The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

AFL, I'm so glad you got to see the starting and a chick before your trip.  Bet you are over the moon!

Yes I am. I was really hoping they would come early. What an experience ..........I don't have a rooster so I didn't think I would be able to see broody raised chicks. Tonight I went to see them again & Sophie had one tucked up under her wing.

It amazes me how the 2 girls know instinctively what to do. The funny part as I lifted them when the chicks were starting to hatch, whoever I didn't lift to peak under would reach under the other and roll an egg or 2 under herself. Poor babies probably felt like they were spinning. lol.

I am sure the will co raise the babies also. As of now they each have an egg and Sophie has 3 chicks & Lucy one. I'm sure that will change daily. They both are talking to each other & the chicks. So beautiful to see. It's going to be hard to give them up. But I'm already over my limit before the chicks lol. I might just keep one tho...........lol a pullet of course

 

[armorfirelady]

What a beautiful sight greeted me this morning. 3 little fuzzy butts.

Am I correct in thinking that Sophie & Lucy will not get off the nest until the last 2 eggs hatch or disappear ? I am thinking that if they don't pip by tomorrow they are duds?

 

[lalaland]

I have been reading and trying to figure out three FF thing and I'm not getting it right. I tried with ACV with mother and without. My feed is a mix of pellets and something my feed store mixes together called whoop'em. Is there a little more step by step directions? I'm not usually inept, but this is escaping me.

ok, I want the whoop'em. Where in Tennesee is that? would be worth a road trip, lol. Any chance you could pass on their phone number? I'ld call them and see what is in the whoop /em. Dang. I love the idea that someone cobbled up a feed they felt was so great they call it whoop 'em.

 

[lalaland]

What a beautiful sight greeted me this morning. 3 little fuzzy butts.

Am I correct in thinking that Sophie & Lucy will not get off the nest until the last 2 eggs hatch or disappear ? I am thinking that if they don't pip by tomorrow they are duds?

My understanding is that they will eventually get up off the nest if they don't hatch or if they decide they are duds.
I gave the duds til day 25 and tossed them.

Broody mama pretty much stayed on the nest for the first few days and by day 25 was up and walking around with the chicks. She was concerned about those dud eggs though, and once the eggs were gone was much more relaxed.

I was surprised she taught them how to eat feed on day 2! I was putting feed near her so she could eat and darned if she didn't call the little puffballs out and show them eating!

Enjoy those babies, you will be surprised by how much they develop while you are gone.

 

[armorfirelady]

Thanks lalala. Today is day 21 since I got the eggs and tomorrow day 21 for Lucy sitting on them lol I guess I'll tell Paul to hold off pulling them till Wednesday. I have been putting a small bowl of ff chick food in there the last few days for the mommas. It ensured they got food to eat. Also a handful of fresh greens. I will keep the bowl in there till the chicks are out of the nesting box. There is no way the chicks will be able to get back in. It's much to high. I'm sure they will take over the temporary nesting box on the floor.

It is adorable how Both moms talk to the chicks. I could spend the day out there just watching them. I'm sure my Mom will be out there watching till we leave for camping this morning

 

[Wasson6Pack]

ok, I want the whoop'em.  Where in Tennesee is that?  would be worth a road trip, lol.  Any chance you could pass on their phone number?  I'ld call them and see what is in the whoop /em.    Dang.  I love the idea that someone cobbled up a feed they felt was so great they call it whoop 'em.    

I'm in Lewisburg. My husband works in Franklin if that helps? I don't have a list of what's in out, but it is layer pellets (small percentage as I didn't even notice then the first time), seeds, corn and such. It is $15 something for 40# and I buy flock raiser pellets and mix it. I have so many birds that by mixing it, it helps with the cost, but the flock raider is between $10 & $12 anyway, so. The name of the place is Lewisburg Farm Center 931-359-6493. We are new to the state and those guys know everything. They have everything too. Their Muck Boots are cheaper than TSC. They have pine shavings, chicks, feeders, waterers, chicken nipples in stock (although more expensive that I would've liked), weed killers wild bird food, a small greenhouse and so much more. The guys carry it out to your car and load you up.

 

[mlowen]

I have been reading and trying to figure out three FF thing and I'm not getting it right. I tried with ACV with mother and without. My feed is a mix of pellets and something my feed store mixes together called whoop'em. Is there a little more step by step directions? I'm not usually inept, but this is escaping me.

Check this out: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html
And...I used buttermilk and have kept it going since last July. I have a food-grade 5 gallon bucket from Lowe's. I let it get down to about 3 or 4 inches and then add about 3 cups of layer pellets, a cup each of wheat, barley, and oats and then water to cover. I have added a splash of buttermilk twice since I started the fermented feed, but the good bacteria seem to be just fine without it. I let it be about the consistency of oatmeal to feed...not totally liquid and drained, but lots of people keep it really wet & drain it to feed.
I have found that I need to let my tap water "air out" for a day before adding it to the feed...there seems to be enough anti-bacterial stuff in our city water that it dampens the bacteria's enthusiasm in my fermented feed.

 

[lalaland]

I'm in Lewisburg. My husband works in Franklin if that helps? I don't have a list of what's in out, but it is layer pellets (small percentage as I didn't even notice then the first time), seeds, corn and such. It is $15 something for 40# and I buy flock raiser pellets and mix it. I have so many birds that by mixing it, it helps with the cost, but the flock raider is between $10 & $12 anyway, so. The name of the place is Lewisburg Farm Center 931-359-6493. We are new to the state and those guys know everything. They have everything too. Their Muck Boots are cheaper than TSC. They have pine shavings, chicks, feeders, waterers, chicken nipples in stock (although more expensive that I would've liked), weed killers wild bird food, a small greenhouse and so much more. The guys carry it out to your car and load you up.

sounds like it is what we would call scratch - I am going to call them Monday just to find out. I might be down in tennesee later this summer, and I'll have to look on a map to see whereabouts it is - when I travel overseas I like to hit the grocery stores, and when I travel in the states, I'm always looking for feed stores. Good old feed mills - with the dust, the rats, and the seeds and grains. I hate that they are dying out, and I hate that choice has pretty much disappeared - the same thing sold everywhere.

thanks for grabbing the phone number!

 

[lalaland]

Thanks lalala. Today is day 21 since I got the eggs and tomorrow day 21 for Lucy sitting on them lol I guess I'll tell Paul to hold off pulling them till Wednesday. I have been putting a small bowl of ff chick food in there the last few days for the mommas. It ensured they got food to eat. Also a handful of fresh greens. I will keep the bowl in there till the chicks are out of the nesting box. There is no way the chicks will be able to get back in. It's much to high. I'm sure they will take over the temporary nesting box on the floor.

It is adorable how Both moms talk to the chicks. I could spend the day out there just watching them. I'm sure my Mom will be out there watching till we leave for camping this morning

yeah, that low chuckle of the moms talking to the chicks is done already here - and the moms are tired of the babies jumping up on their backs. So chicks jump up, mom lowers herself to the ground and twists, dumping the chick. Or, just squats and the chick slides down her back to the ground.

 

[LadyBroody]

So glad I found this thread! I'm very strict about keeping my chickens 100% naturally