The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[SallyinIndiana]

When she took the chicks out into the coop, we took the three that did not hatch and there were mites on the eggs.

If the wood ash does not work or if you need immediate results a tiny tiny drop of frontline should do the trick. I used 5 drops on my full size hens as a prevention method. Mainly because I could not find a good way to have all of the natural options in a small breeding pen. We have the food, the calcium, the nest box, and the water, I just could not add any more to the pen. The frontline was recommended on the HRIR thread.

 

[armorfirelady]

Lala & scotth congrats on the new chicks. If it was me I would not,accomplish anything since I would be out there 24/7 watching them thanks for sharing the pics.

LM glad to hear you found a good home for mrs gray.
Note on crows: I haven't seen any hawk around here since last month. Seems the crows nesting in my yard has made them stay away. I wish they would stay there all year
My son was in charge of feeding the hens while I was gone. I was not to worried if he forgot since they have a compost pile full of goodies plus their ranging area. The cup I used to feed them was moved so I'm guessing they were fed. However he wouldn't gather eggs since Lucy growled at him when he lifted the nesting box lid. I told him she wouldn't bite but he refused. My mom went out to get eggs today. 21 eggs in 3 1/2 days. Lucy was off the nest. I thought maybe having so many eggs broke her being broody. Nope she was back to trying to hatch the golf balls lol

Today my mom bought me 2 semi dwarf apple trees so I could start my orchard. I had some help as I dug holes for them

Edie & Stella realized their were worms in there. I loved listening To the 2 them talk to each other as they dug. Then the big girls decided it was a great dust bathing area. :/ I ended up putting fencing around it to keep them out.

I got 2 raspberries that are dwarf & thornless also. Curious to see how big they grow.

Anyone have suggestions for the apple trees to keep them pest free? I want to use something non chemical

 

[MargaretYakoda]

Anyone have suggestions for the apple trees to keep them pest free? I want to use something non chemical

Looks like your chickens are already on the job, there!

 

[jime]

Hello, I am a Newbie here trying to do my chickens (like my life) as natural as possible. I figure this thread should keep me busy with lots of reading material for awhile!

I have a question - I'm wondering do any of you give Kefir or Kombucha to your chicks. My chicks will be 3 weeks old tomorrow, (with one that is 5-7 days older than the rest). I am just thinking there are so many good healthy probiotics in both that they could be good for the chicks. I always have both on hand b/c I make them so it would be easy for me to give to the chicks. I was thinking I would mix it with their water. Right now I put ACV in their water.

So what do you think? Thanks for your help!

I give kefir to the chickens I tried first with cow milk and it was to strong they will eat it pretty well but will give them runny pops.Now I make it with goat milk and is working great is bait more watery but not loose pops.
I brew Kombucha as well and I do give the scoby to the chickens they love it, I do my own ACV as well and they get the mother as well.

 

[flyladyrocks]

I don't give them the scoby either. I have enough variety of other fermented items available without using a tea-based ferment product.



On the fermented feed, just be sure that you do LACTO-FERMENTED not alcohol ferment. There is a lot of confusion between the two and the kind of fermenting that produces alcohol is not good for the birds. (There really is a lot of misinformation on this subject out there...with good intentions but misinformation none-the-less.)


Here's an article that talks about the difference in those two different kinds of fermenting:

A Tale of 2 Fermentations:
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/03/fermentation-basics-tale-of-two.html



There are 2 other parts to the articles as well that are worth looking at:

Benefits:
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/03/benefits-of-fermenting-feed-for.html

Making:
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/03/making-fermented-feed-part-3-of-3.html

Thanks for the info - in my brain alcohol fermentation doesn't seem right anyway. Lots more reading to do!

 

[misbhaven]

Thanks for the info - in my brain alcohol fermentation doesn't seem right anyway. Lots more reading to do!

well alcohol fermentation is a good thing but not for chickens

......I just ferment my grains and feed dry feed on the side..I could never get my kids to help if I fermented it all still saves on the feed bill .

 

[debbiegt]

I am still reading this thread from the beginning, which is taking a while, so my question is about worming. Do it or not and if so how and with what? I have 43 chickens ranging in age from 2 weeks old to 2 years old. BTW really enjoying this thread! Thanks

 

[aoxa]

This is what happened to us yesterday. 7 hour labour where we stayed with mom the entire day. She gave birth to a single Doeling who weighed in at 9lbs 11 ounces. Mom is SMALL. Baby was so not small.

On top of that we had clients come get chicks all weekend. It was a holiday for us Canadians yesterday - so I got to be there! Both kiddings this year took place on a holiday! Easter and Victoria day.

We are keeping this little girl. She is way too cute. Alpine father and her mom is Alpine and Nubian cross.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

This is what happened to us yesterday. 7 hour labour where we stayed with mom the entire day. She gave birth to a single Doeling who weighed in at 9lbs 11 ounces. Mom is SMALL. Baby was so not small. On top of that we had clients come get chicks all weekend. It was a holiday for us Canadians yesterday - so I got to be there! Both kiddings this year took place on a holiday! Easter and Victoria day. We are keeping this little girl. She is way too cute. Alpine father and her mom is Alpine and Nubian cross.

A keeper for sure! Really gorgeous.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Lala & scotth congrats on the new chicks. If it was me I would not,accomplish anything since I would be out there 24/7 watching them thanks for sharing the pics.

LM glad to hear you found a good home for mrs gray.
Note on crows: I haven't seen any hawk around here since last month. Seems the crows nesting in my yard has made them stay away. I wish they would stay there all year
My son was in charge of feeding the hens while I was gone. I was not to worried if he forgot since they have a compost pile full of goodies plus their ranging area. The cup I used to feed them was moved so I'm guessing they were fed. However he wouldn't gather eggs since Lucy growled at him when he lifted the nesting box lid. I told him she wouldn't bite but he refused. My mom went out to get eggs today. 21 eggs in 3 1/2 days. Lucy was off the nest. I thought maybe having so many eggs broke her being broody. Nope she was back to trying to hatch the golf balls lol

Today my mom bought me 2 semi dwarf apple trees so I could start my orchard. I had some help as I dug holes for them

Edie & Stella realized their were worms in there. I loved listening To the 2 them talk to each other as they dug. Then the big girls decided it was a great dust bathing area. :/ I ended up putting fencing around it to keep them out.

I got 2 raspberries that are dwarf & thornless also. Curious to see how big they grow.

Anyone have suggestions for the apple trees to keep them pest free? I want to use something non chemical

I use a tea made of tobacco and lavender. It's supposed to kill moulds as well as repel insects. If I don't get it on early enough in the spring aphids attack the new growing tips, so I just pluck them off. Good thing about dwarf trees is you can pick insects off with your fingers. Yucky, but truly organic!