The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

hey, hey, hey!

I went outside to shoo the girls out - its sunny and 22 rocking warm degrees, and Edie laid an egg! seems greener than I expected but maybe she is the ee and coco chanel is the amerwhatever.
the brown egg is from the co-op for comparison purposes
the cream egg is a sulmtaler, and the white egg is my mystery layer, haven't caught that pullet in the nest yet.




After I finished chicken chores in the coop, I found the hens happy outside in the hay under the porch and sunbathing out of the wind. I tell you, a girl could be happy just watching chickens in the sun all day!

 

[TeaChick]

Try coconut sugar, it is awesome. We only use coconut sugar. Wow we are big on coconuts here, aren't we? lol

Dumb question: what is coconut sugar?
(Obvious answer: sugar made from) but.... what is it?

Yeah, really big on coconuts!!!

 

[lalaland]

Justine, coconut sugar? never heard of it, but wish I had some to stick in Sue's stocking.

 

[TeaChick]

Nope. Doesn't work that way. It goes all over and no matter how high or low, wattles will get wet. Chickens aren't designed to drink like that. A cat or dog would likely lap at the nipple and get most of the water but not a chicken. They can learn to get water from the nipples, but they don't actually open their mouths to have the water go in like you describe... Too bad they don't.

That makes sense. Sorry.
The PVC system works well for rabbits for whatever that's worth. =)

 

[Leahs Mom]

Lots of people do use the nipple waterers on pvc pipes just like you describe. Hard to keep those thawed during the winter unless you're running a circulating system to keep the water moving at all times.

 

[Leahs Mom]

hey, hey, hey!





After I finished chicken chores in the coop, I found the hens happy outside in the hay under the porch and sunbathing out of the wind. I tell you, a girl could be happy just watching chickens in the sun all day!

Makes me feel like spring to see all the eggs!

I got 3 in a nest the other day and it was like a happy surprise

 

[TeaChick]

I got five eggs out of seven hens yesterday, but nothing so far today.

 

[armorfirelady]

I think the comb / wattle covers are a dangerous idea. What happens when they get damp from being outside, in the dew, or condensate from the chickens breathing, or from the chicken drinking, or any other reason? If there is injury under it and you don't see it, it could easily get stuck to the comb and provide vector for infection, and / or be unable to remove.

I was just trying to be funny.......no way you would see my hens wearing hats, diapers, etc.....

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey my newest FF recipe is going over better! Is a bubblin' brew and they cleaned it up today.
I really try hard to give them a varied diet. ... fresh corn. ..3 grain scratch. ... kale. . Broccoli. ... spinach. ... some peanuts. ...BOSS.... meat protein of some kind. .. tomatoes. .. not all everyday but 3 or 4 different food groups.
My recipe for the FF is now 1/2 of the fermented nasty organic feed+BOSS+3 grain scratch+feed pellets+cracked rye and flax seed....yummmmm!
A little milk on it and I might have it for breakfast!

Scott: I dare you!

Here is the white stuff I had to put up with last week. Don't worry I had almost 3 ft of the other white stuff to shovel when I got home. I tried bring the warm wx home but wasn't very successful.

Sending warm thoughts to those like me in frigid temps

AFL: I am totally speechless... I want to tell you how cruel you are to post that pic when we're enduring neg temps, but all I can do is be so totally, overwhelmingly JEALOUS!

hmmm interesting reading this morning!

Justine, your goat pic is adorable and almost doesn't look real! Hope they get used to the snow.

I like the idea of cayenne - easy, not wet, everyone can benefit, can't do any harm. Gonna add some to their feed.

Booster this morning is a little subdued, but that could be because a) Buster is in the coop too, and b) he has accepted that I am a bigger rooster than he is. No change in his comb or wattles.
other than herbs to the feed, I'm gonna do nothing. My gut has been to leave him be unless it starts oozing or something. Leah's mom, I'm with you about not messing with it.

If he was isolated, i would do aspirin in the water for him. But I don't want to give the whole flock aspirin. Scott, I saw you read that aspirin is not for chickens, but I know of people who have used it and I've seen it recommended by someone I trust. Always difficult when you read contradictory stuff!

Guess what? Edie, my black ameracauna was checking out nests this morning. Pacing, not happy that Princess was in the favored nest, she tried to go into it with her, but that was spectacularly unsuccessful. They are both big girls. I wonder if I'll get an egg today from her!

edited to add: I forgot to say they have been getting fresh grated ginger over the weekend and again today - only when I'm giving them a warm barely wet mash which is only on days I don't work

daylight is increasing by a minute....daily.....solstice coming....

LaLa: I thought that day's didn't start getting longer until after the 21st. What am I missing here???

 

[lazy gardener]