The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Melabella]

With the HATCHERY RIR that you see in the photos with my chicks went broody, I took her off the nest at least 2x a day and carried her outside to the farthest area away from the hen house I could get her then put her down. I did that for about 3 days. She kept coming back.

Then, because I wanted to see if she would continue to set, I moved her in the night to a different nest box on the other side of the coop to see if she'd stick with it. I also removed her from that the next day. She went back.

Then I put some fake eggs under her and she had to wait a whole week before the real eggs came (I ordered - didn't have a rooster).

Then put the new eggs under at night in the dark.

She set the whole time beautifully.

She's 8 months old when this started at the end of November.

So, a broody waits until they hatch,, not that they know when 21 days has come and gone. THis is all so interesting to me! I wonder if any of my girls will do this.

 

[jockeyeba]

When we made a 6' high pen around the Bantam coop they just flew out width: 350px; height: 263px;" width="350">
[/URL] Now the AG's can really fly they're totally freerange

  far too many of my Sumatra's are the same way. Live in tree's.  36 of them that free range all day (I counted) live in 2 coops. More than that live in tree's. The 2 Sumatra breeding pens are covered like yours. Another 19 Sumatra's between the 2 breeding pens. Although that number may be 18 soon. One of the young roo's may need to go to freezer camp.

We have 3 5 month old AG stags & 1 8 month old that are going to "freezer camp" soon if no one buys them on craigslist by the end of this weekend They're starting to be too mean to the other pullets & hens

 

[Melabella]

So cute

what do Mini Lops look like grown? Duh, I could just goggle couldn't I

They are the ones that have the floppy ears down, not up...

Appealing in appearance, but not nearly as friendly as regular ol dutch bunnies I had when I was young. The parents have been fixed, as I wasn't having that again! Cost more than to fix a flippin dog. The baby is one royal wench, she is the one that peed on me. lol.

aoxa,,, I'm thinking of turning mine loose, ,as when they get loose they go under the manure pit. I will just feed them next to it, and they can roam free. They sure will have a lot more fun I am starting to hate that they are just in a cage most of the time. When it is warm, and I am outside, I put them in a small pen to get exercise.

 

[jockeyeba]

So cute what do Mini Lops look like grown? Duh, I could just goggle couldn't I

They are the ones that have the floppy ears down, not up...

Appealing in appearance, but not nearly as friendly as regular ol dutch bunnies I had when I was young. The parents have been fixed, as I wasn't having that again! Cost more than to fix a flippin dog. The baby is one royal wench, she is the one that peed on me. lol. aoxa,,, I'm thinking of turning mine loose, ,as when they get loose they go under the manure pit. I will just feed them next to it, and they can roam free. They sure will have a lot more fun I am starting to hate that they are just in a cage most of the time. When it is warm, and I am outside, I put them in a small pen to get exercise.

Wouldn't you need to put them up at night so nothing "eats" them oh and beautiful color

 

[Melabella]

Wouldn't you need to put them up at night so nothing "eats" them

oh and beautiful color

Until my Compost system is in place... my town ordinance is ZOOOEY about manure disposal. How far from neighoring properties, and very strict regulations about run off into water breakdown and contamination. They actually make rounds and inspect. We all have well water, and I actually like that they are that strict. I especially don't want neighboring cow farmers who DON'T practice natural or organic feeding have water contamination with all the garbage they feed their cows in my water! IE, pesticides, anitibiotics, and such. SO, for now, I have my manure in a dumpster that I have to PAY someone to come empty once it's full. HE makes money on it... I can't wait until I do! SO, they hide under the dumpster....nothing can get to them. Well,, now that I know about weasels thanks to stoney. Maybe I could make the a small box they can go into at night, and I could close them up like the chickens.

 

[Ashdoes]

Aoxa~have you thought about fencing in a permanent pasture? Like a big rectangle from the barn to the trees?

We did a three rail with goat wire all the way around. It was super simple to put up, and keeps dogs, chickens and kids in. It took one weekend, with about five guys helping the first day to cement the posts in, and start the rails. Then we finished the rails and wire the next day.

 

[aoxa]

BROODY -- I'm too new to chicks -- here's what's now happening with my bunch - 2 buckeyes, 2 australorps, 1 GSL. born early May - so let's see about 8 mos old - all pullets, no boys. Laying well into the winter - as many as one per day per chick on good days. Now I'm seeing a little slow down, but it's cold, and dark (leave flood lights on in their run into the early evening - more for me than for them, but may be extending their daylight??)

both my BA's are now taking turns, one one day, the other the next -- sitting on a nest for hours - one has pulled the down feathers from her breast, which I understand is another sign of wanting to sit. I've been pulling them off the nest & taking the eggs, when I think they've been sitting long enough. - for example - it's time to roost, get off that nest and have a snack before bedtime. this has been going on about a week, no complaints from the hens - will this break them?? I've also now taken all the fake eggs out of the nest. -I had been lazy & not removed them from when they were being trained to use the nest last fall. When I move the hen (s) - I'm finding at least 3 eggs under them - so was thinking that if I keep the number of eggs down, they'd be less likely to sit???

Am I doing the right thing??


HERBICIDES -- I know many are hesitant to use, I'm not -- but understand concerns some have -- BUT -- there are those here that are using straight vinegar to kill weeds, selectively in their yard -- not the good stuff - the cheap, by the gallon stuff. 'they' claim it will kill the weeds directly sprayed on, without harming the rest of the environment. It is espoused by our local 'celebrity' TV organic gardener. I have not used it, but he claims it works -

found a link on ehow --http://www.ehow.com/how_4762568_make-weed-killer-vinegar.html

offering in case it's of interest to those of you who want to use more natural means, but have weeds to kill -I do not personally use...

Thanks for that tip!

I could never, my daughter has 3 mini lops. Bought them for her three years ago for her birthday. I actually only bought two "females". Woman who I bought them from assured me she has been sexing rabbits since she was 10. She was a big breeder, charged me 40 a piece as they were top show quality. After 3 months, they started behaving in an odd fashion if you get my drift. I called her, and she siad "if those two turn out to be different sexes I will reimburse you your money". I guess she was related to the sexing person at Meyer who sexed Duke for me. Anywho, I went out one day to cute lil furry nest of bunnies.

So cute!

She IS VERY PROTECTIVE when any of the other chickens come around... would take their head off and let's them know right away what the boundaries are. I guess she trusts me since I bring the food!

(I don't get a single tip, however...but they are great fun to watch!)

I only have one that really trusted me with her chicks. It was that barred rock. She is abnormally friendly. She hopped up to my lap and proceeded to call her chicks up too. That's probably why they are my groupies now (her chicks are the ones in that video).

They are the ones that have the floppy ears down, not up...

Appealing in appearance, but not nearly as friendly as regular ol dutch bunnies I had when I was young. The parents have been fixed, as I wasn't having that again! Cost more than to fix a flippin dog. The baby is one royal wench, she is the one that peed on me. lol.

aoxa,,, I'm thinking of turning mine loose, ,as when they get loose they go under the manure pit. I will just feed them next to it, and they can roam free. They sure will have a lot more fun I am starting to hate that they are just in a cage most of the time. When it is warm, and I am outside, I put them in a small pen to get exercise.

My two outside are a boy and a girl. The girl is fixed - so no babies. Though Frankle (the who knows what mix) tries. He's a little odd. Not well balanced hehe.



Here's Wanda


Frankle.

They have a little hut that has hay inside. They're happy and have been outside like this since November.

Wouldn't you need to put them up at night so nothing "eats" them

oh and beautiful color

 

[jockeyeba]

BROODY -- I'm too new to chicks -- here's what's now happening with my bunch - 2 buckeyes, 2 australorps, 1 GSL. born early May - so let's see about 8 mos old - all pullets, no boys. Laying well into the winter - as many as one per day per chick on good days. Now I'm seeing a little slow down, but it's cold, and dark (leave flood lights on in their run into the early evening - more for me than for them, but may be extending their daylight??) both my BA's are now taking turns, one one day, the other the next -- sitting on a nest for hours - one has pulled the down feathers from her breast, which I understand is another sign of wanting to sit. I've been pulling them off the nest

Thanks for that tip!

I could never, my daughter has 3 mini lops. Bought them for her three years ago for her birthday. I actually only bought two "females". Woman who I bought them from assured me she has been sexing rabbits since she was 10. She was a big breeder, charged me 40 a piece as they were top show quality. After 3 months, they started behaving in an odd fashion if you get my drift. I called her, and she siad "if those two turn out to be different sexes I will reimburse you your money". I guess she was related to the sexing person at Meyer who sexed Duke for me. Anywho, I went out one day to cute lil furry nest of bunnies.

So cute!

She IS VERY PROTECTIVE when any of the other chickens come around... would take their head off and let's them know right away what the boundaries are. I guess she trusts me since I bring the food!

(I don't get a single tip, however...but they are great fun to watch!)

I only have one that really trusted me with her chicks. It was that barred rock. She is abnormally friendly. She hopped up to my lap and proceeded to call her chicks up too. That's probably why they are my groupies now (her chicks are the ones in that video).

They are the ones that have the floppy ears down, not up...

Appealing in appearance, but not nearly as friendly as regular ol dutch bunnies I had when I was young. The parents have been fixed, as I wasn't having that again! Cost more than to fix a flippin dog. The baby is one royal wench, she is the one that peed on me. lol. aoxa,,, I'm thinking of turning mine loose, ,as when they get loose they go under the manure pit. I will just feed them next to it, and they can roam free. They sure will have a lot more fun I am starting to hate that they are just in a cage most of the time. When it is warm, and I am outside, I put them in a small pen to get exercise.

My two outside are a boy and a girl. The girl is fixed - so no babies. Though Frankle (the who knows what mix) tries. He's a little odd. Not well balanced hehe. Here's Wanda Frankle. They have a little hut that has hay inside. They're happy and have been outside like this since November.

Wouldn't you need to put them up at night so nothing "eats" them oh and beautiful color

Too cute now I'm going to want to add a couple of rabbits to our menagerie

 

[Ashdoes]

Hey Stony!....I have a question for you about ducks. Now I'll start by saying what I really want is Sebastopol geese, but they're pretty hard to find at the moment. So I'm looking into ducks and wondering which you would recommend. I have two Bostons that do really well with the chickens, as long as the chickens show them to stay away. I would need a breed of duck that's maybe a bit taller like the Cochins and bossy like my barred rock. Noise doesn't matter, and egg production isn't exactly important either. What would you suggest?

 

[jockeyeba]

Wouldn't you need to put them up at night so nothing "eats" them oh and beautiful color

Until my Compost system is in place... my town ordinance is ZOOOEY about manure disposal.  How far from neighoring properties, and very strict regulations about run off into water breakdown and contamination.    They actually make rounds and inspect.  We all have well water, and I actually like that they are that strict.  I especially don't want neighboring cow farmers who DON'T practice natural or organic feeding have water contamination with all the garbage they feed their cows in my water! IE, pesticides, anitibiotics, and such.  SO, for now, I have my manure in a dumpster that I have to PAY someone to come empty once it's full.  HE makes money on it... I can't wait until I do!  SO, they hide under the dumpster....nothing can get to them.  Well,, now that I know about weasels thanks to stoney.  Maybe I could make the a small box they can go into at night, and I could close them up like the chickens.

Seems like a good idea to me