The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

look what I got for a surprise valentine from my partner! I am so excited.

and I finally figured out how to post pics with this chromebook - so far, only from my phone, but now I can post pics of my girls, etc. tomorrow I'll get shots of feather picked backs (yeah, I know, you can't wait right?

)

 

[Leahs Mom]

Del -
I'd like to see some photos of your roost branches if you have time to take a photo or 2.

Also - do you use ALL branches or do you have some flat boards too?

 

[aoxa]

look what I got for a surprise valentine from my partner! I am so excited.

and I finally figured out how to post pics with this chromebook - so far, only from my phone, but now I can post pics of my girls, etc. tomorrow I'll get shots of feather picked backs (yeah, I know, you can't wait right?

)

I can't see the photo :/

 

[Sally8]

I can't see the photo :/

Neither can I. I was hoping it wasn't that little box in the corner, although nice surprises come in little boxes.

 

[pigeonguy]

Okay, Doc. Now tell me one more thing.

When you feed this stuff to your birds... do they hesitate to eat at all? Meaning - do you have to leave it out for a long time or they won't eat it -vs- do they just eat it right away like normal as if it were the same old thing?

Mine eat it like gang busters. You would not know I did anything different. I put something in there FF almost every day though sweet 16, rabbit pellets, garlic, egg shells, oregano, hot peppers what we had for supper, dinner, breakfast.
Now like I said when I put the cayenne on the neighbors feed his chickens did not want to eat it. His birds do not get FF though he does not want the bother so wet feed with pepper was really different for them.
Here,s the thing take a cup of FF and add 1 Table spoon Pepper and see what happens. Birds can not feel the burn from hot peppers. The only concern I had with them was I don,t like the taste of cayenne or habenaro peppers it is not that there to hot for me just don't like the flavor. I much more prefer old style jalapenos (you know when they were hot before the stores figured out that mild ones sell better) sarrono or selmis mexican special. All have really good flavor. I take these dehydrated and ground to the ol gal that makes my tamales and enchiladas so I don't have to deal with the flavor of the others.
Anyway I thought the chickens might feel the same way and not like the flavor but really no problem.
I am going to grow all of them this year even the ones I don't like. So I will find out if mine like cayenne also.
Doctor no mad scientist eh maybe.

 

[delisha]

smaller roosts about 2 inch diameter
large roosts about 6 inch diameter


Diameter of larger roosts

 

[delisha]

Del -
I'd like to see some photos of your roost branches if you have time to take a photo or 2.

Also - do you use ALL branches or do you have some flat boards too?

I do not have flat boards for roosts..however they do use the nest now that one of the larger roost have broken. I need to cut another one. I will do that in later spring after a thaw.

 

[Pozees]

I have the most terrible news I can ever imagine typing here...

My barn..

My birds.

My Clementine.

All gone...

The barn caught fire and nothing is left. I don't even know.. I don't know what to say. My heart is broken.

Aoxa, words cannot express how awful I feel for you! I have been trying to get current on this thread and only now read your post. I am horribly, terribly sorry for you.

Your help and guidance have been invaluable to me over the last several months. We are too far apart for me to offer actual assistance, but be assured we will be here to provide all the moral support you need as you come to terms with your situation and decide the best path forward.

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa, words cannot express how awful I feel for you! I have been trying to get current on this thread and only now read your post. I am horribly, terribly sorry for you.

Your help and guidance have been invaluable to me over the last several months. We are too far apart for me to offer actual assistance, but be assured we will be here to provide all the moral support you need as you come to terms with your situation and decide the best path forward.

Thank you.

I just called my last person we needed to inform - someone who put a deposit down on hatching eggs. She had already bought 3 birds from me in January.

I was so on edge until everyone who needed to know knew.

Our friend who had 3 birds at our place is helping us rebuild. He has contractor discounts at the hardware store, and will help us there and with getting the baby barn ready itself. Everyone is so much help.
Dylan printed out a book full of everyone's condolences posted on facebook. It made us cry. It's almost 50 pages long.

 

[jockeyeba]

Time for a few baby photos 7 Weeks old and still trying to get under mom. At night it's quite hilarious. Little black peeking. Checking out the nests. Little black is peeking again! Little Black (still the smallest). Little Blue Little White (formerly yellow - he/she has taken on a new identity ) Little white checking out the nest box. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come but....this is the most likely to be a rooster Little Orange

Very pretty pullet in the last picture I wish I had taken pictures of my AG hen when her 9 big chicks were still trying to get under her