The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[kian]

Phone ate the rest of my post!

Delisha, can't wait to see yout BLRW pics!

I give oregano oil in the water with the acv

Trying to get caught up on posts! Hope everyone has a lovely day!

 

[aoxa]

lol. How's that working for you? Ever since my DH retired, I can't get away with anything.

AOXA - If you don't raise chicks in the house, where do you normally raise them? (Can't wait for your e book)

Typically in the barn.

This new barn will even house my incubator. Temp will be steady enough in there to do so. Question.. Should I house my incubator away from chicks? I'm thinking the dust will be bad for a very pricey incubator. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I was hoping to have both in the same room.. Is there a less dusty bedding? What about sand? Is that really dusty too?

I figure they would love the sand. I've heard a lot of good things, but thought I'd check in with you guys. I've only ever used conventional bedding - like shavings - but I've tried hay and straw (hated both for bedding!).

 

[delisha]

I tried sand with the NYD hatch. I was worried about the amount they ate so I took it out. I might use it for older chicks, but, I have older chicks on hard wire covered with shavings, leaves and dirt. Some really love using sand.

 

[delisha]

Your incubator should be fine in the heated room. You will have to blow it out often, but, you will probably be blowing out dust often any way.

 

[Sally8]

Typically in the barn.

This new barn will even house my incubator. Temp will be steady enough in there to do so. Question.. Should I house my incubator away from chicks? I'm thinking the dust will be bad for a very pricey incubator. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I was hoping to have both in the same room.. Is there a less dusty bedding? What about sand? Is that really dusty too?

I figure they would love the sand. I've heard a lot of good things, but thought I'd check in with you guys. I've only ever used conventional bedding - like shavings - but I've tried hay and straw (hated both for bedding!).

I know that your new barn will be so much better but how did you keep temps up high enough for day old chicks? The dust in the bathroom is overwhelming but there is no way I can keep it warm enough in the garage or chicken coop unless I build something like a greenhouse.

I've only used wood chips for bedding.

 

[aoxa]

I tried sand with the NYD hatch. I was worried about the amount they ate so I took it out. I might use it for older chicks, but, I have older chicks on hard wire covered with shavings, leaves and dirt. Some really love using sand.

Did you find it really dusty? Was it more maintenance?

Could/would they really eat enough to harm themselves?

Your incubator should be fine in the heated room. You will have to blow it out often, but, you will probably be blowing out dust often any way.

Good That would be very convenient having the incubator near the brooders. Quick transport from incubator to brooder!

I know that your new barn will be so much better but how did you keep temps up high enough for day old chicks? The dust in the bathroom is overwhelming but there is no way I can keep it warm enough in the garage or chicken coop unless I build something like a greenhouse.

I've only used wood chips for bedding.

Well I only hatched late last spring so temps were not nearly this cold. That is why the chicks are in the basement - because it was so cold outside. I'm sure I could have figured something out if I tried.. I just ran out of room and didn't bother (I'm so glad I was lazy!)

 

[Mumsy]

I've used sand and liked it for keeping show feather foot birds but it is really heavy and I don't have a way to purchase it these days and get it to my barn without hiring help. Not cost effective. In my set up now, sand would be a real pain in the patoot to use. I have been to farms where it is used exclusively and those farmers love it. But they have pen layouts where getting it where they need it is easier than my place.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Ok I have 2 questions. First I know several of you feed your chickens raw meat so my question is why raw hamburger meat vs cooked? Second I was in the feed store today and they have their chicks in and this lady that works there told me that you can sex a chick by turning it over in your hand and a female draws her legs up and a male extends them out. I have never heard this before so I am just wondering if this lady is crazy

 

[Mumsy]

Ok I have 2 questions. First I know several of you feed your chickens raw meat so my question is why raw hamburger meat vs cooked? Second I was in the feed store today and they have their chicks in and this lady that works there told me that you can sex a chick by turning it over in your hand and a female draws her legs up and a male extends them out. I have never heard this before so I am just wondering if this lady is crazy

No. She is not crazy but passing off a current fad going around the internets. It works 50% of the time.

 

[delisha]

Sand is not dusty..but the little scratchers get it every where. It gets into every thing.
I stopped using it because I thought the amount they were eating was harmful..It was a noticeable difference in food consumed over all my other new hatching in the past. It was my deciding factor to remove it. I was worred about blocked gizzards..to me it was not worth the risk.

It was less work..easy to keep clean. I sifted the poop out with a little sifter. took a few seconds.