The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Ashdoes]

I use red rubber shoes for one coop and yellow ones for the other coop. They go into the dishwasher and clean really nice.

I wonder if I could find something like this that goes OVER A SHOE so I can still wear my regular shoes but just put the overshoe on.  Maybe that would be too much of a hassle. 

What I'm really thinking about is my boots.  Like you, I only have one pair.  I wear them winter and summer when it's wet.  Maybe I should just get some of the colored rubber shoes and try that out.  Where do you get 'em?

Crocs makes hideous rubber shoes, that are cheap and ended up being great as just chickens shoes. They're so ugly I'd never wear them out of the house. I didn't get the original Crocs with holes, these look like a boat shoe. Try amazon, I couldn't find them on Zappos. I had to get something, because I kept forgetting not to wear my crazy expensive running shoes to the barn.
ETA http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IZ6HSW/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00

 

[Sally8]

Starting the ff was the smartest thing I ever did. It has cut my feed in half at least Truly, I thought they were sick or something. I use a paint pail x 2 (with the holes) and it sits in my house next to the woodstove and daily I scoop out what I need and replace with more feed, grain and water. About every 3 days, I clean the buckets and start over. I held out at first thinking it was a pain, but it only takes a few minutes , <5 and it isn't scattered everywhere. Mine will start fermenting in less than 24 hours next to the wood stove. I still have a smaller bowl of dry out by the coop but haven't added in 2 weeks, I think our dog eats it if anything. I have 18 chickens and 2 turkeys and we were going through a lot of feed. I'm going to construct a feed trough this week end kind of like the one's my dad used to built for the pigs to keep in the coop. Because I leave before daylight and get home at dusk (right now) I don't keep food or water inside. I need something in case weather gets so bad they stay in. I've made so many changes since last winter.

 

[stonykill]

I have seen so many people talk about the less waste and that means less money. I am afraid to start it because if they dont eat it that is a waste too. I decided I am going to make a small batch and see how they take it. It would be good for them in the cold months,,, hopefully

I just plain don't see how I can made it work. I also know my birds eat every drop that hits the ground. Nothing is ever left of the feed I give. In the winter I'm not sure how I can keep 9 heated dog bowls going to cover all of the pens? Then a huge one in the middle of the front lawn for the free range birds. Will it be cheaper? Perhaps. Will it be convenient for my flock and set up? I don't see it. For most of you it most likely is the way to go.

 

[Bulldogma]

As always..great job Leigh..you are one in a million!

Thank you, Delisha. I'm just here to help get the knowledge from long-time chicken keepers like you, out to newbies like me. I know I speak for a lot of folks when I say that information like this is GOLDEN when a person is trying to learn!

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL - I put up the new blog post, and then you posted this... so I went back and edited it in! Great information!

Delisha is our guest poster today for the blog - Here's The Link!

And Delisha - I tend to edit for grammar and content... but if anything seems amiss to you, please let me know so I can correct it!!

Great Blog today BDM. of course all are.

 

[lalaland]

However, my boots are also bright in colour and I never wear them out. I do however occasionally wear my regular shoes to the barn, but it would be a rare instance, as I hate having chicken poo on my every-day shoes.

cant tell you how many times I have been running late in the morning and wear work shoes to the coop. Then get in the car, drive 75 miles, park in a ramp, walk a block, go thru a lobby, up the elevator, into the hall and still, find chicken poop in my office from my shoes. never ceases to amaze me. Also have shown up at work with chicken poop on my coat. oh well! doesn't help that my boss wears prada and gucci.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I just plain don't see how I can made it work. I also know my birds eat every drop that hits the ground. Nothing is ever left of the feed I give. In the winter I'm not sure how I can keep 9 heated dog bowls going to cover all of the pens? Then a huge one in the middle of the front lawn for the free range birds. Will it be cheaper? Perhaps. Will it be convenient for my flock and set up? I don't see it. For most of you it most likely is the way to go.

That is true I never thought of it freezing. In winter I will occassionally take hot water out and mix up moist food with oats for them for a warm up and they eat it all up. Maybe I will just stick to that because when I make that for them they seem to not eat again until right before roosting.

 

[delisha]

Quote:
I have one pair of barn boots..I have several pair of fun boots for winter.
Everyone needing rubber shoes..go to goodwill..my yellow pair cost $2.00.

 

[Eggcessive]

I wonder if I could find something like this that goes OVER A SHOE so I can still wear my regular shoes but just put the overshoe on. Maybe that would be too much of a hassle.

What I'm really thinking about is my boots. Like you, I only have one pair. I wear them winter and summer when it's wet. Maybe I should just get some of the colored rubber shoes and try that out. Where do you get 'em?

When my grandkids come by to visit, I put plastic grocery bags on their shoes and tie them around their ankles. Then they go into the burn can out back. That way they don't track chicken poo into the house.

 

[aoxa]

cant tell you how many times I have been running late in the morning and wear work shoes to the coop. Then get in the car, drive 75 miles, park in a ramp, walk a block, go thru a lobby, up the elevator, into the hall and still, find chicken poop in my office from my shoes. never ceases to amaze me. Also have shown up at work with chicken poop on my coat. oh well! doesn't help that my boss wears prada and gucci.

Yep! Exactly my situation. Though there is not a lot of walking between car and office, but the other day I found an egg in my work jacket and didn't remember how it got there.

That's how you know you've crossed the deep end.

Somehow, no matter how much I watch where I step - I end up with chicken poop on my work shoes.



My awesome chicken boots. Made by croc. Love them. So comfortable and light! Also clean really well. No inserts to worry about.