The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I can't wait till I get my taxes back so I can order seeds & buy some bricks at my fav reuse place to start putting the cold frames together. I'm hoping it helps getting things started earlier easier. Especially since an article in the paper said it's going to be a cold spring because the lake is 98% frozen. I have a feeling those cold frames are going to be setup for awhile

I'm hoping when they are done as cold frames to use them as a place for cukes, squash and pumpkins to grow up to keep them off the ground. But it really needs to warm up so I can get them covered with wore & plastic. I can't do it in the house they are to big.

LM thanks for the article. Did you see dr oz yesterday? I was flabbergasted by the potato info. I will def be growing more of my own potatoes this year or buying organic. And the other atomizes he had were good also.

I'm just waiting for some unfrozen ground. Or at least to see some grass.

I didn't see the potato thing. We've been buying organic but I try not to eat a lot of potatoes myself. Husband and dad eat 'em though.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@armorfirelady

How are the head feathers doing on your girl?
Does the smell of the Nustock seem to deter the pickers any?

I wish there was something I could spray on a couple of my lowers to keep others away from them! Like...they'd smell it from a couple inches away and just turn away.

Of course, if it smelled that bad, the one wearing it would want to get away from herself

 

[Scott H]

How keen is a chickens sense of smell?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Grass! Ha! Supposed to be almost 40'F here tomorrow!!! Aggh now that will feel so warm! Thank you Leahs mom, for popping in on that FB. Here are some leeks that sprouted last week.

 

[Scott H]

Pineapple Expres raised our temps from single digits to 55dg today....WOW....no coat!

 

[armorfirelady]

@armorfirelady


How are the head feathers doing on your girl?
Does the smell of the Nustock seem to deter the pickers any?

I wish there was something I could spray on a couple of my lowers to keep others away from them!  Like...they'd smell it from a couple inches away and just turn away.

Of course, if it smelled that bad, the one wearing it would want to get away from herself

I just coated her up again last night. By the time I got home from work today she had worn most of it off. It looks as if the feathers are growing back in. I'm sure if I remembered to do it every few days she would look better. The big girls still peck her head but not when she has Nustock on it.

It warmed up enough that I could,shovel snow off the garden. I am hoping that little extra space will help with the picking on. The funny part? Stella roosts at night next to the big girls.......and they leave her be. Def think its food related.....l.stella found the frozen turkey neck that got buried in the snow.......she spent a good half hour working on that thing. Turkey necks are like nylabone so for dogs. They can peck at them as much as they want and they are still whole

 

[CoopChick719]

Chickens don't react to the quick being cut like a dog would. 

It bleeds very freely.. I clip nails because I show birds.

I was told by a long time chicken keeper that chickens could bleed to death through a nail cut too short. Thoughts?

Pineapple Expres raised our temps from single digits to 55dg today....WOW....no coat!

. 55??!! We are supposedly hitting 40 on Saturday. Im not holding my breath!

 

[Jewelwing]

duh. i goggled, and of course found chickweed seeds for sale. who knew? not native to north america but....it is prolific where I live.

http://www.egardenseed.com/Chickweed_Seeds_p/0161.9.htm or for cheaper:
http://www.cherrygal.com/greenschickweedheirloomseeds2010-p-10194.html

second source reminds you that it is very very invasive and will reduce grain yields by 80% so to be sure to harvest fully.

think I will get some and add to the run.

It looks like Star Chickweed is native in MN (as well as most of the Eatern US), at least according to this map:

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=STPU

I don't think it's invasive, so you might try that variety. The flowers are really pretty too!

 

[aoxa]

I was told by a long time chicken keeper that chickens could bleed to death through a nail cut too short. Thoughts?
. 55??!! We are supposedly hitting 40 on Saturday. Im not holding my breath!

I would not doubt it.. If it is cut too short and you don't stop the bleeding - especially on a bantam it could possibly..

 

[lalaland]

It looks like Star Chickweed is native in MN (as well as most of the Eatern US), at least according to this map:

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=STPU

I don't think it's invasive, so you might try that variety. The flowers are really pretty too!

huh! I was surprised to read it was not native, as it is pretty well entrenched in my veggie gardens. but then, so are dandelions. I regularly grab handfuls to throw to the chickens when I am weeding, but thought it would be nice to start reseeding parts of their run where all the "good" weeds have been eradicated by the chickens . there is no dandelion, no violets, no chickweed, no plantain, etc just goldenrod, burdock, grass....