The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Pozees]

I honestly do not boost for moult..I personally feel moulting is normal and natural and I do not want to interfere with nature. I want the chickens to stop laying and rest and take the time they need. I too worry about pathetic looking chickens and how miserable they look all hunched up in the blowing snow. I also want strong healthy chickens that recover fully after a moult with out my manipulations. I feed a lot of meat regardless of moult at this time of year..and that is only because they are not out as much as they were and because of the Hawks i have not let them free range as much as i would like. They are out of the compound if i am outside for any length of time. On coop day the fence is opened for most of the birds. I have yet to let my gold laced orps or my dotties free range..I am too chicken. I am just fortunate I have a large fenced in compound.

I wanted to say what a relief it is to know even you are too chicken to let some of your birds free range! I have been feeling guilty that I keep some contained, because I cannot afford to lose any. The only unconfined bird I ever lost was the Blue Cochin hen earlier this year to a neighbor's dog that got loose, but that was enough. DH was heartbroken, he adored that hen. Me too.

 

[aaggjg]

Okay so the pecking order is something that fascinates me. It is so complex and ever changing. I watch and watch but just can't figure it out!
I have my original alpha hen Mole an ameraucanas, she's great lets people know she's boss but then accepts them. My 2 bossy Marans were hatched by my bantam frizzle popcorn last year along with spook my silkie. Spook has always been lowest in the hierarchy. Well the 2 bossy Marans have asserted themselves and I even see them peck Mole away from food. She steps back for a second but gets right back in there. Pippa, my blue copper Marans, has all of a sudden been mounting her poor little wee surrogate mama popcorn. I have no roosters... She grabs hold of her head and jumps on. Well Pippa was near little nugget this morning and nugget let her have it! Yet popcorn, picks on Nugget! I put my 2 shy white silkies in that coop after my GLW died to give spook some playmates ... Well they have become so brave! And one the little one is chatty & bossy!!! It's so crazy to see their transformation. Those 2 will hike up the hill together looking for snacks and often venture off or lead the big girls up the hill. This doesn't even start to touch on changes bc hens go broody etc etc. I guess that why its called chicken TV. Fascinating ever changing daily programming!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

aa - I know! The pecking order is sometime really disturbing to me. I keep asking them if they can't all just get along but they look at me like they have no idea of what that means

 

[armorfirelady]

aa - I know!  The pecking order is sometime really disturbing to me.  I keep asking them if they can't all just get along but they look at me like they have no idea of what that means

Hahahahahaha........I do this to at feeding time. But my Mom surely tops me in her conversations with the hens and the need for them to be nice to each other. Ever hear a 66 yo female yell at hens for pecking one another? I swear she wags her pointy finger at them as she yells at them lol the hens turn their head sideways as she yells and then continue their dinner. Lol

 

[ki4got]

aa - I know! The pecking order is sometime really disturbing to me. I keep asking them if they can't all just get along but they look at me like they have no idea of what that means

mine varies day to day as to who hangs out with who... when eating, it's a constantly shifting puzzle.

big guy is lead roo, and the others all give way before him. very little pecking order when he's at the center, but some of the lesser roos will chase each other now and then.

the pecking order seems to be leads at the center of the feeding frenzy with lesser to the outside.

this shows it well I think.

 

[aaggjg]

Just wanted to post some updated pictures of Nugget. Her eye is looking better and she has a beautiful new necklace of feathers. She almost looks like a queen putting on a fancy necklace to distract from her dingy dress
She is obviously feeling better as she has been out longer & longer each day foraging with the girls and she actually didnt go running from me when I moved towards her!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

aa - good to hear she's feeling better!!!
Pos - Leigh (bulldogma), Delisha, me, SallyinIndiana - and probably others - all have birds in jail

We've all had excessive hawks this fall and some of us have lost birds. I HATE having them confined, but because I have 10 week olds I feel like I'm giving the hawks a free meal if I let them out. Leigh said she had to get several broody's with their kiddos into a confined area and they're not happy.

Maybe this would be a good time to discuss what, if anything, we do to help break boredom during confinement or winter. Being in close quarters seems to magnify the pecking order issues and they have to figure out how to live together in smaller quarters than when they're out totally free running around.

So - What, if anything, do YOU ALL do/change for more confined times or winter?

 

[Leahs Mom]

this shows it well I think.

Well, if I were a chicken in THAT pecking order I think I know who I WOULDN'T MESS WITH.

 

[Rnbwbrite1207]

I have hung popcorn balls and cabbages for them to play with. My kids like to make hanging treats by mixing BOSS and coconut oil into balls and cooling them in the fridge to hang outside. We have also put peanut butter on toilet paper rolls and rolled in crumbles or BOSS and hung. Last year I got them a Flock Block from TSC but it was pretty messy and wasteful.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have hung popcorn balls and cabbages for them to play with. My kids like to make hanging treats by mixing BOSS and coconut oil into balls and cooling them in the fridge to hang outside. We have also put peanut butter on toilet paper rolls and rolled in crumbles or BOSS and hung. Last year I got them a Flock Block from TSC but it was pretty messy and wasteful.

Rnb - how did you make the popcorn balls?