The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

Hi Angela- newbie here. I've only had my hens since August.
But I do know you don't need to add vinegar every day. When you first make the FF you add water and a flu of ACV with mother, let it sit a few days in a warm spot and it should be fermenting. You will have to add water a few times as the crumbles soak up the moisture but not vinegar. I rarely add ACV vinegar to my mix even when refilling the bucket. (I did make that error at the beginning and it got to vinegary tasting for the hens) just add water when you add more food. And you have to add enough for a layer of water over it when u initially start. Mine is kept at a oatmeal cookie dough consistency and you can see the water on the sides & bubbles when you stir. The Mother is at the bottom of the bucket feeding on the little bit of food that seeps through the holes eating away and making the food fermented. Once a month or so I scoop all the slimy gooey stuff in the bottom bucket into the top bucket. My FF has been on the same mother since September
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Delisha & Mumsy I love the chic picture. So adorable. Almost makes me want to get chics from the feed store........I picked up a pamphlet so I could look at what they are getting but that's as close to chics I am getting lol
i KNOW i DON'T NEED TO ADD ACV EVERY DAY AND DON'T TO MY MAIN FERMENT BUCKET BUT i DO ADD IT TO THE BUCKET i SCOOP MY FEED IN TO FEED. mY PROBLEM IS SINCE i STARTED FEEDING FF (sorry cap lock was on didn't know) Anyway since I started feeding FF my chickens don't drink any water so putting acv in the water is not an option for me. That is why I put it in the feed just before feeding. That way I know they get it. I have been offering water but I put a line on the waterer when I fill it and the water level never moves. I will see if that changes this summer.
What do you guys think of this barn? Just a bit bigger.



http://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/2011/09/29/chicken-coop-photos-and-description-from-maria-beason/

Someone has asked us to take images of the loss. I have documentation, but didn't think anyone would ever want to see it.

What is everyone's experience with Black Copper Marans? I want to know how they forage. How well they lay. What their personalities are like, etc. I am considering adding them when we rebuild. I have always wanted dark eggs.
My BCMs seem to have very good temperament. They forage well they lay a medium to large egg some really dark some not so much as I would expect. Only the darkest will be incubated. Mine are still young received end of August. I have 16 pullets am getting between 3 and 6 eggs a day now. I'm sure that will increase when it warms up more plus some I received were older that others by maybe as much as 4 weeks. Maybe I should also mention that I only see the waddles dropped on 6 of them and every once in a while I get 1 egg that day I think the others are resetting when that happens. Bottom line I love them they are beautiful birds. I did get some frost bite (not bad) on some of e cockerels combs this winter. My fault the trailer I moved them to was leaky and we went from 40 and rain to 20 below over night so to much moister. I sometimes look at them and say sorry I should have fixed it the day before. I don't know if this is typical but I give eggs to my dad and he said they tasted great but the shells were so hard I had to use a chisel and hammer to get them out. They are hard takes a good whack on the side of the counter to crack them. Oh mine are feather footed.
 
WOW, I love that barn! I have no exp with BCM's but have a friend with a flock, and she swears they aren't as difficult on a garden bed. They free range, and she claims they don't destroy everything in their path. When I have visited, they seem a bit aloof,, but some of the hens do come over to greet me. Beautiful birds!

Hugs, xo
Mb

BCM's are nice little birds. Good free rangers, some are quiet, some talk a lot. They don't lay as well as a barred rock but still 4-5 eggs a week....even in winter. They are friendly, but not lap birds like an Orp. Roosters are BEAUTIFUL, and very gentlemanly. Lost mine to neighbours Rotts. I would definitely get them again.
Hope this helps.
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Aoxa, love that barn pic! I agree, bigger is always better when it comes to barns
I agree with both of these statements. But then that has something to do with why I like them. They do surround me for treats and at feeding time though.
 

so sorrry to hear about your mom - listen to all the options - there is a lot more that can be done now that is not so aggressive, Quality of life has become better recognized, and meds have come a long way.

Whatever decisions you have to make- or help her make - the one piece of advice I freely offer, is that when you have cancer, there are many decisions you must make with imperfect information. Often you get more complete information long after that earlier decision was made, and you may find you made the wrong decision. Do not second guess those past decisions, do not play what if, do not guilt yourself. Make the best decision you can in the moment it must be made - then don't rethink it. Move on to the next decision -with what is now known - you can drive yourself crazy playing what if. It's much less stressful, and more healing to say - this is where I am now- what can I do in the future, what can I make with what I am today. Say, "I made the best decision I could with what I knew at the time" -- & repeat.

A close relative who had survived cancer for 10 years, gave me that advice the day I was diagnosed with cancer 6 years ago., It served me well & I try to live my whole life that way - what's done is done - this is where I am - what can I do now. I've been told this is very Zen - I don't know about that - I just know that it works especially well for me.

I am fine today, so far - you never know if or when it will recurr - but there are remarkable treatments & doctors - it is nothing like it was 40 years ago when my mother had cancer - (BTW she's survived - despite stage 4 diag -)

sorry I'm off-topic.

This is intended with good wishes for you & your mother - nothing else ...
 
Welcome to all the first-time posters on the thread. We're happy you have joined us. Keep those questions coming! And just for fun, here are some of the silly things I did with my new babies today. :lol: Grumpy Chick See? You can housebreak a chicken! (OK - no... not really.) Racing stripes! Hula, anyone? Look at all those toes!
Too cute! the lady that sent me the "biker chick" pic's also sent pictures of those Bantam chicks in a dollhouse :D
 
What is everyone's experience with Black Copper Marans? I want to know how they forage. How well they lay. What their personalities are like, etc. I am considering adding them when we rebuild. I have always wanted dark eggs. 

I absolutely love that barn look!  Is there a guest bedroom in there someplace?  lol  Share with us anything you want to share.  Sometimes, talking about things, helps bring about healing.

I've had BCM for about a year now. I bought 5 eggs off ebay.  4 hatched.  The chicks popped out of those shells after 19 days.  They've been healthy, very calm temperament and friendly. They probably lay 5 days a week.  I usually get 3 eggs a day out of 4 hens.  They become broody easily.  I think they are good foragers.  I don't have a lot of experience as I only have an acre.  They are the first out of the coop in the morning.  I have a very beautiful roo, very attentive to his ladies.  My vote is yes. 

My Mother was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  She'll be 77 Friday, has a bad heart and her lungs are already compromised.  Not sure how aggressive treatment can be.
Sorry :(
 
This is intended with good wishes for you & your mother - nothing else ...
Thank you. That is wonderful advice. My Dad died of cancer in 1981. Things are so different now. (BTW, I only mentioned it today. Won't be carrying on with it in this forum)
 
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