The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[loanwizard]

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.

One of my biggest pet peeves. I start day old chicks.... 100-150 at a time in the garage with daytime highs in the 40's in a utility trailer with one, maybe 2 heat lamps. I think the hottest it ever was, in the glow of the lamp was 80. Now directly under the lamp, it melted a thermometer so I raised it, but the point is, that 150 chicks aren't gonna fit directly under the glow. The first day, they will stay near the heat, but mostly there is a pod here and a pod there. Except in cold conditions, they go outside on day 22. in cold conditions it is day 28 or 35 max. By that time the heat lamp is usually off.

 

[aoxa]

One of my biggest pet peeves. I start day old chicks.... 100-150 at a time in the garage with daytime highs in the 40's in a utility trailer with one, maybe 2 heat lamps. I think the hottest it ever was, in the glow of the lamp was 80. Now directly under the lamp, it melted a thermometer so I raised it, but the point is, that 150 chicks aren't gonna fit directly under the glow. The first day, they will stay near the heat, but mostly there is a pod here and a pod there. Except in cold conditions, they go outside on day 22. in cold conditions it is day 28 or 35 max. By that time the heat lamp is usually off.

What kind of chicks are we talking about? Cornish X's? They feather out a lot faster than some heritage breeds. I wouldn't send brooder raised chicks outside at 22 days in the temps I get.

 

[loanwizard]

What kind of chicks are we talking about? Cornish X's? They feather out a lot faster.

Freedom Rangers and laying hybrids.

 

[chickiemomy]

Quote: I'm in Snohomish also!! - Del's or the one by the fairgrounds? - when I was buying chicks I stopped by several - didn't like that the one by the fairgrounds allowed handling of the chicks by anyone, anytime - & from tub to tub. Thought it might introduce, or spread disease among the various chicks. When I was in there a small child was handling one, after another, unsupervised. Got my chicks from the Sno Co-op - who ask that only store 'ees handle the chicks. I know nothing -- but that policy made more sense to me. I'm happy with the chicks I got from them. (buy from all of the co-ops/feedstores - they've all been helpful resources from time to time - also fyi Dayville over on Springhetti has non-gmo scratch & forco - prebiotic.

 

[loanwizard]

What kind of chicks are we talking about? Cornish X's? They feather out a lot faster than some heritage breeds. I wouldn't send brooder raised chicks outside at 22 days in the temps I get.

Remember, I said if it is too cold, they get to keep the brooder for another 2 weeks
Point was more toward the "It must be 95, then 90, etc..."

 

[Bulldogma]

Original pickled egg recipe on page 365, already forgot post. Sorry.

Thanks!

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.

So glad your broody is doing such a great job!

Thank you. I shared my pickle egg recipe on this thread and on this forum only. I have not given permission for it to be shared elsewhere. I have never pressure canned eggs or water bathed any for that matter. This particular recipe is for refrigerator pickled eggs only.
There are recipes out there. Amish canned pickled eggs are sold in my local village. I don't have that recipe.

Mumsy - would you prefer the recipe not be shared on the blog? I totally understand if that's the case, and it is strictly up to you!

....and...

...Drum Roll PLEASE...

We got our first Swedish Flower EGG!!



Not a great picture as it is really dreary and the lighting was poor, but I'm a proud mama!! This is my first egg from one that I raised from a chick. I knew she was getting ready to lay - she's been checking out one of the nesting boxes regularly for the past week or so. Today I left them locked up in the coop and covered run because it's pouring rain, and when I got home from the store... An EGG!

 

[aoxa]

Remember, I said if it is too cold, they get to keep the brooder for another 2 weeks

Today would have been a good day to send chicks out. So warm here. All the snow is melting away!

I sent my chicks out really early last summer. 2 weeks old was the earliest I had them all free ranging, and they were NOT broody raised chicks. They kept escaping their pen, so I gave up and just let them out.


My really hastily put together grow out area that they kept escaping from. I wonder why LOL.


My guard rooster.

 

[SandBsmom]

I'm in Snohomish also!! - Del's or the one by the fairgrounds? - when I was buying chicks I stopped by several - didn't like that the one by the fairgrounds allowed handling of the chicks by anyone, anytime - & from tub to tub. Thought it might introduce, or spread disease among the various chicks. When I was in there a small child was handling one, after another, unsupervised. Got my chicks from the Sno Co-op - who ask that only store 'ees handle the chicks. I know nothing -- but that policy made more sense to me. I'm happy with the chicks I got from them. (buy from all of the co-ops/feedstores - they've all been helpful resources from time to time - also fyi Dayville over on Springhetti has non-gmo scratch & forco - prebiotic.

Monroe Farm and feed (by the fairgrounds) sells Scratch and Peck organic feed.

 

[Sally8]

I have 2 broody hens setting but unsure if they will make it. Just now I see hen #2 has jumped nests, so all of hers have been cold by hours. It's 39 outside at 4pm. hen #3 is setting on wooden eggs. When my eggs in the incubator hatch, should I put a couple under each hen? I don't want to sacrifice them but darn on these broody hens.

I also plan on trying Melabella egg recipe. It sounds yummy!

Today we got our second ever turkey egg. Does she need a nest? She doesn't even try to nest. Just walkin' along, walkin' along, plop. What the heck was that? Walkin' along............. She doesn't have a clue.

 

[chickiemomy]

Quote: local co-op feed store used the pellets, dry, in the chick tubs & recommended them for bedding to start - worked ok for the babies - but did get dusty as they broke down & I use pine shavings in the coop mostly now. I was using sand with pelleted zeolite - PDZ on top in the run. But couldn't keep it dry enough for my peace of mind. split up the 2 bales of straw I'd used for chicken gym & let the chicks move it around the run. much drier, stir it up every other day to move the moisture around & I'll pull it out eventually to compost. They spend most of their time in the run, vs in the coop. Coop seems to use little upkeep now that they are using the roost! Everything is cold & wet - west coast is getting east coast winter -- brrrrrrrrrrr. can't get the house much above 60 degrees with boiler running full on. supplemental fire is necessary - ah life in the wilderness!