The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Since this thread is so long, I'll ask.

While yogurt is considered safe and good for the bacterial strains, is it natural? I've been arguing with myself over my left overs that contain meat (or broth from meat) and dairy as I don't know that they would naturally eat those things in the wild. A chicken can't go to a cow and get milk. Would they eat dead animals? I'm struggling so hard over this.

Oh for sure they would. 100% guarantee.

Naturally they are opportunists. They will eat pretty much anything..
Also chickens are omnivores, not vegetarian. They will and should eat meat.

 

[Pozees]

Mumsy those chicks are so adorable

BDM ur lucky ur son enjoys the chics. Mine could care less and it took 2 months before he would even eat their eggs......now he loves the taste lol

We had the sun shining today & since I didn't feel like wrestling with the new electronet I decided to let the hens out to roam the yard. They came running out like they were being chased. Lol. I was working on getting new hardware fence on hoop coop so they were free to roam & roam they did!! At least my neighbors didn't stop to say my chickens escaped. They even were in the flower gardens turning them for me. They def will have full crops tonight. Had to bribe them back in the enclosure with ham scraps my mom dropped off for them.

Here she is with the girls who have decided she is the treat Nana since she always brings them something. (She also thought I was nuts when I got them but now she loves them)

Treat Nana, LOL, how cute! Love the pic!

 

[aoxa]

This is just precious, what a perfect photograph!

Thanks

He's a really easy subject. Very sleepy.

 

[Sally8]

Thanks

He's a really easy subject. Very sleepy.

I was thinking of you this morning wondering just how much sleep you got with a new puppy. lol He is so cute Lovin' the photos.

 

[rowerjen]

Aoxa,

Great pictures of Henry. He is just too cute for words. Love those big puppy paws! No doubt he will grow in to them.

Jen

 

[aoxa]

I was thinking of you this morning wondering just how much sleep you got with a new puppy. lol He is so cute Lovin' the photos.

I kennelled him over night with his last pee at midnight, and got up at 6am. He didn't make a peep! Such a good boy Very good eater too.

 

[Angelight]

Oh for sure they would. 100% guarantee.

Naturally they are opportunists. They will eat pretty much anything..
Also chickens are omnivores, not vegetarian. They will and should eat meat.

Interesting. Thanks!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Since this thread is so long, I'll ask.

While yogurt is considered safe and good for the bacterial strains, is it natural? I've been arguing with myself over my left overs that contain meat (or broth from meat) and dairy as I don't know that they would naturally eat those things in the wild. A chicken can't go to a cow and get milk. Would they eat dead animals? I'm struggling so hard over this.

Yes. They would eat dead animals (just not cook them

) They'd eat you,too, if you fell dead out there and no one cleaned up the carcas.

ETA: Just a little behind...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Had the kiddos out ranging today. There's been a lot of overhead bird activity so I've gone out about every hour just to make a presence and keep people movement going on out there.

Went out at 7:30 and saw a HAWK inside the kennel run. Some of the adults were in the little wooded area. I didn't see anything in the kennel. When it saw me it flew straight up and looked like it was going to be caught in the netting over the top of the kennel. (I hoped it would get caught in it ...deer netting...and I'd be able to get to it.)

No such luck. Not caught. Came back down and flew out the gate.

Went searching for everyone. All 4 11 week olds were inside the hen house hiding - still as mice. (Little blue was so well hidden it took me awhile to find her. She was in a corner under the nest box staying very still.

Found all the adults - 5 in the wooded area and 1 in the hen house. It didn't get anyone. I got some sunflower seeds and led the woods girls back over to the kennel and shut the gate.

This hawk came back 3 times afterwards.

Came at about 7:30 p - the same time that my neighbor saw one come down on the netting last year.

Is evening hawk hunting time or is that just a coincidence?

 

[aoxa]

Had the kiddos out ranging today. There's been a lot of overhead bird activity so I've gone out about every hour just to make a presence and keep people movement going on out there.

Went out at 7:30 and saw a HAWK inside the kennel run. Some of the adults were in the little wooded area. I didn't see anything in the kennel. When it saw me it flew straight up and looked like it was going to be caught in the netting over the top of the kennel. (I hoped it would get caught in it ...deer netting...and I'd be able to get to it.)

No such luck. Not caught. Came back down and flew out the gate.

Went searching for everyone. All 5 11 week olds were inside the hen house hiding - still as mice. (Little blue was so well hidden it took me awhile to find her. She was in a corner under the nest box staying very still.

Found all the adults - 5 in the wooded area and 1 in the hen house. It didn't get anyone. I got some sunflower seeds and led the woods girls back over to the kennel and shut the gate.

This hawk came back 3 times afterwards.

Came at about 7:30 p - the same time that my neighbor saw one come down on the netting last year.

Is evening hawk hunting time or is that just a coincidence?

Wouldn't it be nesting time now?

So glad everyone is safe. Phew...

I have a lot of bird activity as well. The crows are nesting very close by which makes me feel secure.. Though none of the chicks have gone outside.. .even though I've actually set a few out, they just hop back in. Except Tina. She stays out for a little longer than the others.. None are out without me there. Still very small and I worry.. Nothing for them to forage on anyway here.

Yep it's nesting time.


Quote:

Territorial adult chasing away an immature Red Tailed Hawk

The Red-tailed Hawk reaches sexual maturity at two years of age. It is monogamous, mating with the same individual for many years. In general, the Red-tailed Hawk will only take a new mate when its original mate dies.[29] The same nesting territory may be defended by the pair for years. During courtship, the male and female fly in wide circles while uttering shrill cries. The male performs aerial displays, diving steeply, and then climbing again. After repeating this display several times, he sometimes grasps her talons briefly with his own. Courtship flights can last 10 minutes or more. Copulation often follows courtship flight sequences, although copulation frequently occurs in the absence of courtship flights.
In copulation, the female, when perched, tilts forward, allowing the male to land with his feet lodged on her horizontal back. The female twists and moves her tail feathers to one side, while the mounted male twists his cloacal opening around the female's cloaca. Copulation lasts 5 to 10 seconds and during pre-nesting courtship in late winter or early spring can occur numerous times each day
It sure would suck to live in close proximity to a nesting hawk..