The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[countrygirl74]

Hi! I'm new here, new to all of this. We strive to live "natural" and I might be what you call 'crunchy' so I am glad to have found this thread! We have our first three chicks and they are about a month old now. I have always wanted to have chickens (well I would love a whole farm but we live in the city and my husband is NOT a country boy). We bought them for their eggs, being that REAL organic eggs are expensive and as a family of 5 who doesn't eat much meat we DO go through a lot of eggs. we also made the design though, with the idea of them as pets. I bought a small backyard coop from someone on CL and they delivered it today so now I have a bunch more questions! I'm interested in using the deep litter method and wondering if I can do this/need a litter method at all, in our small coop? I do plan to let our girls run free range in our fenced back yard most of the time and the enclosed area in this coop is very small and has a 'litter pan'. I was assuming I would just empty that and add it to our compost but it seems there are a lot of benefits to the DLM. This is a picture of our coop (used by the previous owners). We live in a very wet climate. Anything anyone could share with me regarding keeping our coop "naturally" I would appreciate.

My second question is OT. I REALLY would love to have a couple of silkies at some point but I've been told I would have to keep them separated from our current girls because of how much smaller they are and that they would get picked on. Is this true? If it is can I have a separate coop for them and let them out in the yard for the majority of the time, or would they still not get along?

Thanks in advance

Welcome!!! My in-laws have the exact same little coop for their three... we call it the chicken dollhouse.

They do not do the deep litter method because their chickens free-range in their backyard from early a.m. until they go to bed at night. Then at night they are locked in for safety. I personally think it would be kind of tough to do deep litter in that coop, but maybe someone else will chime in to the opposite. For that particular coop, it's just easy to clean out the pan and change the straw/shavings on occasion from the nesting area.The other thing with that coop is that it can be easily moved wherever you want in the yard, so you could kind of use it like a chicken tractor if you have areas you can move it around to - no need for deep litter especially with that option. I, however, do use deep litter because I have a 10x20 run and a 4x8 house in it. I still clean the house once in a while but the deep litter in the run just sits and "composts". Mine only get "supervised" free-range time no more than 1-2 hours a day so the run is where they spend the majority of their time. My in-laws' chickens are only in their little coop to sleep so I don't think it would be necessary to do deep litter there. Of course, that's just my opinion.

As for silkies, people have different stories on that. Some keep them separate as there have been issues - others keep them with their regular flocks. Aoxa keeps silkies, so I know she can give you some of her experience.
I have only had silkies for 4 1/2 months but I raised them with our other birds and so far everything seems to be fine. I have 3 silkies in a flock of 8 right now. My big roo seems to prefer the big girls and doesn't bother my little white silkie at all so far. Of course, we are keeping an eye on things in case we ever have to make changes but so far, so good! The silkie roos can definitely take care of themselves - my red silkie thinks he is the baddest thing on the planet right now.

Reminds me of little yappy dogs that will take on a huge, scary dog - no fear. We just laugh at him.

I would not hold out on that silkie laying for another 3-4 months

Peeps got really lucky! Most silkies lay between 7-10 months. Usually on the later spectrum... Never had one lay before 8 months.

Bummer!! Well... If I've waited this long, I guess I can last longer. My other breeds could lay anytime though right? BR, Red, EE (though I've heard EE's can take a long time too)

 

[Sally8]

I will be gone for the weekend on a romantic getaway with my DH. Going to pick up my Catdance eggs and a White Silkie pair tomorrow that Karen has picked out and paired for me. She bathed them today! I'm so excited, I can hardly think straight! She gave me choices of cockerels and pullets from her show quality breeder pen. I chose a ten month old cockerel and a five month old pullet that will compliment him. I trust her judgement. Faced with choosing two birds out of a large flock and keeping birds straight in my head would be impossible. Picking up my chosen pair is like a blind date! I'll post pictures of my darlings as soon as possible upon returning.

I am so envious. I love romantic getaways with hubby. Sometimes we don't go so far away. I just like looking out the window overlooking a large body of water.

Hi! I'm new here

My second question is OT. I REALLY would love to have a couple of silkies at some point but I've been told I would have to keep them separated from our current girls because of how much smaller they are and that they would get picked on. Is this true? If it is can I have a separate coop for them and let them out in the yard for the majority of the time, or would they still not get along?

Welcome! I love to see new faces here. We all learn from over looked questions that are asked. So many different opinions. I just love it. Now, my opinion on your Silkie. I have 1 Frizzle, Cecilia that was raised with my larger birds. I worried when I first learned that they shouldn't be together but in my case, she fits right in. I am incubating Silkies right now as to have a few cuties to run around, not because she doesn't fit in. They are so many "Silkie" people here that can answer so much better than I. Glad you joined us!!

 

[ajlynco]

G'mornin folks, I need some input from some fellow chickeneers. I currently have a flock of 11 chooks a little over a year old. 6 Black Stars and 5 California Whites. A nice, peaceful hendom. I'm getting 4 Easter Eggers to add to the flock in mid March. My question is this: after a time in the brooder, how soon can I introduce the new girls to the neighborhood and how's the best way to go about it? I believe in providing the girls with secure/ventilated shelter, fresh food & water and a way to get out of the bad eather if they want. After that, they're on thier own, I don't coddle em, hold em, or give em special treatment. I just let em be chickens and they do fine. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[Sally8]

G'mornin folks, I need some input from some fellow chickeneers. I currently have a flock of 11 chooks a little over a year old. 6 Black Stars and 5 California Whites. A nice, peaceful hendom. I'm getting 4 Easter Eggers to add to the flock in mid March. My question is this: after a time in the brooder, how soon can I introduce the new girls to the neighborhood and how's the best way to go about it? I believe in providing the girls with secure/ventilated shelter, fresh food & water and a way to get out of the bad eather if they want. After that, they're on thier own, I don't coddle em, hold em, or give em special treatment. I just let em be chickens and they do fine. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I can't really give you any advice. I don't do well with this. Right now, I have a rooster in a cage in the hen house trying to acclimate all. Every time I let him out it's a free for all. The hens are on him like flies on ####. They are all about the same age. He's been in there for a month. In the past this has always worked. They might not like his fine feathering or his soft southern drawl. Who knows. I've put him on Craig's List. I know others do well so I'll wait for their input with you.

Edited to say mine are just chickens also. I might talk to them while feeding and watching but can't really hold or cuddle without getting a wing in the face or beaked.

 

[delisha]

Quote: Introduction can be ruff..there is a pecking order. They will peck and pull feathers with new birds. If it is possible, as soon as you can get your baby's out with the rest of them in the yard. I have a temporary fence I keep little ones in. They will talk to each other threw the fence. If you have the room... house them with the big birds, but, keep them seperate until they are large enough to run away. I have brand new chicks out with my flock in the same building. They have a mom..I do not have flock issues with chicks raised with the flock. Some of the flock will show chicks where food is too. Just observe and go from there. Welcome to the group and keep us posted!


Sally..tonight at dark get the rooster out of the cage and set him on a roost next to the hen who does not give him much trouble. He is probably a cockerel and needs his butt kicked a little.cockerels who get there butt kicked a bit make great daddy's..try that for a few days when you can get out in the morning at wake up time.

 

[aoxa]

I am so envious. I love romantic getaways with hubby. Sometimes we don't go so far away. I just like looking out the window overlooking a large body of water.
Welcome! I love to see new faces here. We all learn from over looked questions that are asked. So many different opinions. I just love it. Now, my opinion on your Silkie. I have 1 Frizzle, Cecilia that was raised with my larger birds. I worried when I first learned that they shouldn't be together but in my case, she fits right in. I am incubating Silkies right now as to have a few cuties to run around, not because she doesn't fit in. They are so many "Silkie" people here that can answer so much better than I. Glad you joined us!!

You do know this bird here is a Sizzle right? She's a few generations in too. Looks really good! I'd love to have some of her babies with your silkies. Darn border!!

 

[Melabella]

You do know this bird here is a Sizzle right? She's a few generations in too. Looks really good! I'd love to have some of her babies with your silkies. Darn border!!

aoxa,

Would it be legal for you to drive over the border, and buy some eggs and then return? I am totally ignorant to the rules. If they were in a box in the trunk of your car, would any one be none the wiser?

MB

 

[aoxa]

aoxa,

Would it be legal for you to drive over the border, and buy some eggs and then return? I am totally ignorant to the rules. If they were in a box in the trunk of your car, would any one be none the wiser?

MB

Technically it is illegal. Not sure much else other than that.. If only!

 

[RoyalT]

If you go through one of the newly remodeled border crossing sites, they may X-ray your vehicle =/ It's mostly for big rigs that they're setting up, but I've heard of them checking smaller vehicles. I know you can get chicks sent from the US, but the veterinarian paperwork is $$$

 

[mlowen]

What if someone went to Shediac for a visit and took their dear friends (chickens) along for the ride? Or brought someone small and feathered back with them?