The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Toast n Jelly]

Guess what guys? I have a second girl laying! Last Monday I had my first egg, and have an egg every day since. Today when I went to open the coop door and set feed, I saw an egg sitting on the floor under the roosts. Wonder if it was laid from there? Good thing for a thick bed of shavings underneath! I know I sound like such a silly newbie,, but I am so happy to have another one laying now! It is quite narrow, and quite small... here it is next to the other egg,, which looks the same every day! Do certain breeds lay certain colors? Or is it just individual. I know breeds like Marans and of course blue and green egg layers lay distinctive colors.. but from my two eggs, you can see there is quite a shade difference. Can someone tell from just looking at regular brown eggs?

I will take a somewhat guess and say that it's a wyandotte egg. Let us know if you ever see her lay that is.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Me too! These photos of my first batch of kiddos are in a box in the basement with a sod piece! Funny how fast they could destroy that sod and how often I had to replace it.

From a "natural chicken keeping" perspective, this was a great way to give the littles some exposure to the local bacteria, nematodes, etc. since they weren't outside until later. If you're using a brooder where they can't get outside this is a great introduction and they sure love scratching in the dirt and grass! Amazing the things they found in there to eat - even in those little pieces of sod.






So darn cute!

 

[delisha]

Dunno what I was complaining about. I need to learn patience, because we got our first egg today! It is small, but looks great. She pecked at it, but didn't go through the membrane. I figure that this is normal, yes? She has been on layer feed for a while.

we need pictures!!
Congrats!
New laying birds peck at them sometimes. I have no idea why, I think its curiosity.

 

[delisha]

as a side note..
This is a natural chicken keeping part of BYC..however please post your art work at will. We have some very talented people here and welcome that part of it also.
You are certainly keeping with natural chicken keeping by displaying artwork done on eggs.

 

[armorfirelady]

This link was posted on the CSU forumn here on BYC but I thought other newbies & others would be interested in it as well. I know its outdated but its still nice to have something to look at for what they use to judge hens, explanations of disqualifying things with illustrations, etc.

I know next week when it warms out I will have what I printed out in my hand as I watch some chicken tv

http://www.archive.org/stream/americanstandard00ameriala#page/n0/mode/2up


(My favorite part was the introduction where they say the first meeting was held in Buffalo,NY....thats where I live )

 

[Bulldogma]

I asked to be put on a waiting list for Heritage RIR. March delivery of ten fourteen day old beauties. Possibly eighteen hatching eggs as well. If they are from the rare Ricky Bates line? Even better. Very possibly I would have the only ones in Washington State. There are so few that raise these pure strains. It will give me a start to improve and keep them going in this corner of the world. Maybe even show again someday in a few years. Happy happy day!

Ooooo - I'm insanely jealous! I want H/RIR when I can afford some good ones from a reputable breeder! Right now I have some Production RIRs (should I just call them Production Reds??) eggs in the 'bator... which I'm still fighting with a bit to keep temps even.

he also sent a couple extra eggs for my Mom, with a beautiful Willow and Tulip design on them which my absolutely Mom loves. Very pretty.
Here's a couple of (quick and poor quality, with a weird glare) pics of the pretty egg she painted for me:

Those are amazing! Thank you very much for sharing!! Yes - poultry-related art and photography is welcome!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Question about FF, I started mine yesterday. About 3lbs in a 2.5 gal pail inside another. I completely covered the feed with warm water, stirred it up and added a little more water so it is about an inch above the feed. I put a couple of good glugs of ACV in it and covered most of top with a box to let air exchange. It is in my basement( about 63* ambient temp). How long does it take to ferment and be good to feed the chickens. Should I start pulling feed out of it tomorrow and just feeding them and keep a running batch?

 

[Sally8]

For those of you like me who didn't know what Pysanka was.....(she even supplies the link)

These are so beautiful! This is coming from a woman that has trouble drawing on an egg with a wax crayon and dipping it in food coloring for Easter. Thanks again for sharing! Sue

 

[Bulldogma]

Should I start pulling feed out of it tomorrow and just feeding them and keep a running batch?

It certainly won't hurt them to get only partially fermented feed, so I would go ahead and start feeding it! It takes between 2-3 days to get a really good ferment going, usually. Most older chickens take a while to get used to FF, so be patient. We got 2 new (already laying) Silkies just before Christmas and it took them a little over a week to adjust to it... but now they race across the yard when they see me coming with food!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

Should I start pulling feed out of it tomorrow and just feeding them and keep a running batch?

It certainly won't hurt them to get only partially fermented feed, so I would go ahead and start feeding it! It takes between 2-3 days to get a really good ferment going, usually.

Agree w/ what BD said. Also...just soaking your feed is a good thing to do so, like she said, you can start feeding it right away if you want by taking a little out for them and replacing

Wanted to add one more thing - I also ferment with water level well above my feed like you describe. When you first start out you may have to add more water after a few hours as the feed soaks up more of the water over time. I keep the water above the feed because the fermentation process I'm using with the feed should be done as anaerobic as possible - meaning you want the item you're fermenting to be completely submerged under the liquid so that no air (anaerobic - without air) can get to the bulk of the feed. It's okay to stir it! It will settle down to the bottom under the water again and you'll have a layer of water on the top.

There are different kinds of fermentation processes but that's the kind that I find works best when I'm fermenting the feed and helps to keep unwanted molds and yeasts from proliferating while encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria.