The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
My chickens eat the feathers. They ate all the feathers from the 2 hawk attacks this past week.

And y'all are a chatty group. I thought the Washington thread was chatty, y'all might pass them up in post count at this rate.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote:
You're welcome to use mine and my fathers' Norman and Norma, tho if you don't I'll understand

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: I think part of that can be what you're smelling in there.

"Once your litter has begun to “mellow”—to break down well—bend down and scoop up a handful. Sniff. The smell will not be even remotely like raw manure—more like good topsoil, or compost, or forest leaf mold." Quote from http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Deep-Litter-3.html

 

[Miss Lydia]

i have used a mask for quite a while when stirring my coops only because I get a cough if i don't. I am pretty healthy too just don't like to breathe in the dust.

Good links LM.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I really like Harvy Ussery's info. I have his book and it's my favorite chicken book! His natural, practical approach is definitely what I was looking for!

 

[Pullet Surprise]

I think part of that can be what you're smelling in there.

"Once your litter has begun to “mellow”—to break down well—bend down and scoop up a handful. Sniff. The smell will not be even remotely like raw manure—more like good topsoil, or compost, or forest leaf mold." Quote from http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Deep-Litter-3.html

Good! mine are on FF anyway and the biggest plus to me, as a human, is lack smell!

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote: You were missed!

BACK!

 

[michaelt]

Well, guess we'll see everyone over here soon ... 

Thanks, Bulldogma, for this thread.  

Spifflove, Natural means a lot of different things to different people.  I've been following a couple of threads that the OT's (old-timers) post on, and I've been able to improve the overall health and appearance of my flock by following as many of their methods that I can incorporate into my flock.  I don't have an organic feed option right now, but I let my flock out on pasture as often as I can.  I feed fermented feed, and use UP/ACV (unpasturized Apple Cider vinegar) in their water.  I don't use antibiotics or de-wormers anymore, but incorporate natural preventative measures and remedies in my day-to-day flock keeping.  I basically let my chickens be chickens!

what is the vinegar for

 

[loanwizard]

Vinegar is for overall health. There are countless reasons why it is good for humans, and it is good for the birds too.

I use it, although not as much as I should, but with day old meat birds, their first water has it and since I started, I have never had a case of pasty butt, and that is buying 150-200 chicks at a time.

Shawn

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Here are also some quick-reads at this link. http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/search/label/ACV

There is a ton throughout BYC too if you want to wade through it all!