoxa they look great!

So beautiful!

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!

Across street the farmer that share-crops said they "don't use chemicals anymore like we used to. Now just 'Round-up' so no chemicals. It is gone in three days anyway... nothing lasts." I attempted an educating comment but saw it was useless. Got to make sure my chickens stay away from the road and ensure they don't get into his soybeans. He doesn't care if they do and says they won't hurt anything........ YEAH but THEY MIGHT/WOULD SUFFER!!!!!

 

[Bulldogma]

I thought you guys may find this interesting..

Aoxa - this is way too cool not to share. I have given it its own post in the thing! (New folks - see my signature - the thing has a similar title to this thread.)

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

Welcome!

 

[4Hgirl]

So beautiful!
Across street the farmer that share-crops said they "don't use chemicals anymore like we used to. Now just 'Round-up' so no chemicals. It is gone in three days anyway... nothing lasts." I attempted an educating comment but saw it was useless. Got to make sure my chickens stay away from the road and ensure they don't get into his soybeans. He doesn't care if they do and says they won't hurt anything........ YEAH  but THEY MIGHT/WOULD SUFFER!!!!! 

I just read 98% of soybean is GMO "roundup ready"

 

[tfletch]

Hi everyone! I am new to raising chickens and want to raise them as organic as possible so I was wondering what tips anyone could share to start right off the bat with. It feels overwhelming trying to figure out what we can afford to do and what works best to keep them healthy and happy.

 

[TexasLisa]

Hi everyone! I am new to raising chickens and want to raise them as organic as possible so I was wondering what tips anyone could share to start right off the bat with. It feels overwhelming trying to figure out what we can afford to do and what works best to keep them healthy and happy.

Howdy and

from Texas!!

What kind of chickens do you have? Pictures?? We love pictures.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. We have quite a few on here who are SMART!! (They will also help you with your chicken math)

Lisa

 

[BlueMouse]

I come back from a three day migraine and you guys have gotten WAY ahead... good grief this thread moves fast. So I'm a bit behind with these comments, sorry!

How big should we make each of our nesting boxes guys? I need some dimensions...


I want something like this (wooden) but can't find proper dimensions.. Needs to fit big breeds of chickens. I was thinking 12" x 12", but not sure if that is big enough. Thoughts?

Thinking of doing 15-20 holes. Would maybe do same as above with one more row at the bottom.

Firs: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! ahead of time. what a great present! My buff laid in a 12x12 milk crate, but she was totally wedged in. I'm just building a 4 hole nest box and those are planned 14x14 to give the big girls a bit more room.

I've seen the larger "communal" nest boxes in use and kind of like them. I am going to put some in when this current crop of chicks gets to point of lay as the 5 boxes I have now probably won't be enough (depending on how many chicks turn out to be roos)

I'm so curious about those! I'm just finishing up my nest boxes, and I'm thinking about leaving them as "communal" rather than dividing? Going to have to research them... It would certainly be easier, since mine is made out of a set of old dresser drawers....

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.

So glad you turned out to have SFH! And My one banty is TWICE as fast as all my other chickens put together, and much more savvy too. I was worried that my big rooster would squash her flat, but I don't think he'll be able to catch her if she doesn't want to be caught. she's only 12 weeks old and only slightly larger than a teacup. She looks like a red powder puff!

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.

Don't even get me started on all this rain! our yard has so much standing water in it that even when it stops raining I can't mow. Even my raised beds had standing water in them yesterday. Watching the creek rise with some trepidation. It's higher now than it was during the spring thaw. I have straw in my nestboxes now, it's what I started out with before I knew better. I dumped wood ash in after I heard about straw harboring mites. When I put in these new nestboxes I so want to go to grass hay, or grass clippings. I'm going to have to buy some if the weather doesn't cooperate though.

Hi everyone! I am new to raising chickens and want to raise them as organic as possible so I was wondering what tips anyone could share to start right off the bat with. It feels overwhelming trying to figure out what we can afford to do and what works best to keep them healthy and happy.

Welcome to the thread from another newbie! Lots of great info here from some really experienced folks.

Broody mama funny moment of the day. When I let my dog out for a bathroom break he shoots out the front door like he's been fired from a cannon, scattering whatever chickens are on the front porch.... Today Mrs. Bennet had her baby by the front porch and decided that Grizzle was way too close. You should have seen her divebombing him! And Then Mr. Bennet hears the ruckus and came runninng over. Thankfully by then I had come out and seperated everyone, so he didn't do anything but flap his wings, poof his neck, and make loud alarm calls... Poor grizzle was so confused!

 

[lalaland]

Welcome Tammy! lurkers fine, you'll be surprised you will find you have something to add when someone posts questions.

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa - this is way too cool not to share. I have given it its own post in the thing! (New folks - see my signature - the thing has a similar title to this thread.)


Welcome!

I'm glad you found it cool A little bummed that it was cracked, but really cool to see it beating like that. I am still surprised it was only 48 hours in!

 

[starlingdaly]

So beautiful!
Across street the farmer that share-crops said they "don't use chemicals anymore like we used to. Now just 'Round-up' so no chemicals. It is gone in three days anyway... nothing lasts." I attempted an educating comment but saw it was useless. Got to make sure my chickens stay away from the road and ensure they don't get into his soybeans. He doesn't care if they do and says they won't hurt anything........ YEAH  but THEY MIGHT/WOULD SUFFER!!!!! 

Yeah, round-up is my neighbor's go-to chemical as well! That and Sevin dust! He then gives me produce from his garden that I really appreciate, except I know he just dusted with Sevin a few days ago!
The field behind our house belongs to this same neighbor and he rents it out to a nearby farmer. Every year this farmer plants round-up ready soybeans. In my back yard! I just have to hope my chickens aren't interested!
Oh I forgot, the neighbor also uses chemical fertilizer and once a year applies manure/dead chickens from the chicken torture warehouses down the road. It reeks for DAYS and is so depressing to see skeletal remains of chickens in a field of GMO soybeans being sprayed with all manner of chemicals right behind my house.

I'm glad you guys mentioned grass clippings for nesting material! With all the rain, the grass has grown faster than they can eat it so I had to mow it for the first time this year. I raked as many piles of grass as I could this morning and put it in the nest box and run.

 

[starlingdaly]

On a different note, has anyone ever fermented their own mead (honey wine) naturally aka without added yeast or sugar?
I really want to try it (fermenting is addictive!) and apparently 4 cups of honey will make a gallon of mead so it is pretty cost effective.
Any tips?