The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[jendodd79]

Am I going crazy, or is my Eloise a rooster? She was sure trying to crow out there this morning. Loud enough for the neighbours to hear as soon as I let her out. None of my hens have ever done this before and I *swear* she's currently my only egg layer. It was definitely a cockadoodledoo sound?!?!?!




I'm not crazy, that's a pullet right?

 

[countrygirl74]

FF question, My chicks just aren't all fluffy with FF. they look kind of dirty with all that FF all over them. I raised up the feeder but that didn't seem to help. Anyone else notice this? Does it have any effect on there feathers?

I don't know about chicks as I didn't start FF with mine until mine were about 12 weeks old or so - which is when I learned about it. But my chickens sure are soft and fluffy! I've seen some very messy chick pics on here with FF but mine never get messy at all! I use a mash and not sure if that makes a difference than using crumbles or pellets??? I don't have any mess in the coop or on the chickens. I will be getting new chicks in March and will be putting them on the feed so I am interested to see if they get all messy...

 

[Elliemae 77]

So we were downstairs yesterday and my DD wanted to play with the chicks...sure I said.....She sure has a good imagination


How's that for a chicken saddle!

 

[Angel16]

that's so cute! what kind of chickens do you have?

 

[chickiemomy]

Quote:
thank you - yes weather, overall constitution -- excuse my chicken -- je ne c'est q'uai -- ignorance? -- but they APPEAR like they belong inside, on display - Mumsy talking about feather snow shoes made me look at them with a completely different eye.

guessing in mixed flocks they do not compete well? - get picked on due to size, or other chicken reasons -

and your avocado comment a little back made me smile -- was talking to DH last night about chickens & scraps (our cats have become fussy & leaving bits of canned food, which the chickens fight over) -- & I mentioned the avocado warning - to which I said something like - I don't know why they would eat it if it was so bad???

so you have also reinforced my - when it comes to vegetable matters - they're smarter than some give them credit for! Thx -

 

[chickiemomy]

My silkie chick is mean. He.she spend all day picking on other chicks feet. My poor cochin and marans have no feather left on there feet.




He/she does not want to stand up for me taking this picture. He had nice feathers on his feet too but now they are almost gone. Split wing too..darn..is split wing a cull?

Disclaimer - I do not know this from personal experience - was reading thru another thread where split wing was discussed - they said to not be concerned about split wing until more adult feathers come in - baby feathers are not always reflective of adult traits.

 

[Elliemae 77]

that's so cute! what kind of chickens do you have?

The little brown is a chocolate orpington bantam, and the little yellow is a lemon cuckoo orpington. We have all Orps of one color or another with the exception of 1 wheaten Ameraucana, 4 Silkies and a Cochin/FCBM mutt.

 

[Angel16]

there very pretty! I have heard that bantam's are mean and will fight is that true?

 

[Elliemae 77]

there very pretty! I have heard that bantam's are mean and will fight is that true?

Why Thank-You. Im not sure yet. This is my first venture with the bantam orps. I've read they're very sweet with people. All of mine are climbing all over each other in the brooder to get held and they love treats. However, I have seen my little chocolate cockeral pick a fight with the LF Lemon Cuckoo in the brooder, so I guess We will wait and see. I plan on keeping the bantams seperate from the LF anyway. I dont want my huge english orps squishing my little bantam hens. The LF Orps are very sweet. Even my two roosters tolerate each other well confined to the coop for the winter.

BTW.....WELCOME!!

 

[delisha]

So we were downstairs yesterday and my DD wanted to play with the chicks...sure I said.....She sure has a good imagination


How's that for a chicken saddle!

This last picture needs to be entered into the cutest chick contest..the winner gets a new brinsea brooder