The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[LindaB220]

No..I have never used an incubator. I'm always gathering information about everyone's incubators so that if I ever do purchase one I will be able to decide which to get.

I just purchased the Hova Bator 1588. A big improvement over the Farmers Innovator I bought last year. IMO, I did not have much luck with it. Hatch rate was not good for a newbie like me. The 1588 is supposed to be easier to hatch. Of course it costs more but this year $200 shipped from Incubators Warehouse was as good as I can get. I have a Blosl pair and a XW trio of White Rocks that is just waiting for it to come in. I've recuperated enough from the knee surgery to get started building up my stock. This is a very exciting time in my life. I've gotten to where I can do everything for the chickens except tote feed and dig a garden. sigh And I wanted a garden. BUT we do what we have to and I put off the knee replacement for years and it's amazing to walk without a limp. Love it.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@LindaB220
Wonderful! I'm glad it turned out so well for you!

I had been thinking of the 1588 myself, but I think I've decided against styrofoam. Also been following people's reviews on the incuview..which I'm highly considering.

But I prefer a broody any day, and I keep hoping I won't have to get an incubator. I've even considered getting a sumatra or possibly a banty from a broody breed just to do the work. But of course you don't get to decide when you hatch...you're at the whim of the mamma....

 

[Leahs Mom]

@galefrances
How is the injured leg girl doing?

 

[galefrances]

@galefrances

How is the injured leg girl doing?

She's doing okay today. I sat with her outside awhile and she was trying to walk on that leg. She was able to take a few steps. I think you were right, she just needs time for it to work itself out. Thanks for asking

 

[armorfirelady]

mlowen sorry to hear. It was hard for me as well when I had to cull my roo.

The hens & I decided spring is here to stay so yesterday I got a new *wall* on their feeding station to keep them out of the garden and moved the pop door to the other side so they can go out in the yard now. I still had a few escapees into the garden today so tomorrow I hope to get that rectified as well.

Took in all the heated bowls and started opening up the ends of the coop for ventilation into the coop. I need to get the sides open as soon as I can get the rest of the DL out. Its a tad warm in the coop with the black side of the billboard facing out. but once I open the sides that will help

 

[Leahs Mom]

It IS a relief to be able to remove the heated bowls and open things up for spring.

But...with spring comes....POISON IVY!

I think my girls have already been brushing the vines even though there aren't any leaves yet. I moved one of my girls last night and this morning I'm having that tell-tail swelling in my face and around my eyes. I'm trying to be proactive to stop it before I get a full blown swollen head like I did last year.

It just didn't occur to me that I needed to be concerned about picking one of them up this early in the season.

You'd think that after NEVER HAVING A REACTION in my whole life that I wouldn't start now. Ah well...


But I just reserved 2 Boer wethers to run in the wooded area this season. They'll be butchered before winter for meat, but I'm hoping they will tackle a lot of the PI in there. The girls are going to get to run more of the woods this year too as I have had a guy doing some ground clearing...lots and lots of fallen trees, logs, and I couldn't get in to walk through or find a bird if needed before. I'm pretty excited about that new range area!!!

Besides the goats, do any of you have any ideas for PI clearing of the huge vines that go up the trees?

Feels like I need a haz-mat team - or haz-mat suit or something. I wonder if there are professional PI removers for the huge vines?

 

[curious chickee]

We finished our coop and run, this is the closest we can get to free ranging. The run is 22' x 23', with two coops. The birds will only be locked up in the coops overnight. The small coop will mostly be used as a grow out pen or to separate certain hens. The run is covered in netting to protect against hawks our biggest threat.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@curious chickee

Looks really nice!

After they wear down the grass in that area, I'd encourage you to do deep litter on the ground. It will help keep the ground healthy for them so that it doesn't become impacted, unhealthy soil.

What are you using up there for the hawk netting? You will be really glad you have that!

 

[curious chickee]

We plan on deep litter, have the pile of euclyptus mulch just have gotten that far yet. Figured they would want to play a bit.

 

[vpatt]

It IS a relief to be able to remove the heated bowls and open things up for spring. 

But...with spring comes....POISON IVY!

I think my girls have already been brushing the vines even though there aren't any leaves yet.  I moved one of my girls last night and this morning I'm having that tell-tail swelling in my face and around my eyes.  I'm trying to be proactive to stop it before I get a full blown swollen head like I did last year.
 

It just didn't occur to me that I needed to be concerned about picking one of them up this early in the season. 

You'd think that after NEVER HAVING A REACTION in my whole life that I wouldn't start now.  Ah well...


But I just reserved 2 Boer wethers to run in the wooded area this season.  They'll be butchered before winter for meat, but I'm hoping they will tackle a lot of the PI in there.  The girls are going to get to run more of the woods this year too as I have had a guy doing some ground clearing...lots and lots of fallen trees, logs, and I couldn't get in to walk through or find a bird if needed before.  I'm pretty excited about that new range area!!! 

Besides the goats, do any of you have any ideas for PI clearing of the huge vines that go up the trees? 

Feels like I need a haz-mat team - or haz-mat suit or something.  I wonder if there are professional PI removers for the huge vines?

 

I think you can kill it with vinegar....but I cannot remember details...you will have to Google.