The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[farmerfogg]

I know my silly phone camera can't compete with the equipment you guys all have, but wanted to share a picture of the gang in the manure pit today. Was thinking come fly season, they are going to have a blast in there!

What a beautiful flock! I love your pictures!

 

[Melabella]

What a beautiful flock! I love your pictures!

why thank you!

 

[delisha]

Quote: If you ever need to talk just drop me a line..hugs

Quote: What is your roo? I like his color

 

[Melabella]

If you ever need to talk just drop me a line..hugs
What is your roo? I like his color

He is a Columbian Wyandotte. If you like his coloring, some similar breeds are Light sussex, and Delaware Chickens are similar color patterns

 

[delisha]

I do like it and for some odd reason I have one that hatched out of my own flock. Well not a wyandotte..but similar markings. Actually bad markings..but it reminds me of yours. I love Wyandotties, so that is probably why I really love that bird. I am getting SLW's from a breeder in April.

 

[atmaclean]

Great pics, MB! Horses pass a lot of undigested grains... and now your chickens are giving those sad little grains a second chance!
LOL!

Very pretty birds!

A huge portion of horse feed is now pelleted. The grains are processed and put in the pelleted form so there is a lot less waste when the horses eat it. The whole grains don't come through as "whole" pieces anymore..... Some folks may still feed the cheaper "sweet feeds" and they have some whole oats in them which I'm sure the chickens would love. Even without the whole oats, my chickens and guineas still love to scatter the piles all over the place and look for bugs and beetles that naturally get in it. We feed an extruded feed so there is even less waste but, again, it still draws bugs, much to the chicken's enjoyment We are happy to have all the little "manure spreaders" at work in our pastures!

Angela

 

[lalaland]

I found a really comprehensive list of natural remedies and preventative measures for various chicken health issues. Learned some new tricks for scaly mites and for featherpicking. It was interesting to see how many remedies that have been suggested on this thread are also notied in this list - a woman compiled it from a variety of sources, which she lists, including old poultry manuals, current university ag depts, and a group of organic chicken growers.


http://www.kingbirdfarm.com/Layerhealthcompendium.pdf


Now, I'm off to check out some of the many websites she lists in resources in the back.
Enjoy!

 

[Mumsy]

I'm sorry to hear this.
HUGS! (And don't apologize - we have developed some amazing friendships on this thread. We're all here to help and support each other, and we care about you.)

X 2

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Well, I may have a new layer today. Elphaba, the EE, was waiting for me to unblock the nests(I forgot before I left for work last night). She jumped right in one and made herself all comfy. She is only 23 weeks, I was not expecting her to be at POL so soon(was looking more like 28-32 weeks). The only thing I can attribute to her laying early is the FF. It is the only thing different with the teens. I will post a pic of the egg(if it has a good shell).

 

[ocap]

Personal barn dreams:
no outside stairs in fact no stairs at all, I have been living in a home with outside north facing stairs and either slip on the ice in winter or the algae in the summer, my age is creeping up and I have difficulty even climbing stairs without falling over backwards

Cross shape with "breed" rooms on both sides of all four legs that way each breed room has access to outside, each leg can be extended to expand my flock, and while I am at it fire retarding walls so each section will contain the fire. Center of the cross is my "man cave or" dog house when I am in trouble with the dear wife.

the two center halls big enough to bring in a truck into loaded with feed

I wish I knew how to draw a picture and post it here

Easy to go above any budget when dreaming, I even ordered seven breeds of chickens for this summer (when I am getting back into the hobby) when I probably only have time for one breed.