The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Bummer LW.

Exciting BDM!

 

[Arkansas81]

Ioan-good gravy!! that dog would be out! i wouldn't kill, but would send him somewhere where he could get some training. i sure hope that dog rescue will do something about his behavior before they adopt him out, if i got that problem i would be very upset if they just dumped him on me. i am such a sucker for animals-i drove my mom nuts about all my critters-still do.



i haven't posted for awhile but i do lurk, i really do enjoy this thread, i've learned soooooooooo much! i know im not the only one that is grateful for everyone on here. i am still a newbie so i can't contribute a whole lot, but i do give my opinions if i feel they are valid. every suggestion that i've gotten from everyone here is doing wonders for my chickens. especially the ff, man do they love it!!! i am saving on the food bill, water bowl and over all health. they seem to be all around a good thing to give them.



i have eggs that might hatch next weekend. i did candle but i don't have a clue to what i am looking at. it looks like there is development but i'm still not sure if anything will hatch. my broody has been doing a good job, i think "alice" will be the momma. i have had musical mommas on the nest almost the entire time. but when i do go in the coop the eggs are nice and warm, and there is always someone on the nest. but alice seems to be the most determined to be on the eggs. i sure hope if anything hatches she will raise them. i am going to start getting the other pen ready for them. i know i won't be able to leave them in there-in the big coop. the coop isn't set up for chicks. plus i have some bitchy hens that i would be afraid they would hurt the babies.



i'm glad everyone seems to be getting some spring time heading there way! the weather is still a bit wonky but we do get some wonderful days few and far between. i enjoy the pretty days!



HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY!!

 

[armorfirelady]

This is just my personal opinion about prolapse. Prolapse does not improve. Hen will always have this condition. Can a hen live with prolapse? yes. Many can live for a year and give you eggs for that year. It might get worse in that year .Hens might eventually get an internal infection. I seriously consider replacing hens that have prolapses and using them for soup before it happens again. Internal infection is not a good death, and than you can't eat it.

I know that prolapse is a reason to cull. From all outward signs she is healthy. I will keep her till I see some other problem or she is not thriving. I went outside today to apply some Prep H to her and no prolapse on her or the other hen. She did have a runny poop but its just one so I am not to concerned about it. All other droppings have been solid. One still had a leaky bum so I cleaned hers up and put some more nustock on her. I do plan on get some pullets this spring so I will get an extra one to replace her but until then she can stay.

Thank you to you & Aoxa for your help. I assumed the legs were normal but those weird scales through me

Congrats BDM on your new chicks !!

Loanwizard.......I have a dog like that....thankfully he settled down. He was a rescue I adopted and after some patience, love & time he has settled down and is a great dog. He still has anxiety from being home alone but as long as he can see out the window to watch the world its manageable & the addition of a puppy has helped as well.

Sally those roosters are stunning !!

 

[kian]

Wow, it's hard to catch up after a weekend away!

Congrats to all who have new chicks

Loan...whoa. However, I would have the same reaction you did. I have such a hard time faulting an animal who was left or abused by an owner. My terrier who killed my new chicks? He's a rescue and I *know* he had a very very very difficult time before he came to us. However, from the moment 'our eyes met' (sounds so romantic LOL) I was HIS PERSON. The other members of my family will do in a pinch but I am the only one he truly wants. I think he knows that I know and that I'll make sure he never suffers again.

Though I was sure mad when I found him with the chicks.

Anyway!

Aoxa I am so happy to see photos of your basement babies!

Delisha, Sunny is most likely not a Heritage New Hampshire. I get my chickens from a local ranch. They do a really great job with their birds but I really don't think they have heritage breeds. All of her eggs have stayed consistantly the same size. However her sister's eggs, (the one on the right in that photo) have been all over the place. The one in that photo did indeed end up being a double yolker. She's laid another one like that, and the others have been a bit larger than Sunny's.

Now I have my other Cuckoo Marans doing the "curtsy" for me but no eggs yet, unless I've been wrong about the other and they have been taking turns laying! But you'd think I'd have at least one day of 4 eggs even if that *was* the case.....

 

[delisha]

Thought I would post some pictures of my Orpingtons. They are growing up. I examined the pullet today and I think she should start laying soon. I am looking forward to having pure Orpingtons soon. I am thinking possibly by Easter hatch. Bother her and the cockerel have been checking out the nest, so, I am hoping. I have not seen him breed her yet either. The ducks are starting to lay so laying is in the AIR....



I think the cockerel weighs 10 lbs. I need to get him weighed

 

[Leahs Mom]

Del -
For our education, could you elaborate on this statement you made:

"I examined the pullet today and I think she should start laying soon."

How does one examine a pullet in such a way that you could tell she will lay soon? What are you looking for specifically


Also - another few questions on your orps:
I love the look of these birds (I always like "birds of color" better than the white birds

) But in another place we were taught that Orpingtons are always unthrifty on feed, costing way more than other breeds to maintain.

-Do you find that true of this particular strain of Orps or is it just the Buffs? Are the English a better bird?
-How long have you kept them?
-Give us a little info on your experience with them as egg layers and how they compare as a dual purpose for meat.

Thanks!

 

[jendodd79]

My hens caught caught out in a freak slush storm we just had (yesterday it was spring!?!) . So they are sopping wet for the big drops falling off of the mesh roof of the run. It's about 40ish degrees outside (maybe 45) - are they OK or will they get chilled? I'm working and won't be home until after dark.

 

[loanwizard]

They should be fine. Feathers shed it pretty good. If they are "soaked".... skin showing at nightfall, break out the blow dryer.... or at least that is what I would do....

 

[jendodd79]

Thank you! I'll check when we get home. Blow drying chickens will be a new one for me

 

[Leahs Mom]

Okay y'all "oldies"...another question.

Is is possible that an almost hen (1 yr old on March 25) could lay 2 eggs in 1 day?

Here's the deal. The Araucanas both lay a blue egg. Charlie's eggs are always small. Charlie's sister's eggs are always quite large - right from the first egg. I have always been able to tell which is which with no problem.

Today there was a small egg when I got home from work so it was laid earlier this morning likely. That would be Charlie's. Then I observed Charlie in the nest box when I was out there at about 2:00 and now - 4:30 - there is another small blue egg in the box. Should be Charlie's.

Charlie's sister has NEVER had a small egg. She's never had an egg the same shape as Charlie's eggs. Hers are more oblong a and way longer/bigger.

Both of these eggs are the size and shape of Charlie's. So...is it possible that she had 2 eggs in 1 day?