The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Scott H]

Thanks flyladyrocks!

 

[Sally8]

For those of you that have Black Copper Marans have you ever noticed that when the hens are still laying (or another jumps in) that they wipe the dark color off the egg? didn't I read that when still wet, you can still wipe the dark color off? Or am I dreaming?

 

[lalaland]

well, the chicks and momma went in with the two other sulmtalers. The chicks have been sneaking under the wire partition for a few days, and the two other hens have been on the nest and just watch. So today, momma decided to go over to the other side when I had the wire moved so I could grab the eggs.

At first, went well. Momma so happy to be back in her regular run with the deluxe dust bath.

Temps in mid 80's, humid, sulmtalers are heavily feathered. might have nothing to do with the tempers flying. Momma and her sisters faced off, chicks scattered. When the dust settled all seemed fine. Checked later and found one hen really cranky - panting with heat, making cranky muttering sounds. She would spy a chick who had wandered away from mama, and would beeline for the chick. Momma would pay no attention! chick would run to mama and the hen would leave her alone. repeated endlessly.

I have to leave, am hoping all is well when I get back.

 

[Leahs Mom]

That's exactly what happened when I let my broody back into the general population. Looked like a rooster fight.

Then everyone else knew not to mess with her kids and that was that.

Took a couple days before they totally got the message but they knew she meant business and stayed clear after that.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Perhaps if we would let kids that are being bullied on the playground watch a mamma hen to see how she gets the respect of the others, they may learn how to behave in such a way that no one messes with them anymore.

 

[Kassaundra]

A few pics from yesterday of my chickens.





















These are the teens and preteens.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I feel a sunburn coming on

Seriously, thought...great photos!

 

[mlowen]

Is the naked all over one a very rare occurance or does it happen fairly often? Is life in general harder for her than her feathered sisters? Your chickens are eriely beautiful. Your photography really shows them off well.

 

[Kassaundra]

Is the naked all over one a very rare occurance or does it happen fairly often? Is life in general harder for her than her feathered sisters? Your chickens are eriely beautiful. Your photography really shows them off well.

The naked chick has two scaless genes. It is not from the naked neck genes at all and can occur in any breed of chickens. It was a spontaneous mutation first found in New Hampshire breed of chickens in California in the 1950's. It is a recessive gene so requires both parents to be carriers. Rudy is my first naked chick so it is a learning curve for me.

 

[Scott H]

NN's are cool!