The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

The new barn kitties, Lunchbox & Suitcase!

 

[chooks4life]

Quote: There's a lot of info flying around about those silver foxes; I did some reading up on them recently and it took more generations than they said to achieve truly tame foxes, and they did not change anywhere near as much nor as fast as people have said, but there seems to have possibly been a few programs on them. Very different stats keep being quoted, the documentary doesn't seem to even be about the same one I've read about! The one I'm talking about was discontinued due to lack of funds and the foxes desexed and sold as pets.

I don't know what's going on with the discrepancies in info, however it was a successful program, so worth noting.

Basic standards of health and ability to produce what you are breeding them for must always be of prime importance but to me it does not come before attitude, nor after it. No good cow is a bad color, they used to say. In my case I need hardy dual purpose birds with tame, friendly, socially peaceful mentalities, so I breed for those characteristics, and since I'm developing my strain from randoms as well as purebreds, I don't mind the color unless it's straying to white, really. Too early on to strongly work for anything more than a good type. But under no circumstances will I breed a male or female with a sub par attitude just because their meat or egg production is great. I've done that before, I'm still dealing with the results... Bad attitudes, more reliable than physical traits.

I know I'm taking the long and unreliable and convoluted path to developing a breed or two (lol) but that's half the fun, to me. They're productive enough even as random mongrels, I just aren't a fan of the really restricted and faulty gene pools I keep encountering when seeking new birds, it's turned me off purebreds. I know good ones are out there, just nowhere near if my many excursions have taught me anything.

Quote: I wish you could tell that to a lot of the breeders I've dealt with! Most of the ones I've met breed regardless of temperament and the common belief that all roosters are violent means I encounter many, many people who keep violent birds. I've had people tell me in all seriousness that inbreeding only matters with mammals.

About the breed specific disposition though I think it's more the strain than the breed. I blame the mentality/beliefs of the breeder/s rather than the breed, provided they've been breeding them for long enough of course; 10 years is ample time to breed or cull for viciousness... I find if you talk to the breeder you will know before seeing the birds whether or not you can expect violent attitudes. Same with those who keep bulls, stallions, etc, it's the owner/breeder's own beliefs that tell you how safe the animal is. You can get the same breed from someone who believes differently, and the difference is astounding. But sadly those who breed violent males as a matter of course tend to outnumber those who don't, it's a social and cultural thing, but a lot of farmers don't tolerate it over here now, thankfully.

I keep reading and hearing about placid and aggressive males of this or that breed but when I do encounter them it's been entirely dependent on the breeder's attitude. Like I mentioned a while ago, the woman who sold me the only rooster that attacked me was carrying around a chihuahua that mauls her and her family as a daily routine. That should have been a warning to me. I got him as a week old chick and raised him with as much care as the rest and one day he just attacked me without warning or provocation of any noticeable sort, lol. Thankfully I didn't get hurt.

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

Is it normal for chick to sit around with their mouths open from time to time?
It is pretty warm here, ive just been reading some chicken horror stories lately, and dont know if im just scaring myself lol.
All of them seem healthy and happy, no odd behavior, everyone is eating normally and all that , just wanted to make sure.... I am pretty new to the chicken scene after all.
And this seemed like a great place to ask a question
Thanks in advance!

 

[Quailsong]

Susan called the ambulance because I couldn't open my eye and I was bleeding profusely.

That is a scary story. I know many home phones in the US/CAN are set up that if you repeatedly click the on/off or press 0 that an operator will come to the line & ask what you need. It's a throw-back from the old rotary phones (and before).

However, I'm unsure if cell/iphones have this feature as I've never owned one; though I imagine it would be impossible to find the on/off or 0 on a flat screen. Maybe an app that recognizes your voice & dials help if you say "Phone Help" would be a good safety idea.

 

[midnightroo]

Is it normal for chick to sit around with their mouths open from time to time?
It is pretty warm here, ive just been reading some chicken horror stories lately, and dont know if im just scaring myself lol.
All of them seem healthy and happy, no odd behavior, everyone is eating normally and all that , just wanted to make sure.... I am pretty new to the chicken scene after all.
And this seemed like a great place to ask a question
Thanks in advance!

Mine are panting also. I have one that is a panting more then the others, so I am worried also. I have read lots of things you can do to help keep them cool, a fan, spray their dusting areas if it is in the shade, pools they could stand in and water bottles. I am trying the water bottles and giving them cold foods also. Thought I am not sure if either are working. Below are photos of them being spoiled on frozen ground beef. My dh is more willing to part with that then the heart in the freezer. I think I agree with Justine about the heat, so hard to deal with for us and the chickens compared to the cold.

 

[delisha]

Is it normal for chick to sit around with their mouths open from time to time?
It is pretty warm here, ive just been reading some chicken horror stories lately, and dont know if im just scaring myself lol.
All of them seem healthy and happy, no odd behavior, everyone is eating normally and all that , just wanted to make sure.... I am pretty new to the chicken scene after all.
And this seemed like a great place to ask a question
Thanks in advance!

Quote: Make sure you are giving electrolytes this time of year. It makes a world of difference.

 

[graybeard]

What type of electrolytes do you recommend for chickens?

 

[midnightroo]

Thanks Delish. I have some liquid vitamin stuff I got for the chicks when they came home so I will add that to their water.

 

[RedRidge]

What type of electrolytes do you recommend for chickens?

We don't use electrolytes or vitamins very often... I confess I'm kind of a survival of the fittest sort of livestock keeper (meaning that yes, I try to save them all, but no, I only breed the ones that don't require extra "anything"). You get FF and fresh water daily... a dry place to sleep, a nice nesting for laying. If you require more than that... even in extreme cold or extreme heat... your genetics end with you.

That said... when we do offer electrolytes we use Gatorade.... just make sure if you are going to show to use only blue, orange, or yellow... don't use red because you'll never get the stains out. LOL MY daughter claims the light blue is everyone's favorite. ;-)

 

[bbdal]

We have some old rocking chairs that were my husband's grandparents' chairs. The paint is peeling off of them and is probably lead based paint considering how old the chairs are. My husband has been intending on repainting them. He saw a hen or two peck at a paint chip. Should we be considered as far as the hen's health or the eggs we eat? Thanks!