The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

Okay...do they eat the pumpkin pretty well when you bake it? I have TONS of pumpkins I got for the "kiddos" and they still don't seem particularly excited about them. I really want them to eat it raw after the freezing and thawing like we were told about. Maybe I'll try again!

haven't tried the let it freeze, thaw, freeze thaw method of pumpkin feeding. I don't have anywhere outside to keep such things that wouldn't be first eaten by critters.

I always have volunteer "pumpkins" in the field, and I bring them in and keep them for distractions for the chickens. I have found if I rinse off the field dirt, and dunk them into a water with a bit of bleach in it, I can keep them until about Feb without rotting. So I can dole them out for the chickens. In the fall, I don't bother baking them. In the cold winter, when I am baking something else, if I have room in the oven I throw a pumpkin in - whole, just stabbed with an ice pick so it doesn't explode.

Make a treat for the girls, I just cut it in half. Over the course of a few days, they will eat it down to a very thin shell.

I know some people have said their chickens won't eat them, I've never in more than a decade had chickens that wouldn't eat pumpkins, squash, etc.

 

[Ashdoes]

The threads are open, and readable, they're just locked to new posts. Read em' all you want. And I'm sure if you look around you can find the people who posted in them.

 

[lalaland]

ok, I read the thread about biosecurity.

Made me nervous! I've always heard horror stories about showing your birds and bringing them home with all sorts of horrible things.

I don't currently practice biosecurity unless I am visiting someone else's flock. It never occurred to me not to wear the same boots I wear to the feed mill in the coop or chicken runs. And I went to a swap last spring - and brought home a few chickens who were quarantined for a month. But I sure didn't think about my shoes!

How about the rest of you? What are you doing?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Does anyone know how you become a moderator

Sending pm

 

[delisha]

Quote: That is very interesting! I have never thought to bake a pumpkin for the birds. I just toss it in the yard, They got the end of my squash yesterday. I bet dipping in bleach water does keep them a bit longer! Great information. Thank you

 

[KPenley]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to answer our many questions! You all are greatly appreciated!

I know there are lots of threads about raising chicks, but I'd love your perspective in terms of natural practices to use in a brooder.
I obviously am not using the most natural...a broody hen, because I don't have one yet. I should have chicks hatching on Christmas. I have a large dog kennel to use as an inside brooder. I also have the Brinsea Ecoglow 20 (well it's in the box as it's my Chirstmas present from DH

). I'll use the panels that come with the Ecoglow brooder set to block drafts and provide a safe area inside the kennel to start, then wrap hardware cloth around the sides to keep the chicks in once they're large enough to play around. I plan on using the same water with UACV and a couple drops of Dawn I use with the other chickens. What about FF? Can I use that from the start? And I've heard great things about both DL wood chips and gravel being used in the brooder. Thoughts? Advice? TIA

 

[delisha]

ok, I read the thread about biosecurity.

Made me nervous! I've always heard horror stories about showing your birds and bringing them home with all sorts of horrible things.

I don't currently practice biosecurity unless I am visiting someone else's flock. It never occurred to me not to wear the same boots I wear to the feed mill in the coop or chicken runs. And I went to a swap last spring - and brought home a few chickens who were quarantined for a month. But I sure didn't think about my shoes!

How about the rest of you? What are you doing?

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 do not change cloths when I go from coop to coop, just the shoes. I do not ware my shoes off the property. I specifically chose shoes that practically glow in the dark so I would not be tempted to *just* run to the store. These shoes are pretty gross colored. During the winter I have one pair of barn boots. Those do not leave the property. I have hand sanitizer in each coop. I do not handle a chicken with out it. I have the kind that you rip open the package and have a wipe for winter. I do not handle eggs that I am going to hatch with bare hands, I use gloves. For eating it does not matter. During winter months I always had one barn, this year I have two and I have not practiced bio security since the first freeze. i am taking a calculated risk. Same shoes. No one is allowed with out shoe booties or spray to be with the chickens if they have chickens.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I dont know why I never started, but I am starting my own FF today. Yes I am a slacker. I have been reading on it for awhile. I think I will put my own together today. Thanks for the info guys and the links. And the biosecurity,, if you have a neighbor who lives close enough and has chickens whom may visit your yard, even though you have asked not to, PLEASE have them read up and get educated too. Trust me it would be worth burning afew bridges over.

 

[Sally8]

Does anyone know how you become a moderator, I would like to get so those threads reopened again? The threads are very informative, educational, engaging, and dynamic it's discussions and knowledge delivery. The moderator whom I contacted about the closing could not cite a specific reason as to why the threads were closed...sketchy.

I have a question, WHERE IN THE WORLD DID YOU FIND THE AVATAR THAT MAKES ME THINK I HAVE FLEAS WHENEVER I SEE IT??? lol

I know it was addressed earlier, but I had a leak in my coop, so my windows are fogged up this morning. I have been putting vinegar in their water right along. I'm going out to help them fluff up the bedding and leave the door and windows open. The sun looks like it's trying to come out but the temps are only going to be in the high 30's/low 40's. Anything else you'd recommend? Thanks. Sue

(I don't want to become a moderator, I was just addressing 7961.)

 

[Miss Lydia]

The above post posted twice, reason for my edit. I'm enjoying this thread. I also enjoyed Bee's.
I take away something different from each person's post. I raised my unfeathered children to believe that we are all entitled to an opinion. It doesn't mean that anyone is right or wrong. We have to stop and agree to disagree. Enough said. Sue

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