The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

 

[aoxa]

 

[ki4got]

Quote: manually? what do you mean by that? wondering if you mean by incubator or broody, or that you haven't hatched ANYTHING since july? i'd go nuts without babies to play with. LOL

 

[aoxa]

manually? what do you mean by that? wondering if you mean by incubator or broody, or that you haven't hatched ANYTHING since july? i'd go nuts without babies to play with. LOL

Nothing in my incubator.

I've had 5 batches of chicks by broodies since July, with another setting now

 

[lalaland]

I don't cap my feed at all.

You guys know what helps speed up fermentation (especially if it is sunny outside, but still cool)? You put a black garbage bucket OVER the 5 gallon bucket and the black garbage can will attract heat. That's for those of you who aren't worried about plastics.

If anyone can find a 5 gallon glass bucket, I'd be interested

Currently feeding about 8 gallons of FF a day for the flock. Trying to beef some of them up for butcher.

um....a 5 gallon glass bucket is called a crock

Leahs mom will tell you to think about whether there is lead in the glaze. I have some old crocks, and am risking it. Redwing crocks, I should read up on them to see if they are lead free or not, but am guessing pretty much everything from that time period had lead.

And that pic of all the chickens and ducks and goats and....gathering around for feed is pretty wonderful.

edited to add: I see I'm way behind on the crock thing!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Lala - you can lead test it.

They have these in places like Lowes, Menards, Paint/Hardware stores. AFL used one on the crock she picked up at a sale.

 

[lindz8504]

Well, just to update on my babies.... It got down to 54*F last night in the crate. I went down right before I went to bed, and they were snuggled under the light, but weren't huddled up on top of each other. They reminded me of birds laying in the sun, so I left them and went on to bed. I got up this morning and went down to check on everyone. They were just fine and running around. I think I am just going to leave them like they are unless it gets colder down there. I am going to soak some feed today and give them warm feed tonight so maybe that will help with the cold tonight. I really didn't want to bring them in the house and then put them back outside when it was even colder.... I guess I was thinking it would be better for them to get used to the cold as it slowly came rather than bringing them in and then moving them out and it being a drastic change all at once? I really don't know, this is my first time with chickens, and I've only had my older ones since June..... Having chickens in the winter is all new to me!!!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I guess I was thinking it would be better for them to get used to the cold as it slowly came rather than bringing them in and then moving them out and it being a drastic change all at once?

I agree with that. And since they can get out of the light, they can regulate their own heat like they do w/a broody. They run under mom when they need it and are out the rest of the time.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
It's like driving a car.

Automatic = Broody
Manual = Incubator

 

[lindz8504]

I agree with that. And since they can get out of the light, they can regulate their own heat like they do w/a broody. They run under mom when they need it and are out the rest of the time.

Should I go ahead and start turning the light off during the day when it warms up? And then check on them several times a day?