The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Afl - did they lay in the outdoor box? I've always wondered what would happen if I had to close off the hen house for awhile and if they'd lay somewhere else I provided.

 

[armorfirelady]

I haven't been out there yet. My mom wanted me to go to the mall shopping :/. I'm not a mall shopper but we got some great deals.

I'm heading out now to roll up the canvas and see if dirt dried enough. It's was already starting before we left. The new window lets in lots of sun

I do know they pulled all the grass out of the temporary nest. I will keep you posted. But I am guessing they didn't lay or I will be having a late Easter egg hunt

 

[Leahs Mom]

Leah's mom that's a neat idea. I liked when George was practicing his crows. But if he had no sound how would he warn the girls?

I know. The whole thing is totally insane.

Besides their being able to warn and protect, I LIKE to hear roosters crowing. My next door neighbor here (who just passed away 2 weekends ago, unfortunately ) actually asked me if I was going to get roosters before I had one. He said he really liked to hear a rooster. That homey feeling of being in the country.

I agree with him. RIP, Neighbor Ken.

 

[FridayYet]

Well, there are a lot of us that don't live in the country, so I could see where a quiet rooster would come in handy - I could raise chicks and not get busted by animal control..................

 

[Myrth]

As a sufferer from gout I can say that my biggest flares by far have been from chocolate and wine.  I eat very few items containing high fructose corn syrup.  I have never flared w/meat, dairy, or beans/legumes which are suppose to be big triggers.

DH suffers from gout. In all the time I have known him, his flare-ups have followed eating large amounts of chocolate or other super sweet processed junk, having a beer (ONE), or having a glass of wine. Almost all of his flare-ups have involved eating commercially made highly processed sweet junk food. Unfortunately, he has a bit of a problem with staying away from the bad sweet stuff, so it is a lesson he must relearn every year or two.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Got a question about a cockerel, he is about 20 weeks old and up until the past couple days he has been the sweetest onne out of the flock of 9. Have had him since he was a day old, likes to sit on my shoulders and play in my hair or just look around. The past two days he has been biting my feet, and hard, holding on too persistantly. I have to push him away and kinda square off with him. Is this his way of trying for dominance? Could it get worse? The other cockerel I have gets a fluffed up and studder syeps sideways at everything, other chickens, us, cats, but has never done anything and he's the head roo. Just wondering if the one biting is just trying to show dominance... I've grabbed him and held him when he tries , but this is a complete 180 of his normal behavior and started 2 days ago out of nowhere

Advice please and thank you!

Yes he is trying to show dominance.
Will it get worse depends not only on how you respond but on the genetics of the roo. I recommend showing him quickly that you are in charge. This is not the best time of year but a hose sprayed on the roo wins some respect. Being held upside down in front of the other chickens wins respect. Getting hit with a broomstick, rake, or pvc pipe also does some wonders.
The roosters I have had that got aggressive, we either processed or rehomed. The ones we rehomed I had spent a lot of time trying to teach them I was in charge. They knew I was in charge but still tested me every so often. Then one of them decide to see if I would protect my little ones. he had no more than started his attack dancing and puffing before I went all nuts on him. He was gone that week and in a tiny isolation pen less than 10 minutes later.
now I have Heritage RIR roosters and they are friendly as puppies. my children can catch be in the yard when they are free ranging and the roosters don't even glance their way unless their is food involved. After seeing how friendly a rooster can be, I won't even try to train an aggressive rooster. It is not worth it to me. Maybe if it was a special show breed or had some real money value to it, but definitely not a production rooster when they are a dime a dozen so to speak.

 

[AletaG]

Well, there are a lot of us that don't live in the country, so I could see where a quiet rooster would come in handy - I could raise chicks and not get busted by animal control..................

'zactly. I don't think it's worth 200$ (that's what the vet's charging) but it would increase the # of functional roosters you could have around in a smaller situation. If I didn't happen to live in a definitely redneck suburb, well, my plan to have at least 6 of the guys around full time, and raise a lot more to maturity to pick the best for future breeding would be ixnay. As it is, I am trying to learn the art of the capon, so any obvious young culls can be raised for the freezer without increasing the neighborhood complaint quotient. Currently have 2 active crowers. Neighbors like it so far. Will see how it goes. Good luck Friday.

 

[FridayYet]

LOL - The insane part would be my husband buying into the idea that we need another chicken, much less a $200 rooster.

No, I'm capped out at 5 birds in my backyard until we move someday and have some land. But If I start to breed, that $200 will probably sound cheap with all the birds, runs, coops, brooders, etc. that I'll need to buy. (I'm already saving)

 

[quailtrail]

New chicken owner for the past 2 months. I've been doing lots of reading pre-chickens and still. I was reading about herbal tea for colder months. Using fresh herbs, steeping and serving warm for the chickens. Has anyone done this? Trying to plan for winter. Will grow sprouts and continue with herbs as well. Any other good suggestions for winter feeding. They love free ranging and it makes me sad knowing snow will be coming

 

[Kassaundra]

I think it is all about options, not every person's circumstance or needs are the same. Dr. James option of crowless roos is great for those that want a quiet roo able to make babies, caponizing is a great option for quiet roos for eating or pets or pretty yard birds, no roos work for others, crowing roos for others. Whatever fits your budget and needs. My thinking is whoever is paying the chicken bills gets to make the chicken decisions.