The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[MumsyII]

I keep filling those dirty turkey's feed pan to the top twice a day. They pick it clean and then show me their gratitude by shooting it out the other end. They are growing faster and I am thinking late October when the cold weather sets in to get it all cleaned up. In all ways that will make it worth it. That turkey run is going to make a huge compost pile contribution! I'm probably not on the happy happy joy joy turkey band wagon right now because it's only August and just half way there.

I moved the entire Silkie flock except broody's into the Potager garden this week. They are having a hard time navigating the raised beds. Sort of like a giant maze to them. They tend to stay in front of the gates. So today I lured them deeper into it by breaking open a large squash and some over ripe cucumbers. This got them all excited and moving into some areas where they can scratch. I've pulled all the spent pea vines up and harvested beets, carrots, and leeks so lots for them to find. It's getting them moving that's hard. Silkies are such creatures of habit in my yard. They forage well when they are familiar with the perimeters. I find myself herding them along like a Shepherd. Hah! If I was smart, I would move the water pan further into the garden. Hmmm...

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I keep filling those dirty turkey's feed pan to the top twice a day. They pick it clean and then show me their gratitude by shooting it out the other end. They are growing faster and I am thinking late October when the cold weather sets in to get it all cleaned up. In all ways that will make it worth it. That turkey run is going to make a huge compost pile contribution! I'm probably not on the happy happy joy joy turkey band wagon right now because it's only August and just half way there.

I think turkeys are the best! We had 5 last year and loved them so much we got 25 this year. I love the way they follow me around. They sure do eat and poo! I'd love to be able to do more, but they could eat a person out of house and home.

 

[lalaland]

I am beginning to think about my "winter routine." I don't have electricity to the coop/run and I sure don't want to use extension cords. I think I'm going to have to do the water swap-out. But I leave for work before it's very light and get home after dark. I'm a little worried about them getting enough food & water between their getting up and going back to roost. My brothers & sisters up here in the higher lattitudes...how do they do? Will I only see my hens on weekends?

same situation here, leave before dawn and home after dark. I don't think they would have enough water because it would freeze too fast - at least here in northern minnesota. IF someone is home during the day, or mid afternoon to bring fresh water, it would work. In my place, once the water froze they would be without til next morning since they are roosting when I get home.

I went with electric heavy duty extension cord, and I kept the heated dog bowls outside the coop. So the hazard part is outside and hopefully only would blow a circuit if something went wrong.

Yes, you won't hardly see your girls in the winter! But, checking on them each nite, you will get to hear those little contented murmurs and purrs.

anyone else notice how dark it is in the mornings already? seems like it doesn't get light outside til almost 6 am.

Sally, I was tempted to have a fire too this morning, 47 degrees outside and 58 in the house - just a little too chilly but since I was going to be working outside on the shed, I knew I'ld warm up.

 

[mlowen]

I asked this on the fermented feed for meaties thread, but y'all are way smart, too! When I rinse my stirring spoon or strainer or feeding bucket in the sink (rinsing off ferment stuff) am I doing wicked good things for my septic tank?

 

[FridayYet]

My ceramic bowl cracked. I thought it was just a fluke and bought another one. Lasted a couple weeks and cracked in the exact same place. I came to the conclusion that the top part of the ceramic was still very cold and that it cracked due to the change from hot to cold.

What if you put a water bath around the ceramic bowl to distribute the heat better? (Just a thought if you are experimenting)

Sally, I was tempted to have a fire too this morning, 47 degrees outside and 58 in the house - just a little too chilly but since I was going to be working outside on the shed, I knew I'ld warm up.

All this talk of winter plans...It is 102 here right now and winter seems so far off - correction, winter IS so far off since we don't see much of it around here.

 

[lalaland]

ok, best tip I read today in the vintage chicken/poultry raising book: put aside chunks of sod in the barn to give to the chickens in the winter. They will peck at the grit, dried grass, and dead bugs.

now, I don't have a barn but I do have a shed! So, along with bags of leaves for the winter coop, I'll store some sod. Will help keep them occupied in the winter when it gets 30 below and worst windchills and they don't leave the coop.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

I asked this on the fermented feed for meaties thread, but y'all are way smart, too! When I rinse my stirring spoon or strainer or feeding bucket in the sink (rinsing off ferment stuff) am I doing wicked good things for my septic tank?

I think you are. It IS LAB going in there and that is what they often put in with the bacterial stuff you flush down. It sure isn't hurting it!

ok, best tip I read today in the vintage chicken/poultry raising book: put aside chunks of sod in the barn to give to the chickens in the winter. They will peck at the grit, dried grass, and dead bugs. now, I don't have a barn but I do have a shed! So, along with bags of leaves for the winter coop, I'll store some sod. Will help keep them occupied in the winter when it gets 30 below and worst windchills and they don't leave the coop.

I'm loving these tips.... so what specific book are you reading?

 

[Leahs Mom]

The "Glass Guru" strikes again.

Been using a pyrex bread pan for PART of my ff feeders but wasn't happy with the way it was currently working.

Earlier this summer I had purchased a cedar planter box that I WAS going to put some herbs in and never did. It was sitting around here still and I got to looking at it the other day and wondering... "wonder if my pyrex bread pan would fit in there? Now...I had been searching high and low for a "glass trough" of sorts or perhaps a lead-free ceramic trough without much luck.

Not only did my pan fit in it PERFECTLY...but 2 FIT IN PERFECTLY. So - the birth of my new, non-toxic feeder. Just put it in tonight.

Here is Charlie's Sister and Big Red being the first to try it out with some fresh ff.







And a photo of Miss Gray. Just because she was standing there looking cute. She's the new underdog. I keep trying to tell her to 'TWEAK THEM BACK but she doesn't listen. She's a real push-over.

 

[Leahs Mom]

And a couple photos just for fun.

I thought I was going to have a goat or 2 so I grew the pasture out for the first time this year and try to find someone with small enough equipment to mow and bale it. I decided to wait till spring and not winter any goats over so I was just going to mow it instead of do hay. Then I realized that the fellow (a neighbor a few blocks away) that was going to mow and bale it for me could use it to feed his horses so I had him come on over and mow it for himself. (He'll leave me a few bales for the chicken nests this winter.)

FINALLY after almost the whole summer we're getting about 5 days w/no rain in the forecast. He got to cut it yesterday (I was at work and missed that part) then he came back w/the rake tonight and did the raking. Since I was here I took a few photos.


Check out this sweet hay rake.




Corner of the hen house on the left (and the electronet). You can see him way back there on his tractor.





Hay raked with the hen house behind me.



My neighborly hay man

 

[mlowen]

...

The "Glass Guru" strikes again. Been using a pyrex bread pan for PART of my ff feeders but wasn't happy with the way it was currently working. Earlier this summer I had purchased a cedar planter box that I WAS going to put some herbs in and never did. It was sitting around here still and I got to looking at it the other day and wondering... "wonder if my pyrex bread pan would fit in there? Now...I had been searching high and low for a "glass trough" of sorts or perhaps a lead-free ceramic trough without much luck. Not only did my pan fit in it PERFECTLY...but 2 FIT IN PERFECTLY. So - the birth of my new, non-toxic feeder. Just put it in tonight. Here is Charlie's Sister and Big Red being the first to try it out with some fresh ff. Perfect!!