The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

BTW for 2 bucks I would be buying everything she had. I sell my eggs for 3 a dozen at the feed store

Yeah $2 for eggs is crazy! I charge $4 for mine here, and my parents tip me $1 per dozen.

Anyone looking for something good to help with their dog's teeth should try Nylabone for power chewers http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3521486 . My dog will destroy (and eat) any other toy there is... tennis balls, chew toys, etc, although he's been unable to eat a Kong. He LOVES his Nylabone, and at 13 years old his teeth are fantastic, have not had to be cleaned once. He will hold his Nylabone between his paws like a popsicle and spend lots of time chewing on it (great stress reliever too), sometimes it sounds like he's gonna break a tooth off but that's never happened. One will last him 6-9 months. Nylabone makes many types of dog chew toys but the really hard, inedible power chew ones are what works well for my dog.

Do you have a poodle though? Seems poodles have notoriously bad teeth. The woman suggesting chicken wings has poodles, as do I - and I've also noticed a huge difference. When I first brought Chloe to the vet at 8 months old (when I got her) - vet said she has teeth of an elderly dog. I have noticed a 50% improvement since she's been eating the chicken wings. Also mine don't chew - so I doubt they'd chew on anything that is not meaty like chicken wings or marrow bones from the butcher. Maybe the Nylabone would work for my Pyr though. She has really nice teeth - however, she loves to chew.

 

[aoxa]

Here are some images of some of my boodies in 2012. My favourite is when they co-parent. The only two mom's that fought were the last two. That silkie whooped the BR often. They hadn't known each other before this. Hehehe


1st brood in early March 2012 (raised 11 chicks with one loss from puppy)


2nd Broody in early April 2012
Raised 5 barred rocks - lost none.



3rd & 4th Brood (double duty moms) in late May 2012 (raised 13 together)


5th & 6th brood in mid- July 2012 (raised 21 chicks with 1 loss in duck pool)


7th brood in late July 2012 (8 chicks)


8th brood - mid September 2012 (raised 7 silkies)


9th Last brood this year. 2 chicks.

 

[OffGridMAMA]

Aoxa, Very beautiful

 

[Miss Lydia]

There is nothing quite like being in bed and all of a sudden you feel something wet-like, only to pick it up and see that it s a bone with raw meat still attached! It sure puts me in a mood!

 

[Miss Lydia]

One more...This is "little gray"...every time food is announced this baby is right on it! I had put out a "mom size" piece of liver for mom and this kiddo took it and was trying valiantly to eat it!






And see the spectators behind there??

Oh my gosh I have enjoyed these pics so much.. So happy they have all bonded. Just so sweet.

 

[aoxa]

Sue (aka Leah's Mom)
Your chicks look awesome. You set your broody area much Like I do with cinder blocks for steps. That's where I set my water so the shavings stay out. Same with food.

I wanted to save the livers from the processing, but they had tossed them before I mentioned it. Next time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aoxa, Very beautiful

X2

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I can't wait till my chickens will go broody and want to hatch some chicks. I have 4 new hens, PR, and 3 game hens. The 3 game hens already tired last summer, but no luck. They are going to be my broodies this spring if the others don't want to.

 

[delisha]

Aoxia,
You have such beautiful pictures. It is hard to beat baby chick pictures. I have 3 of my own eggs left to hatch, two have piped. Non of the shipped eggs seem to be doing a thing yet. I will take pictures of the 3 that are all dry and fluffy later today by the tree as long as it is up. I just love chicks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can't wait till my chickens will go broody and want to hatch some chicks. I have 4 new hens, PR, and 3 game hens. The 3 game hens already tired last summer, but no luck. They are going to be my broodies this spring if the others don't want to.

Games make great broodies and also great mamas. I think you'll be pleased.