The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[boyswillbeboys]

I'm new here, I'll be starting out with day olds from a hatchery, but what DH doesn't know is come spring, I hope to hatch under a broody hen, instead of buying from a hatchery. I'm in Canada, and we just moved to an acreage, surrounded by grain fields

I have a question about drying grass for the coop, how much space to you need to dry the grass, and how long does it take? We have a small patio area, done with paving blocks, and I figure what DH doesn't know will only be good for our birds, and once he sees its not just some random crackpot idea, but a well thought out plan, he'll be ok with it.

I want to build a mesh drying frame, for fleece, that I could use for grass too, which would be faster too, as air can move under it.

Well, back to reading, I read the first 2 pages, but this thread is over 500 pages long.

 

[uglychickens]

I'm new here, I'll be starting out with day olds from a hatchery, but what DH doesn't know is come spring, I hope to hatch under a broody hen, instead of buying from a hatchery. I'm in Canada, and we just moved to an acreage, surrounded by grain fields

I have a question about drying grass for the coop, how much space to you need to dry the grass, and how long does it take? We have a small patio area, done with paving blocks, and I figure what DH doesn't know will only be good for our birds, and once he sees its not just some random crackpot idea, but a well thought out plan, he'll be ok with it.

I want to build a mesh drying frame, for fleece, that I could use for grass too, which would be faster too, as air can move under it.

Well, back to reading, I read the first 2 pages, but this thread is over 500 pages long.

Keep your birds out of those grain fields! Better safe then sorry...
I can't answer you on drying time in Canada but here in texas it only takes about an hour... Our air is really really really dry with lots of wind and heat!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
In Indiana it takes at least a day if not 2 but we have higher humidity.

 

[uglychickens]

Also under chicken coops designs and construction there is a really neat thread that is full of ideas on building things out of spare things you have laying around... I really suggest taking the time to read the whole thread lots of good information and ideas that people on a budget or without can still use!! Saving money never hurts!!

 

[uglychickens]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631861/diy-thread-lets-see-your-inventions/740_10#post_11415291
Here is the link... If this shows up?

 

[boyswillbeboys]

We

Keep your birds out of those grain fields! Better safe then sorry...
I can't answer you on drying time in Canada but here in texas it only takes about an hour... Our air is really really really dry with lots of wind and heat!

We are planning a large fenced run, unless I can supervise them, because I have no clue what chemicals he uses, and I don't want to lose anyone not destined for the table, and when they are, I want healthy birds, not ones full of chemicals.
In our current weather, nothing will dry it's been raining for days, hopefully it stops before the babies arrive. Or there will be no dry bedding for them, though I have some unprinted newspaper I could shred for them.

 

[uglychickens]

The news paper will work in the brooder just fine easy to clean up as well... What kind of set up do you have for the new guys when they come?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Update for my rooster: He was looking much better yesterday with one of his legs almost back to normal. But this morning, when I went out to the coop he was till in his sleeping position. He must have passed during the night. I'm thinking it was most likely a weak heart and it was his time to go. The layer food might have speed up the process a little but he had eaten it for months and this problem was quite recent.

Darn... sorry to hear.

I'm new here, I'll be starting out with day olds from a hatchery, but what DH doesn't know is come spring, I hope to hatch under a broody hen, instead of buying from a hatchery. I'm in Canada, and we just moved to an acreage, surrounded by grain fields

I have a question about drying grass for the coop, how much space to you need to dry the grass, and how long does it take? We have a small patio area, done with paving blocks, and I figure what DH doesn't know will only be good for our birds, and once he sees its not just some random crackpot idea, but a well thought out plan, he'll be ok with it.

I want to build a mesh drying frame, for fleece, that I could use for grass too, which would be faster too, as air can move under it.

For me, if it's a sunny day it's just a couple hours. Just spread it thin. I don't think you really need a frame...just not piled up on top of something damp or wet. Could even put it on the garage floor. Or take a large piece of cardboard from a box you take apart and put it on that. A dry surface is good...you probably wouldn't pile it deep enough to worry about it getting wet underneith.

 

[aoxa]

I'm new here, I'll be starting out with day olds from a hatchery, but what DH doesn't know is come spring, I hope to hatch under a broody hen, instead of buying from a hatchery. I'm in Canada, and we just moved to an acreage, surrounded by grain fields

I have a question about drying grass for the coop, how much space to you need to dry the grass, and how long does it take? We have a small patio area, done with paving blocks, and I figure what DH doesn't know will only be good for our birds, and once he sees its not just some random crackpot idea, but a well thought out plan, he'll be ok with it.

I want to build a mesh drying frame, for fleece, that I could use for grass too, which would be faster too, as air can move under it.

Well, back to reading, I read the first 2 pages, but this thread is over 500 pages long.

We
We are planning a large fenced run, unless I can supervise them, because I have no clue what chemicals he uses, and I don't want to lose anyone not destined for the table, and when they are, I want healthy birds, not ones full of chemicals.
In our current weather, nothing will dry

it's been raining for days, hopefully it stops before the babies arrive. Or there will be no dry bedding for them, though I have some unprinted newspaper I could shred for them.

Where in Canada are you at? Getting from hatcheries here is not cheap at all. Not like it is in the US.

I'm looking forward to nicer weather as well. Rain rain go away... Been raining like crazy since Saturday (with a break on Monday).

 

[boyswillbeboys]

These are our first, DH won't allow them in the house, but our coop is built (triple closure) it is in need of modifications, but the coop itself is there. I plan to brood them in the back of the coop, away from the door with a light on one end of that, probably start towards the middle. I bought an indoor outdoor thermometer, that will remember highs and lows, so I can put the probe near the light and the display and indoor sensor on the other end. Our coop remodel got put on hold by repairs in the basement of the house, and weather, it's been quite rainy here. I haven't tested the temperature with the light yet, but it's on the list, for this week.