The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

Got a bantam Splash Laced Red Wyandotte chick to put under my broody with the one chick she hatched out on Sat. Got it from another local BYC'er's son. Hopefully the SFH's and CCL's in next day or two

Congrats! I'll

your broody happily accepts the new chick. Hope it goes smoothly, and keep us updated on teh SFHs and CCLs!!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
OOPS, Forgot to add that she did take it with no problem, in daylight too. Just checked on them and momma and 2 chicks doing fine. Lets hope she takes the next 4 in a day or two as easily. I will be doing them at night.

 

[countrygirl74]

I love just checking in here at the end of the day and gleaning all the wisdom!!!

Our local feed and grain starts bringing in chicks on Friday! Since we had to butcher all those roosters, I need some new ones to add to my laying flock - hopefully not poorly sexed this time around. I had made a list of the the different breeds and dates I would pick them up and now I am thinking, "Maybe I should get two of those in case one is a roo..." OR "Maybe I should get two of those because they're good layers..." Ahhhh... chicken math has hit!

My question for the day:
Do Ravens go after chickens? Would they possibly go after chicks but not full-grown chickens and ducks? Just curious because they are more of a scavenger, I thought, but they are hanging around and flying over my coop a lot lately. The chickens and ducks are safe in their run but wondering if they would actually swoop down while I am out with them free-ranging???

 

[delisha]

Got a bantam Splash Laced Red Wyandotte chick to put under my broody with the one chick she hatched out on Sat. Got it from another local BYC'er's son. Hopefully the SFH's and CCL's in next day or two

yeah!!! glad she took the chick..if she has eggs under her she should take the next ones too

Thanks I might look into ordering from him and I would definitely tell him you sent me! I have been visiting with 202roosterlane about her HRIR's , BLRW's and German New Hampshires. She is in Lonoke, Arkansas. I am a little nervous about eggs coming in the mail so I would love to just be able to pick them up.

understandable..shipped eggs are a gamble

I love just checking in here at the end of the day and gleaning all the wisdom!!!

Our local feed and grain starts bringing in chicks on Friday! Since we had to butcher all those roosters, I need some new ones to add to my laying flock - hopefully not poorly sexed this time around. I had made a list of the the different breeds and dates I would pick them up and now I am thinking, "Maybe I should get two of those in case one is a roo..." OR "Maybe I should get two of those because they're good layers..." Ahhhh... chicken math has hit!

My question for the day:
Do Ravens go after chickens? Would they possibly go after chicks but not full-grown chickens and ducks? Just curious because they are more of a scavenger, I thought, but they are hanging around and flying over my coop a lot lately. The chickens and ducks are safe in their run but wondering if they would actually swoop down while I am out with them free-ranging???

yes they do, and they love chicks and ducklings.Adult chickens are pretty safe from them...They are still good to have around..they warn the chickens about big preds. Like owls, hawks, and Eagles.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote: Yup, she has 4 fake eggs under her still. Planning on taking those away when I put the next chicks under her

 

[Mumsy]

I posted these updated pictures of my bantam RIR pullets on the Heritage thread. Got so busy with an under the weather Silkie that I forgot to post them here.

I hatched these girls from eggs I bought on ebay from Lucky Pickens farm in Arkansas. These chicks are the sweetest and gentlest things. I really enjoy them. Got a pm tonight from a BYC breeder offering me advice on where to pick up another breeding pair to mix with them if I'm interested.













Hatched Dec. 12, 2012 in my LG. Ten weeks old. Raised on FF, DL, ACV in water, and garlic, cayenne, and cod liver oil supplement daily. They are gleaming in health. If I can't find a roo, they will be sold. May be looking into a nice bantam RIR roo soon.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Thanks Mumsy I knew someone got HRIR eggs from Arkansas. Going to look into Lucky Pickens Farms. Your girls are beautiful!

 

[Mumsy]

Thanks Mumsy I knew someone got HRIR eggs from Arkansas. Going to look into Lucky Pickens Farms. Your girls are beautiful!

Thank you. They are fun little birds to watch and raise. I bought ten eggs off ebay from Roslyn Pickens. Arkansas is a heck of a long ship to Washington so my hatch rate was bad. The eggs were packed well and none broke but my humidity was off the wall and some chicks drowned in the shell. Some were so scrambled in they became quitters.

What's really interesting is the blue banded chick. I thought from early on that chick was male. It was different than the other two in subtle ways. I wrote in my note book that chick was a fast feathering bird. Right from the start at a few days old. Of the three, that is the best pullet so far.

Not only would I like to keep a small pen of these, I may show this blue banded pullet in the fall or winter shows.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I think it is very show worthy...

 

[aoxa]

yeah!!! glad she took the chick..if she has eggs under her she should take the next ones too
understandable..shipped eggs are a gamble
yes they do, and they love chicks and ducklings.Adult chickens are pretty safe from them...They are still good to have around..they warn the chickens about big preds. Like owls, hawks, and Eagles.

Ravens.... How do you tell the difference between crows and ravens? Do they make different sounds? Sorry if this is stupid. Even google images look the same to me....

I have personally seen crows attack an Eagle - who were not bothering my chickens - but I still valued their presence. In case that Goshawk returned you know? Maybe they were ravens.. But nothing has ever eaten one of my chicks/ducklings.

I think it is very show worthy...

I definitely agree. Some really nice birds for the both of you! The guy who inspired me to get chickens in the first place has HRIRs. They are gorgeous birds. He is the nicest old man (79) and just got into chickens 6 years ago. He is so caring of them.. He owns an organic strawberry u-pick.

I am part of a e-book coming out called Must Love Chickens. I wrote about the entire experience in that. Less than a week before the fire. Going to be bitter sweet to read that again.