The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

This might seem silly, but I'm going to ask anyway. If I add U-ACV (w/mother) to chicks water and feed an UN-medicated feed, keep their bedding clean, my 'normal' risk for cocci is diminished quite a bit right? I'd like to go that route, but I'm not sure I want to go the FF yet.

I have never had cocci with feeding FF. The cultures in FF that make the gut so wonderful is not a welcoming place for cocci to grow, in fact it is the exact opposite. Most cocci start when new chicks hit the ground or if the environment is dirty with feces and they do not have an oppertunity to build a resistance. Cut a patch of grass out of the yard and stick it in with the chicks. That way they will be building that resistance, and eating FF, and no cocci.

 

[delisha]

Thank you all so much for all the info on the FF. This evening I made the switch with my littles. This tub is my Norwegian Jaerhorns and my Blue Laced Red Wyandottes. Within minutes they were devouring it!! Same with my 4 week old Black Copper Marans. Problem is with the tub of Rhodebars and week old Black Copper Marans They are refusing. Should I offer some dry feed as well or just wait for them to eat the FF?

Thanks for any help! Not sure why those boogers are being so stubborn when these others were so happy to switch.....

Angela

Beautful chicks! Nice and healthy..

Queston about your cockerel legbar
Have you witnessed him completing a copulation?
Have you checked fresh layed eggs for fertiility?
Have you checked other hens eggs?

Your chicks refusing to eat FF is pretty normal at that age..put the FF on a coffee lid and sprinkle the dry feed over the top. Chiicks are mobilized to eat if they hear that tap tap sound at feed tiime. It is an instinctual response. Wet feed does not give them an oppertunity to do that and for that feed response to kick in. They will eat it when they are hungry, but, like all moms we want our lil babys stuffed and fat when young. They look better, grow better, and are happier if they are stufffed with that crop full.

 

[Melabella]

I've seen the boys do this if they believe there is danger. Funny story - when we went to the Silkie farm to pick up my daughter's Christmas presents, my DH sneezed. All the fuzzy little roos started singing away to warn of imminent danger - LOL!

Today I backed my minivan straight into the manure dumpster, (jarred the heck out of my back) and it set Duke into a 10 minute crowing session. Scared the horses that were napping in the sunshine too. I was so happy DH wasn't home. He'd tease me forever.

 

[atmaclean]

Beautful chicks! Nice and healthy..

Queston about your cockerel legbar
Have you witnessed him completing a copulation?
Have you checked fresh layed eggs for fertiility?
Have you checked other hens eggs?

Your chicks refusing to eat FF is pretty normal at that age..put the FF on a coffee lid and sprinkle the dry feed over the top. Chiicks are mobilized to eat if they hear that tap tap sound at feed tiime. It is an instinctual response. Wet feed does not give them an oppertunity to do that and for that feed response to kick in. They will eat it when they are hungry, but, like all moms we want our lil babys stuffed and fat when young. They look better, grow better, and are happier if they are stufffed with that crop full.

Well, I guess the little boogers go hungry enough. I went in to check on them after working on my mealworm boxes and they were eating!

They are going after it pretty well. I had taken the top off their feeder to see if that would encourage them to try it. I have one of the round feeders with the lid that has the holes in it. It is an older metal one but Tractor Supply didn't have the plastic ones so I'm going to have to order some online, I guess. I put the lid back on about 30 minutes ago and they are continuing to eat. Good idea about the coffee lid! I had not even considered the pecking sound they get when they peck at dry feed.

So, now everyone inside is switched to FF. The bigger project will be switching all the outside birds to it. I'm still working on figuring that one out.... I'm going to have to do the 2, 5 gallon buckets with holes in the bottom of the top one. I think I will keep it at the back door so I can carry it out in the mornings and put their feed out. Not sure what on earth I am going to feed them in. Right now, they have a hanging feeder that keeps feed available for them 24/7. I will have have 3 of whatever I feed them from - one for the guineas (15), one for the roosters (6) and one for the hens (21). Speaking of guineas, can they eat the FF as well???

I'm interested to hear what types of feeding containers you all use......

Angela

 

[atmaclean]

Beautful chicks! Nice and healthy..

Queston about your cockerel legbar
Have you witnessed him completing a copulation?
Have you checked fresh layed eggs for fertiility?
Have you checked other hens eggs?

Yes, I have seen him breeding several times. What I have done is put her eggs directly in the incubator and candled them at 5, 7, 10 days. Nothing. When I cracked them open, I did not see the "target". I have not checked the other hen's eggs but I will do that, for sure. Hadn't thought of that....but he has bred several of the other girls - maybe all of them. Who knows. I've seen him breeding them many times. I had the Cream Legbar pair together for about 10 days when Lucy was broody and I had to break her of it. I figured, for sure, she would have fertile eggs after that. It is very puzzling. Tnanks so much - I will check some of the other girls' eggs that I've seen him breeding.

Angela

 

[delisha]

Feeder types..
FF can't be fed in metal
If there is grass, I dump mine on the grass for the chickens. I also have several flat stones I use.
For the ducks, I use a wood feeder.
Yes, FF is great for Guineas, dogs, cats, goats, pigs, horses, and humans!!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I feed my FF in 2 large dog bowls. I put about 3 cups in each. The reason for 2 bowls with only having 9 birds eating it is they are 2 sub flocks withing the whole flock. Keeps them from keeping someone away from the food. I give them their bowls in the morning when I let them out of the coop into the run, It is all gone by afternoon when I collect eggs.

 

[delisha]

Hens can expel the seed from the cockerel. I do not know if you have ever watched some of the hens. I have several that squat and *spit* the seed out after copulation during different seasons or if they simply do not want that particular male.
Your hen might be spitting it out, because you reciently took her off her broody cycle. That is why I asked if you checked other eggs. If they are not fertile, he might not be mature enough. Some cockerels take a long time to sexually mature. (I just learned of this myself because I have an English Import cockerel who is not fertilizing eggs and I was panicking. He is about 7 months old.)

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Hens can expel the seed from the cockerel. I do not know if you have ever watched some of the hens. I have several that squat and *spit* the seed out after copulation during different seasons or if they simply do not want that particular male.
Your hen might be spitting it out, because you reciently took her off her broody cycle. That is why I asked if you checked other eggs. If they are not fertile, he might not be mature enough. Some cockerels take a long time to sexually mature. (I just learned of this myself because I have an English Import cockerel who is not fertilizing eggs and I was panicking. He is about 7 months old.)

I witnessed that first hand the other day. My rooster was courting my BR hen and she wasn't squatting for him. So a few minutes later he called them over for a treat he found, and used that to grab her and force the deed. After she got up and shook off, she goes a squats and I heard and saw her expel it. I verbally said, "rejected".

 

[Arkansas81]

 

I witnessed that first hand the other day. My rooster was courting my BR hen and she wasn't squatting for him. So a few minutes later he called them over for a treat he found, and used that to grab her and force the deed. After she got up and shook off, she goes a squats and I heard and saw her expel it. I verbally said, "rejected".

. To funny!!!!!