The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

My glo's arrived!! I can't believe they are here!!

Delisha - your Gold Laced Orpingtons are beautiful!!! They look to be about 2+ weeks old??

Just took some pics of some of my H/RIR babies today. They're 3 1/2 weeks old today and going through that funny awkward stage:

 

[TeriO]

Darling chicks D.

 

[delisha]

BDM..your road island reds are cute!!!

2 males and one female..is my guess

Thank you everyone..I love my GLO's

Glo=Gold Laced Orpington..I have been waiting for them for half a year. I finally took them off my wish list.

Yes they are 2 weeks old.



They should look like this soon.

 

[aoxa]

ok, this is totally OT, but....I am picking up a new kitten tonight, and a companion kitty on Friday night. I havent had cats for about 6 months, after putting my last elderly cat to sleep last fall. I still miss her, but I am sooo excited. ALmost as good as new chicks

aggjjjig, love seeing the pic of Tank!

I've only seen that behavior (putting bits of grass and straw on their backs) in the nest box. Have been watching an eagle cam of an eagle on the nest, and she puts huge branches on her back while she is sitting on the next, and also constantly rearranges the branches in the nest.

I'm excited for you!

We will most likely get a couple kittens once fence is up (electric). If that won't keep our lone cat in, we won't be getting any cats/kittens... as we are right on a busy road that has 80km/hr speed limits.

Oh Aoxa I forgot to weigh in on the Marans discussion. I have 3: 1BCM, 1blue CM, 1splash. They were raised by my neurotic hen Popcorn and are almost a year old. The splash is the friendliest. The BCM is always looking at you with a cocked head like she is trying to size you up. My birds are confined but get to roam the garden a few hours each day. The Marans are always dying to get out. They goto every corner of the yard and sometimes are so focused on the good treats they have found that they won't come running when I shake the treat container. Pearl the splash will follow me around while I turn over stones for her.... Or even if I move something she knows bugs might be lurking. They are independent, smart and I'd say good layers of large beautiful eggs. My BCM lays a dark specked egg, the blue lays a dark egg that looks like it has a sunburst on one end! And the splash lays the lightest of the bunch.... They are a talkative bunch and love to scream & yell when they want the nest box or tell you they laid an egg!! And of course always alert to predators!!! Not great for my city backyard but for you?? I'd say they'd work well. I love the dark eggs!!! Now if I could just get them to be quiet!!!

Thanks for your input!

Aoxa - Your reply wasn't too long. That's the kind of discussion I was hoping for.

Question for you on the ff. Since chicks are a "moving target" (meaning they grow and change so much in such a short period of time) it's really hard to determine if they would have grown the same in that last period of time on the ff vs. dry. So my question is this: On your adults, did you like the results you were getting w/ff? Did you feel they did better/worse/the same in the time you were using it vs. prior history on dry?

I did love the FF with my adults I have to say They didn't make a mess (except the silkies, but they are not chickens right? )

 

[aoxa]

BDM..your road island reds are cute!!!

2 males and one female..is my guess

Thank you everyone..I love my GLO's

Glo=Gold Laced Orpington..I have been waiting for them for half a year. I finally took them off my wish list.

Yes they are 2 weeks old.



They should look like this soon.

Is the colour accepted yet Del? They are beautiful little things!

 

[delisha]

No they are not..
However I am going to show them. Several people are working on it. it is going to be years. If I am still around i would like to be on the ground floor of these. Same with the Wyandotties I ordered. I will post pictures of them when they arrive. So I have two projects. Both laced. They will make my yard look so beautiful. I ordered Foley Lines with the Wyandotties..he has worked really hard with them. I would like to continue his hard work.

 

[cywiar merch]

Hi everyone,

I am still trying desperately to catch up with all the posts but I am really enjoying the learning process. It is a really friendly and helpful thread.

Gorgeous chicks, BTW Delisha! I still haven't decided on the breeds I will be getting as yet. I am in the UK and just read an article in Practical Poultry magazine on the Swedish Flower hens. They sure look gorgeous. Of course, I want to raise my chicks naturally so I am trying to soak up as much info as I can.

I am having real difficulty in finding a coop that is both practical and affordable so I think I am going to consider converting a garden shed.

Just a quick out of topic question- I have two cats that I try fee "naturally" i.e. no kibble or grain based foods but a raw diet for the carnivores that they are. I would like to ask whether a bit of ACV in their water would be appropriate for cats as well?

Ta !

 

[delisha]

Hi everyone,

I am still trying desperately to catch up with all the posts but I am really enjoying the learning process. It is a really friendly and helpful thread.

Gorgeous chicks, BTW Delisha! I still haven't decided on the breeds I will be getting as yet. I am in the UK and just read an article in Practical Poultry magazine on the Swedish Flower hens. They sure look gorgeous. Of course, I want to raise my chicks naturally so I am trying to soak up as much info as I can.

I am having real difficulty in finding a coop that is both practical and affordable so I think I am going to consider converting a garden shed.

Just a quick out of topic question- I have two cats that I try fee "naturally" i.e. no kibble or grain based foods but a raw diet for the carnivores that they are. I would like to ask whether a bit of ACV in their water would be appropriate for cats as well?

Ta !

Welcome to the group..glad to have you with us..

It sure will help the cats..

 

[armorfirelady]

Delisha- they are beautiful birds....I love the lacing on them.

Cyweir- welcome !!! My 3 gallon waterer I use for my cats and dogs always has ACV in it. Our vet said it would be good for them.

 

[Mumsy]

Beautiful dream chicks del and BDM. So nice!

Welcome to the new folks posting.

...and O.M.G.! The postal lady just hand delivered my Ron Fogle HRIR eggs right to my front door a half hour ago!

They are now safely in the incubator. I'm so over the moon! Eggs from my two favortie breeders in two different incubators and Johnny eggs under the broody. So happy happy happy.