The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mumsy]

I think we all are such enablers that it's hard to not join in on the hatching fun.

Yes. True. Having like minded folk for encouragement is a big part of it but also the new knowledge gained on BYC. I have a pile of books and a life time of experience but I want to do it different with the breeding and progeny testing. In the past I would throw a bunch of eggs in the incubator in the Spring and didn't care which egg came from which pen or mating. I was breeding pure breeds but not very well. And getting no where.
I am going to hatch out eggs from two hens mated to Johnny. The hens are laying everyday. All three are free ranged and on FF. I want to mark those chicks and follow them for their life time. I'm going to split up the pullets that hatch, band them, and divide them up to give to two daughters to raise. Johnny is nearly a two year old hatchery roo and the hens are Orpington crosses. I'm really interested in progeny testing them.
All you enablers out there...Huzzah!

 

[aoxa]

Yes. True. Having like minded folk for encouragement is a big part of it but also the new knowledge gained on BYC. I have a pile of books and a life time of experience but I want to do it different with the breeding and progeny testing. In the past I would throw a bunch of eggs in the incubator in the Spring and didn't care which egg came from which pen or mating. I was breeding pure breeds but not very well. And getting no where.
I am going to hatch out eggs from two hens mated to Johnny. The hens are laying everyday. All three are free ranged and on FF. I want to mark those chicks and follow them for their life time. I'm going to split up the pullets that hatch, band them, and divide them up to give to two daughters to raise. Johnny is nearly a two year old hatchery roo and the hens are Orpington crosses. I'm really interested in progeny testing them.
All you enablers out there...Huzzah!

I didn't realize the others had started laying. Great news!!

I got 17 eggs today. I sold 8 dozen to one family on Monday. I have 4 more dozen going by the end of the week. We need to make some money for our breeding pens.

 

[doug57]

how much to ypu give or but in there food

 

[pcappy2]

I think my hen is getting the idea!, I did get my first egg a week or so ago and since then 3 eggs with no shell. This morning she gave us a very nice large egg with hard shell and it was even in the nesting box.....very happy chicken mom today!!!

 

[Bulldogma]

how much to ypu give or but in there food

How many birds? And Fermented Feed or dry??

With Fermented Feed, generally I give them what I think they'll eat and see how much of it they consume in 15 minutes. If they eat it all, I give more, and if they leave some I give less. Just trial and error.

Feeding dry I just free-fed them.

 

[lalaland]

i'ld be interested in knowing how many of you free feed, and how many of you limit the feed to once or twice a day - still working this one out.

 

[stonykill]

i'ld be interested in knowing how many of you free feed, and how many of you limit the feed to once or twice a day - still working this one out.

twice a day. Morning and afternoon. pellets and scratch mixed. I don't FF.

 

[DeesHens]

Thought I'd share a video I took last night after work. This is what they do EVERY SINGLE night when I return home. You give 'em chicken once, and they harass you for life.

Excuse the quality. It's done with my cell, which was the only thing I had in my pocket. I still think it's adorable. Even one rooster joins in hehe.

Warms my heart. How cute!

 

[Mumsy]

i'ld be interested in knowing how many of you free feed, and how many of you limit the feed to once or twice a day - still working this one out.

I free feed FF. I dump the dregs on the frozen ground in the morning before putting fresh in the pans. Nothing is wasted. In the dish or on the ground. They fight over the fermented whole grain and leave the alfalfa until mid afternoon. They will eat all of it when its on the ground. Most days I feed FF morning and night but it depends on the weather. The colder and dirtier it is outside, the more feed they get in the pan. I feed no dry.

 

[DeesHens]

i'ld be interested in knowing how many of you free feed, and how many of you limit the feed to once or twice a day - still working this one out.

Free feed with organic non-GMO layer grains from Scratch and Peck. Also always has access to grass.