The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Crafty-Duck]

ooo love that idea. I have a huge old tractor tire, maybe I can use that

I'm sure it would! you just need something to contain the bark chips.

They do a good job of turning the chips so they compost too.

 

[Melabella]

Good morning! I've been lurking on the Gnarly Bunch thread and finally have created a profile to post! Unfortunately it's too late to tell Beekissed how much I've appreciated all her advice. I am glad to see so many familiar names that have moved to this thread. I've appreciated your insight too.
Something for those that are incline to "natural" methods that the species of crickets sold in pet stores and home-farmed worms are not really native to the area that you live in.

I am a biologist and have seen a lot of areas changed by nonnative species. Be careful what you let loose (alive) outside. It can change your environment!

to BYC katbriar and to the thread! I am hopeful Bee will be back one day, and read your thanks.

Your advice is an excellent point, there have been far too many things brought to areas they don't belong, and in some cases it's caused irreparable damage.

Hope you see more of you, we can always use advice and knowledge from a Biologist!

MB

 

[Leahs Mom]

Do you want to hatch your own now? or are you looking for a trio?

I'm undecided on that right now. What are the "logistics" on shipping for the trio? I have a bit of a concern on shipping the birds for any distance but I'm uneducated about that - just seems like it could be a bad thing!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Worm farm this is what I do.........



I have a circle of cement blocks in my yard, I then add to it all of the bark chips from the coop there are so many worms in it!!!!!!! the chickens love scratching in it and digging and eating all the worms they want.

That's a good method. That way the worms you get are the native ones coming up from below! I have a huge wood chip pile in our back area and it is FULL of worms! The chickens are in "hog heaven" when they get into that pile.

Katbriar:
As far as the worm farm worms, I was trying to keep something going for the winter since I live in Northern IN and all of our outdoor bugs/worms are gone. I would only be feeding them to the chickens - they won't get a chance at getting loose in the real world! However, we do have redworms native here so I don't think it would be an issue if they did.
Thanks for bringing that up about the non-native species!

I hadn't even thought of that since I don't plan on turning them loose. However I had considered the possibility of other bugs that may be a little more likely to escape so I WILL keep that in mind and be sure that I don't get anything that's a problem here locally.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I had my English trio shipped a long way..the shipping charges are hard to swallow on live older birds. If you need birds today I can point you in the right direction if you pm me with your state and town, I can't say if anyone will have birds today, but we can try. As far as eggs..i can get you to someone who will ship you eggs today.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I had my English trio shipped a long way..the shipping charges are hard to swallow on live older birds. If you need birds today I can point you in the right direction if you pm me with your state and town, I can't say if anyone will have birds today, but we can try. As far as eggs..i can get you to someone who will ship you eggs today.
I have these eggs in my bator now. His chickens come from good old stock. You might even get a potential show out of it. He is reasonable and you can get 8-10 fertile eggs with shipping for around 25.00.

 

[delisha]

I highly recommend to everyone who is looking for new stock to shop around to all the clubs. Look at pictures Find shows you can go to. Don't rush, the chickens will be there when they are suppose to be there. Don't buy any ole thing. Go to the heritage thread and the RIR thread. If you want rocks, go there too.

 

[delisha]

http://showbirdbid.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=viewprofile&user=far149

 

[stonykill]

moved the healing Pekins back in their run this morning. This afternoon I moved the Runners in with them. The following pictures show the self appointed head Pekin girl challenging the Runner Drakes to show them who is large and in charge. This is a good sign that they are on their way to a full recovery.

 

[Miss Lydia]

moved the healing Pekins back in their run this morning. This afternoon I moved the Runners in with them. The following pictures show the self appointed head Pekin girl challenging the Runner Drakes to show them who is large and in charge. This is a good sign that they are on their way to a full recovery.

Love the pics stony looks like their going to be ok. especially the last one, looks like the Runners are standing there wondering what just happened.