The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

@armorfirelady
Let me take a look at my dehydrating books and see what it recommends for drying those. Sounds like a plan to me but I'm curious to see what their recommendation is.

 

[aoxa]

But seriously...is there any breed that is any more amicable at roost time or is it common to all chickendom?

My Buckeyes don't at all, and neither do my Barred Rocks. Try something besides hatchery. Your birds are getting up in age yes? Hatchery birds will really be slowing down about now for you. Why not process them this fall and get some heritage strains in their place?

 

[lalaland]

phew, mama and the chicks made it thru the day while I was working - I'm a little uncomfortable about the security lacking in the temporary chick run.

I've noticed wing feathers start showing up day 2, dustbathing day 3, helicoptering day 4 and tail feathers day 4 as well. dang they grow fast!

I came home and noticed one of the sulmtalers (fluffy white belly and tail end feathers) had feathers dragging down, weighted down with some kind of dark grey masses on the feather shafts. Looked like an old mop or dreads, not fluffy feathers. I instantly thought this was the most horrific case of mites or lice or something and that I should be shot for not keeping a better eye on them. They are skittish birds, and prefer not to be anywhere close to me, unlike other chickens in the flocks that are always curious and hovering underfoot.

Ran inside, cleaned off the counter, emptied the sink, got the sulphur powder, the hair dryer, the towels - ran back out and spent 30 minutes trying to catch the little bugger - I hate crawling in a muddy run...got her in the house, (screaming hen under one arm, grabbing cats in other hand and tossing them out in the porch) . She was pretty upset. Got her in the warm bath - first time I've had to force a hen to sit down in the water, usually they relax after a few minutes and sink in on their own. swished soapy water (dr bronners) around, pulled her out to switch to a rinse bath and discovered.....a ton of fine silt in the sink. Her feathers had an incredible load of dirt on them, not mites! Never had this happen before, usually dustbathing even in damp dirt doesn't stick to feathers.

chickens just keep me running!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yes...the older group was 2 yo this March. That's 6 of them.

But...everyone is laying full-tilt right now and I'm getting more eggs than I ever have. But I'm definitely considering having that first group go at the end of Fall and not keeping them over the winter.

I have three 2-week old Swedes in the brooder right now and I certainly don't want them to learn bad behavior from the older crowd. And I'd love to try a few Buckeyes if I knew the best source for them. I just hate to wait forever to have eggs again.

 

[Scott H]

But seriously...is there any breed that is any more amicable at roost time or is it common to all chickendom?

Our Wyandottes have no issues at roost time. The worst I've seen is when one is out of position, another will try to work it's way underneath the offending hen. LOL Even when treats are being handed out it's an orderly afair.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

phew, mama and the chicks made it thru the day while I was working - I'm a little uncomfortable about the security lacking in the temporary chick run.

I've noticed wing feathers start showing up day 2, dustbathing day 3, helicoptering day 4 and tail feathers day 4 as well.  dang they grow fast!

I came home and noticed one of the sulmtalers (fluffy white  belly and tail end feathers) had feathers dragging down, weighted down with some kind of dark grey masses on the feather shafts.  Looked like an old mop or dreads, not fluffy feathers.  I instantly thought this was the most horrific case of mites or lice or something and that I should be shot for not keeping a better eye on them.  They are skittish birds, and prefer not to be anywhere close to me, unlike other chickens in the flocks that are always curious and hovering underfoot.

Ran inside, cleaned off the counter, emptied the sink, got the sulphur powder, the hair dryer, the towels - ran back out and spent  30 minutes trying to catch the little bugger - I hate crawling in a muddy run...got her in the house, (screaming hen under one arm, grabbing cats in other hand and tossing them out in the porch) .  She was pretty upset.  Got her in the warm bath - first time I've had to force a hen to sit down in the water, usually they relax after a few minutes and sink in on their own.  swished soapy water (dr bronners) around, pulled her out to switch to a rinse bath and discovered.....a ton of fine silt in the sink.  Her feathers had an incredible load of dirt on them, not mites!  Never had this happen before, usually dustbathing even in damp dirt doesn't stick to feathers.  

chickens just keep me running!

Ha! Funny story! I can totally relate.

 

[aoxa]

Yes...the older group was 2 yo this March. That's 6 of them.

But...everyone is laying full-tilt right now and I'm getting more eggs than I ever have. But I'm definitely considering having that first group go at the end of Fall and not keeping them over the winter.

I have three 2-week old Swedes in the brooder right now and I certainly don't want them to learn bad behavior from the older crowd. And I'd love to try a few Buckeyes if I knew the best source for them. I just hate to wait forever to have eggs again.

Get them as chicks now so that late fall they will be laying

I'll have to take my camera in at roost time and show you how peaceful my flock is. Even the older birds range with my babies who are 4 weeks. They don't have any mother, and get along flawlessly.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Please do. I would love to see that.

Who is a reputable Buckeye source near me?

 

[Kassaundra]

My chicks here are just over one week old, and the temps last night were about 55 or so. The daytime temp today was 64, and it's down to 59 now. The chicks are running around having a grand old time in their "nursery yard" eating more FF and chest bumping each other. They've been out all day and not only have I not seen them bunching up together, I haven't seen them going under the wool hen either. I've been out running errands, however so I may have missed that.

I was worried last night, and went out to check on them a couple of times. I stuck my fingers inside the wool hen and found it was toasty warm in there. I touched the feet of a couple of chicks and everyone I touched was quite warm. So I quit worrying.

@Kassaundra how did you come up with this idea? Because it's freakin' brilliant!

I knew how well the feathers were doing and needed something similar only bigger for outside in the coop, and it just came to me. I did the same, the first night I used it Gary went out and touched chicks and feet and all were toasty and warm.

 

[Kassaundra]

Okay...I'm about ready to process the whole flock and just start over.

Someone out there talk me out of it.... @Kassaundra @aoxa @RedRidge @delisha @armorfirelady @lalaland @ whoever has something to say to keep me from taking a knife out there right now (okay...a little dramatic but you get the idea...)

I'm extremely frustrated with all the fighting at roosting time. THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOST SPACE... space for probably 6-8 more birds on roost than I have. But they fight. They attack each other and knock each other off. I HATE IT. I was out there tonight and ready to just .. well... do something I'd regret.

IS THERE REALLY ANY HOPE TO CHANGE THIS? Or do I just need to start a new flock with breeds that have a better personality? Or is it always going to be this way not matter what...the nature of the beast?


I guess if I'm not out there at roost time what I don't see won't make me crazy. But I can't stand what I'm seeing when I'm out there.

Mine do not do that. They have their spots and mostly go to each ones spot. Occasionally someone squabbles but rarely lasts more then a few seconds. The big girls are a bit pushy w/ the teens, but settle quickly. I do not know how to fix your problem, but if you add new ones they will learn the behavior.