The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[SandBsmom]

Silkie question from a neighbor - I haven't ever been lucky enough to have silkies, so I'm passing the question on to some of you who have silkies - can a silkie roo successfully mate with standard breed hens?

I have a silkie roo and I just candled an egg from my giant cochin and it was fertile! He looks a little funny balancing on her back trying to get the job done but it must work!

 

[zinia8]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/732985/csu-chicken-state-university-large-fowl-sop

*oops screwed up the link

 

[CESpeed]

You don't get them to raise multiple clutches it's their decision

you give them a nice secure place to brood and leave some eggs and you may get you a broody. They will brood, hatch, raise start laying again and then decide if they want to brood again, it's all up to them. You can encourage by leaving eggs in the nest but it's still their decision. FF is good for all flock I feed it to my chickens, ducks and geese. and it' s not disgusting at all. Just some feed, grains warm water and ACV. Why would you order chicks and not let your girls raise their own? well unless you were wanting a specific breed, but remember it takes 2-3 days for chicks to arrive and by that time hens or chicks may not bond. Most of us let our roos stay with the girls 24/7 they not only fertilize eggs but warn and protect. . Another thing to remember do your homework when looking for breeds that will still brood, alot have had it bred out of them. So do your homework and ask questions on this thread and on the threads that have the breeds your interested in. All the best !

Hello. I am the question queen so please be patient I'll have a lot .

I have every intention of learning as much as I can before I get my flock so I can give them the best possible care. I plan to have a flock of Australorps. After seeing other's coops and their interiors (I love this site!!!), I have come up with a rough sketch of what I want. I've decided to have the coop 6ft wide and 2 ft deep where the nesting boxes and roosts will be, with an additional 8 ft of depth to give them room to move around if there's wet weather and they are stuck inside. The ceiling will be slanted front to back with the lowest point in the back where the roosts are would be 5ft. tall.

I am planning on 4 nesting boxes that are 18in wide and 2 ft deep side by side (the 6 ft width). Should I put the broody boxes in the same coop? Or should they have their own house? I think I can put 3 or 4 of those plastic tubs in the same coop to give them broody boxes but I'll let the experts tell me if I'm on the right track.

I designed it so the roost is only 3 ft off if the ground because I am told that's about as high as Australorps can go to roost. I hadn't planned on a ladder but after seeing so many coops with them , I'll have to include that, too.

Am I on the right track so far?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Could you possibly scan your sketch and let us look at it? That will help visualize better!

 

[aoxa]

Could you possibly scan your sketch and let us look at it? That will help visualize better!

Well that's going to take a while to get used to! *your avatar*

I'm like "who's this? Someone new just jumping right in?"

 

[stonykill]

went out this morning to let out the birds. It is about 5 below zero F here this morning. Had to grab the .22 quickly and shoot a weasel. Still shaking from the cold and adrenalin rush. In to warm up for a few and check on everyone.

 

[aoxa]

went out this morning to let out the birds. It is about 5 below zero F here this morning. Had to grab the .22 quickly and shoot a weasel. Still shaking from the cold and adrenalin rush. In to warm up for a few and check on everyone.

You have such a high predation area.

Ever think of another guard animal besides a dog? Like a donkey or a llama?

 

[stonykill]

a pic for those of you who still think a hoop coop will keep your chickens safe. This little guy can squeeze thru a tiny hole 1 inch or less.And this is a BIG weasel. Note the perfect shot

AXOA I am head predator around here

. One of our cats usually takes care of weasels for me. I just beat him to this one.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Melabella dreams of Cream Legbars!

Hmmm...I would really love to have these birds

 

[aoxa]

a pic for those of you who still think a hoop coop will keep your chickens safe. This little guy can squeeze thru a tiny hole 1 inch or less.And this is a BIG weasel. Note the perfect shot

AXOA I am head predator around here

. One of our cats usually takes care of weasels for me. I just beat him to this one.

That cat is a keeper!!!

I really miss our cats. I have one left. I've never had less than 2 cats at one time. It's very lonely, but I'm nervous on adding any more because our road is terribly busy.

Could you keep cats in with electric fence? Probably not, eh?

That would be about the only way I'd get another.