The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Oh and just some funny silkie pictures I took today .... Penelope sizing me up!






3 little silkies sitting on a wall..... Hear no evil, see no evil and SNACK!!!

Nice SIlkies!

 

[armorfirelady]

LM- when my tots were small they used to pile up and I would put them on the roost. They never fell off. They would jump off tho. It took a few nights of doing this before they realized they were suppose to roost.
(Tho today I can't believe the tots were ever small......Stella is bigger than the old girls .....well fluff wise not weight wise )

 

[Leahs Mom]

Last time momma was broody, when she went up on the roost at night that was "all she wrote" for her kiddos. She started chasing them away and pecking at them if they tried to go to her for protection or anything else. It was just like a switch went off and she was done.

I am hoping she can make a little more "gentle" transition this time and not just start attacking them when they come around.

We shall see. Always interesting to watch these things.

 

[delisha]

Well, it looks like tonight may be the beginning of the end for mamma and chicks. I went out to be sure everyone got in tonight and mom and one kiddo were on the roost. One of the others was in one of the nest boxes and the other sibling was on the perch in front of that nest box. It was dark. I moved them both to the roost next to mamma, but not sure it that was a good idea or not. Hope they don't get disoriented and fall off!

see below

Last time momma was broody, when she went up on the roost at night that was "all she wrote" for her kiddos. She started chasing them away and pecking at them if they tried to go to her for protection or anything else. It was just like a switch went off and she was done.

I am hoping she can make a little more "gentle" transition this time and not just start attacking them when they come around.

We shall see. Always interesting to watch these things.

you are so cute and such a mother hen yourself. i find your worry about the baby's so endearing. Moms will transition chicks depending on the chicks. Some chicks are demanding and mom needs to use a stern hand. My leg horn kicked her chicks to the curb a few days ago. I hear them once in a while screaming when they go to her when she warns them first and they do not listen. It is good for them. They need to listen. It is for safety too. They still roost close to her at night, but, not touching anymore. They are healthy and fat. She did good with this group. The last group she kicked them to the curb at 5 weeks and they cried for days. It was hot and she knew they did not need her for heat. My Orp just hatched out 7 chicks..I sure hope they feather fast. It is cold and snow hard on them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yah, del...I think us human mammas could learn from the chicken moms when it comes to coddling our own adult kids...especially parents from my generation with kids in their 30s still at "home"

 

[delisha]

Yah, del...I think us human mammas could learn from the chicken moms when it comes to coddling our own adult kids...especially parents from my generation with kids in their 30s still at "home"

lol..
I complain to my kid she does not visit enough..she says to me..did you loose your drivers license?..I say..I can still ground you for that sassy mouth..and she says..well on your way over grab some milk and I will be sitting in the corner when you get here. you may as well stay and cook dinner so your grandkids don't starve while I go to my room for the rest of the day..
brats..all brats

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

Just wanted too share Henny my black Cochin bantam =)

 

[lindz8504]

lol..
I complain to my kid she does not visit enough..she says to me..did you loose your drivers license?..I say..I can still ground you for that sassy mouth..and she says..well on your way over grab some milk and I will be sitting in the corner when you get here. you may as well stay and cook dinner so your grandkids don't starve while I go to my room for the rest of the day..
brats..all brats

Rofl! !!!!!!!! That is hilarious!

 

[Myrth]

Just read this interesting article about the purity (or rather, the HUGE lack thereof) in various herbal supplements. After testing (via DNA analysis) 44 different supplements sold by 12 different companies, they found that one third of the products contained NONE of what was listed on the label: and that 59% were contaminated with species not included on the ingredient list. Only two out of 12 companies sold supplements that were all completely genuine and free of plant substitution, fillers, or contaminants. Unfortunately, the authors don't name any of the companies.

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf1741-7015-11-222.pdf


Edited to add: I'm not sure why the link above isn't resolving properly, but you can just cut and paste the entire thing to view the complete article.

I am way behind on my reading, but I find this very disturbing. And of what use is the study, practically, if companies are not named?

 

[aoxa]

Well, it looks like tonight may be the beginning of the end for mamma and chicks. I went out to be sure everyone got in tonight and mom and one kiddo were on the roost. One of the others was in one of the nest boxes and the other sibling was on the perch in front of that nest box. It was dark. I moved them both to the roost next to mamma, but not sure it that was a good idea or not. Hope they don't get disoriented and fall off!

My mamas have their babies roosting now. I find it adorable how they continue to mother even though their kids are all grown up. Tina is like that still. She hatched 12 late July or early August.. I can't remember exactly.. but they are all still hanging out with her, and Phoenix is with them as well as they forage through the woods. They go the furthest up around the front of our house. It's adorable.


Coming back to the yard after a long day of foraging. I counted seven kids foraging with her the other day. I sold quite a few at the sale. I think I took four... So she was one shy. It's hard to say where that one was.. Could have been in the barn. Oh wait never mind.. Camille took her


Here she is with her kids when they first hatched. Hehehhe
the two whites are both boys.

lol..
I complain to my kid she does not visit enough..she says to me..did you loose your drivers license?..I say..I can still ground you for that sassy mouth..and she says..well on your way over grab some milk and I will be sitting in the corner when you get here. you may as well stay and cook dinner so your grandkids don't starve while I go to my room for the rest of the day..
brats..all brats

Hilarious. You guys have a relationship like my mother and I. Always teasing

I see my mom every single day. She is my best friend.