The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[loanwizard]

Is Krepples anything like scrapple? Good stuff, if it is.

So, you're selling your Tamworth's? Where's Coshocton? Anywhere near Dayton? If it is, I might have to talk to you about getting one sometime when we're visiting my in-laws.

Krepples are the same as Scrapple from what I have researched on the net. Cornmeal, molasses, pork bits.... Fantastic sliced and fried. Comes in bricks.

I am about 2 1/2 hours from Dayton.

I raise Heritage breed Tamworths and sell by the 1/2, whole, breeding stock, or feeders.

They are not only a little more rare than the average pig, but also leaner and forage very well, plus have a docile disposition and farrow well on their own.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Big change of subject...

I am amazed at how quickly the little chicks are getting acclimated to the cold weather. They seem very hardy and stay out from under mom way longer than I thought they would in this weather after only 2.5 weeks.

When it was in the 50's over the weekend, they were hanging out around her but not under very much. Even in the mid 30's they seem to be quite comfortable for a good long time before going back for a warm-up. Today it's back in the mid 20's and they are still out more than I thought they'd be.

It's a far cry from "95 degrees then reduce by 5 degrees every week" that we do with an indoor brooder. I know I was terrified that they'd get chilled when I was brooding my first batch under the light - and that was where it was 72 degrees inside.

I'm sure it's much more comfortable for them to go under a mom and get a warm-up break from time to time and feel the comfort of the warm body above.

 

[aoxa]

Big change of subject...

I am amazed at how quickly the little chicks are getting acclimated to the cold weather. They seem very hardy and stay out from under mom way longer than I thought they would in this weather after only 2.5 weeks.

When it was in the 50's over the weekend, they were hanging out around her but not under very much. Even in the mid 30's they seem to be quite comfortable for a good long time before going back for a warm-up. Today it's back in the mid 20's and they are still out more than I thought they'd be.

It's a far cry from "95 degrees then reduce by 5 degrees every week" that we do with an indoor brooder. I know I was terrified that they'd get chilled when I was brooding my first batch under the light - and that was where it was 72 degrees inside.

I'm sure it's much more comfortable for them to go under a mom and get a warm-up break from time to time and feel the comfort of the warm body above.

I never follow the given temps. 95 is far too hot for them from what I've noticed of their behaviour. If I brood them, I start them out at 85, and they are at room temp by week 3. I am brooding some in the basement now, and they are off heat. When I move them to the barn brooder, they get a heat lamp, but right now my brooder is full.. hence the reason I'm brooding in the basement. Clementine cant be trusted around unsecure brooders. I just don't have the time to build another one right yet. I will be brooding them all in the barn come February when I get the sheep out and breeding pens situated.

 

[Leahs Mom]

You know, hearing folks talk about chilling, etc., you'd think they'd be dead at 85 degrees

 

[delisha]

Delisha - thanks for that on the brine! Thumbs up

Now...what in the heck should I put in these tough rooster parts that I'm brining right now? I think I only have about 1/4 C salt per gallon. Should I use more? Should I throw in some raw milk? (I have some in the fridge.) Should I add some sugar?

I NEED TO KNOW NOW!

throw in some sugar and some milk..you will be fine.
Brining with just salt and water is fine.
Buttermilk is just fine.
They are just different methods

 

[jockeyeba]

[COLOR=A52A2A]I like that...where can I get one of those?[/COLOR] A few thousand posts ago I believe people were talking about feeders.....I took an old pig feed trough & put a 2x4 down the middle, it works pretty good for my guys & their ff

Can't remember how we came across this but it would be easy to make, it's just 2x4's with 1x4's across the bottom

 

[jockeyeba]

I think rooster because of the flat head and lack of tail feathers. Hope someone that knows a lot more than me jumps in here.

I put the pictures on the Sussex thread & 2 different people say pullet because it doesn't have enough comb or waddles......

 

[jockeyeba]

Its official! Were moving in! We are going to be renting out my old riding instructors farm. with it we get access to her pasture and barn. I don't get access to the indoor riding arena though as its being rented out for storage(Its what pays their land taxes). But that barn is HUGE(six stalls on the original side and the new side there aren't any that was added so I can build whatever the heck I want was her words lol). We get to move in as fast as March. The old tenants are moving out in February. Happy birthday to me!(Birthday is in Feb). I also might be getting a free horse. He has sway back and I wont be able to ride him as I'm too heavy but he will be a great pet horse. The place is a two minute walk to the beach. I

Very cool looking place to live

 

[delisha]

Great barn and new place Camille

I do not keep my chicks very warm either. I think sometimes I keep them too cold. Week two and I have the heat lamp at the suggestion of week 4. My chicks are feathering out just fine, and they do not stick in a tiny little pile. They do make the *I am cold* noise sometimes when sleeping and huddling.
This will be new for me, chickens in the dang basement. I usually have them all outside at this age. The broody is still sticking on the nest. I wonder how she is going to do with those chicks in this weather.They are due January 30 th.

 

[Mumsy]

It doesn't say, but the look raw. Does it matter? http://www.chuckanutproducts.com/store/deluxe-bird-lovers-blend-p-102.html
Here is info from their web site.

This is the brand I use too. They look dried raw. I've been working on the same bag for months. I rough grind just what I need for the FF for a week at a time. I powder it for the chick FF.

Sorry for having to bump this back up. I have two hundred posts to slog through before I can catch up.