The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Even if ACV isn't used, lacto-fermentation is a high acid product. The LABs produce lactic acid.

According to this site, zinc can be leached out of bowls by plain water:

Quote: http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww14eiii.htm
It goes on to say:
Quote:

There is a lot of information about zinc poisoning and the symptoms out there. You can google: zinc poison in chickens" which will bring up a lot of general bird information as well.




FYI: Just in case anyone was wondering, yeast fermentation creates an acid product as well (alcohol to acetic acid).

 

[aaggjg]

Who here has Marans??? I have 2 a blue copper & a splash. They are the chattiest birds!!!
Well I came down this morning to find my Splash broody AGAIN!!! She was just broody at the end of July! Then my blue went broody and has just started laying again. Are Marans broody breeds??? Obviously I have one who is trying to rival my silkies who look at an egg and go broody.

Just curious if others have noticed Marans being loud & broody !!!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Due to some mailing list I was sent this survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OrganicEggAndPoultrySurvey

The first question is: Do you buy organic eggs? If you answer "no" to that you go directly to the second section of the survey: Do you buy organic chicken? Answer "no" to that and you're done. Click to submit your answers.

SO ... I went back through and looked at the survey as if I did buy eggs and meat ...

Kinda interesting, but as a person who subscribes to more a "grow your own" theory than "buy organic," I found the survey a little creepy.

Thoughts?

 

[aoxa]

Due to some mailing list I was sent this survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OrganicEggAndPoultrySurvey

The first question is: Do you buy organic eggs? If you answer "no" to that you go directly to the second section of the survey: Do you buy organic chicken? Answer "no" to that and you're done. Click to submit your answers.

SO ... I went back through and looked at the survey as if I did buy eggs and meat ...

Kinda interesting, but as a person who subscribes to more a "grow your own" theory than "buy organic," I found the survey a little creepy.

Thoughts?

Organic does not mean the animals were treated properly, which is my #1 priority.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Organic does not mean the animals were treated properly, which is my #1 priority.

Yeah ... Industrial Organic does not cut it, IMO. And honestly, I think the conditions that "organic" laying birds are kept in are worse for the birds than the battery cages.

I thought it was interesting there was no questions about "Do you keep chickens?" or "Where do you buy your eggs?" or any other nod to small, independent poultry/farming.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Even if ACV isn't used, lacto-fermentation is a high acid product. The LABs produce lactic acid.

According to this site, zinc can be leached out of bowls by plain water:

It goes on to say:

There is a lot of information about zinc poisoning and the symptoms out there. You can google: zinc poison in chickens" which will bring up a lot of general bird information as well.

FYI: Just in case anyone was wondering, yeast fermentation creates an acid product as well (alcohol to acetic acid).

Hi, my name is Leslie and it has been several minutes since my last rant against store-bought poultry waterers and feeders.

Seriously ... WHY are modern store-bought feeders and waterers so crummy? And so expensive?

Some well water is highly acidic ...

 

[aoxa]

Yeah ... Industrial Organic does not cut it, IMO. And honestly, I think the conditions that "organic" laying birds are kept in are worse for the birds than the battery cages.

I thought it was interesting there was no questions about "Do you keep chickens?" or "Where do you buy your eggs?" or any other nod to small, independent poultry/farming.

I am much more concerned with GMO than with organic practices, but unfortunately I can't afford the price tag of organic feed here. This is why I ferment and restrict my feed. My birds don't rely heavily on the grains I give them. If I did it small scale I could afford the organic feed, but we are trying to make our farming into a real business. Feeding them organic wouldn't get us certification - which is a very lengthy process and very expensive. So there is no point paying that extra money if I can't get it back - because I'm sure I'd get in big trouble telling people my birds were organic if I was not certified....

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I am much more concerned with GMO than with organic practices, but unfortunately I can't afford the price tag of organic feed here. This is why I ferment and restrict my feed. My birds don't rely heavily on the grains I give them. If I did it small scale I could afford the organic feed, but we are trying to make our farming into a real business. Feeding them organic wouldn't get us certification - which is a very lengthy process and very expensive. So there is no point paying that extra money if I can't get it back - because I'm sure I'd get in big trouble telling people my birds were organic if I was not certified....

I'm in a similar situation here. I wanted to get a handful of birds and feed them organic feed and set up a "chemistry free zone" here on the farm so I could raise healthy poultry for myself and the people who work here -- a little co-op for the farm. BUT ... I had a very pushy partner when I was just getting started who INSISTED on me purchasing him 70 birds from the feed store -- all random varieties -- and who literally physically blocked me from starting those birds on organic feed. He also alienated the other employees so nobody wants to participate in the chicken care even if it would mean "free" eggs and meat for them, and then refused to do any work without extreme types of "motivation." Sigh.

However ... I've learned a lot since then, got rid of that partner, and am looking towards transitioning the flock from the hatchery birds and big-business GMO feed to something heritage and dual purpose, fed locally-sourced GMO-free feeds (as much as possible, there will possibly be some exceptions), and ranging on awesome pasture.

What I see a lot of small poultry farmers doing around here is not claiming to be "organic" but specifying that their feed is GMO-free (or sometimes Corn/Soy-free) and that they don't use chemicals on their property. I think that people who follow food politics are starting to realize that the term "Certified Organic", which was intended to be an indication of a small, independent diversified farm, has been co-opted by Industrial Agriculture, mono-cropped, and then regulated in such a way that it is not practical for small-scale integrated farmers. So I think a lot of people are coming to understand that small farmers might not be "Certified Organic," but are perhaps an even better thing.

My egg customers like my prices (they should, I'm selling stuff at a loss), and though they would LOVE to be able to buy "Certified Organic" pastured poultry products, they aren't willing to pay the $9.00/dozen (or more) for the eggs or $5.50/lb for the meat.

 

[delisha]

Quote: http://www.yellowpages.com/countryside-il/feed-store
There are quite a few ways to get gmo free in Illinois. I live in WI and wish the drive was not as far. The prices are better there..of course they are better up north here in WI.

Who here has Marans??? I have 2 a blue copper & a splash. They are the chattiest birds!!!
Well I came down this morning to find my Splash broody AGAIN!!! She was just broody at the end of July! Then my blue went broody and has just started laying again. Are Marans broody breeds??? Obviously I have one who is trying to rival my silkies who look at an egg and go broody.

Just curious if others have noticed Marans being loud & broody !!!

I have Marans..I have a black one who grows broody often, but easy to break. I put her in water and she is all good and goes back to laying after a few days of dunks. My black Orp is a whole other ball game. I have yet to break her. She goes broody after laying 30 eggs or after her chicks are a month old. She is horrible.

uote:

Quote: I look for weeds in the fields..I like weeds. Than I am relatively certain if they have weeds they are not using high concentrations of chemicals.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I look for weeds in the fields..I like weeds. Than I am relatively certain if they have weeds they are not using high concentrations of chemicals.

I thought I was the only one that did that!!!

Seriously, if I don't see weeds, I pass 'em by

Same way I buy my milk. If I don't see cows out on good pasture, I pass 'em by.