The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[sunflower4you]

Aloha Natural Chicken Keepers!
I'm a first time chicken owner with two 9 week Ameraucana mixed pullets
Aurora and Maleficent (A has the white around her neck)

And SEVEN 4 week old pullets
Bratt (Delaware), Dream and Echo (Marans sisters) Mango (golden buff) Marigold (buff orp) and Isis, who was SUPPOSED to be my blue ameraucana from Meyers but even they think they messed up so we have no clue what she is

I'm a mama of four from Hawaii and consider myself pretty crunchy lol I cloth diaper, babywear, and make and use natural remedies as much as I can. So I'm thinking this is the perfect thread for me as id like to raise my chickens as naturally as possible.
The little girls are still in the brooder while my two older gals free range during the day and In the coop at night. I cannot wait until they are all in one place lol as the brooder, though it's pretty big, is getting cramped since they are growing so fast

I look forward to getting to know everyone and learning all I can!
Mahalo

Well, I guess that makes me a little crunchy, too! Welcome to the thread!

 

[RedRidge]

Aloha Natural Chicken Keepers!
I'm a first time chicken owner with two 9 week Ameraucana mixed pullets
Aurora and Maleficent (A has the white around her neck)

And SEVEN 4 week old pullets
Bratt (Delaware), Dream and Echo (Marans sisters) Mango (golden buff) Marigold (buff orp) and Isis, who was SUPPOSED to be my blue ameraucana from Meyers but even they think they messed up so we have no clue what she is

I'm a mama of four from Hawaii and consider myself pretty crunchy lol I cloth diaper, babywear, and make and use natural remedies as much as I can. So I'm thinking this is the perfect thread for me as id like to raise my chickens as naturally as possible.
The little girls are still in the brooder while my two older gals free range during the day and In the coop at night. I cannot wait until they are all in one place lol as the brooder, though it's pretty big, is getting cramped since they are growing so fast

I look forward to getting to know everyone and learning all I can!
Mahalo

Welcome! Yes you'll fit right in. ;-)

 

[konachicks]

Ahhhh  Mongoose. Now that's a predator we don't have to worry about here in Washington state!

Lol yes they are pesky little creatures! Luckily we haven't seen many up here (we live up in the mountain area) so we've been lucky and there hasn't been any attacks. I just worry because when the older two were cruising around they were quiet little peepers. Well the larger group of babies are a very Noisy bunch

 

[Leahs Mom]

@ronott1
Forgot to thank you for this. That first link has a LOT of good information. I printed it and put it into my Ussery book for future reference.

 

[ronott1]

@ronott1
Forgot to thank you for this. That first link has a LOT of good information. I printed it and put it into my Ussery book for future reference.

You are very welcome!

We are quickly losing knowledge like this.

 

[triplepurpose]

Lol yes they are pesky little creatures! Luckily we haven't seen many up here (we live up in the mountain area) so we've been lucky and there hasn't been any attacks. I just worry because when the older two were cruising around they were quiet little peepers. Well the larger group of babies are a very Noisy bunch

Hey Konachicks, welcome to BYC! I'm on Kauai, and have kept chickens here over two decades--also done a few workshops on BY and small-scale chicken raising and such. Never call myself crunchy per se, though perhaps others might, as I do run an OG farm and keep a dual purpose flock that we feed as naturally (and economically) as possible. No mo' mongoose over here (thank God) but as you're a first-time-chicken keeper and specifically interested in "natural stuff," I thought I'd introduce myself and offer that If you ever have any tropics-specific or Hawaii-specific questions about natural chicken raising that you think I might be able to help you with, feel free to LMK.

Cheers!

 

[lazy gardener]

Welcome Konachicks! If you're even just a little bit crunchy, you're in good company. You might want to check out fermented feed and sprouting as feed alternatives. My hubby says I'm trying to relive my granola days! Perhaps I am, but I'm having a blast doing it!!!

 

[LindaB220]

You have to wonder of you've lost your mind when you spend your afternoon washing chicken fannys and feet and drilling holes in make shift poultry show carriers. At least they only cost $1 each at the dollar store.

Sherri, this is too good an idea. I have a White Plymouth Rock to pick up Saturday and I have to use my DD's car. She was not amused when I transported 9 in a wire dog cage. I put down tarp but it did not do much. She had to have the car detailed. My name was Mudd for a while. This is what happens when you get old and sell your car.

 

[LindaB220]

Mahalo Konachicks!
Since you describe yourself as crunchy, and you say you would like your chicks out of the brooder ASAP and you live in Hawaii (lucky!) I thought you might be interested in this post of mine from back in May.
I had 14 chicks in that, from the age of one week, in 57 degree temps. And they did FINE. So very fine that they're massive beautiful Jersey Giants right now, ready to lay their first eggs once the temps get above freezing, and the winter solstice rolls over! LOL!

But, you're in Hawaii. So that's not so much a problem for you is it?

Anyhow, another BYC'er here, Kassaundra, had this awesome idea, which she calls a "Broody Bucket"
Here's my version:
(That's old wool scraps, torn in 1" strips, and suspended from the entire upper inside surface of an old cooler)
Edited to add: I loaned this contraption out to someone 5 months ago, and have asked for it back 4 times. And been promised that they'll return it "soon" just as many times. Grrrr.... I'll probably never see it again. But for SURE I will make a newer, better, one in early spring.

Go after it, it's worth it. Smile and say, " I'm just saving you the time of bringing it".

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I'm only crunchy on the outside. Inside I'm creamy nougat.