The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[amenfarm]

@lalaland
How long did it take your girl to heal? This looks really bad, but I observed her eating and drinking which is good. She ate all her regular food tonight.

One thing that is really frustrating is that since she is the bottom of the pecking order, I was already having issues with her fitting in. Isolating her like this then trying to re-integrate her is probably not going to happen. Right now, because of the way they treat her anyway, it's not safe for her to be out with them. And if she heals...by the time she can go back out I think it would not be good for her, unfortunately.

I'm not even sure I have a bird that I can bring up front to join her without hazard to her at this point.

After her recovery, I would chose 1 or 2 other hens to put in with her a few days, 48 hours should do it.. I did that when I added my buckeye to the flock. after her quarantine time was up, I had enough room to add another chicken into that pen, I did it for a week. it's alot better to divide the hen pecking than for 1 bird to take it all.

 

[armorfirelady]

I have been working on cleaning out gardens today and dumping the litter in the compost bin. I have decided letting the hens access has helped my compost a lot. It's def breaking down a lot faster since they spend time in there every day scratching through it. Plus they get free protein. I don't think there is any way they can eat all the worms that are living in there

Justine love the pictures. Jagger is stunning

Leah's mom how is mrs grey today?

 

[ki4got]

thanks to a wonderful blonde friend, I now have some seeds to plant! but would you recommend starting pumpkins and sunflowers in the ground directly or in seed starter trays?

same question for tomatoes and green peppers (yeah I'm late, as always LOL)

 

[heartsizedfarm]

thanks to a wonderful blonde friend, I now have some seeds to plant!  but would you recommend starting pumpkins and sunflowers in the ground directly or in seed starter trays?

same question for tomatoes and green peppers (yeah I'm late, as always LOL)

I usually start tomatoes indoors, then into a cold frame for a week to garden off, then I to the garden. You still have time for most tomato varieties. Pumpkins squash and sunflower seeds I just poke into the garden. Squash and pumpkins like a little composty hill rather than row planting, maybe for drainage, I don't know. Beans go straight in too but best to wait till June.

 

[armorfirelady]

thanks to a wonderful blonde friend, I now have some seeds to plant!  but would you recommend starting pumpkins and sunflowers in the ground directly or in seed starter trays?

same question for tomatoes and green peppers (yeah I'm late, as always LOL)

My pumpkins last year started from pumpkins sitting out all winter for them to eat. Easy peasy lol. This year I have seeds but I am going to put them where the old compost was. A quick rototill, throw seeds down with some others I have then rake dirt over them. I like easy lol

I started tomatoes and eggplants a new way this year. I bought the plants, put them in a hay bale and covered with milk jugs. I read you can starts plants early this way. Plus I am reusing the hay bales from winter that I got for free.

Here they are. And no the chickens can't get to them. There is a fence between them. Leave it to Edie & Stella to photobomb my picture. They run into the compost pile whenever I get close to the garden

 

[aoxa]

I have been working on cleaning out gardens today and dumping the litter in the compost bin. I have decided letting the hens access has helped my compost a lot. It's def breaking down a lot faster since they spend time in there every day scratching through it. Plus they get free protein. I don't think there is any way they can eat all the worms that are living in there

Justine love the pictures. Jagger is stunning

Leah's mom how is mrs grey today?

Thank you

As for gardens.. We are definitely going to be late on that this year. We JUST got rid of the snow last week. Still going bellow freezing pretty much every night. I am not bothering with starting my own this year. Just going to by started plants from a friend instead.

 

[armorfirelady]

I forgot to add I'm going to put potatoes in the bottom of the hay bales and see if they grow up thru it. Certainly won't hurt to try I just need to bring the potatoes up from the pantry lol

Justine I can't believe you just got rid of your snow!! My plants under the cold frames are coming up on 2 weeks and starting to sprout. We have had a few nights in the 30s still but not every night thank goodness

 

[Kassaundra]

I have tomatoes on my vines.

Been sick for almost two weeks, so trying to catch up on the most important garden tasks I was way behind on.

 

[hellbender]

I have tomatoes on my vines.

Been sick for almost two weeks, so trying to catch up on the most important garden tasks I was way behind on.

Hope you feel better soon! Don't let Rudy catch anything from you!!!

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I usually start tomatoes indoors, then into a cold frame for a week to garden off, then I to the garden. You still have time for most tomato varieties. Pumpkins squash and sunflower seeds I just poke into the garden. Squash and pumpkins like a little composty hill rather than row planting, maybe for drainage, I don't know. Beans go straight in too but best to wait till June.

HARDEN off