The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Pozees]

Interested as well.

Justine and Susan, congratulations!

 

[zzack354]

I have some new pictures of the free ranging Cornish X at 3 weeks old. Delisha - I am so loving the free ranging! They have FINALLY started putting themselves to bed when it's dark. They are doing really well, and getting big. Some are almost fully feathered, and some hardly have any feathers. It seems the fatter ones are less feathered. They get fed twice a day still. Morning and evening. They act starved when I feed them.. Too bad so sad. I can see they are growing, and I know they aren't dying I want to cut the morning feeding soon. They eat what they can in 30 minutes and it's gone.. so really it's not a huge feeding. Just enough to fill their crop. They are out hunting for 9 hours before getting fed again. Cletus is always with the chicks.. The heritage BRs have shunned him LOL. He is so cute, and the only boy from the basement babies I will keep. Phoenix attacked my two year old cousin so will be butchered with Randy when we do the Meaties. They don't bother us at all, which is why we are waiting. If I had kids they would be dead NOW. Cletus is a good boy. The group when I tossed down some fermented scratch grains. Can I PLEAAAAASSSSEE have some dinner? An old cut down tree and brush that the chicks ahve made into a jungle gym. Gives them nice shade in the heat, so I am leaving it be. Look how feathered this one is! One of the Pennies (Red Sex Link) Ooo warm sunshine. Now some of the Silkies: Some of the Easter Eggers: and this random chick I have no idea what it is.. Supposed to be an EE, but is beardless, has a rose comb, and is much bigger than our regular EEs. I thought maybe Chantecler with the wrong colour legs... but probably not. He does breed Chantecler though. The goats and Lunchbox:

Your photos are amazing! I so much enjoy looking at them.

 

[Majd]

Hiii all.... just found this thread... me me md.... all natural...chicken life.. chicken style.... literally ever gave anything that is not natural not even foe young chicks... or laying hens or meat roos....and everything seams perfect and tasty. ..

 

[lalaland]

I am sooo happy! Integration of chicks and hens went great yesterday, it was a little hard getting the babies into the coop but it was done. Now, I still had a chick entrance thru a chicken wire tunnel, and the normal hen ramp....so this morning I was wondering if I could get the chicks to use the normal ramp and dispense with the chicken wire tunnel which is awkward and in the way for me.

So I get out to the chicken yard, and....hey the chicks are out! the hens are out! I guess with all the hullaballo of getting the chicks in last night, I forgot to close up the hen's ramp. (don't worry, run is fenced and fairly secure alhtough the hot wire is off because of the babies).

Problem solved!
New problem: hens eat up all the babies food, ignorning their own feed bowls.

THe chicks are roosting on the lower pine branches and it is fun watching them learn that another chick can bounce them off the branch by jumping on it. little trampoline.

One of the roosters, the one that was crowing at 4 weeks, is already making the "treat" sound and trying to call over the chicks to the treat. Pretty cute.

 

[armorfirelady]

I know they need minerals. Then I think about how fermenting makes more of the minerals available for digestion and use after the bulk of the antinutrients are taken care of... Anyhow...60 lbs of nutribalancer is a lot. Anyone near northern IN that wants to share some? It's organic and I have the specific formula needed for ratio to your feed

I wish I was. I am going to have the same problem.......to bad you couldnt freeze it so it lasts longer

 

[MumsyII]

Look what my Orp-O-Bator hatched out today. Two bantam Salmon Faverolles and a Buff Silkie from my breeding pair. Still have a Leghorn bantam egg under her. Two of those hatched but died soon after.

That's fantastic Trav! Congrats! I had to squint to make out that Buff Silkie chick. Amazing camouflage. My bator is on day twenty one and no pips. Three broodys on Silkie eggs in the barn. These will be my first real efforts from the Sheryl Butler and Karen Larson strains. This batch will be my own strain. You and I have certainly have had our fair amount of challenges to get chicks from those first birds we bought last Fall.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I wonder if it would be cost-effective to ship you some? I'd have to get shipping prices to figure that one out.

 

[Judy]

Not everone who participates in this thread appreciates reading others' religious or political views. From the rules:


Quote:

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote:
I wonder if it would be cost-effective to ship you some? I'd have to get shipping prices to figure that one out.
That I dont know. I think they normally charge by weight? I would need to ask RedRidge how much I would need.

 

[loanwizard]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/809023/all-ye-whom-are-natural-chicken-lovers-and-friends-of-mine

Hey y'all, just starting another chapter if you are interested. Wishing everyone a blessed day!