The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[RedRidge]

Oh @ Kassaundra. .. culling - good one!
Yes very important. Always cull twice as deep as you think you should!

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Haven't gone all the way to the end...not sure if anyone answered about the silkies? @delisha
or @aoxa may be able to answer that.

And....Aoxa is in her busy time at work and with breeding so her time is limited and she isn't on as much right now.... probably after Tax time is over with before we see her much


Another heavy snow here this morning. It took down the light weight bird netting I have over the kennel run for hawk cover.

Usually the snow just falls through it or I can shake it off but this stuff is heavy and icy. I'm surprised there haven't been more electric lines down. It was "warm" enough that it is icy on everything. Had a hard time getting into the kennel gate!

Supposed to be 2 Degrees F. again tonight.

I guess sin't a question anymore as I decided I "had" to have a red, splash and a partridge silkie. Darn chicken math! My coop will just need to be a wee bit bigger!

It's cooler and VERY windy here today, but I will take that over snow any day. I lived in MN for 19 years. That is enough snow for a lifetime!

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Boy am I behind!

Where are you able to purchase your Countryside? Do you have to order it shipped or does a nearby store stock it?

I can get Coyote Creek Farms and Texas Naturals locally so I will go with them. I'm starting out with Texas Naturals - it is all non-gmo, just not organic. Saves me money. I will be fermenting the feed.

My first chick may arrive next week. I am really hoping and praying that it is in two weeks. I don't want to have their ages spread out all over the map. This chick and the BCM's I have coming from TN (member here) are the only ones I can't control the timing of on the front end of getting my chicks. The last two I am getting I can't control either. They will be here 6 May. I never knew getting chicks was so difficult! Much different than getting a kitten!

I'll be getting a true Ameraucana, 3 silkies, cream legbar, 3 BCM's (keeping one), Delaware and hopefully a Buckeye.

 

[Shan30]

This looks just like the mink track we see sometimes. They do that funny little hopping run and leave their tracks in pairs.

Sorry if I freaked you out with this Court. It could be a cat too. The tracks are very similar. I just knew what ours were as I had seen it. If you see the tracks in mud or anything other than snow you should be able to tell a bit better. If you see claws it's not a cat. For your sake I really hope I'm wrong!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Thank you !!!

Remember a week or so Lucy had frost bite on her toes?


I just checked on her tonight & you can't tell which toes had it. They all look normal

I did nothing but watch her and the swelling went down on its own.

Stella on the other hand is sporting some Nustock on her head again. The feathers are growing back in slowly but the big girls are still pecking at her head at feeding time. If she doesn't shake it all off tonight perhaps tomorrow when the big girls try again they will get a taste of Nustock and decide to stop
Can you get some updated photos of the feet for us please? And your guys combs too, @lalaland

@Sally8 is still chronicling her frostbite too.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Want to dye your eggs naturally for Easter or crafts? I found this in my book "Keeping Chickens with Ashley English".

 

[CoopChick719]

...

I would love to build mine, but I don't have any tools, except a drill.  I also am fond of my fingers, toes, arms and legs....  

I got the nick name Grace in college and many people call me an accident waiting to happen.  Sooooo, I won't be doing it myself. I don't have a husband to help me. 

It's awesome you could build your own.  
[/quote
You could google pallet sheds/barns. It might be an easier build for you.

 

[Jewelwing]

Boy am I behind!

Where are you able to purchase your Countryside? Do you have to order it shipped or does a nearby store stock it?

No, I order it shipped.

It's still way expensive (50lbs costs me almost $50 when it's all said & done), but I only got a 25lb bag for that price from Scratch & Peck, once you include shipping. I do have to say that Countryside ships really fast and I get my order a couple of days after I place it.

I'm counting on the girls foraging for most of their food this summer!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

See "my coop" link for the 10 by 20 foot combo coop and run built by me and my friend, both women in our late (LATE) 50's. It's rough cut hemlock, so very heavy wood. We had "manly" help for one day, to get the rafters up, but otherwise just us. Me more than she, as is only right. I also screwed everything. Easier on my body and easier to take apart if, god forbid, I ever have to.

Quote: Thanks for all the photos! Love seeing the creativity

Want to dye your eggs naturally for Easter or crafts? I found this in my book "Keeping Chickens with Ashley English".

Fun!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I want to get back to everyone's top 5-10 but having probs. with my dad yesterday and today and under deadline at work too....

Maybe later!