The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lewis7209]

I just had the funniest thing happen. I have 6 week old chicks that just went outside in the temporary chick pen. This is only the second night outside.

Last night I go out to see if they have made it inside the chick house and find them asleep under the chick house instead. I pick them up and put them on the roost inside the house and lock up for the night. Tonight I watch and they do the same thing. They go one by one under the house to go to sleep on the ground. Puzzled I go get a small light so I can see better to pick them up and put them in the house. I get the light hung up and go to get gloves because I don't want to get poo all Over my hands crawling under there again. I come back outside to the pen and they are all on the roost in the house?????
They have not had a light on them for 2 weeks at night on my back porch where their broader was. I think they are afraid of the dark because I turn out the light and go to lock up and they start to come out the house to go under the house again.....llol Turn the light back on they stop. Had to hold the light while they went back in onto the roost then I locked up . Soon as the light goes out I here the start fussing. Strangest thing I have ever witnessed in my life with chickens.

 

[COChix]

Speaking about fermented feed at what age, for those that feed fermented feed, started your babies on it?

 

[lewis7209]

Sally
Thank you for answering me. I was just curious as to the validity of whether they vaccinated or not. I have asked where I received my chicks but of course if they didn't pay for the vaccinations they could lie and say they did. I was just wondering if people felt they should use medicaid feed just in case they were not sure like myself.

I like the idea of the FF and DL , however I like to use medicated feed for peace of mind. When I was young I asked my Grandmother where did she get all her chickens from so when I grew up I could have my own. This is what she told me.............

When I got married the only way we got chickens were from our neighbors. We would go to the farm next to us and get a Rooster along with a Hen that had just hatched chicks. We would bring them home and raise the chicks for our flock. Then we would get another breed from another neighbor down from them with a Rooster , Hen and chicks. That way you have different colors and breeds.

It would shock her how many breeds we have now...lol. Sorry , just had a flash back from childhood and had to share. Things sure have changed since she was starting out. I miss her and the advice she always gave me.

 

[curious chickee]

Speaking about fermented feed at what age, for those that feed fermented feed, started your babies on it?

I started mine on day one coming home from the feed store.

(Grammar)

 

[lewis7209]

Leah ' s Mom

I understand this is the "Natural" chicken thread/forum and respect your views where this is concerned. Being how the area I am in has had problems in the past with coci, I feel better starting out with medicated feed. If I had a person in my area that I could get POL pullets to start my flock with tcan't that had been raised medicated free I would. Even though they say it is safe now with no breakouts for a few years now , I just feel more comfortable starting this way. I only fed them the first 2 weeks the medicated then switched to non-medicated. When I am learning something new I always ask questions that I have not heard others ask in order to learn. I don't feel starting out brand new with a little medicated feed with my first chicks will harm my efforts to eventually go all natural.

I love all your information and would more than likely use them fully if and when I get more chicks but I had already had them when I started here on BYC. I feel you don't learn if you don't ask so I asked....lol

Love all the advice and pictures. Love that you can ask and get a different point of view from other people. Think I'll go back to reading to catch up.
Thanks Everyone.

 

[lewis7209]

Also with the chick story, they haven't used a broody light to keep warm for 2 weeks before going outside. I live in SC and the temps are near 80 during the day and 68 at night.....lol. Silly babies.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Leah ' s Mom

I understand this is the "Natural" chicken thread/forum and respect your views where this is concerned.

Just wanted to say that it is ALWAYS okay to ask questions, learn, then make a decision that makes sense to you! I just wanted to give some reasoning behind not using some of the pharmaceuticals and going the "natural" route

Edited to fix a sentence that didn't make sense... @lewis7209

 

[lazy gardener]

I just had the funniest thing happen. I have 6 week old chicks that just went outside in the temporary chick pen. This is only the second night outside.

Last night I go out to see if they have made it inside the chick house and find them asleep under the chick house instead. I pick them up and put them on the roost inside the house and lock up for the night. Tonight I watch and they do the same thing. They go one by one under the house to go to sleep on the ground. Puzzled I go get a small light so I can see better to pick them up and put them in the house. I get the light hung up and go to get gloves because I don't want to get poo all Over my hands crawling under there again. I come back outside to the pen and they are all on the roost in the house?????
They have not had a light on them for 2 weeks at night on my back porch where their broader was. I think they are afraid of the dark because I turn out the light and go to lock up and they start to come out the house to go under the house again.....llol Turn the light back on they stop. Had to hold the light while they went back in onto the roost then I locked up . Soon as the light goes out I here the start fussing. Strangest thing I have ever witnessed in my life with chickens.

 

[slordaz]

Lewis, baby chicks are great comedy at some of their antics

yesterday as they didn't like going out in the grass the last time we tried to take them outside on a warm day, we were mowing the grass and because the duckling likes stuff from outside in the yard we put some grass cuttings in the brooder pen and , the chicks were all playing tug of war with the duckling with the grass cuttings. In the afternoon they finally tolerated being out in the yard for a bit, but were puzzled as to why the duckling was trying to get them to go swimming with it lol. Luckily we haven't had any more chicks other than a 3 day old we lost to trying to play duck in the middle of the night.

 

[lewis7209]

Leahs Mom

I was telling a friend about the FF and they feed medicated feed always to their chicks starting out but they wanted to maybe try the FF to see how it works. I was asked if she could do it with the feed she has and that is the reason behind the question. They don't have Internet or cell phones ( don't believe in them) so I just thought I'd find out. I don't have the Internet either but do use my cell Phone as you can tell because I haven't put any pictures up...lol. Wish I knew how to do that.

I am reading everything I can in here to learn and see what's new. Absolutely love it!! I have 22 chicks of different breeds that I am raising right now. They are not sexed , so it will be a surprise to see what they turn out to be. The hens are for eggs and the roo ' s are going in the freezer. Well, all but one rooster anyway.
I have no problem culling any bird if the need comes up, better for the flock and bird imho. I will not be hatching eggs in a bator. I just don't see me doing it for money reasons but lord I do love all of your pictures of the little fuzzy bums. ..lol.

My goal is to have the healthiest flock I can to provide meat and eggs for my family. I am trying to get back to basics of growing my own food like I did years ago.We are new to the area where we live now and the ground is great for grass but not for veggies so I am straw bale gardening.Once the bales are done they will be added to the soil to improve it for future crops. I have 2 1/2 acres to play with and can't wait for the chicks to help with the improvements. ..lol. My children are grown and raising their children now and I want to show the next generation like I did before where all their food comes from. DH and I are starting our empty nest period with putting chickens into it.

Well, just thought I'd give a little insight to where I'm coming from with everyone. That done I'll get back to researching further on this excellent forum. Keep all this good knowledge and advice coming so those of us looking for a better way have options we never knew before !!! Pictures don't hurt none either....lol.

Thanks Everyone.