The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

So far I only put ash in one area outside and not tons of it. I kind-of let them decide if they want to use the ash area or a different area. That way I'm not locking them in to using the ash if it is irritating or such.

ETA: Last winter I had some inside too. I DEFINITELY understand the indoor dust storm syndrome.

I think mixing it with actual dirt decreases the dustiness somewhat. It's what I did last winter and it worked out much better than straight wood ash.

I thought wood ash + water makes Lye? That can create chemical burns on your chickens. Which is why I never had any outside (except the basic camp fire area).

I don't bother with it outside, as most of the chickens dust bathe on the forest floor.

 

[Leahs Mom]

We had a discussion about the lye before because I was afraid of the same thing and only used it indoors for a long time.

I also wondered what happens if they have dusted in ash then go outside and it rains on them. Does it create an irritation on their skin that they can't rid themselves of?


On using it in outdoor dust areas, I have a theory...
I'm thinking that they won't use the outdoor ash area if it is burning them. I had a couple of fire areas that I thought they'd use and they totally avoided them. Then they started using them after about a month. I wondered if enough of the caustic stuff just ends up filtering out through the dirt below after rain?

I don't know for sure, but none of the outdoor areas that has ash are "forced" for them to use. There are lots of other areas they can go for so I'm thinking I'm safe with that.

 

[aoxa]

We had a discussion about the lye before because I was afraid of the same thing and only used it indoors for a long time.

I also wondered what happens if they have dusted in ash then go outside and it rains on them. Does it create an irritation on their skin that they can't rid themselves of?


On using it in outdoor dust areas, I have a theory...
I'm thinking that they won't use the outdoor ash area if it is burning them. I had a couple of fire areas that I thought they'd use and they totally avoided them. Then they started using them after about a month. I wondered if enough of the caustic stuff just ends up filtering out through the dirt below after rain?

I don't know for sure, but none of the outdoor areas that has ash are "forced" for them to use. There are lots of other areas they can go for so I'm thinking I'm safe with that.

You're right. They won't use them if it is burning them. Good point.

They don't use my fire pit either.

I have many compost piles where I had dumped all the litter last year. They spread it all through the forest floor maybe 40 feet around. This has all dried out and turned into earth and they use this to dust bathe mostly.

I did have it in a big heap sitting for me to mix in to our soil for gardening, but they had other ideas. I didn't want to take wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow to where it would be out of their reach, so I let them have at it.

Has anyone ever heard of taking the litter and putting it in a garbage bag with a few holes in the bottom and running water through the bag to create a sort of liquid fertilizer for the garden? Susan's client mentioned it, and I think it's a pretty brilliant idea in theory. Anyone try it?

 

[jlynnet]

Thank you all..

I can't take credit for him..I purchased him from Nellie. She has done all of the work and I am reaping the benefits. My Black English was also bred by Nellie. If you want top quality and a woman who will bend over backwards for you, tell her I sent you.

Vicki

http://www.rockin-g-ranch.com/TheFancyChick.html

My Jubilee Orps from Nellie are beautiful also! She's a great lady to deal with. I live close enough to pick up chicks.

 

[aoxa]

My Jubilee Orps from Nellie are beautiful also! She's a great lady to deal with. I live close enough to pick up chicks.

Are they really $55 a chick though?!

 

[MumsyII]

Over-build Owen, here. I made sifters out of 2x4 scraps and 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch hardware cloth. I use them for the wood ash and gravel/sand and soil, etc. They're a little heavy (2x2 would have been better, but I don't have a table saw.) It fits over my garden cart, so I have a portable pile of what ever falls through the mesh.

X2. I use the same thing. My husband built it for me. I use it for the compost dirt too when I want fine sifted soil for germinating seeds. I keep a large bucket of sifted wood ash under cover in the barn that I can stick an individual bird in. I often hand dust broody hens when they leave the nest to eat and drink. What I have sifted is very fine and I can work it right down into the broody hens skin. I wear my respirator.

My 2"x4" sifting frame isn't large but just big enough to lay over the top of the bucket. I shovel,shake, and sift until the bucket is full. I have two outside fire pits and an indoor wood burning stove. When we clean them out, we dump the ash into three dust wallow areas the flock frequent.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Hmmm. That raises a question I've had about my current broody. I was wondering if I should be doing something for her for pro-actively for lice/mites.

When I filled the nest I moved her to, I put in a handfull of the herb mix, then added some around the edges a couple of times since she's been in there. I was just concerned about the ash or the herbs effecting the eggs since they are permeable. I wondered if the ash could actually get on them an suffocate the eggs. Just thinking again.

 

[MumsyII]

Hmmm. That raises a question I've had about my current broody. I was wondering if I should be doing something for her for pro-actively for lice/mites.

When I filled the nest I moved her to, I put in a handfull of the herb mix, then added some around the edges a couple of times since she's been in there. I was just concerned about the ash or the herbs effecting the eggs since they are permeable. I wondered if the ash could actually get on them an suffocate the eggs. Just thinking again.

The broody hens I hand dust shake off excess before getting back on the nest. I've never noticed a difference in hatch rates.

 

[delisha]

Quote: They call that gold tea and market it for big money.


as far as wood ash and burning..the chickens know..they just do. I burned apple wood and pear wood and they jumped in when the embers were still a little warm. Even the little chicks stayed at the edge and dug with feet to get some out to dust at the edge of the pit.

Quote: She just reduced her prices. They used to be 150..than 99. I purchased a pair so her prices usually reflect the time and feed she puts into growing them out.

 

[aoxa]

They call that gold tea and market it for big money.


as far as wood ash and burning..the chickens know..they just do. I burned apple wood and pear wood and they jumped in when the embers were still a little warm. Even the little chicks stayed at the edge and dug with feet to get some out to dust at the edge of the pit.

She just reduced her prices. They used to be 150..than 99. I purchased a pair so her prices usually reflect the time and feed she puts into growing them out.

You buy them grown out so you can assess quality? That makes much more sense than day olds. Even the best breeder chickens give culls. $55 would be a huge risk IMO.

$55 for a quality imported bird that is old enough to know the quality is still a bit steep (IMO anyway), but much more reasonable than a day old.