The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

atmaclean,

Welcome to the group!!

Quite a few of us here raise our chicks on just FF. Most do not feed medicated feed.

I have never seen maggots anywhere close to where my chickens are. If I ever do I am over feeding my chickens!

 

[delisha]

Your baby's are so cute Mumsy....They are growing so fast.

 

[aoxa]

I have never seen maggots anywhere close to where my chickens are. If I ever do I am over feeding my chickens!

Over feeding because the maggots are growing on the food, or over feeding because your chickens are too full to eat 'em?

hehe

 

[aoxa]

Delisha,

I asked on the silkie thread about how your eggs are marked.

 

[Sally8]

The last couple of days have been tough on me friends. I raise pigs for my family and friends/customers. I understand that I raise them differently than institutions, and I tell myself that they have wonderful lives with 1 bad day.... but.... I raised them from when they were young, and when I hold out baked goods to coax them onto the trailer, they are only responding to what I have done with them from the beginning. I feel like a traitor. Worse yet, when we got to the processor last night, they didn't want to come off the trailer and who could blame them.... dozens of bawling animals in a strange place so far from home, lingering smells of the previous animals that had gone before.... I hunt, I fish, I kill and eat animals, but this time, when my treachery to them spells imminent death.... gives me pause, realizing the dominion we humans have over the lives of our charges. Yes, I will enjoy the fruits of my labor, but a part of me cries for my babies. Most remain nameless, but even so, when you have an animal that will take food from your hands, there is a measure of trust..... that I have broken.

Growing up, my Dad raised pigs. We always had our own meat to eat plus sold some. Later he raised them to sell down state PA. We also had beef cows and assorted animals for eating. It never bothered me then and I don't have bad memories. There's no way that I could do it now. My son kill's my chickens. Once anything is dead, I can take it from there.
(My opinion only!!!)
I feel that animals were put here for our enjoyment or use. Clothing, food, or whatever. Knowing that they will become dinner someday doesn't take away from the loyalty they give us or the love we can give them. I don't believe that you are a traitor at all. You've given them a better home than most. Just enjoy the memories and more will come along. My SIL was at our home one night for dinner and wondered where the meat had come from. I told her it was farm raised and she wouldn't eat. She said she got her meat from Wegman's, our local grocery store. lol From what I've read, It's hard for a lot of us but it's part of life. I don't mean to sound cold because I've cried over my own chickens and I am finding out even my DH doesn't like butchering them. Time heals.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote: Well I guess I'm not "most people", lol

(and I'm only 5'5"). I'm sure your guys' method is close enough for estimating materials needed... but there's always more than one way to do things (I see that pointed out a lot on this thread). My suggestion isn't wrong or incorrect any more than yours is, but it has definitely worked well for me and was very accurate, which is why I suggested it to Justine. It's actually a pretty convenient way to plan out any type of fence, plus you get a pretty little bright neon string visual outline of where the fence is going to be

Maybe it's a girl thing

 

[delisha]

Delisha,

I asked on the silkie thread about how your eggs are marked.

and????????????

 

[aoxa]

and????????????

I'll let you know what they say. Lots of them have had her eggs, and I'll relay back to you I'm living vicariously through you!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/737240/spontaneous-combustion
Check out this thread. For the laugh of the day.

I think it's cute rather than stupid.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I feed 1 quart FF in the mornings to 11 chickens. Mine would just love it if they could find some maggots. They finish all the FF up way before dusk. I a in SC, and flies haven't been a problem either.

Welcome to the forum atmaclean

 

[Mumsy]

Mumsy, wow that colour is looking beautiful! Loving the chicks

Though all 3 have very thick legs don't they?

I know! Right? Hah! What is really throwing me is that the three are so similiar. Not just in comb and leg size. They act exactly the same too! I don't have any other BRIR to compare to from this line. The three don't have an aggressive behavior or stance between them. They are totally in submission to the three Silkies I think are male. If these three turn out to be male it will be the biggest joke on me. I will laugh and laugh! I will call them my girly boys.