The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

These are the brooder boxes 6 on each side These door open all the way on the one side. I keep the other side closed and unused during winter.

This is the pullet side
this is the duck side

Delisha - once again - in awe of your setup! I just love it!!

I've been playing around and put together some more images of disqualifying conformation.

Even if a person doesn't show their poultry, these deformities are genetic and are undesirable in breeding a healthy dual purpose flock. I can put up more if it's desired. edited to add: No copyright infringement is intended. These images are for educational purposes only.

Mumsy - thank you SO much for sharing your knowledge! This has to be one of the most amazing groups of people, and I'm learning so much about... well... so much!!

It is a quandry when you have so many breeds that you show. i have for just two now and the DH is going to now do the silkies. He also said he wanted bantum cochin, what an unusual man.

That's so cute! (Don't tell him I said that!) You ordering bantam cochin hatching eggs from ki4got? I have 2 from her - very sweet and nicely put together birds!

RC hen BV some of the eggs are out of
Cock and other SC hens eggs are out of
So I have high hopes. I have 6 viable eggs. They are due in two days. I am a wreck.

I'm so thrilled for you and I'll keep my fingers crossed you have a great hatch (and get a nice RIR cockerel!).

One of my daughter's Christmas Silkies layed an egg yesterday - got another today. I posted our "big news" on facebook and an amazing friend of a friend offered to send us Silkie hatching eggs out of the blue. I have our new (cheap) incubator up and running to get the temps and any glitches worked out before the Silkie eggs come... but I'm seriously considering ordering a few Heritage RIR eggs to hatch at the same time since I'm planning on getting some anyway. Only thing holding me back is our tight finances. I really want some!!

Today I put a little food in the front of the box and mom called baby to come out. Interesting...those of you who have done this before will know.... the "language" mom uses is quite different depending on what she's communicating. There's definitely a "come out here for some food right now" thing she says.

Baby came right out and mom started breaking up some larger pieces of scrambled egg that was mixed in w/the ff I put there for them. It is SO AMAZING to watch this hatchery mom - who didn't have a mom raise her - talking w/this baby and "fixing" food for it so it can eat smaller pieces.

That is just so neat! I can't wait to witness that myself. And what adorable pictures. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay. It looks like the tallies are in and I only had one egg hatch out of the 7. I'm scrambling right now trying to find someone w/in driving distance to get a few "hatch-mates" to add to the nest under mom so this little one isn't all by itself. Hopefully some doors will open up here soon.

Today I put a little food in the front of the box and mom called baby to come out. Interesting...those of you who have done this before will know.... the "language" mom uses is quite different depending on what she's communicating. There's definitely a "come out here for some food right now" thing she says.

Baby came right out and mom started breaking up some larger pieces of scrambled egg that was mixed in w/the ff I put there for them. It is SO AMAZING to watch this hatchery mom - who didn't have a mom raise her - talking w/this baby and "fixing" food for it so it can eat smaller pieces.

Don't you just love it, i never get tired of watching a mama and her babies.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I was going to check this out to see if or what anyone might think about worming. I have had chickens now for over 6 years and have never wormed them. They do free range. I have never seen anything or even thought that they might have them. But because I went to the Emergency/medical post to ask about an older hen - she is 4 - with a dirty bottom I have been in an overload of information on worming and that I need to worm them twice a year. I have had a few die over the years but just thought that is was a "natural death type thing. Heat mostly for the older birds. I am at a moment where to tell you the truth I just don't know what to do. I have 40 birds. My husband has cancer and my grand children consume these eggs like crazy. So not really wanting to put into the birds that may be harmful. Any help from some of you would be great. So to worm or not to worm that is the question. Thank you so much.

Here's some easy to read things that may be helpful....
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2012/11/bloody-egg-do-my-chickens-have-worms.html

 

[aoxa]

PET CHICKEN SAVES COUPLE FROM FIRE

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/3...chicken-saved-them-from-fire/?test=latestnews


I guess a chicken in the basement isn't such a bad idea after all

I saw this earlier! A friend of mine posted it on FB

 

[aoxa]

Here's some easy to read things that may be helpful....
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2012/11/bloody-egg-do-my-chickens-have-worms.html

Yes exactly what I was going to suggest!

 

[Leahs Mom]

One of my daughter's Christmas Silkies layed an egg yesterday - got another today. I posted our "big news" on facebook and an amazing friend of a friend offered to send us Silkie hatching eggs out of the blue. I have our new (cheap) incubator up and running to get the temps and any glitches worked out before the Silkie eggs come... but I'm seriously considering ordering a few Heritage RIR eggs to hatch at the same time since I'm planning on getting some anyway. Only thing holding me back is our tight finances. I really want some!!

Are they in the mail?????

 

[Leahs Mom]

I think I found some chicks for my brood a couple hours south of me....I may be adding to the family soon

 

[Mumsy]

Delisha - once again - in awe of your setup! I just love it!!

Mumsy - thank you SO much for sharing your knowledge! This has to be one of the most amazing groups of people, and I'm learning so much about... well... so much!!


That's so cute! (Don't tell him I said that!) You ordering bantam cochin hatching eggs from ki4got? I have 2 from her - very sweet and nicely put together birds!


I'm so thrilled for you and I'll keep my fingers crossed you have a great hatch (and get a nice RIR cockerel!).

One of my daughter's Christmas Silkies layed an egg yesterday - got another today. I posted our "big news" on facebook and an amazing friend of a friend offered to send us Silkie hatching eggs out of the blue. I have our new (cheap) incubator up and running to get the temps and any glitches worked out before the Silkie eggs come... but I'm seriously considering ordering a few Heritage RIR eggs to hatch at the same time since I'm planning on getting some anyway. Only thing holding me back is our tight finances. I really want some!!


That is just so neat! I can't wait to witness that myself. And what adorable pictures. Thank you for sharing!

I am loving this thread so much. I work work work outside off and on all day then run upstairs to check this thread and just enjoy the pictures of chicks, coops, and all so very dearly. My head and library is filled to over flowing with a life time of knowledge. When I can organize my thoughts and images, I will share what ever I can. Happily and willingly. I will share now a few precious images of my family and garden. This is where I raised four children and nearly 200 chickens and ducks over 26 years.

The big snow of 1988. The year we moved to our 1/2 acre on Whidbey Island. I still had a horse and kept her here for a year.


Five years later the horse was sold and I was raising chickens, Call ducks, and Old roses and Perennials for sale.


My two oldest daughters playing in the gardens.


My youngest daughter with her favorite show quality pigeon. (koolaid lips) HAH!


This is my favorite picture of my youngest daughter. Twenty years ago she loved this little EE chick. In those days the hatchery told me it was an Ameracauna. She named it 'Woofpeef'. It grew up to be the biggest, rankest, meanest roo ever! I sold it. She never knew. Because of this picture I never forgot that name. Double Hah! My baby girl is maybe 3 years old here. Wearing little rubber boots and fly down. She is grown and married now. Has her dream job as a dog groomer and wants chicks from Johnny and his girls. My heart is glad.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think I found some chicks for my brood a couple hours south of me....I may be adding to the family soon

what breed?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Beautiful pictures Mumsy, thank you for sharing them.