The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Melabella]

Pretty coop!!!!!

X2, and pretty birds!

 

[zinia8]

X2, and pretty birds!

Thanks they are tetra tints a production layer. hoping that some of the stuff that I learn here keeps them alive and laying longer than the two years. Had one just up and die. she was an everyday layer an egg gumball machine.

 

[AlivianAcres]

Heritage RIR from Mr Heintz
He also sent me a blue egg He said it is from show quality Americauna I think
I have 12 of my own RIR/mix in there too. I also tossed in one of my WR eggs to check fertility. It is a pullet egg so I am not keeping it. I will butcher it out.

oh how fun!!! . I REALLY want to get my hands on some blue laced red Wyandotte's !!!

 

[AlivianAcres]

. Our very first hatchling came out to join us in the early hours of today. Even if he is my only hatcher, I am calling it a success...I CAN incubate and hatch correctly Yey!

 

[Melabella]

. Our very first hatchling came out to join us in the early hours of today. Even if he is my only hatcher, I am calling it a success...I CAN incubate and hatch correctly

Yey!

I would say that looks like one cute success!! Congratulations Alivian Acres! I can only imagine how exciting that must be. Super... really super!

Maybe one day......

 

[Sally8]

New day. Man, our road was slippery this morning!

All your coops are so nice! We are just finishing putting the rest of the roofing on our addition. Today, because of the sleet, rain and snow, I fed them inside this morning. I leave so early, I never had. IT'S MESSY OUTSIDE TODAY! Only one came out so I knew it was time.

I have a Marans that is broody, AGAIN. The week after she started laying for the first time, she was and it took construction on the coop for several days to stop her. If I let her sit on her eggs, is it too cold for them to hatch? I mean for the few brief times she gets off, at 10 degrees or so, will they cool down too much? I don't really want chicks in January but I have never seen anything so stubborn.

Thanks again for your comforting words yesterday. It was my fault he was in the road but no one has stopped to let us knew he hit him. I guess that's what is so upsetting. I'm sure his car is dented. I'm no forensic but it shows he was haulin'. Probably on his way home from working all night. Sue. (If only I had some poop to throw!)

AlivianAcres, what a cute chick. Maybe I do want chicks!

 

[aoxa]

I have a Marans that is broody, AGAIN. The week after she started laying for the first time, she was and it took construction on the coop for several days to stop her. If I let her sit on her eggs, is it too cold for them to hatch? I mean for the few brief times she gets off, at 10 degrees or so, will they cool down too much? I don't really want chicks in January but I have never seen anything so stubborn.

I know Bee was always against hatching this time of year, but if a hen of mine was to go broody, she'd get a few eggs. I've had them broody in February, and it is the coldest here in February. My hen successfully raised 3 chicks. Did not hatch them herself, but they thrived outside. Mama is there to keep them warm!

If you really don't want chicks, don't give her eggs. Just know she can do it. The biggest worry is if they get away from her and chill. This is where ramps and high nesting boxes could pose a problem.

Leahs Mom was letting a broody hatch some eggs. How is that going?

 

[aoxa]

Thanks they are tetra tints a production layer. hoping that some of the stuff that I learn here keeps them alive and laying longer than the two years. Had one just up and die. she was an everyday layer an egg gumball machine.

Okay, so what's with your avatar. Going to drive me crazy. Coop? Really? No way!

 

[Melabella]

New day. Man, our road was slippery this morning!
All your coops are so nice! We are just finishing putting the rest of the roofing on our addition. Today, because of the sleet, rain and snow, I fed them inside this morning. I leave so early, I never had. IT'S MESSY OUTSIDE TODAY! Only one came out so I knew it was time.
I have a Marans that is broody, AGAIN. The week after she started laying for the first time, she was and it took construction on the coop for several days to stop her. If I let her sit on her eggs, is it too cold for them to hatch? I mean for the few brief times she gets off, at 10 degrees or so, will they cool down too much? I don't really want chicks in January but I have never seen anything so stubborn.
Thanks again for your comforting words yesterday. It was my fault he was in the road but no one has stopped to let us knew he hit him. I guess that's what is so upsetting. I'm sure his car is dented. I'm no forensic but it shows he was haulin'. Probably on his way home from working all night. Sue. (If only I had some poop to throw!)
AlivianAcres, what a cute chick. Maybe I do want chicks!

Sally, it is horrible here,, absolutely horrible. The wind is NorEasterish, yuc. Thinking I have to feed mine indoors too, problem is, my coop isn't very big. I only covered half my run, and thinking of having the man who built my run come back and cover the entire thing. Here is a picture of my setup... not perfect, but it's strong and with the high winds on the elevation I live on.. it had to be windproof.
The feed gets wet out in the run, so I am going to have to put it under the coop I think... rain is blowing sideways! I think I am going to go out and buy some straw bales to put around three sides of the bottom of the coop, to make a little cave that they can get out of the wind, but not be stuck inside the coop.

Sally, sorry about your dog, what a loss, and I'm sending you a big cyber hug... thoughts are with you sweetie,

MB

 

[aoxa]

Sally, it is horrible here,, absolutely horrible. The wind is NorEasterish, yuc. Thinking I have to feed mine indoors too, problem is, my coop isn't very big. I only covered half my run, and thinking of having the man who built my run come back and cover the entire thing. Here is a picture of my setup... not perfect, but it's strong and with the high winds on the elevation I live on.. it had to be windproof.
The feed gets wet out in the run, so I am going to have to put it under the coop I think... rain is blowing sideways! I think I am going to go out and buy some straw bales to put around three sides of the bottom of the coop, to make a little cave that they can get out of the wind, but not be stuck inside the coop.

Sally, sorry about your dog, what a loss, and I'm sending you a big cyber hug... thoughts are with you sweetie,

MB

I like your set up. Is this before any birds lived in it? Wondering how there is grass in there Mine would eat that in days!

I would skip the straw unless you put tarps around the straw. It will mold.

Why don't you use the stuff for windows in old houses during the winter on 1/2 your run? It will help keep some of it from being saturated, and that could be your feeding area.

Inside the coop will make your job harder. Water inside the coop is not good in my situation, as I have ducks and geese who will get it everywhere. It smells terrible when they do. I am going to toss my heated waterer and get a rubber pan for water. It will come out easily once frozen solid, and I can put it outside without worrying about electrical cords.