The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Re food oriented chicks -- I've told others - what I've learned about chickens is -- their first drive is to eat -- their second is to not be eaten!
Blondie is on the high end for the first drive, and on the low end for the second -- if you catch my meaning !

I think you're right - the GSL. and by extension the RSL & BSL - are similarly bred for production, and reliable sexing at birth -- rather than for personality traits, or other things.

On the former thread, from which I learned TONS - I believe I read that the 'star' breeds are similar to the sex-links, if not the same?? I think it was also a corollary that the production breeds may not be as hardy, or long-lived - just in general - as the more heritage breeds (I may be using this term incorrectly). You may get more eggs, but for fewer years, and be more prone to disease??? Love being less anxious about disease & rigid diets - not into prophylactic antibiotics, but not opposed to a little neosporin for wounds -- you know common sense, non-zealous. This thread, and its predecessors are consistent with my way of life. Do what you can, then let it go.

Individual birds are always going to show individual traits of course, why I prefaced my previous comments with the disclaimer -- I'm truly inexperienced in all things chicken & wouldn't presume to know about breeds.

But I do like the Buckeyes so much I'd definitely get more - but next time, look for a reliable breeder - know there aren't many & from the Buckeye website - looks like it's easier to find them back east (Ohio -- DUH). But I'm not anticipating needing to do that soon - barring some unknown catastrophe, knock on wood.

I can have more birds - but 6 are plenty for us for eggs - & can supply by brother & daughter with eggs too. and I can still tell them apart - LOL

Now if I can only get over my BYC addiction!! - I need to get back to doing stuff around the house instead of trying to keep up with threads!

Star added to red or gold or anything is just a marketing tool hatcheries use to make the birds sound more interesting. They really are just sex linked by colour.

They do have higher chances at reproductive issues and what not. I do not supply additional lighting, so my second year RSL is not laying right now. I only have one who is over 2. The rest are all just starting to lay. I call them all my Pennies. I do plan on processing them when they are spent, but I'll give them a couple of years of laying. The original Penny laid through her first winter. Her personality stands out amongst all 140 of my birds. She is everyone's favourite. Visitors. Family. Everyone loves Penny!

I don't think they are any more prone to disease, but they are to reproductive issues like internal laying, ovarian cancer, and egg binding.

 

[jockeyeba]

Poor Sox died in 2009.  He was 8 yrs old.  But yes, he was a great cat.   MC and something else.  I can't remember now!  

I'm a cat lover, like them better then dogs

 

[jockeyeba]

I'm sure you guys have seen this... but when I did,, I laughed so hard I scared the dog...

I have a tiny OEGB roo that is giving me fits, trying to flog me every chance he gets

 

[Melabella]

I have a tiny OEGB roo that is giving me fits, trying to flog me every chance he gets

Hi Jockeyeba! I'm having Roo issues myself. I have been at him every day, moving him and making him get out of my way.. He's been staying a good distance from me, but today when I picked up one of the pullets, and he ran at my pants legs... I did do a half hearted kick at him. He just might not make it till Spring.

 

[jockeyeba]

Talking about nest boxes earlier, we have several milk crates fixed on the walls of our coops but have also used various containers for broody's usually from horse products-vitamins, etc. My BLRW pullet has now laid 7 eggs in the last 9 days

 

[Sally8]

You know me, I have another question that I've wanted to ask since I first joined BYC. I have read where people that have raised and owned chickens claim that they have never had certain diseases or other problem. What I was reading was that the chickens were being culled at the first sign of anything. Is that right? The disease/problem was never allowed to grow. I know there are certain breeds that are unable to tolerate excessive heat or cold. Did I read that right or are there some of you that truly never have any problems? My first year, I lost several chickens. Egg Binding, Excessive heat, 2 - I have no clues and Mites, mites, mites. I blamed it on the straw sitting under a wild bird's nest.

jockeyeba. Your pics are beautiful!

 

[Ashdoes]

The RSLs I got from MyPetChicken are very sweet, great foragers and lay an egg every other day. Although they could be laying everyday, and the BR isn't laying yet, but I'm not for sure who's laying what right now.
Kids and Chickens~ this weekend my girls were playing outside with the chickens, they're 9&5. I looked out the window and saw my 9 year old chasing one of the chickens, so of course I called her into the house. She comes in the door, so mad she could hardly talk, and tells me "one of those boy chickens is jumping on, and pulling the feathers out of the girls head!" so, she was chasing him, and telling him to be nice. After laughing, I had to tell her that I know it looks mean, but that's how chickens make babies. She said, oh ok...and went right back out. My husband said "glad I missed that talk"

 

[Mumsy]

I am VERY new to chicks - & have only 6 - 2 each of these 3 breeds - so my observations are likely not representative. But for what it's worth --



o - & they are all feedstore chickies - from last mother's day - my mom's day gift to myself -- didn't know there was anyplace else to get chicks then - but I'm not breeding - no roosters - so no harm, no fowl! live & learn - luv my chickies- thanks for asking-

I started out raising chickens at a very young age. First chickens I ever saw and loved were old timey White Rocks and RIR. I mean old school. I'm talking back in the 1950's. First chickens I had as a tween-age girl were White Leghorns. All I ever saw as a kid were big brown or white eggs produced by these farm birds. I never knew there were other breeds until I was an adult woman and went through the poultry barns at the county fair. Holy Carp! Blew my brain!
First chickens I owned as an adult woman were Sex links and Production Reds. Eggs eggs eggs and more eggs and then those hens just quit after two years. We butchered them all.

Many years later I started raising Heritage bantam breeds. Forgot all about those old time breeds and Sex links. When I started up on BYC this year and started my flock from scratch again I had no clue what people were talking about when they said, Black Star, or Red Star, or EE. Never heard those names until this year. They were Sex Links and Ameracaunas. I've been playing catch up for a few months now reading about all these new fangled names. I feel old.

 

[jockeyeba]

I have a tiny OEGB roo that is giving me fits, trying to flog me every chance he gets

Hi Jockeyeba!  I'm having Roo issues myself.  I have been at him every day, moving him and making him get out of my way.. He's been staying a good distance from me, but today when I picked up one of the pullets, and he ran at my pants legs... I did do a half hearted kick at him.  He just might not make it till Spring. 

I have to put a bucket over him so I can put out feed, check for eggs, etc. & I hate to say it but forgot him & he had to stay under the bucket all night last week. He was pretty traumatized for 2 days but today back to his mean little self

 

[camilleathome]

Talking about nest boxes earlier, we have several milk crates fixed on the walls of our coops but have also used various containers for broody's usually from horse products-vitamins, etc. My BLRW pullet has now laid 7 eggs in the last 9 days

Where did you get your glass waterer? I like to try to stay away from soft plastics. If I wont drink out of them Id rather my animals dont either XD