The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lazy gardener]

Aoxa: Lovely chicken? ID please!

 

[TeaChick]

some are prettier than others. LOL I just don't post the 'ugly' pics.

haha I get you.
I only post my best pics too. lol

 

[TeaChick]

actually I broke down and put one of the older ones in with them tonight... didn't take more than probably 20 minutes for them to devour the FF I gave them tonight.

and a total oddity... these chicks hatched Friday/Saturday, I candled yesterday and didn't see any movement, but left everything in place (laziness struck). today, I've got a pip and he's screaming his head off. humidity had dropped because I hadn't added any more water to the hatcher, and he was seriously superglued in... well against my better judgement, I busted him out and had to use scissors to trim the feathers that glued his wing to his head... slightly dehydrated, but active as can be. I made sure he drank and gave him a drop of vitamins, and he'll go in with the others either tonight or in the morning depending how he's getting along.

Oh, I like seeing skills passed down. lol

That's great! I know what you mean about laziness; if you felt like there was no point, then I don't think that technically counts as laziness, does it?
Anyway, I'm glad he's doing well and hope he continues to improve!
Looking forward to updates (and maybe pics???)

 

[TeaChick]

Thoughts and advice, please.

Here are the dynamics:
6 hens 1.5 yo
2 Pullets will be 1 yo end of December
3 (I think Pullets) 13 wks old
1 Roo will be 1 yo end of December

Mom has ditched the 13 week olds. They're fending for themselves.

The 2 pullets that are coming up on a year old are seeming to be at the bottom of pecking order among the adult group but one is more protected by the Roo. The other has trouble getting feed and runs if any of them even looks her way. If I'm throwing down individual pieces of meat she WILL get her share. She's quick that way. Just doesn't seem to be able to stand and eat feed at peace.

I have 2 feed stations inside the coop and I throw feed outside in the run on the ground as well. She still runs and doesn't seem to get her share of the feed.

The older girls take all the good stuff out of the feed and leave the peas. It seems that she always misses the other stuff. I wish I had that second coop ready. If I did, I'd divide this group into 2 anyhow. But I don't.

I have a protected area that the 13 week olds can go into that the others won't fit so they are faring okay that way.


Any ideas on how I can be sure the one pullet in particular - and her sister - get their share of the regular feed?

Additional feed stations?
crush the feed so it's more homogenous (harder to harder to take the good stuff out and leave the peas)?

 

[TeaChick]

Hey!

Just stopping in.

What's up?

 

[TeaChick]

I haven't posted a whole lot of new pictures on this thread in a while, as I do most of that from my Facebook Farm Page now, but had to share this girl. I think she is really something

Newb question:
What breed(s) is she?
I like the pattern on her feathers.
She's very pretty!!!

 

[armorfirelady]

LM I love the picture

Grindin up feed in my grain mill I got yesterday. Darn those candian peas are tough to crack :/ dogs are happy with mill since they sit under it waiting to for pieces to fall on the floor. What they don't get I will sweep up when I am done and toss out to the girls, I hate to waste feed. When its warmer out I might just do it outside in the girls area so they can clean up as I go. I don't think they will mind
I also figure its good upper arm exercise cranking the mill, well that's my story and I am sticking to it

 

[TeaChick]

LM I love the picture

Grindin up feed in my grain mill I got yesterday. Darn those candian peas are tough to crack

dogs are happy with mill since they sit under it waiting to for pieces to fall on the floor. What they don't get I will sweep up when I am done and toss out to the girls, I hate to waste feed. When its warmer out I might just do it outside in the girls area so they can clean up as I go. I don't think they will mind

I also figure its good upper arm exercise cranking the mill, well that's my story and I am sticking to it

I like the idea of grinding in the girls' area. I'm sure they'll like it too!!!

Switch arms often to keep those muscles even. lol

 

[Leahs Mom]

LM I love the picture

Grindin up feed in my grain mill I got yesterday. Darn those candian peas are tough to crack

dogs are happy with mill since they sit under it waiting to for pieces to fall on the floor. What they don't get I will sweep up when I am done and toss out to the girls, I hate to waste feed. When its warmer out I might just do it outside in the girls area so they can clean up as I go. I don't think they will mind

I also figure its good upper arm exercise cranking the mill, well that's my story and I am sticking to it

Here's what Harvey Ussery says about that

Quote: http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Making-Poultry-Feeds-2.html

ETA: But I don't think you'll do FOUR TONS A YEAR!!!!! That would be one strong upper arm!!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Check these hawk shelters out. I really like! Reminds me of AFL's little huts.

Reposted from the Indiana Thread: