The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

The owners of our local feed store (who we supply eggs to since their dog killed their chickens) asked us if we were interested in selling any of our chickens. Well, we'd have given them a few to start over, but it was actually for friends of theirs who have never had chickens but just set up a coop/run. They know nothing about chickens, so I directed them to BYC and this thread in particular. They want to raise their new pullets naturally, so I told them about U-ACV, fermented feed, pumpkins/pumpkin seeds, etc. I hope to see them here soon! They have two of our BR pullets who were hatched on 8/12, so they should be laying within the next month. Of course, we gave them some eggs so they'll know how much better they'll be than store-bought.

How wonderful..good for you Busy!

 

[Bulldogma]

How wonderful..good for you Busy!

X's 2!!

 

[stonykill]

The owners of our local feed store (who we supply eggs to since their dog killed their chickens) asked us if we were interested in selling any of our chickens. Well, we'd have given them a few to start over, but it was actually for friends of theirs who have never had chickens but just set up a coop/run. They know nothing about chickens, so I directed them to BYC and this thread in particular. They want to raise their new pullets naturally, so I told them about U-ACV, fermented feed, pumpkins/pumpkin seeds, etc. I hope to see them here soon! They have two of our BR pullets who were hatched on 8/12, so they should be laying within the next month. Of course, we gave them some eggs so they'll know how much better they'll be than store-bought.

 

[off-grid hen]

Ugh. This talk of hatching makes me want to buy hatching eggs in the spring. I CAN'T! I have more than enough chickens. I'm not overcrowded, but I need to get rid of a few birds before I hatch eggs. *jealous*

 

[BusyBlonde]

How wonderful..good for you Busy!

We don't actively look to sell our chickens, but I'm more than happy to help someone else starting out. When our friends at the feed store get their pen fortified against their dog, they're welcome to a few hens too. The couple we sold the pullets to don't know anything about chickens, so they have my number, and this website and thread. They want to do things the natural way - more converts!

 

[lazy gardener]

How big does the run need to be? I made a 2 panel hoop house this fall with 2x4 framing, it's holding up well, and shouldn't be hard to move especially if 2x6 was laid down ahead of it so it could slide on the 2x6 to the next location, I have moved the 2 panel unit a bit by myself, but if moving it much would lay lumber under it to prevent tweaking the frame. Also could use pieces of 2" PVC for rollers. However, a 3 panel unit would be much more difficult.

 

[Kacey's Krazee's]

Howdy All!
I only posted once on Bee's thread, as I was always trying to catch up and keep up the reading. And with this new thread, I find myself still doing the same. I am working on the FF, and correcting my DL in the coop and run. I filled my runs with leaves and hay to give the girls something to scratch and help heal the ground, as I " used " to use the DE. My girls can't free range, as I have problems with predation. Neighbors dogs, bobcat, racoons, and hawks. I would love to see them out and enjoying chickens activities, but I have to do, what I have to do, to keep them safe.
I have hatchery girls, and have 1 BO, who became broody. I tried taking her off the nest, and then tried to ignore her, but she stuck. I finally went out and bought her a dozen fertilized eggs, mutts, to have her hatch them. I set them under her on 12-3, and if everything goes as it should, we should be hatching Christmas Eve, Christmas Day. I have used an incubator, just once, and out of the 18 eggs I put in, 10 hatched, and out of them, 8 were roos...

I rehomed 6 of them, kept 2 that I liked. I ended up rehoming them too, as I didn't have enough room for 2 roos, let along 2 young, over zealous roos at that. Those poor girls! They learned some mean habits from those roos!

I started the FF almost 2 weeks ago, and my egg count has been dropping. I'm not sure if it is due to the shorter days, or if they girls are protesting the changes. I used to keep pellets in their coops all the time, and now feed them 2 times a day. They are piggies, and I haven't seen any drop in their intake of the FF, as of yet. What do you think it is? My DH is certian it's the new FF. I think Solstace.

Thank you BDM for keeping this thread alive, and hoping to see the OT on here too. It's a major crying shame that both threads are locked!

 

[aoxa]

They are also wonderful for use in baking.

Duck eggs I only enjoy in baking. Especially Quiche!! Best in Quiche!

 

[aoxa]

I use sharpies. Never had a problem. I've had pencil wear off due to the egg rolling. Ever notice how shiny broody eggs get from all of the rolling?!

Yes. Notice this. Don't use pencils at all anymore.

 

[stonykill]

Howdy All!
I only posted once on Bee's thread, as I was always trying to catch up and keep up the reading. And with this new thread, I find myself still doing the same. I am working on the FF, and correcting my DL in the coop and run. I filled my runs with leaves and hay to give the girls something to scratch and help heal the ground, as I " used " to use the DE. My girls can't free range, as I have problems with predation. Neighbors dogs, bobcat, racoons, and hawks. I would love to see them out and enjoying chickens activities, but I have to do, what I have to do, to keep them safe.
I have hatchery girls, and have 1 BO, who became broody. I tried taking her off the nest, and then tried to ignore her, but she stuck. I finally went out and bought her a dozen fertilized eggs, mutts, to have her hatch them. I set them under her on 12-3, and if everything goes as it should, we should be hatching Christmas Eve, Christmas Day. I have used an incubator, just once, and out of the 18 eggs I put in, 10 hatched, and out of them, 8 were roos...

I rehomed 6 of them, kept 2 that I liked. I ended up rehoming them too, as I didn't have enough room for 2 roos, let along 2 young, over zealous roos at that. Those poor girls! They learned some mean habits from those roos!

I started the FF almost 2 weeks ago, and my egg count has been dropping. I'm not sure if it is due to the shorter days, or if they girls are protesting the changes. I used to keep pellets in their coops all the time, and now feed them 2 times a day. They are piggies, and I haven't seen any drop in their intake of the FF, as of yet. What do you think it is? My DH is certian it's the new FF. I think Solstace.

Thank you BDM for keeping this thread alive, and hoping to see the OT on here too. It's a major crying shame that both threads are locked!

would suspect the egg count drop is simply due to the shorter days. For optimum laying as in late spring -early summer they need 14 hours of daylight. We are lucky to get 9 hours now.