The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

you know, I have a long ramp that they also have trouble on, and I have had a lot of bumblefoot since moving to this location maybe 5 years ago. If I can scrounge up the stumps, thing I will go that route instead. thanks for the idea!

Wish you lived nearby. I literally have a stack of logs about 4 ft. high and 20 ft long that anyone could use!

 

[Leahs Mom]

check this one out for added ideas too..I love the double decker side. It is huge. way to big for my needs, but, it has so many nice features. (free down load)

http://www.homegardendesignplan.com/2012/11/cs100-chicken-coop-plans-garden-shed.html

That's pretty awesome. I also like the high window bank up at the top for ventilation.

 

[bbsnooks]

I have 15 baby chicks in the basement and I started them in FF on day three. It took them a bit at first to get them started on it but now they gobble it up. Glad I started FF. I had been reading up on it for awhile but just hadn't taken the plunge and started it. This might be off topic but after reading about the barn fire I thought you might laugh like we did this morning. Chicks out grew my box set up in the basement and grandsons were obsessed with watching them. So I brought the boys kidding pool inside. But some shavings down and got the light all set up for them. Day two the feed dish was outside the pool, we can't imagine how they flipped it out of there.....come to find out, our dog had gone downstairs and stole the FF and licked the dish clean. Crazy dog! He has no interest in the chicks just luvs the FF.....so now I'm researching FF for dogs.. DH is wondering when does this end???

Hi.. can i jump in??
my first chicken 10 years ago, was a hitch hicker into town.. that the dog catcher brought to me.. .. at the time i had a white german shepard.. and the barred rock hitch hiker.
It seems that my intense interest.. in the chicken.. and feeding her.. first ( before the dog) was .. a problem for my alpha dog. it took a while .. but i finally figured out how 1 chicken could go thru so much food... she had help..

Now that .. I'm doing this again .. similar situation.. 2 chickens.. and one jealous dog.. I started to see similar behavior in the dog and had an ahh ha moment.

I have now made special note to self .. to pay attention.. to the Dog first.
( i do clicker training.. just 3-5 commands first thing.. which can be done in less than a minute now.... and the dog loves it. and gets his.. acknowledge ment first )

so.. I pay attention to the dog.. before the chickens and he is less interested in .. what ever i'm taking to the 2 roosters.. My dog is not a chicken but i believe he does know about pecking order.. and i want to make sure.. he is looking out for the chickens.. not resenting.. the abundant attention given to the new additions. this may not be whats happening for you.. but dogs are known to gorge on food in the presence of ? rival's? . or.. some thing like that.

my .02$

I'm going to do the kiddy pool thing too.. next month.. they come.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hi.. can i jump in??

Of course! Welcome

Reminds me of the story my mom used to tell about when she had her first baby. Before that she just had a collie that got all the attention. It was very well trained because she had lots of time. Then along came baby!

The collie was never bad to the baby, but she was obviously jealous. My mom made sure she got a good lot of attention and got to "share the baby" !

 

[Mumsy]

So.... I took it down and replaced it with "log steps".

Great idea! And I'm really happy to hear the bumble foot is lessening.

 

[bbsnooks]

I have a ? about how much vinegar to put in .. the FF. when you add to the existing.. i there an estimate / gal..
I'm only doing a small amount.. right now and I've been adding about a cap ful per cup of water.. Is that enough?

#2? Making Vinegar from scratch.
I'm wondering about starting a vinegar from scratch.. does any one here do that.? and have you used other fruit?

I had some "fancy " fruit from Xmas that 2 pears got soft.. and all i could remember was cover with sugar water. and let set .. and now i can t find my directions..
I'll thank you in advance.. for your input here..

I hate to ask a ? and run.. I'm vacationing with my nephews and Nana.. next week so.. if i disappear.. i will be back..
Thanks...

 

[Bulldogma]

For those who speak code, there is a new thing up in that place.

So.... I took it down and replaced it with "log steps".

Love them!

Hi.. can i jump in??

Great to see you here!

 

[Eggcessive]

I have a ? about how much vinegar to put in .. the FF. when you add to the existing.. i there an estimate / gal..
I'm only doing a small amount.. right now and I've been adding about a cap ful per cup of water.. Is that enough?

#2? Making Vinegar from scratch.
I'm wondering about starting a vinegar from scratch.. does any one here do that.? and have you used other fruit?

I had some "fancy " fruit from Xmas that 2 pears got soft.. and all i could remember was cover with sugar water. and let set .. and now i can t find my directions..
I'll thank you in advance.. for your input here..

I hate to ask a ? and run.. I'm vacationing with my nephews and Nana.. next week so.. if i disappear.. i will be back..
Thanks...

There is no need to put anymore vinegar in your FF if you are adding to the existing--it already has enough. Just add more feed and water. The 2-bucket set-up is the easiest since there is ferment liquid in the bottom bucket at all times.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
I switched to the single bucket as I could never get my inner bucket to drain, even with 1/4" holes. I do not add any new ACV to it. I just add more feed and water every time I feed. It just keeps bubbling like it should.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have a ? about how much vinegar to put in .. the FF. when you add to the existing.. i there an estimate / gal..
I'm only doing a small amount.. right now and I've been adding about a cap ful per cup of water.. Is that enough?

#2? Making Vinegar from scratch.
I'm wondering about starting a vinegar from scratch.. does any one here do that.? and have you used other fruit?

I had some "fancy " fruit from Xmas that 2 pears got soft.. and all i could remember was cover with sugar water. and let set .. and now i can t find my directions..
I'll thank you in advance.. for your input here..

I hate to ask a ? and run.. I'm vacationing with my nephews and Nana.. next week so.. if i disappear.. i will be back..
Thanks...

You don't need to add any ACV to your existing FF--just more feed and water.
To make ACV, Galanie's recipe is to use 2 cans of plain frozen apple juice reconstituted with water. Add room temperature apple juice to a gallon jug, mix in 16 ounces of Bragg's ACV. Place coffee filter on top of jug with a rubber band, put it in a dark place, and wait at least 1 month to see the "mother" on top. You can re-use this mother to make more with additional apple juice. I have also made it from apple peelings and cores from making pies.