The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[jockeyeba]

You know me, I have another question that I've wanted to ask since I first joined BYC. I have read where people that have raised and owned chickens claim that they have never had certain diseases or other problem. What I was reading was that the chickens were being culled at the first sign of anything. Is that right? The disease/problem was never allowed to grow. I know there are certain breeds that are unable to tolerate excessive heat or cold. Did I read that right or are there some of you that truly never have any problems? My first year, I lost several chickens. Egg Binding, Excessive heat, 2 - I have no clues and Mites, mites, mites. I blamed it on the straw sitting under a wild bird's nest.

jockeyeba. Your pics are beautiful!

Thanks Sally8

 

[jockeyeba]

Talking about nest boxes earlier, we have several milk crates fixed on the walls of our coops but have also used various containers for broody's usually from horse products-vitamins, etc. My BLRW pullet has now laid 7 eggs in the last 9 days

Where did you get your glass waterer? I like to try to stay away from soft plastics. If I wont drink out of them Id rather my animals dont either XD

Thats just a canning jar put on the waterer bases you can buy from feed stores, Tractor Supply, etc.

 

[camilleathome]

Thats just a canning jar put on the waterer bases you can buy from feed stores, Tractor Supply, etc.

Cool! Ill have to see if my waterer fits my jars! That makes me happy XD I didnt like the idea of using the plastic jars

 

[delisha]

You know me, I have another question that I've wanted to ask since I first joined BYC. I have read where people that have raised and owned chickens claim that they have never had certain diseases or other problem. What I was reading was that the chickens were being culled at the first sign of anything. Is that right? The disease/problem was never allowed to grow. I know there are certain breeds that are unable to tolerate excessive heat or cold. Did I read that right or are there some of you that truly never have any problems? My first year, I lost several chickens. Egg Binding, Excessive heat, 2 - I have no clues and Mites, mites, mites. I blamed it on the straw sitting under a wild bird's nest.

jockeyeba. Your pics are beautiful!

I have culled for old age, scheduled culls, injury, infection, non production, too many birds, simply did not like the strain, excessive molt time. I have had mites and lice. I have lost adult cornish x's in the heat a long time ago, however, I found out that as long as you don't let them get so large they do fine.

 

[Sally8]

I have culled for old age, scheduled culls, injury, infection, non production, too many birds, simply did not like the strain, excessive molt time. I have had mites and lice. I have lost adult  cornish x's in the heat a long time ago, however, I found out that as long as you don't let them get so large they do fine.

Thanks for sharing this info. I began to think I was doing everything terribly wrong. Earlier in my life, my husband and I just fed, watered and collected eggs. I think sometimes we know too much.

 

[Bulldogma]

HEY!!! I WAS POST 3000

WHERE ARE THE STREAMERS AND BALLOONS?​

I'm so sorry. I quit working 2 yrs ago to watch my twin 2 yr old granddaughters who were born over 2 mo early. They were in incubators of their own for over a month at the NICU. They are both sick today, running high fevers, croop, whinny, crying. It's a good thing I have 2 legs so I can sit on the floor and rock them. The dr has them on 2 breathing treatments, (Budesonide, Albuterone), Prednisolone, Motin and Claritin.

We resemble that remark. 3rd kiddo was in the NICU for 16 weeks. Overall she's been pretty healthy, but ended up in the PICU twice last year for viral pneumonia. Our nebulizer gets plenty of attention.

She lays an egg, then comes out of the coop and picks up sticks and leaves and puts them on her back. Then carry's them to her nest

. Pretty darn cute

Awww - Please provide a video...

true. I also think it is instinctual from chicken life before humans decided they could be better chickens than chickens. I compare it to a cat going in circles before laying down. Just instinct.

Its believed that animals will go around in circles to flush out any snakes or nasty spiders prior to laying down on them. More animals show this behavior than don't... even horses and cows. Kinda cool when you think they're just born knowing to do this.

I swore I only wanted eggs out of this whole adventure. I never wanted to incubate - certainly didn't want broody's. And now all these adorable pictures. And stories of roo's feeding babies.
Oh, my gosh . . . I feel myself weakening!

LOL - don't worry! We'll all be perfectly happy to enable you...

I have to put a bucket over him so I can put out feed, check for eggs, etc. & I hate to say it but forgot him & he had to stay under the bucket all night last week. He was pretty traumatized for 2 days but today back to his mean little self

 

[Mumsy]

I was thinking about when I was a kid and living next door to a commercial egg and replacement pullet barn and the things I saw. A lot of the equipment would not be of much use now because it's outdated, antiquated, or downright dangerous. All that and besides, most of us are not wanting to base our small operations like that of a big commercial operation.

Twenty five years ago my mom and dad gave me two old glass waterers that were found on a shelf in that old barn. Covered in cobwebs and dust. I don't use them any longer because they are very old and I don't want to risk them breaking or chipping. The tops hold nearly a gallon and the bottoms are very thick and heavy. The bottom just rests on the top and you flip them. No screwing them together. Very nice heavy glass. I may use them again someday.

Do any here use antiquated farm equipment to raise chickens naturally? Got pictures?

 

[chickiemomy]

Ahh, that makes sense - if you breed for production, you may have reproduction side issues. I kind of liken it to - breed tomatoes to ship well, but ignore taste... You get what you measure!

and they are all individuals aren't they - what makes the little buggers so much fun to watch. I had NO idea they would be so much fun - I just wanted eggs & manure--- LOL

thx for your feedback!

 

[mlowen]

Those waterers are really neat! I wonder if any of the new "eco" or "green" companies could make money selling this kind of equipment? I'd want to buy one. (I do love the bucket with cups waterers that JeffOeff and {I think} Leah'sMom use, though.)

 

[Melabella]

Where did you get your glass waterer? I like to try to stay away from soft plastics. If I wont drink out of them Id rather my animals dont either XD

Thats just a canning jar put on the waterer bases you can buy from feed stores, Tractor Supply, etc.

Cool! Ill have to see if my waterer fits my jars! That makes me happy XD I didnt like the idea of using the plastic jars

That's why if I ever used bottles for the kiddies, i used glass ones. With all the UACV we all use, glass should be the best bet. Can't use metal, plastics breakdown. You still have to put up with the plastic base.. Someone should design an all glass waterer...base and all.