The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[kian]

WELL! We now have 4 layers! My other Cuckoo Marans laid her first egg about 20 minutes ago..... and she is STILL squawking! (as in, squawking for 20 minutes!)



It has a filter because I posted in on Instagram. I like the speckles Also, there was some blood smeared on it, I am assuming that's fairly normal for a first egg? The other three girls lay very clean eggs and have from the start.

 

[armorfirelady]

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.

My 4 hens love to forage in the rain and look like wet hens (literally) lol they just keep fluffing themselves up and carry on. Never have had a problem with them getting wet.

 

[rambunctious]

I'd love your all's opinion! We're setting up the coop/run. And where we have it planned (best view from the house, good for wind/sun issues) it's about 10 feet from our apple tree. The girls will have a fenced run, but I also plan on letting them free range. Should I be concerned? I'm fairly certain I read that apple seeds can be an issue for chickens, I would assume they'd avoid them. They'll have plenty of other food. FF daily, not to mention the rest of the other goodies and such they'll find while ranging.

 

[Leahs Mom]

My opinion - THEY'LL LOVE having the drops from the tree!

 

[armorfirelady]

My guys get apples as part of their fresh veggies and I have never had a problem. And I have seen them eat the seeds.


Oh and remember in the old thread we were speaking about freezing fruits & veggies and wondering how they would freeze?

Well I filled up a small chest freezer this fall full of pumpkins, squash, cukes, zukes, apples, watermelon & grapes and have been pulling them out weekly to give to the hens. Everything froze well & the hens ate them all. The apples turned a little brown and the grapes as well but they were still eaten.

So my plan is a bigger garden this year so I can freeze more & hopefully buy nothing.

 

[loanwizard]

Y'all worry so much. My chickens get apple cores, peels, potato skins.... everything but onions.... and moldy food sometimes

....

Nothing kills them birds.... except dogs.....

When they free range.... I wonder if they eat poison ivy? OMGOSH! What shall I ever do? Henny Penny, the sky is falling! I am planning to plant apple trees for the hogs, chickens and deer lol!

 

[loanwizard]

Quote: Aren't Apples and Tomatoes fruit?

 

[jendodd79]

Lol!

I worry about everything, not just my chickens - ha!

 

[aoxa]

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!

Since Del didn't answer this yet...

Her pubic bones will be wide enough to fit a couple of fingers in between (if we're talking large fowl) a hen not in lay will have a smaller gap. Same as a rooster...

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?

Possible but unlikely. Especially since your other hen didn't lay today. Egg sizes do vary. Have you ever witnessed a fart egg? Maybe it was just a fluke.

 

[rambunctious]

Y'all worry so much. My chickens get apple cores, peels, potato skins.... everything but onions.... and moldy food sometimes ....

Nothing kills them birds.... except dogs.....

When they free range.... I wonder if they eat poison ivy? OMGOSH! What shall I ever do? Henny Penny, the sky is falling! I am planning to plant apple trees for the hogs, chickens and deer lol!

Lol!

I worry about everything, not just my chickens - ha!

I worry far too much!! I figured they'd be just fine, but if I didn't ask, my luck would be they'd all die from apple related issues.