The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

I just did some web search and also the byc sumtaler thread, and these are definitely sumtalers. I think they are pullets, and also, it looks like the roos are totally different in coloring. Possibly one of the roos is a sumtaler. THe one that looks the most like a sumtaler has a rose comb, but sumtalers don't have those.

wow. I can't believe you figured that out!

apparently they are greenfire and one other source, now hatching eggs are available. very docile birds, which is true for the ones I have. slow to lay, and a medium layer but supposedly a meat delicacy. Now the wheels are turning. If I could positively identify a roo that is sumtaler, I might have to separate them all out and put them into the little coop and get them a run.

huh.

That would be exciting if that is what you have

 

[aoxa]

I just did some web search and also the byc sumtaler thread, and these are definitely sumtalers. I think they are pullets, and also, it looks like the roos are totally different in coloring. Possibly one of the roos is a sumtaler. THe one that looks the most like a sumtaler has a rose comb, but sumtalers don't have those.

wow. I can't believe you figured that out!

apparently they are greenfire and one other source, now hatching eggs are available. very docile birds, which is true for the ones I have. slow to lay, and a medium layer but supposedly a meat delicacy. Now the wheels are turning. If I could positively identify a roo that is sumtaler, I might have to separate them all out and put them into the little coop and get them a run.

huh.

I love solving things. I know I still am bothered by not knowing what Koda (our dog) has in him. I know for sure Corgi, but the other side.. gah..

They are very unique, and rare. So glad we know what to call them now!

 

[lalaland]

on a totally different note, I am freezing. It is 59 degrees and damp, hard to believe it will be 76 this afternoon. I want to start a wood fire in July! working at home today I got to spend some time with the chicks in the run and they all of a sudden gave a warning call and everyone froze. I looked around to see a skunk skirting the edge of the run. As soon as it was a little further along the run past the chicks, they hightailed it into the coop and stayed in there, making distress calls.

Skunk went off to the raspberry bushes where I had been planning to get berries for breakfast. I skipped berries this morning, that patch is so overgrown you can't see the the ground, and now I am going to be skittish about picking because......there might be a skunk lurking in there.

Anyway, today is the warmest it should be til next week, so keep your fingers crossed that it really gets up to 76 so I can dip the hens in sulphur. Otherwise will have to wait til a week and a half when it will be warmer.

 

[MumsyII]

Day eighteen. Candled the eighteen Silkie eggs and all but one are right where they should be in mass and air cell. One is alive but looks a week behind. I did set a late egg. It doesn't have a blood ring. Interesting. So seventeen of eighteen look perfect and one ? egg. This is incredibly good for Silkie eggs. In other flock news: The nasty silkie boy is improving everyday. I've cut back to 1/3 of the feed I was dishing out. The flock are looking great but they act like I'm starving them when ever I go out. The HRIR are learning to range further. No weirdness with any birds in two weeks. It's a WIN!

 

[delisha]

on a totally different note, I am freezing. It is 59 degrees and damp, hard to believe it will be 76 this afternoon. I want to start a wood fire in July! working at home today I got to spend some time with the chicks in the run and they all of a sudden gave a warning call and everyone froze. I looked around to see a skunk skirting the edge of the run. As soon as it was a little further along the run past the chicks, they hightailed it into the coop and stayed in there, making distress calls.

Skunk went off to the raspberry bushes where I had been planning to get berries for breakfast. I skipped berries this morning, that patch is so overgrown you can't see the the ground, and now I am going to be skittish about picking because......there might be a skunk lurking in there.

Anyway, today is the warmest it should be til next week, so keep your fingers crossed that it really gets up to 76 so I can dip the hens in sulphur. Otherwise will have to wait til a week and a half when it will be warmer.

Please document and photo graph your progress and keep us updated on your results. It would make a great subject for people who are having a horrible time getting rid of problem lice and mites.

 

[armorfirelady]

Edie 16 week EE laid her 1st egg

It has a bluish tint to it. And she even laid it in the nesting box

 

[MumsyII]

Edie 16 week EE laid her 1st egg

It has a bluish tint to it. And she even laid it in the nesting box

Yeah Edie! Nice eggs by the way.

 

[armorfirelady]

Edie 16 week EE laid her 1st egg It has a bluish tint to it. And she even laid it in the nesting box

Yeah Edie! Nice eggs by the way.

Thanks I knew she would probably lay soon since Sally8 said one of her sisters had laid already. Maybe they will get bluer as they lay longer?

 

[Sally8]

Thanks I knew she would probably lay soon since Sally8 said one of her sisters had laid already. Maybe they will get bluer as they lay longer?

Yeah Edie!

Don't count on the eggs getting bluer. I'm thinking what we see is what we get. They are very personable chickens and I like their coloring. And....I'm all about having different colored chickens and different colored eggs. Not long ago I realized that if I want those very dark eggs, it will involve hatching many, culling many and many years of hatching ahead of me. I just enjoy having chickens. The end.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sally8, that silkie looks like the cutest feather duster I have ever seen.

Armorfirelady, the eggs may stay that color. I have many blue wheaten ameraucanas, lavenders, and EE's, and a couple of the BWA's lay the palest washed out light blue egg while most lay a pretty blue or light blue.

Mumsy I hope Mr. Nasty gets better, but you can send him to me if you get tired of him. It seems that your new gardening thread has drawn everyone over there lately (I'm suscribed.)