The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Melabella]

Those waterers are really neat! I wonder if any of the new "eco" or "green" companies could make money selling this kind of equipment? I'd want to buy one. (I do love the bucket with cups waterers that JeffOeff and {I think} Leah'sMom use, though.)

Meee tooo.. gonna buy Leah's Moms water cups come spring..

 

[Bulldogma]

Twenty five years ago my mom and dad gave me two old glass waterers that were found on a shelf in that old barn. Covered in cobwebs and dust. I don't use them any longer because they are very old and I don't want to risk them breaking or chipping. The tops hold nearly a gallon and the bottoms are very thick and heavy. The bottom just rests on the top and you flip them. No screwing them together. Very nice heavy glass. I may use them again someday.

Those warerers are too cool! Do we have any glass-blowers in our ranks?

 

[camilleathome]

That's why if I ever used bottles for the kiddies, i used glass ones. With all the UACV we all use, glass should be the best bet. Can't use metal, plastics breakdown. You still have to put up with the plastic base.. Someone should design an all glass waterer...base and all.

are the metal feeders safe for ff? the only feeders i could find for chicks that was small enough for two was a metal one

 

[flagirl]

I wanted eggs and manure also. I have 11 hens(some couple yrs old and looking to be culled for non-laying) and i cry when i hear some saying 6 are enough to supply them with enough eggs for them, family, etc. I use 3 eggs in our morning shake every day and have to buy eggs from others to keep up with other uses for eggs in cooking during the week. I am finally getting more and have extra, but then you have a dish that calls for another 3-6 eggs and in the hole again

Am getting manure, but with a large garden, that could be more also! guess I have to look at enlarging and chicken math. of course, DH, is not aware of my thoughts yet.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have only had buckeyes, gold sex-link & Black australorps -- the individual species lay different colors - If I found your eggs in my nests - I'd say the dark one was a GSL and the lighter one from a BA.  The BA's (mine anyway) have a little mauve, or almost purplish tint to them.  The buckeyes lay much lighter color eggs than the GSL's, but no purple in them.

Question for more experienced folks -- one of my Buckeyes lays 'wrinkled' eggs.  They are a little smaller than the other buckeye - other than that they are fine.  I'm not breeding these guys, they're just for eggs, else she'd need to be culled for genetics.  Read somewhere that wrinkled eggs were a sign of a virus - but this has been going on since she first started laying a couple of months ago - Am thinking it's more just her style, so to speak, and as long as I'm not furthering the trait - who cares.  Of course, she's my fav chook - took me awhile to figure out which chick was laying the wrinkled egg & was disappointed to see who it was...

Question is - does this ALWAYS mean virus -- don't see that it's catching - or been passed on to the others - just checking to see if anyone else has seen this.

Otherwise - all chicks seem in great health, active, get almost an egg a day a chick in this their first winter.

I have seen this before concerning infectious bronchitis in a flock. I also have had a hen very rarely lay a very wrinkled egg. Since IB is supposed to be spread to 100% of chickens in an infected flock, I would say that it is just a fluke.

 

[Sally8]

I was thinking about when I was a kid and living next door to a commercial egg and replacement pullet barn and the things I saw. A lot of the equipment would not be of much use now because it's outdated, antiquated, or downright dangerous. All that and besides, most of us are not wanting to base our small operations like that of a big commercial operation. Twenty five years ago my mom and dad gave me two old glass waterers that were found on a shelf in that old barn. Covered in cobwebs and dust. I don't use them any longer because they are very old and I don't want to risk them breaking or chipping. The tops hold nearly a gallon and the bottoms are very thick and heavy. The bottom just rests on the top and you flip them. No screwing them together. Very nice heavy glass. I may use them again someday. Do any here use antiquated farm equipment to raise chickens naturally? Got pictures?

Very nice! I have looked for nearly 5 years for an antique egg scale. There isn't one to be found anywhere near me. We vacationed up and over along the coast of Maine. Lots and lots of antique dealers but no egg scale. eBay as some but thought I could find one along my travels. 5 years, you'd think I'd give up!

 

[delisha]

Mumsy,

I have one left. I now use it to feed FF to the new chicks. I like to use glass for them. I alternate it with my other old orange juicer (green glass).

If the metal is stainless it is fine with FF. Galvanized is a no.

 

[Mumsy]

Very nice! I have looked for nearly 5 years for an antique egg scale. There isn't one to be found anywhere near me. We vacationed up and over along the coast of Maine. Lots and lots of antique dealers but no egg scale. eBay as some but thought I could find one along my travels. 5 years, you'd think I'd give up!

My husband and I like to rummage around old antique stores and second hand places when we are on road trips too. I'm always looking for old kitchen or farm tools that still have use.
I had forgotton about these old glass waterers until today thinking about that old barn from my childhood.

Closer inspection of these reveals interesting details.

On the bottom piece is stamped into the glass: Anderson Box Co
INDPLS IND
NO. 540
For No. 1541 AND No. 1342
Patt. Applied For







I'm thinking one of those glass gallon pickle jars would work with the base. I'll test it out tomorrow.

 

[zinia8]

I swore I only wanted eggs out of this whole adventure. I never wanted to incubate - certainly didn't want broody's. And now all these adorable pictures. And stories of roo's feeding babies. 

Oh, my gosh . . . I feel myself weakening!   

X2

 

[Mumsy]

Mumsy,

I have one left. I now use it to feed FF to the new chicks. I like to use glass for them. I alternate it with my other old orange juicer (green glass).

I was thinking the base of these old waterers reminds me of those old glass orange juicers! In size extra big! Hah! Yes. I also like using glass to work with the chicks. I use canning jars for waterers with those cheapy plastic bases. I would use these old antique waterers if if was just me feeding and caring for the chicks. But sometimes the hubby helps and he is clumsier than me. He would feel terrible if he dropped one and smashed it to smithereens.