The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Ashdoes]

So if I got more birds, from an outside source, how far away from my flock do they need to be?
I'm not sure I'll ever have to buy more birds, but it's always good to have a plan. I'm actually looking forward to my Cochins having babies, and maybe some mutts with the BR.

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

I think most of the people that switched to ff - including me - saw a drop in egg count initially. However, I agree that the shorter days are more likely the culprit right now, although it could be a combination of the two. Once that egg count picks back up, be on the lookout for larger yolks! Mine certainly grew Wish I had before & after pics, but alas, didn't think of it in time :/

 

[aoxa]

So if I got more birds, from an outside source, how far away from my flock do they need to be?
I'm not sure I'll ever have to buy more birds, but it's always good to have a plan. I'm actually looking forward to my Cochins having babies, and maybe some mutts with the BR.

I just wouldn't do it at all, but if you had to - do what Delisha said - add one of your birds in with them after a couple weeks. CRD is something you do not want to mess with.

If they are allowed in a run, and your other birds are free ranging - they will come close enough to pick up any diseases the new ones have. I only get adult birds from people I trust. Even then I quarantine them for a good month or more.

I am cautious here because a certain someone was going around in our area selling birds with CRD like symptoms. It looks terrible. So I do not add adult birds because of it.

 

[stonykill]

I just wouldn't do it at all, but if you had to - do what Delisha said - add one of your birds in with them after a couple weeks. CRD is something you do not want to mess with.

If they are allowed in a run, and your other birds are free ranging - they will come close enough to pick up any diseases the new ones have. I only get adult birds from people I trust. Even then I quarantine them for a good month or more.

 

[jermoatc]

Hello all. I was wondering what breeds any of you recommend raising for meat that are not specifically "meat birds"(i.e. cornish cross, rangers, etc.) and why?

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

Just thought I would mention here that a certain favorite OT of ours - now MIA - started her own website awhile back if you have questions for her, I'm sure you could send them there! (Idea just struck me)

 

[Ashdoes]

What about buying more Cochins or Silkies from the woman I got mine from? She's right around the corner, and I was told recently "same dirt same immunities". Again, I'm not planning to buy more, but my husband is a last minute kind of guy, and it's always good to have a plan. Like most of you I think hatching our own is probably the way to go. But we only have the one silkie female, and he loves the silkies, so I'm not sure if he wants to go back for more.

 

[BusyBlonde]

NM - I had it bookmarked - thanks!

 

[jockeyeba]

Does anyone have a suggestion how to get chickens to pick another tree to roost in? Their pooping on chairs in his "Cibolo Creek Social Club" & he's not happy

 

[aoxa]

Does anyone have a suggestion how to get chickens to pick another tree to roost in? Their pooping on chairs in his "Cibolo Creek Social Club"

& he's not happy

Move the chairs.