The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I'm sorry but this is kind of off topic. I am fairly new to BYC but needed to ask a question. I have 4 7 month old BO. They all started laying in October and I have been getting 3 to 4 eggs a day without fail. They are all healthy no problems. ACV in water and layer crumbles available at all times and DLM, I have one pullet that is apparently broody, no eggs under her but the others lay in the nest box next to her. I remove her at least 2 to 3 times a day to get food, water and excercise but she still insists on getting back on the nest with no eggs. I am just want to make sure her health will not suffer if I am not getting her out to eat each day. There are no eggs to sit on that are fertilized. Is this normal? Thanks I just want to do right by her. Thanks.

If you don't want to break her of her being broody, you could see if anyone on craigslist or here on BYC is close to you and get a few fertile egg to set under her. Then you add to your flock and she gets to brood a few chicks. And there is just something cool about watching a momma with her chicks. But if you need to break her of it, put her in a wire rabbit cage with no nesting materials(just the wire) and put it on blocks of wood so you get airflow under her. You can put food and water in the cage. Leave her in this for 3 days and that should break her broody mood.

 

[jockeyeba]

I'm sorry but this is kind of off topic.   I am fairly new to BYC but needed to ask a question.   I have 4 7 month old BO.   They all started laying in October and I have been getting  3 to 4 eggs a day without fail.   They are all healthy no problems.  ACV in water and layer crumbles available at all times and DLM,   I have one pullet that is apparently broody, no eggs under her but the others lay in the nest box next to her.  I remove her at least 2 to 3 times a day to get food, water and exercises but she still insists on getting back on the nest with no eggs.  I am just want to make sure her health will not suffer if I am not getting her out to eat each day.    There are no eggs to sit on that are fertilized.   Is this normal?   Thanks I just want to do right by her.   Thanks.

Thanks so much for your response.    How long does this behavior usually last?   Thanks again.

I am going to guess, this is what you are referring to. I apologize if I am wrong. I am wrong often and I am so used to it it does not bother me at all. Ask my kids.

This is tuff to answer. All chickens are different. I had a broody sitting on a nest recently and I took her off and put her in a cage for two hours. They are not all that easy. I was surprised that I did not have to do it again today. I have no idea if I will have to do it again soon or not. She *sounds* broody. That low growl and chitter of a disturbed broody. We will see.

Some breeds of birds never stop. You simply need to get a breed of bird that lays eggs and does not set. It is more difficult to find a broody than an egg layer who never sets.

Orpingtons, Silkies, Cochins.. usually start to lay and after a month they go broody. Than they go broody ever few months after.

I am sure there are tons of other breeds that do the same.

American Games are the worst I have a couple that you can take them off everyday when they go broody & back they go for I swear the whole 21 days

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

FF question for y'all. I got my buckets today so I can start, do I have to ferment inside my house(66 degrees) or can I do it in my shed(usually 30-50 degrees). I don't think my wife will want the smell of FF in the house. It is bad enough we have her Silkie chicks inside(which just came of the lamp today). I will only be fermenting their grower feed for now(no added grains) to see if they are even going to eat the stuff. Should I wait/take away their dry feed for a day and then give them the FF when I know they will be hungry enough to eat it, or just give it free choice at first?

 

[Bulldogma]

FF question for y'all. I got my buckets today so I can start, do I have to ferment inside my house(66 degrees) or can I do it in my shed(usually 30-50 degrees). I don't think my wife will want the smell of FF in the house. It is bad enough we have her Silkie chicks inside(which just came of the lamp today). I will only be fermenting their grower feed for now(no added grains) to see if they are even going to eat the stuff. Should I wait/take away their dry feed for a day and then give them the FF when I know they will be hungry enough to eat it, or just give it free choice at first?

The low temps outside could prevent a good ferment. Do you have a basement, mud room or laundry room you could put it in?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

The low temps outside could prevent a good ferment. Do you have a basement, mud room or laundry room you could put it in?

Our basement is finished so it is living space. Our bedroom is in the basement and a living room. It will only be these low temps for another couple of months. The shed stays about 10-20 degrees warmer than outside temps in the winter. Would hanging a brooder lamp over it help. The shed is where I have a large brooder( the one that is now in the house with the Silkies in it). I could set it for a height that would keep the bucket area around 60-80 degrees.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Just read the "About" page...nice! I had been looking for an about to send to someone and ...there it is!

FF question for y'all. I got my buckets today so I can start, do I have to ferment inside my house(66 degrees) or can I do it in my shed(usually 30-50 degrees). I don't think my wife will want the smell of FF in the house. It is bad enough we have her Silkie chicks inside(which just came of the lamp today). I will only be fermenting their grower feed for now(no added grains) to see if they are even going to eat the stuff. Should I wait/take away their dry feed for a day and then give them the FF when I know they will be hungry enough to eat it, or just give it free choice at first?

I know you've probably said it before but....how many chickens are you doing feed for?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

FF question for y'all. I got my buckets today so I can start, do I have to ferment inside my house(66 degrees) or can I do it in my shed(usually 30-50 degrees). I don't think my wife will want the smell of FF in the house. It is bad enough we have her Silkie chicks inside(which just came of the lamp today). I will only be fermenting their grower feed for now(no added grains) to see if they are even going to eat the stuff. Should I wait/take away their dry feed for a day and then give them the FF when I know they will be hungry enough to eat it, or just give it free choice at first?

I know you've probably said it before but....how many chickens are you doing feed for?
It will be for 6 adult LF, 3 adolescent LF, 5 Silkie chicks and an orphan LF chick. 15 in all, as of today.

 

[Bulldogma]

The shed is where I have a large brooder( the one that is now in the house with the Silkies in it). I could set it for a height that would keep the bucket area around 60-80 degrees.

Oh - that sounds like the perfect place! 60-80 will work beautifully for FF.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
Sweet. Gonna start the process tomorrow. Gotta function to go to tonight. Having dinner with my FIL and his girly friend from Russia

 

[aoxa]

Everyone should guess..this is hard to tell pair..

I can't even see the blastoma on the left, but the one on the right doesn't appear fertile, so I'm going with the right is not fertile and the left is.