The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[stonykill]

X2 Strange though, through the coldest time of the year, the days show promise!

all these hours of darkness have me planning spring hatches. That is never a good thing.....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your planning spring hatches? just think what your hens are doing right now

I know mine are already thinking about it, found my bantam frizzle checking out a nest box the other day and she isn't even laying now.

 

[Bulldogma]

I want into this thread, a lot of nice people and great info here .... and I LOVE the rules.

Welcome! We're happy to have you.


And Gale - it's great to see you over here!!

 

[stonykill]

Your planning spring hatches? just think what your hens are doing right now

I know mine are already thinking about it, found my bantam frizzle checking out a nest box the other day and she isn't even laying now.

yeah, same here

. Crazy girls

 

[delisha]

Good morning everyone..

I am looking forward to longer day light. The poor chickens are heading for the coop at 4. This is the first time I ordered eggs for a hatch out. The first time I will have baby chicks so early in the year. Is everyone done Christmas shopping?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good morning everyone..

I am looking forward to longer day light. The poor chickens are heading for the coop at 4. This is the first time I ordered eggs for a hatch out. The first time I will have baby chicks so early in the year. Is everyone done Christmas shopping?

We get about 2 hrs of sun during this time of yr, being on the north side of the mountain, when we first moved here 17yrs ago it was a hard adjustment, I always look forward to the end of Feb. because we start to get more sun each day. We're almost over the hump now. The shortest day of the yr coming up. Mine go in around 4:00 too. Makes for very long nights, Thank goodness for BYC, at least we can pass the time chatting.

 

[Leahs Mom]

We get about 2 hrs of sun during this time of yr, being on the north side of the mountain, when we first moved here 17yrs ago it was a hard adjustment, I always look forward to the end of Feb. because we start to get more sun each day. We're almost over the hump now. The shortest day of the yr coming up. Mine go in around 4:00 too. Makes for very long nights, Thank goodness for BYC, at least we can pass the time chatting.

Wow! I thought I had short days! Do you still get eggs at this time of year?

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm back to the issue of brooder heat for the henhouse. As some of you know, I've been looking for heat sources that don't emit light - or emit very little light. The point being that I don't want artificial light in the hen house at night - even for heating chicks if I can figure out a good way. I've checked out several ideas but I have a question for y'all.

Was conversing with Fred (Fred's Hens) and he said he uses a red heat lamp and that works for not being too much night light.

-Anyone else use the red heat lamps?
-Opinions, experiences with them... do you think they work to keep night time dark enough to keep everyone in natural light sync?

 

[aoxa]

Good morning everyone..

I am looking forward to longer day light. The poor chickens are heading for the coop at 4. This is the first time I ordered eggs for a hatch out. The first time I will have baby chicks so early in the year. Is everyone done Christmas shopping?

Last winter we started hatching early March. I have some hatching today. Last batch until I sort out my breeding pens. Hopefully starting early February this year, as we show our birds, and need to hatch early for the fall show.

Everyone will be out of breeding pens once the snow has left the ground (usually mid April).

I have a lot of pullets. Still no need to light for eggs. My RSLs are getting ready to start laying. Their combs are getting bigger, and they are now squatting. We have people waiting on eggs.

And I received my brand new Sportsman Incubator on Friday!

I'll still be using broodies of course. My favourite way of raising chicks. I do need to make enough to cover the cost of feed at least, so that is why we are going all out with the top knotch incubator.

No broodies at all right now. I had them every day this spring/summer. Never went a moment without at least one setting or running around with chicks. Still have two broodies who continue to keep their chicks warm. One silkie has two chicks that are 8 weeks old. One cochin has 3 silkies who are a good 14 weeks. They still snuggle up to her - but are roosting with mama. That just shows you silkies CAN be taught to be a chicken if raised by something other than a silkie.

 

[aoxa]

I'm back to the issue of brooder heat for the henhouse. As some of you know, I've been looking for heat sources that don't emit light - or emit very little light. The point being that I don't want artificial light in the hen house at night - even for heating chicks if I can figure out a good way. I've checked out several ideas but I have a question for y'all.

Was conversing with Fred (Fred's Hens) and he said he uses a red heat lamp and that works for not being too much night light.

-Anyone else use the red heat lamps?
-Opinions, experiences with them... do you think they work to keep night time dark enough to keep everyone in natural light sync?

I haven't used anything but the red.

They emit enough light for the chicks to get around and eat if all other lights are off, but it isn't enough to keep them awake all night. They do tend to quiet down once all other lights are off and it's dark.

The worst part about them is they don't allow you to take pictures of the chicks. That's my only complaint.