The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[hotrodflash]

I do not know what a sex link is. I doubt highly it is one since I bred this bird.

Production red, Cinnamon Queen(hens), Red Star, Black Star are several of the names I have seen, It is a cross that causes pullets and cockerels to look different at hatch so that are easily sexed. Most producers of these birds do not tell what breeds were used to create them.

 

[chickiemomy]

Quote: from the 'star' description on the breed page - from this site:

Star

Black Star and Red Star are trade names used for hybrids of two other recognized breeds, not itself an APA recognized breed. They are one of many hybrids more commonly called Red Sex-Linked or Black Sex-links.

Typically a red male chicken breed is crossed with a white or barred female to breed them.

Crossing a Rhode Island Red male and a Delaware female makes a Red Star. By crossing a Rhode Island Red male and a Barred Plymouth Rock female, a Black Star is created.

I have a gold sex-link -- think it's a red hen something x white roo something - if the chick is gold-colored, it's pullet, if it's white, it's a roo. Makes sexing the chicks easy.

The color gene has been isolated next to the gender gene in understood dominant/recessive ways. (Similarly most orange tabby cats are male, and most - or all? - tortoise shell cats are female)

 

[Mumsy]

Aoxa,
I am glad you posted the birds for CU
Here are the pictures of the brat bird who acts like a cockerel. Is it a he or a she?

The hackle looks male.The feathers look pointed. Are the saddle feathers pointed too?

 

[doug57]

i would like to what the best thing to use for deworming chickens naturally

 

[zinia8]

I LOVE your photos and your setup! Enjoying the captions too Does your fenced area have wire overhead for hawks too..or just the perimeter fence?

My Garden shares a fence with the chicken run and I let the chickens into the garden in the fall when I'm done with it and let them glean/till/fertilize all fall/winter long: The Chicken run itself is planted with Illinois everbearing mulberry trees, apples, persimmons, and wild plums to provide free food for the chickens. I originally tried free range, but the predators convinced me that won't work, so I built a large run and planted shade & food for them.

I have the same kind of set up as you but on a smaller scale. Garden in one section. I did put twine cords over the run to keep the chooks in and deter hawks.

 

[armorfirelady]

i would like to what the best thing to use for deworming chickens naturally

Pumpkin or squash seeds. I also give mine cayenne pepper & garlic monthly in their FF as a preventive as well.

 

[galefrances]

Quote: Thanks for the idea, but I don't think it would work for me. My bucket isn't freezing, just the nipple mechanism in the cup. I made sure the cups were empty, but the nipple itself still froze. I had the bucket on a dog bowl heater, so the water inside the bucket was fine. It works beautifully unless the temp drops in the low teens.

 

[lalaland]

I also collect the rainwater off the roof and only have to carry water during the deep winter when it stays frozen. I do not have water or electricity run to the coop---it's not needed in a well designed arrangement. I do know of friends with the raised coop on legs having their chickens freeze in the winter, mine stays warm.

Darkmatter, can you talk more about goldfish for skeeters?
love the coop and pictures
also, what is a rainguard above the door?

 

[delisha]

Quote: It looks male to me too. The saddle feathers are still rounded. That is also why I am confused. They will probably change They should have turned already when the hacks came in.
Sex link does not work for this breeding. All the chicks were hatched out yellow, and turned white. All have a bit of yellow on them. The white pullet in the first picture you hardly see is from the same breeding. The mother is a pure Cornish X. The dad is a mix.

Does not matter. I thought it was a cockerel when young, but, was told it was a pullet from an expert. I have a hard time with my own birds sometimes. I am easily convinced it a pullet when I feel its a cockerel.
lol He will taste good.

 

[texasmomma]

Best way to cull a chick?

We are new at this, and I really don't want to do it, but it looks like our little chick isn't going to get any better. Once I find a friend for the one I have left, or find a home for it, we will be culling.

Thanks.