The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Good thought on setting the eggs a couple days apart, Del.

Wondering - do different breeds sometimes have differing gestation lengths as a rule of thumb? Meaning... do some have a tendency to go a day or so longer than others of a different breed?

Yes.
Also different hens incubate differently. I had a duck who incubated so well every duckling hatched on the same day. She would take eggs out of the nest to cool them and slow them down. A very good brooder. I have several hen who take there time hatching and never hatch out in 21 days. One is a regular 23 day hatcher. My Orp eggs take 22 days, and some of the silkies took 25 days. The Wyandottes take 20-21 days.

I have never raised Cornish cross, but from the many posts I've read in the meat thread getting mentally prepared to process my own I have come to the conclusion that the Cornish cross are pot luck each batch can either be great or not so great even w/ the same husbandry.

Yes, every batch I raised was different when I ordered them. The ones I raised were the same though and think that was due to culling for personalities as well as breast meat size.

Well one of my broody's is finally off the nest...
YES, these are keets... LOL
I believe we counted 15 or 16 of them.

So cute..

 

[Shan30]

Love keets mine are just starting to lose their cuteness and become the ugly birds they will be haha!

I raised them with a few chicks in hopes of making them more sociable and want to return home every night and not wander off. I don't know if it will work but I hope so!

We culled the MG positive laying flock last Sunday so in two weeks we should be safe to move the kiddos from the grow out pen. It was awful but DH offered to do the actual culling so I was just doing the catching. He took care of my two favourites before I made it out to the coop. Thoughtful guy

I looked at neem oil at my local farm store and the label had all sorts of warnings about inhaling, getting it on your skin, in your eyes etc. this worried me as I figure the birds are more sensitive than me. Am I being over cautious here? Does everyone else's have this label?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Love keets

mine are just starting to lose their cuteness and become the ugly birds they will be haha!

I raised them with a few chicks in hopes of making them more sociable and want to return home every night and not wander off. I don't know if it will work but I hope so!

We culled the MG positive laying flock last Sunday so in two weeks we should be safe to move the kiddos from the grow out pen. It was awful but DH offered to do the actual culling so I was just doing the catching. He took care of my two favourites before I made it out to the coop. Thoughtful guy

I looked at neem oil at my local farm store and the label had all sorts of warnings about inhaling, getting it on your skin, in your eyes etc. this worried me as I figure the birds are more sensitive than me. Am I being over cautious here? Does everyone else's have this label?

You know, when I read the label on the neem oil I decided not to use it in my coop. I know other folks do, but it occurs to me that if oil is what's needed for smothering lice/mite eggs, then I could find an oil that wasn't questionable. So I never ended up buying it.

I don't remember your story about the MG...would you write a little update post...or point me to the post where you wrote about it. I was wanting to remember how your birds got it and how you knew/suspected that was what it was. Thanks!

 

[Shan30]

You know, when I read the label on the neem oil I decided not to use it in my coop.  I know other folks do, but it occurs to me that if oil is what's needed for smothering lice/mite eggs, then I could find an oil that wasn't questionable.  So I never ended up buying it.

I don't remember your story about the MG...would you write a little update post...or point me to the post where you wrote about it.  I was wanting to remember how your birds got it and how you knew/suspected that was what it was.  Thanks!

No problem, now that its over its not so hard to deal with.

After a bear took part of our flock we replaced a few birds. I am positive the carriers were four hilarious little mutt bantam pullets. We quarantined but did not use a sacrifice bird. BIG Mistake!

About a week after integrating our little black silkie (Tina Turner, I didn't name her haha) started sneezing, had nasal discharge and stayed out later than the others every night. She got better pretty quickly. Next sign was the night that we nu-stocked everyone's legs and many were raspy when distressed.

A week after that two of the three youngest birds were sneezing and wheezing too. Next day one of the two had runny/bubbly eyes. Few days later the other had a swollen face.

We had thought Tina was only sneezing because she always hung out in the rain until as was soaked. Either way we did not suspect the little bantams until it was too late.

We culled and sent in two birds for necropsy asking specifically for MG testing. Results were positive.

While I was catching them on cull day the only ones not rasping we're the four little bantams. Who came from a local breeder who sells a ton of chicks. I am still not sure if I should say something...

Moral of the story for me is decide what breeds I want. Find good sources. Purchase, quarantine, sacrifice bird and close flock.

We culled the first 2 for necropsy, and 24 last Sunday if you don't count the lives of the eggs the two broodies were sitting on. It felt like murder and I never want to repeat the experience.

Biosecurity all the way!

 

[aoxa]

I'm on cloud 9.

My niece was born today at 9:15, weighing in at 6 lbs 13oz and is the most beautiful baby in the world. She is much cuter than her brother was.

 

[Shan30]

Hahahahaha Justine I can't believe you just said that! She is beautiful tho congratulations!

 

[aoxa]

Hahahahaha Justine I can't believe you just said that! She is beautiful tho

congratulations!

We all know it He was a homely baby, but they usually really grow into their look, and he is VERY cute now.


Parker waiting anxiously to give his sister a present.

 

[Shan30]

Aww what a great gift from her big brother. They will have a ton of fun together, and with you of course'

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Thanks for repeating for me.

Is MG one of those things that you can't get rid of from the property..or can you go ahead and get new birds right away?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Congrats on the new baby niece