The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

ok, I'm sad because I took the hen down to be necropsied. She was a sweetie, and even purred on the way down. Rooster went too, but I would have culled him anyway as mentioned before.

It is sad. It is so hard to look at them, hear them , and know they're not going to make it.

Feels like you're betraying a friend at some level.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sending a hug your way.

 

[Lacy Blues]

so sorry lalaland!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Well, boys and girls....

I did something that I said I'd never do. Well, really, I did something I said I would "probably never" do. This post is a confession of my doings.

Ready?
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I had 2 16 week old cockerels SHIPPED to me.

There. I said it. SHIPPED. THROUGH THE MAIL. Besides that, they are "started" birds. Another thing I always recommend that folks don't do.


Now I have to admit the I don't recommend folks that are NEW to chickens get started birds. When we have no experience we have no idea of what to look for. And when you're getting started, I think starting with chicks that are on the new area is best. Unless you are SURE you know the folks you're getting them from like @SallyinIndiana who raises started pullets for new chicken keepers that want to have eggs as soon as possible and don't want to raise chicks.


Anyhow...I got the cockerels from Leigh @Bulldogma (starter of this thread), and I know her husbandry methods very well. They were supposed to be here yesterday. Came today. So these boys were in a box for almost 48 hours (I hate shipping). I only wanted 1 cockerel but good common sense said that 2 hatch-mates in a box would be way less stressful than one traveling alone so... behold! 2 Cockerels

These are my NON-CRESTED Swedish Flower Hen boys.

The boys are in quarantine in the garage for now.

Even after a long ride in a box, they seem to be in good spirits!


These were some hungry boys! First thing they did was eat non-stop for about 20 minutes!







Now they're checking things out.

Speaking of quarantine....it seems like some chicken keepers have more sense than the CDC.....

 

[lalaland]

those are beautiful roosters!

 

[Leahs Mom]

It's funny...they look so big but they still don't have their adult voices yet so they are in between....still "peeping" and every once in awhile a little bock bock.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Well, boys and girls....

I did something that I said I'd never do. Well, really, I did something I said I would "probably never" do. This post is a confession of my doings.

Ready?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|


I had 2 16 week old cockerels SHIPPED to me.

There. I said it. SHIPPED. THROUGH THE MAIL. Besides that, they are "started" birds. Another thing I always recommend that folks don't do.


Now I have to admit the I don't recommend folks that are NEW to chickens get started birds. When we have no experience we have no idea of what to look for. And when you're getting started, I think starting with chicks that are on the new area is best. Unless you are SURE you know the folks you're getting them from like @SallyinIndiana who raises started pullets for new chicken keepers that want to have eggs as soon as possible and don't want to raise chicks.


Anyhow...I got the cockerels from Leigh @Bulldogma (starter of this thread), and I know her husbandry methods very well. They were supposed to be here yesterday. Came today. So these boys were in a box for almost 48 hours (I hate shipping). I only wanted 1 cockerel but good common sense said that 2 hatch-mates in a box would be way less stressful than one traveling alone so... behold! 2 Cockerels

These are my NON-CRESTED Swedish Flower Hen boys.

The boys are in quarantine in the garage for now.

Even after a long ride in a box, they seem to be in good spirits!


These were some hungry boys! First thing they did was eat non-stop for about 20 minutes!







Now they're checking things out.

Speaking of quarantine....it seems like some chicken keepers have more sense than the CDC.....

Lovely coloring.

And sometimes shipping started birds is the most practical way to get the birds you need. While many like to add to their flocks by hatching eggs, that can delay breeding by up to a year depending on how long one has to wait on eggs. Plus there are no promises with getting eggs that one will end up with the genders they want. Starting with chicks at least saves a month or so but again genders can be wrong. I'll admit that when I want to start a new line or bring in new blood, I prefer buying started birds over hatching eggs. Still I really do like hatching eggs and raising chicks. And it is nice to be able to help out new chicken people and others that just don't want to set up a brooder area.
At least one group of people that got pullets from me got them just to use as therapy hens for special needs children. One of their concerns was that the hens be big enough not to be accidentally squeezed too hard.

Funny thing though when I started out in chickens I thought the prices for hens were too high now I ask the same amount or a bit more with inflation for a hen about to start laying.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@SallyinIndiana

On the therapy birds - do you ever get to visit and see how they use them? I think it would be fun to see how the folks interact with them, take care of them, etc.

There is a lady here in our area that has opened up her home to people that can't find housing otherwise. They are usually "special needs" folks...some with depression, ptsd, kids with not so good homes, etc. The folks who live w/her run the gamut and the police and "institutional settings" and homeless center will often contact her to see if she can place someone that might not fit in one of those venues.

Anyhow, she has a flock of chickens that they take care of gather eggs, etc. I think it is a great way to add food and also to have a sense of responsibility. They are small enough that it's not like keeping goats, but the birds still bring food to the table and enjoyment and a "job".

 

[armorfirelady]

It's funny...they look so big but they still don't have their adult voices yet so they are in between....still "peeping" and every once in awhile a little bock bock.

They are very handsome boys. I can't wait to see what kind of chicks you get next spring

Mr grey who is scared of the older hens still, bock, blocked today sort of when I let the dogs out & they ran to the fence. Of course he ran from the dogs lol. I know 2 of my neighbors won't mind him and I really need to ask the one behind me to. He is a very handsome Roo and is growing in leaps and bounds.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

@SallyinIndiana

On the therapy birds - do you ever get to visit and see how they use them? I think it would be fun to see how the folks interact with them, take care of them, etc.

There is a lady here in our area that has opened up her home to people that can't find housing otherwise. They are usually "special needs" folks...some with depression, ptsd, kids with not so good homes, etc. The folks who live w/her run the gamut and the police and "institutional settings" and homeless center will often contact her to see if she can place someone that might not fit in one of those venues.

Anyhow, she has a flock of chickens that they take care of gather eggs, etc. I think it is a great way to add food and also to have a sense of responsibility. They are small enough that it's not like keeping goats, but the birds still bring food to the table and enjoyment and a "job".

I saw a few pictures on a website, not their website but a friend of a friend kind of thing. I'm sure if I had kept the contact info and wanted to visit I could. They all came out to see the different chickens here. That was back when I was more open to letting people on the property. Now I'm a bit more protective of who comes here. While they were here, the chicken knowing person of the group was helping to show others how to hold the chickens and even how to check a nest for eggs. Of course egg hunting caught on fast, it was fun to see them all looking for eggs.

Chickens make great therapy, but one gets back what one gives. Come to think of it, I have lots of family that just might pass out if chickens showed up at their place or if they were asked to take care of chickens. Too much of their upbringing has been that animals and birds are dirty and should be avoided. The peacefulness of watching the animals has long been lost on them.