The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Pozees]

I think they've started saying Climate Change. But here in the desert it is getting warmer. I am in the foothills and this summer saw 115 degrees for only about the second time in my life here. On the other hand we've had about the second or third mildest Dec ever. Just barely a skim of ice on the waterers in the morning. 20 years ago it snowed on Thanksgiving and then every couple weeks through Easter. The last few years it barely snows in Jan/Feb and not nearly enough rain in any season.

Same here. We have been under severe drought conditions the last few years. On my 42 acres I haven't grown enough grass to graze even one mini cow. I don't think we saw 115 but we saw higher temps for longer periods the last two years, and then severe swings in the wrong seasons - last May we had an overnight low of 11. Killed every last apple and cherry bud. Yesterday it was 68 degrees. Whacko.

 

[TeaChick]

x2..I could not live here with out power..well i could..but I would not want to. The fireplace is as old as the house and unreliable.

+1 With kids, I hate not having running water more than not having electricity; at least w/o electric you can pretend you're camping, but w/o running water....

 

[aoxa]

Everyone, this is Gatsby. He is my pick cockerel for the breeding pen. I think he is gorgeous. He has the rock type that I so need.

 

[TeaChick]

I see chickens with bands on their legs in some pics.
Is that like putting ribbon around the necks of puppies, so that you can tell apart the ones that look alike? Or do they serve some other purpose?

 

[lindz8504]

Everyone, this is Gatsby. He is my pick cockerel for the breeding pen. I think he is gorgeous. He has the rock type that I so need.

He is gorgeous!

 

[armorfirelady]

Have been thinking for weeks for a way to have an area outside where hens food & water could be kept. My problem is snow. We tend to get feet of it at a time so putting dishes just on ground would not work. It would be buried in hours.

So today as I was taking down outside Christmas lights (its 41 now & temps suppose to be down to 5 by tonite so I figured better get them down) I kept looking at the plastic dog crate I got for $10 at a garage sale. Then BAM I thought that would be perfect for it. So I dismantled the shelf in the coop, moved the extension cord and got the dog crate set up.

Thank goodness it's warm out since everything I needed would of been frozen to the ground. I did end up moving my small compost container so I could have the opening in the dog house facing the opening of their covered walkway. they have to cross 2ft of open area to get to their food. I can easily keep that snow free. In fact when the rain stops I am going to put some round logs in that area to help keep them from walking they the mud that's there.

Looking at it from walkway entrance. I put bedding down since they don't seem to like walking on the plastic.

A closer look. The water bowl is on a cinder block. I am trying the empty milk jug as a self waterer. The other container I had was to big. I don't think they had enough room to dip their beaks in the water. The milk jug is not as round and they have more room to get their beaks in. The water level is low in the hopes no wattles ph get dipped in there. The giant heated bowl has their food in it. It's sitting on a landscape stone. I had to keep it lower because the sides are so high. I have a white Pyrex bowl in it & just fill that bowl with another.

I put Stella in there when I was done and she could easily reach both. If she knows where the food is I know the others will find it as well. She thinks she is the official food guru Hopefully since only one or two can fit in there at a time there will be less food scuffles. Edie & Lucy tend to eat after he others.

I also put a garbage bag on the west side to keep the rain & snow out of the crate via the small vent holes. The open end faces south so snow might end up in there. I will just have to wait and see. I could always make the opening smaller to keep snow out if needed.

 

[armorfirelady]

I see chickens with bands on their legs in some pics.
Is that like putting ribbon around the necks of puppies, so that you can tell apart the ones that look alike?  Or do they serve some other purpose?

Yes they are used to identify birds. I have 4 PR that are identical. They have different colored zip ties on a leg so I know who is who. It's helpful if your trying to watch one who may be ill. Breeders use them to identify chicks from certain parents, identify chicks to watch as they grow, etc.

 

[aoxa]

I see chickens with bands on their legs in some pics.
Is that like putting ribbon around the necks of puppies, so that you can tell apart the ones that look alike? Or do they serve some other purpose?

It's so I can keep track of who I want to breed. I banded them early as ones to watch because I liked their growth at around 8 weeks. I was definitely spot on with Gatsby I only banded one other male and I am still not sure yet if I will use him or not.

 

[Pozees]

Everyone, this is Gatsby. He is my pick cockerel for the breeding pen. I think he is gorgeous. He has the rock type that I so need.

 

[TeaChick]

Thanks for the answers.
I'm going to have to find a way to band my Leghorns, then I'll know who's who.