The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

Can BDM possibly edit the OP and show what these acronyms stand for?

It took me a while to get DH and DW. I like to guess them myself. I figured it out eventually

Unfortunately I can't change the original post.

We should work on an article on here about common acronyms found on BYC.

ETA: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/acronym-list-for-byc
I started it. Left breeds out of it. I can do a separate one for chicken breed acronyms

Here is an existing list already on BYC if you're interested. ) https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/byc-index-of-abbreviations

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.

We know what will happen to the animal from the time it is born... we understand that these animals are raised for food... but these feelings mean that we were given a heart.
Hugs!

My silkie eggs have arrived..
Catdance does a nice job packing. The box was still warm from the little heater inside, so, no frozen eggs. What a relief. She sent extra eggs.I have 18 eggs just waiting to be chicks I hope. I had a few cracks..

My next set of eggs should be here tomorrow. Those do not have a heater inside. I am a bit worried with this weather.

Yay on receiving the eggs! None of the Silkie eggs that a friend sent us made it - 4 were cracked and none of the rest developed. I have 4 of the local eggs that are developing beautifully (we can see movement when candling - so exciting for the kids!) and 4 more that show veining but I can't tell if they're developing so they are still in the 'bator but away from the others just in case - LOL. I should be able to tell if they are doing anything by lockdown time.

My Heritage RIR eggs were supposed to be here today... but no sign of them yet. And we're supposed to get ice tonight. (Forecast says snow, but in the mountains around here, we get ice... and then everything stops.

So hoping they get here safely in the next day so I can get them to my friend to incubate for me (as my 'bator is occupied).

Here are the latest pictures of the BRIR chicks. They turned five weeks old today. At their 3 wk pictures I was thinking two females and one male. Now I'm leaning more toward three females. I was thinking at five weeks old it would be a cinch to figure it out. They are the friendliest little peeps. They don't chest bump each other or the other Silkie males. They sometimes try a stare down but mostly these three just eat and sleep. They are curious though and will approach me as I sit on a stool in the chick house to observe them. Yellow banded chick is 'Hello Kitty'. The chick hatched late with crooked toes. This chick will come to my feet and let me lift her up. She will perch on my knee or hand and let me stroke her neck. Never had a chick this young so friendly. Bazinga is also friendly and likes me to stroke his back but isn't too sure about letting me lift him yet. Him could very well be a her. The combs on these three chicks are exactly alike at five weeks. All in all I'm thrilled with these three chicks. Not only are they super friendly, but the color is rich and dark. If they turn out to be three cockerels it will be hard for me to choose between them on which to keep.

Lovely chicks! They do have thick legs, but all 3 pictures show them standing like little ladies. I'll be so interested to see what they end up being!

 

[JeffOeuf]

....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

Did I say that your way was wrong? No. I didn't. I didn't even imply it. You're the one who stated it was time consuming.

 

[delisha]

Get enough coffee? Sugar? Need a hug?

As a reminder to all....

This is a place to share information..not challenge each other
BYC is strict about certain things

Lets keep this great place going..OK?

 

[delisha]

I really liked that idea of the fly catcher.

I still can't quite wrap my mind around putting together a bucket to grow them. The larvae looked interesting.. I bet the chickens would love it!
Has anyone seen those type of flies?

 

[delisha]

Mumsy,
I keep looking at my chicks and wondering sexes already too.
I thought I had all RC..I don't I also have SC

 

[loanwizard]

Thank y'all for the support.

I am not the most sensitive person in the world, I am male. I actually felt weak for having these feelings wash over me. I must be getting old....

I think it's my dad's fault. When I was young he was so strong, manly..... Today, he cries when he says a prayer at the holiday or reads a card. Love that man, hope I can live up to what he instilled in me.

I know that those animals are food from day one, and know that I am the one that will deliver them to the Grim Reaper, just sometimes it hits me harder than other times. I need to get my dogs out and go chase Bugs Bunny!

 

[Mumsy]

Mumsy,
I keep looking at my chicks and wondering sexes already too.
I thought I had all RC..I don't I also have SC

Post pic's of your babies again soon ok?
I love love love raising chicks. Never get tired of the guessing game these little tykes put us through.
Everyone always says how hard it is to guess the sex of Silkies but that is easy peasy for me compared to guessing on strains that are unfamiliar. For instance...Look at the faces of my four Silkies. At five weeks they still look like three boys and one girl. I've thought so since the first three days they were hatched.

She is still looking female. Food coloring makes it easy for me to identify the Silkie chicks when looking in the window of the chick house.






Mr. Wiggin. The alpha chick in the group.

Mr. FuzzyCheepster is a bundle of energy. He challenges Mr. Wiggin constantly.

Mr. BigFoot was the largest chick to begin with but is now the smallest male. He is only boss over Miss Peggy and the three Bantam RIR chicks. Only the alpha chick Mr. Wiggin would stand for his portrait. The other two boys wanted to lay down and sleep. Hah!

 

[mrsamplias]

CANADIAN BACON AND EGG PIE​

12 slices Canadian bacon
Does this not sound delicious. as soon as I can save 12 eggs, (will the day ever come?) I'm going to make it, and eat it all myself.

Can you tell I am having an emotional eating day?

oh.....this sounds delicious!! I'm so far behind - 467 posts to catch up!! I miss my chicken friends. We're busy dealing with MIL right now. FIL passed away in August, and now MIL is having a major mental health crisis, including hospitalization. Hope to be back soon, and post my pictures, which are nothing like Aoxa's....just no time right now.

 

[delisha]

I do not know nothing about silkies and I certainly would be horrible at sexing. If i had to guess I would guess that the top two were girls.

 

[delisha]

MsSamplias

Sorry you are having family health issues. I hope they get cleared up soon.
Do not worry about us sitting here waiting on information and pictures..
You take care of your family first!