The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mumsy]

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.

That's what I was thinking.

The Washington thread is often hard for me to slog through becuase most of the chat is non-chicken related. But this thread is fantastic for interesting well rounded information. Peppered with touch-y-feel-y non-chicken chat. My two favoritess threads on BYC. And two hardest to keep up with!

 

[ssterling1776]

I

  The extremely inconsiderate owner of the property I was going to buy has bailed on me so I'm back to the "house hunt" drawing board! 

I am not letting it bother me because I figure God has sometthing better for me.    Today I found the most perfect house except for one tiny little thing....there's no yard!!!

In this wonderful 100 year old house though are two really large upstairs rooms that get LOTS of light!  Would it be considered cheating (no longer natural) to create a coop area in one of the rooms (complete with lots of real) grass in lots of trays all over the room?  I really really want my chickens but this house is amazing!  And quite a bargain, too.  If I had lots of natural light and carpeted the room with grass, would they be happy? 

No. You are assigning human emotions to a chicken. Chickens need water, food, air, sun.exercise.

Chickens need very little, however be honest,  you are only thinking of your needs. Nothing wrong with that. But this might be the wrong thread. I am going to be blunt so you need to stop reading if you are sensitive. I do not mean to hurt feeling, I mean to educate not only you, but others.

People have been sticking billions of chickens in building for years and years. Some put them in tiny cages, some put them in bigger cages. And the chickens do what chickens do. They cluck, they breed, and lay eggs. Putting grass in a room does not change where they are. They are still locked in a building. NOTHING wrong with that. It is simply not natural chicken keeping.

If you put those chickens in that house, it will not be a nice house for long. Chickens have so much dust it gets into every thing. You put grass in your house, on a second floor and you will have mold, bugs, and who knows what damage.

You are not thinking this through at all.

I'm pretty sure she wasnt serious about the chickens in the house....geez relax!

 

[Mumsy]

My grandmother's names were Mildred Emma and Agusta Wilamina an aunt Greta. Grandfather Hanford

I don't name all male birds because I don't keep them long but I name most of the females regardless if I keep them or not.

Often I let my friends or children name them. Recently I let my 2 1/2 year old Grandson name a couple of the Silkie chicks. It makes it fun when they all come to visit and they get to see 'their' chicken and how it's growing.

Johnny's hens were given the names of girls I knew in high school. It makes me laugh to call them by name and I get an instant visual flash of that girl that tormented me.....or was my bff. Yep...Twisted. Hah!

 

[aoxa]

Oh I do that too!! When we were lucky enough to witness our pastel boa female give birth we took the babies away from her and placed them in a tub to count and then let them dry a bit more before moving them to permanent tubs. All of a sudden I rub my hands on my jeans as a nervous habit and realise what I did. I was like Ewwww I have amniotic fluid on my jeans! Then stop and laugh and tell Al. I never thought Id see the day that came out of my mouth XD.

This is why I have to wear splashpants when doing chores. Save my clothes. I've had a lot of different things all over them.

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

Uh yes I will have a couple with just those names.

I have a trio named Sandy Mandy & Randy. I need to get a girlfriend for Carlton and name her Carolton.

Yes we mostly name for funny factor.

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.

I have to be very careful when handling the hay. This organic stuff has already given me and my fiance hives. I am (or was before the allergy shots) allergic to almost everything 'natural' on the test. Almost all kinds of trees. Mold. Dust. Pollen. I had to take the day off work after my test. I was dizzy and had a terrible reaction to just the test. A little over 6 months of shots twice a week, than another six months of once a week and than a year of every month.. Wow. I am never clogged up any more, and never take itchy watery eyes, hard breathing or any of that. Now it's just hives if I am touching something I was very sensitive to.

For anyone that has a lot of allergies, I'm sure you know how terrible you can feel. I always felt like I was sick with a cold. Never could smell anything. So glad I went with the shots!

Breathing in dust doesn't even bother me anymore

 

[aoxa]

I don't name all male birds because I don't keep them long but I name most of the females regardless if I keep them or not.

Often I let my friends or children name them. Recently I let my 2 1/2 year old Grandson name a couple of the Silkie chicks. It makes it fun when they all come to visit and they get to see 'their' chicken and how it's growing.

Johnny's hens were given the names of girls I knew in high school. It makes me laugh to call them by name and I get an instant visual flash of that girl that tormented me.....or was my bff. Yep...Twisted. Hah!

What are some of the names your grandson came up with?

I drew the line when my nephew wanted to use potty names for them. No I will not call that chicken poop. That's rude. lol

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Oh I do that too!! When we were lucky enough to witness our pastel boa female give birth we took the babies away from her and placed them in a tub to count and then let them dry a bit more before moving them to permanent tubs. All of a sudden I rub my hands on my jeans as a nervous habit and realise what I did. I was like Ewwww I have amniotic fluid on my jeans! Then stop and laugh and tell Al. I never thought Id see the day that came out of my mouth XD.

Just curious...what does the "XD" mean? I have seen others use it..and I am still confused. Thanks

 

[delisha]

Quote: These are really good articles. Thanks..

 

[delisha]

Quote: Hi Moxie..
I am not very computer literate. However I believe when you use those on the key board it makes a smiley face. It is just a guess.

 

[camilleathome]

Hi Moxie..
I am not very computer literate. However I believe when you use those on the key board it makes a smiley face. It is just a guess.

Its a sideways silly face lol. Im a very perky person. that smiley face pretty much defines me

 

[delisha]

I have one more egg to go..it is piped and cheeping away so..so far so good. They all look so cute running around like little roadrunners. My favorite time is watching them run like crazy than stop...and drop the head. Sound asleep.





I have 5 RIR so far and 7 barn yards....
One egg is piped, one egg is totally silent. No interior or exterior pip. Pretty sure that is a goner.
I actually have done very well. Out of all the eggs in lock down, I had 2 confirmed deaths and one not sure.