The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Melabella]

Happy Valentine's Day

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[mlongworth]

I posted this elsewhere but thought you might be able to give me some ideas. I am building my run and coop. I am planning to plant around the inside edge of it and put a board around it topped with wire so my girls could only get to so much of the plant and not kill it. I plan to put lettuce, peas, chard, parsley, purslane, strawberry and chickweed. Any suggestions on others to plant would like a few more herbs and maybe a couple flowers? Thanks.

 

[aoxa]

I've been coming across a lot of cute valentines day pictures on facebook.

 

[aoxa]

I posted this elsewhere but thought you might be able to give me some ideas. I am building my run and coop. I am planning to plant around the inside edge of it and put a board around it topped with wire so my girls could only get to so much of the plant and not kill it. I plan to put lettuce, peas, chard, parsley, purslane, strawberry and chickweed. Any suggestions on others to plant would like a few more herbs and maybe a couple flowers? Thanks.

Nasturtium


I just love that eatible flower. It is so beautiful and the chickens used to love it when we had it growing in our last home.

Also, what about Kiwi vines? I also had some of these and they left the leaves alone, but would pick off the fruit. Just an idea. They are beautiful as well.


and if you really want to spoil them.... Grapes. They can't reach them all - so there will be plenty left for you.

 

[countrygirl74]

Chances are, Yes. Changes in flock members will change the dynamics - sometimes rather radically. Most of the time once a new pecking order is established, things calm down again. As long as she is not being injured, leave the hen in there until they work in out amongst themselves. (It can be hard to watch... but chickens have been doing this for thousands of years... )

I agree 100%. Don't worry it will work out..they are chickens..not children, even if we sometimes think of them as our kids.

Thanks so much! That makes me feel better about it. I will leave them to work it out. I just felt bad for her... even when I went out this morning, she refused to come out of the house to eat. I did physically pick her up and put her out with the rest of them and she managed to get some food. Then she runs to the highest point she can get to in there and just stays there. I love all the help I can get on here to put my mind at ease.

 

[countrygirl74]

Coffee... on keyboard... on monitor...

...nose still in pain.

LOL - if I drank coffee, I would have been in the same boat. Chickendale...

 

[countrygirl74]

I posted this elsewhere but thought you might be able to give me some ideas. I am building my run and coop. I am planning to plant around the inside edge of it and put a board around it topped with wire so my girls could only get to so much of the plant and not kill it. I plan to put lettuce, peas, chard, parsley, purslane, strawberry and chickweed. Any suggestions on others to plant would like a few more herbs and maybe a couple flowers? Thanks.

What about kale, comfrey, and maybe some oregano?

 

[lalaland]

Let me guess, the blue eggs came from a light colored EE? I am gathering data for a hypothesis I want to test.

For testing your hypothesis, I have a very dark colored EE, Jezebel, who lays blue eggs. She has green legs and is beardless, is not wheaton or silver, but dark dark brown with some lacing.

 

[chickiemomy]

I am a bit at odds with myself this morning.

Got home last night and found 4 dead birds. Did my count and found 8 missing. Thought it was my puppy pit as he had been left outside.

Found out this morning that a stray, that I have petted and fed, is killing my birds! Lost another 5 this morning. Been meaning to thin the flock, but not this way.

Grabbed the shotgun, but he ran away. Closed in the barn ends with cattle panel but who knows what will happen between now and 4pm when Carla and the kids get home.

I myself let my dogs run and have been highly criticized here about it.

I plan to capture the dog and kennel it until the owners are found, but man I was angry and had the gun ready loaded safety off!

I may get home tonight and may be buying some Buckeyes or RIR's....

loose dogs attacking defenseless livestock is a capital offense in this neck of the woods... just saying.

I have 2 hatchery buckeyes -- love them - they have the best personality, very curious & personable. I thought when they were developed (?) created (?) the woman who bred them used a lot of RIR? but I bet you know way more about that than I. They aren't quite as productive as my black australorps - but I can live with that - the BA's are good too - but I wouldn't buy another gold sex-link - or other production bird -- too food anxious, not predator aware enough - in my limited experience.

 

[lalaland]

My 4hens have what I think is vent gleet. Do I use nu-stock on that? I wish I would have taken better notes from this thread. It's barely above freezing out, I don't think I can bring them in to bathe them.

If you are worried about the cold, just use a blow dryer to dry them. They will do fine when you return them outside.

The gnarly bunch thread had a long description of treating vent gleet with nustock, after bathing! There may also be some info on that thing about vent gleet.