The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

X2, except it DID happen. A bantam orp pullet set aside for me... source was gone for a week, and the cockerel she was in with decided she was his favorite (LF)... ruined her hip socket and did nerve damage to her leg. She seemed like she was going to recover after being separated/coddled/PT, but then relapsed. Must have hurt it again trying to go where the other birdies could go... if sheer will power could have saved her, it would have; no one ever picked on her, even though she was gimpy. Going to get some more; and make darn sure no LF cockerel likes her that much.

Yep.. So it can happen. Thankfully the only admirers Nora had were bantam x standard crosses.. they weren't any more than 5 pounds max..

Her three admirers (all mated her too!)









She has a daughter with Phoenix - admirer #1

 

[armorfirelady]

Aoxa congrats on your coop of the week

How is it a reddish and white roo and Nora made a white chick?

 

[Jewelwing]

LOL most of mine are more capable of flapping for all their worth and running as fast as their legs will go. flight? that happens only from a higher altitude and goes down quick. but they are capable of amazing jumps of 6-7 feet straight up. go figure. (the Dorkings that is - the cochins don't jump or fly worth a hoot and the blrw tend to fly as well as rocks float too)

That's what mine do, minus the jumps! They're hopeless!

All my chickens start flapping about when I let them out but my friesians really go for it but even my silkie and Wyandottes try and join in

Wow, that's way more flight than mine do! The most they ever do is flap while running, and maybe lift off about 5 inches off the ground for 10 to 15 feet.. And they look hilarious while running if they're not flapping! I don't know what makes them so funny - maybe it's that their heads sway side to side instead of bobbing front and back. Or maybe because they look so earnest.

 

[Jewelwing]

LM, I remember you saying before that you toss your ff on the ground. I've been doing that for several weeks now, but I wonder if they're actually eating the fish meal. It looks like they just peck out the big chunks. Do you think when they get hungry enough they'll go back and get the fish meal? It looks like it's already scraped into the dirt by then.

It just occurred to me that maybe I should worry about that and feed them in glass containers instead. What's your take on it?

 

[Leahs Mom]

I put my feed in glass containers for the regular feeders.

During the summer I was tossing some out on the ground in the afternoon and they did eat it up. What they avoid as long as possible are the legumes. Never had any problems with them eating everything. But when I put it on the ground I try to put in grass. But they have also eaten it off the wood chips too.

 

[MargaretYakoda]

I put my feed in glass containers for the regular feeders.

During the summer I was tossing some out on the ground in the afternoon and they did eat it up. What they avoid as long as possible are the legumes. Never had any problems with them eating everything. But when I put it on the ground I try to put in grass. But they have also eaten it off the wood chips too.

My girls eat FF off the ground because I haven't built a trough feeder for them (yet) and two glass dishes I have for them aren't long enough for them to eat without squabbling. They gobble up their FF so I'm afraid our banties won't get anything at all to eat if I don't plop a bit down on the ground for them.

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa congrats on your coop of the week

How is it a reddish and white roo and Nora made a white chick?

Thanks! I didn't even notice!

Phoenix is dominant white. Boys that are this colour always seem to end up with red in them.. At least my boys do.


Phoenix's dad


Phoenix's full sister. Also dominant white.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Every time I look at those kiddos my neck feels like it has a sunburn

 

[lalaland]

My girls eat FF off the ground because I haven't built a trough feeder for them (yet) and two glass dishes I have for them aren't long enough for them to eat without squabbling. They gobble up their FF so I'm afraid our banties won't get anything at all to eat if I don't plop a bit down on the ground for them.

I want to build a trough feeder too. I have some metal ones, but the hens don't really like sticking their necks in through the wires. think I would prefer wooden ones....good winter project.

 

[lalaland]

fyi, I came home to my banty, mrs murphy, having a full crop. so no culling for her tonight. has a very very crooked keel. now I have to go research what that means for her.