The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Eggcessive]

You just reminded me of a question I was wondering about. Can hatching eggs bring things into your flock? I mean, can the chicks that subsequently hatch from those eggs carry diseases? There are many times on BYC I have heard similar stories about people bringing in adult birds from somewhere, and Armageddon of diseases break loose. Makes me think I would never want to bring in an adult bird.

MB

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) can be transmitted through hatching eggs. It is one of the many chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) out there--infectious bronchitis (IB), infectious coryza, laryngotracheitis are some of the ones out there.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Here is a pic of some feral chickens on Oahu

She had 3 cockerels and a pullet

 

[stonykill]

I am no expert by any means, but all along my front line of my property is a line of Forsythia hedge that in the two years I have owned this house, has swelled to over 6 ft. Of course, in Spring it is a burst of yellow, then moving onto a wonderful green hedge in summer and fall. It loses it's leaves very late, and even though it is only branches in the winter, they're very abundant and also interwoven so thick, I notice the deer can't get through it, and it still provides a very good privacy shield. We've enjoyed it so much, we planted a whole row along our back property where we lost some white pines and needed privacy from our back neighbors. They grow extremely fast. Some people manicure them for a very trimmed appearance, but we let our just go wild, and it's wonderful. They are also quite affordable.


MB

we have a 80-100 yard border just like that but 45 years old.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks for all the hedge advice. I'm def. going to take a look at those and try to make a choice and go for it!

The front line I want to cover is about 160 ft. on the front of a 2 acre pasture.

 

[stonykill]

Here is a pic of some feral chickens on Oahu

She had 3 cockerels and a pullet

nice!

 

[Mumsy]

Here is a pic of some feral chickens on Oahu

She had 3 cockerels and a pullet

Hah! When we visit Hawaii many guests at the resort complain about roosters crowing morning, noon, and night, but I love it! Makes me feel right at home!

 

[stonykill]

Thanks for all the hedge advice. I'm def. going to take a look at those and try to make a choice and go for it!

The front line I want to cover is about 160 ft. on the front of a 2 acre pasture.

keep in mind with all of the borders that some listed are thorny. I sometimes work with my wife. She is a gardener. Every property we go on has barberry. We both curse at it all day long. Catches on everything. Not the barberry's fault, the placement that the owners chose. If you ever think you are going to mulch around, work around or have little kids who may play around keep that in mind.
My grandfather chose Forsythia for one of our borders. I'm glad he did. Given enough time Rhododendron makes a beautiful border. But is very slow growing.



disclaimer....I didn't highlight the above. font seems to be randomly changing......

 

[Mumsy]

When it comes to planting hedges it all depends what your going after. A barrier that is monochromatic, one color, one size fits all. Looks pretty in pictures. A barrier hedge to keep the neighbors dogs, trespassing neighbors, stray balls, blowing litter from getting through. Or a natural barrier of mixed plants. Offering flowers, berries, color, privacy, wild life habitat, and all the above attributes of protection too? I choose the latter and have never looked back. Aesthetics aside, a shrubbery has to fit your needs and fit your boundaries. It makes for good neighborly relations too.

 

[Bulldogma]

 

[Bulldogma]

Post Number 6,000!