The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TurtlePowerTrav]

delisha-you commented a while back that you knew what eggs each hen laid. How did you know? Can anyone else tell? I wish that I could without separating them. Thanks. Sue

I know which egg comes from which hen. I only have 5 layers. But one day when waiting for eggs to set under a broody(didn't want to put egg from my b***** Production Red) so I got to see which one lays what. I can now tell who's is who's. BO's lay light pink(one smooth with white dots, the other is non-smooth), BR lays a light brown and Production RIR's lay darker brown(one is darker on the fat end, the other b***** one lays the biggest, only reason she gets to stay for now). I have a GSL that is approaching POL, I suspect that her egg will eventually be the biggest. My 2 EE's won't start laying until spring.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I am considering starting FF, do you guys feed a specific amount per day? I have a 30# auto-feeder I built so they have feed access all day. Do you just not feed them regular feed anymore? Can I replace the regular feed in the auto-feeder with FF? It takes about 2 weeks for my 9 LF birds to go though the feed(they free range all day). How long does the FF last before you need to throw it away?

 

[delisha]

Morning chores for winter take an hour


Up at 4 am, make coffee, make DH lunch for work, wake him up. Pour his coffee
Let the dog out
5:30
I have two containers on the counter from last night, one is FF one is water
I open the doors to the coops and let the birds out, I dump the food on the ground or in bowls. I dump the ducks water and refill it with fresh.
I grab two chicken waterier and any dirty bowls and head back to the house.
I let the dog back in and fill DH's thermos with hot coffee and send him out the door at 6.
Back out at noon and bring the dog and waters with to check other waters and look at the birds, feed left in bowls, activity's, boredom,bring in the rest of the waters and bowls.
12:30 back in house and set up for night FF, fill waters and empty gallon containers
4:30 feed indoors and lock up, replace any waters, bring in any dirty bowls. Set up for next morning.

Questions for ALL FREE RANGERS - No Matter How Much Acreage You Have

1. How long have you free ranged?
2. Describe your free-range area and practices.
3. How is that different in spring, summer, fall, winter?
4. Do you use a guardian dog or any other guard animal?
5. With or without guard animal - what has your experience been with predators? What about hawks?

1.Since I had chickens, 1980
2. I open the door and than the gate






3.In the winter they do not free range very far. Most of them act like snow might turn into monsters. They are fine with in the enclosure. I do not change it, they do. I let them be chickens.
4.I do not have a guard dog. I wish I did have one.
5. I have lost chickens to predators. In 1985 I lost about 15 ducks one night. A year later I lost a whole coop of 100 baby chicks to my own cocker spaniel. I recently lost a duck and a chicken to coyotes. Right now I have a coon who wants to get in the coop. I have hawks all the time. Predators and chickens go hand in hand. I lock my chickens up at night. It is a tight coop and I hope it stays predator proof. It is a constant battle and one that I try to keep at bay. I recently installed a 7 foot 1/2 acre enclosure around two coops. It has stopped the coyotes, but not the coons, possums, or minks. The coyotes pace the edge of the fence, and after they have been there, the coons stay away for a few days.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

I am considering starting FF, do you guys feed a specific amount per day? I have a 30# auto-feeder I built so they have feed access all day. Do you just not feed them regular feed anymore? Can I replace the regular feed in the auto-feeder with FF? It takes about 2 weeks for my 9 LF birds to go though the feed(they free range all day). How long does the FF last before you need to throw it away?

My situation is to not feed dry feed, anymore. I feed only at mealtime, which is an hour before dusk. Mine free range the rest of the day. I only ferment enough for about 3 days at a time, and never have to throw it away. 3 days' worth fits nicely in a 5 gallon bucket. I have 20 birds all adult or nearly at POL. I use a 3 pound coffee can (dry) for my birds daily. It puffs up into more volume than that after fermenting.
The consistency of mine would not allow for an auto-feeder. I feed on the ground, when I pen them in for the night.

I understand that some both dry feed and FF, but their birds seem to prefer the FF.
I do not feed dry unless I am not going to be home at their mealtime.

 

[delisha]

delisha-you commented a while back that you knew what eggs each hen laid. How did you know? Can anyone else tell? I wish that I could without separating them. Thanks. Sue

Each egg is different. The color, size, shape. they each have there own personality. The hen lays the exact same egg day after day. As a pullet it will change in size somewhat, but, the shape and color stays about identical. Gather your eggs and put them in a carton. Look at them. Put the ones together that look identical. Those are layed by the same hen. I have all brown eggs, yet each one to me is so different. Some have a rose hue, some a chocolate one, some a beige tint, some have a pointy end, some have ends that are almost the same, some have a little wrinkle, some have a few flecks. Some lay the same huge egg time after time. I am probably different than most. I am out three times a day gathering eggs. There is always someone on a nest. It is easy to tell who layed the last egg if the hen is still in the box. Wait till she leaves the nest and pick up the egg. It will still be a little wet. Now you just have to catch the rest of them. I can always tell when one of my new pullets is getting ready to lay. I just observe them closely for a while. The cockerel or roo will breed them about two weeks before they lay the first egg. They they start making noises and making nests, or pulling straw over themselves. They just change behaviors. Soon they pop in and out of the nest constantly. Before you know it they either drop it some where or they actually lay it in a nest box.

 

[armorfirelady]

I have a newbie question about laying. I know 3 of 4 of my hens are laying since twice I have gotten 3 eggs. I get at least 2 eggs every day. Could it be possible all 4 are laying and 2 are just laying every other day? I have seen 2 hens in the nesting box laying. The other 2 look to much alike to know who was in the box. (Might just tag them so I can tell them apart lol) I know I get 3 different sized eggs. And 3 different shades of brown plus every so often a light colored one with white dots. I thought maybe the dots were from the eggs sitting in the cold?

Aoxa & bee caught the size difference in the eggs originally for me alerting me to the fact at least 2 were laying. Here is a pic of the 3 eggs I got in one day 3 days ago. Today was the 2nd time I got 3 eggs. This pic doesn't show one with white dots but I did get one of those today.

Are the white dots a sign of deficiency or from the cold?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated

 

[aoxa]

I have a newbie question about laying. I know 3 of 4 of my hens are laying since twice I have gotten 3 eggs. I get at least 2 eggs every day. Could it be possible all 4 are laying and 2 are just laying every other day? I have seen 2 hens in the nesting box laying. The other 2 look to much alike to know who was in the box. (Might just tag them so I can tell them apart lol) I know I get 3 different sized eggs. And 3 different shades of brown plus every so often a light colored one with white dots. I thought maybe the dots were from the eggs sitting in the cold?

Aoxa & bee caught the size difference in the eggs originally for me alerting me to the fact at least 2 were laying. Here is a pic of the 3 eggs I got in one day 3 days ago. Today was the 2nd time I got 3 eggs. This pic doesn't show one with white dots but I did get one of those today.
Are the white dots a sign of deficiency or from the cold?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated

The white dots are usually from the film on the egg drying/freezing really quickly after laid. I see this a lot this time of year. Most likely you either have 3 or 4 layers. It's not often I get a perfect egg day.. Even in pens with 4 hens.

 

[delisha]

Hello everyone!

I have lurked the entire Gnarley Bunch thread and now this one and have found myself in a new situation in need of some advice.

We got our first snowfall about 2 weeks ago which is just now melting. Very unusual for here as we do not usually get cold until January.

The girls have not stepped foot outside until yesterday and my DH has been taking care of them as I have a nasty case of bronchitis.

When I finally went out yesterday I knew right away something was off. I picked up on particularly pale looking hen and started examining her....yuck lice!!!!

I'm guessing the sudden close proximity from all of them staying inside (25 in total) allowed such a fast infestation.

Anyways I cleaned the coop from top to bottom and lines the floor an nest boxes with ash and DE. I was going to bath each hen in it too but buy that point my DH was telling me to get my crazy self inside and I was outta steam. I tossed the rest of the ash/DE mix in a box and am praying they give themselves baths. Think it's will work?

I am comfortable using DE inside the coop as I do not do DL. We live in a super wet environment. Basically rarely stops raining from September through May. I have tried deep litter a few times with a few different ingredients and it's just too wet here. Even adding fresh dry material daily, it's mucky and not healthy. The air itself is just wet.

They get UPACV and fresh garlic in the water a few times a week.

Also wondering if FF will work in the cold coop temps. It's doesn't freeze in there but it's not warm.

If I'm feeling better in the next few days I promise to drag myself out there and catch and dust everyone of these ladies.

Any ideas would be great.

I would give each of them a nice wood ash bath and do an exam on them. probably rub some new stock on some legs and bums on any spots and for sure cut out all of the nits and slather nustock on those too.

 

[delisha]

Quote:
These three eggs are from three different birds

 

[delisha]

I have a newbie question about laying. I know 3 of 4 of my hens are laying since twice I have gotten 3 eggs. I get at least 2 eggs every day. Could it be possible all 4 are laying and 2 are just laying every other day? I have seen 2 hens in the nesting box laying. The other 2 look to much alike to know who was in the box. (Might just tag them so I can tell them apart lol) I know I get 3 different sized eggs. And 3 different shades of brown plus every so often a light colored one with white dots. I thought maybe the dots were from the eggs sitting in the cold?

Aoxa & bee caught the size difference in the eggs originally for me alerting me to the fact at least 2 were laying. Here is a pic of the 3 eggs I got in one day 3 days ago. Today was the 2nd time I got 3 eggs. This pic doesn't show one with white dots but I did get one of those today.

Are the white dots a sign of deficiency or from the cold?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated

Post all 4 eggs and lets take a lookie see!