The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Eckielady]

Did you put them right into your flock, or did you do a quarantine time before adding them to your flock?

I don't quarantine. I check them over before I put them in but I just don't have the room.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I know folks that do it both ways depending on the source they're getting the new birds from.

How are they looking today? Do they seem to still be "off"? If so, could you possibly separate them out and put them in a makeshift pen in your garage to observe them for awhile?

 

[JanetMarie]

Thanks for the follow-up on that. How many gallons before cooking?

Just an estimate around 55, but since I cooked one batch down to about the stage of soft caramel, the ratio is off. To cook down all of it to just the syrup stage we should have ended up with around 5 quarts.

 

[Eckielady]

I know folks that do it both ways depending on the source they're getting the new birds from.

How are they looking today?  Do they seem to still be "off"?  If so, could you possibly separate them out and put them in a makeshift pen in your garage to observe them for awhile? 

We don't have a garage. I haven't gotten out to them yet today since they're roaming the yard and it's been raining. I'll check them in a bit.

 

[GreatBreeder]

<div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/t/896158/first-run-of-cornish-cross-meat-birds-and-super-excited/7760#post_18310202" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false"><span>Quote:</span><div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>TheGreatPapyrus</strong>&nbsp;<a href="/t/896158/first-run-of-cornish-cross-meat-birds-and-super-excited/7760#post_18310202"><img src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" class="inlineimg" alt="View Post"/></a><br/><br/>Here are pics of my backyard. Where do you think would be the best place to put the chickens?<br />
<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/7778897/"><img data-type="61" data-id="7778897" alt="" src="https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/7778897/width/200/height/400"></a>[IMG][IMG]<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/7778903/"><img data-type="61" data-id="7778903" alt="" src="https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/7778903/width/200/height/400"></a></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
[IMG]https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/7778908/width/200/height/400

 

[GreatBreeder]

Woops I did that wrong! These are backyard pics I want to know were to put the coop and run.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Here's One more

 

[JanetMarie]

@TheGreatPapyrus It looks like your yard is mostly pool/patio with very nice landscaping. Chickens need a fairly large area, and keep in mind that where you do put them, they will dig: along your fence, pathway, and flower beds, making little holes everywhere, and the grass will be gone. Possibly put their house in a corner, and make a very long run in between the fence and patio/pool.

 

[CuzChickens]

@TheGreatPapyrus
  It looks like your yard is mostly pool/patio with very nice landscaping.  Chickens need a fairly large area, and keep in mind that where you do put them, they will dig:  along your fence, pathway, and flower beds, making little holes everywhere, and the grass will be gone.  Possibly put their house in a corner, and make a very long run in between the fence and patio/pool. 

That looks like good advice. I certainly hope your pool has a cover, because if anyone ever decides to fly the coop, it might end up falling in the pool, and chickens don't usually swim.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@TheGreatPapyrus

I agree w/ the others. I was looking at this piece that looks like a pathway.

If you could make a long narrow area (similar in width to your path in the photo above) at the back or side of the yard that could be fenced off (perhaps some kennel panels from craigslist) then put their sleeping house at one end of it in the corner. [If you don't have room for long and narrow, give them as much space as possible.]

After the grass is destroyed in that area (which will take about 2-3 weeks depending on the number of birds and size of the area) start putting the litter from inside their house right into the fenced run as you clean the coop. If you're using wood shavings, that will begin to make a nice deep litter in the run so that it doesn't become impacted, unhealthy ground. .....In fact, you might want to initially purchase some wood shavings and put a layer in the whole run after the grass is shot. Then continue to put all the litter from inside the coop as you clean it out right into the run. As that litter builds up, it gives them a healthy area to scratch and dig in and it won't get slimy and nasty when it rains.

With a yard like yours, using the deep litter in the run will likely be their best shot at having healthy ground to be on and will also allow for worms and other bugs to be available for them on a limited basis.

If you ever stop keeping chickens, that area can be un-fenced and grass can be seeded there again - or a nice landscape or food garden - and the soil will be wonderfully healthy if you keep up the deep littering.

Oh...and I can now see why no more than 3 chickens is a good idea.