The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Thanks AOXA-
When I got my hens they were about 12 weeks old & the lady I bought them from already had them on layer pellets so that's what I kept them on. I guess I really lucked out there hasn't been any health problems yet. When I get new pulleys in a month or 2 they won't be on layer feed till POL.

Even tho the temps were in the single digits I got some of the supplies for my hoop coop so when it warms up I can start assembling it. Soon as its up I can get new hens

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Stony I know u don't like them because of predators but because of where I live anything like a shed or building is considered permament structure and requires a permit. And I want to be able to move it around my property so this works best for me. But I've kept your thoughts & opinions in my building of this new coop. I'm thinking smaller gauge wire fencing around the bottom about 5-6 ft high till where the tarp covers it should help. Price shopping for hardware cloth to out over the cattle panels

HOW FUNNY.... the wife laughing was hysterical..

thanks BDM!

That video was awesome! I would have called the news paper!

Sunny,

Nice article, well written and filled with interesting items! I enjoyed reading it. Thank you.

Which article?

So, if I have a rooster with my 11 hens, it would be best to always feed them grower and not layer feed? Mine are all about 3-4 months old now and still on grower and I wasn't sure when to switch or what to switch them to. They are on an organic grower mash and I ferment it. Should I just stick with this forever as long as I have a rooster? And, if I end up not having a rooster, then should I put them on layer or just keep them on grower while supplying them oyster shell? I'm new at this... thanks for all the info!

Here is what I currently use for my ff:
http://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/1046/

Just keep them on grower and supplement with oyster shell at all times. That way you don't have to switch up their feeds ever. When they are molting, broody, having a winter break - you never have to switch them. That's my suggestion, and there are a lot of studies showing how excess calcium can damage the kidneys and liver. Even the bag of layer feed says to only feed to laying hens.

 

[jlynnet]

The broody article on that other site.

 

[lalaland]

Even tho the temps were in the single digits I got some of the supplies for my hoop coop so when it warms up I can start assembling it. Soon as its up I can get new hens

.
Stony I know u don't like them because of predators but because of where I live anything like a shed or building is considered permament structure and requires a permit. And I want to be able to move it around my property so this works best for me. But I've kept your thoughts & opinions in my building of this new coop. I'm thinking smaller gauge wire fencing around the bottom about 5-6 ft high till where the tarp covers it should help. Price shopping for hardware cloth to out over the cattle panels

armorfirelady, you could think about an electric fence around the perimeter - turning it on/plugging in just at night to help with predators. Otherwise, it is just a matter of time and luck. I can't remember if you have dogs or not.... they are less expensive by far than the hardware cloth.

 

[aoxa]

The broody article on that other site.

Delisha said Sunny, so I was confused I should have guessed!

 

[lalaland]

Hi all,

Frequent lurker on this thread and its predecessors. Does cold weather affect egg production? I live in New Hampshire, so by cold I mean sustained lows below zero and day time high temps in single digits to mid teens. I had 4 pullets laying before Christmas, then it got cold. One still lays like a champ and with the brief warm spell last week, one or two of the others produced, but by and large, nothing.

Who ever used the words -2 and "only" in the same sentence earlier - I salute you. I was born in NYC. When I started saying things like that I knew I'd gone native. I'm still amazed at how warm 10 degrees can feel under the right circumstances.

Bummer! At least the wry neck was an easy fix. I'll keep my fingers crossed for your little guy!

PS - Lucy gobbled up her oily scrambled eggs and promptly made a quite nice looking poop. Yay!!!!! Thanks again for all your help.

SandsBmom, so glad to hear Lucy is better! can you share what you decided was wrong, and what you did for her? Sounds like Delisha walked you thru getting her better, thats wonderful.

 

[atmaclean]

...

That  indented imprint on the flat surface and wrinkles all around made me think it was stuck between a hard place...And well...another hard place. It was one of the hardest shelled eggs I've ever seen. Yes! Like it was double shelled over just the yolk. A real anomaly of an egg. Chickens. Always gots surprises for us.  :/
[/quote


Ive had several eggs like that from my new layers. Really strange

Angela

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I am undecided to whether or not to get an electric fence or regular fenceing still for around their coop/run area. I know I have coons in the area. Have seen a fox a mile or 2 away but never in my area & a couple of neighbors outdoor cats. Last year something was chewing holes in my plastic fencing around the run (I only found them because the chickens found it & got out) that I repaired. I was thinking it was rabbits as they routinely chew thru the plastic fence around veggie garden. Im still trying to figure out some logistics on the coop. I do know it will be predator proof just trying to figure out the best way.

I do have 2 dogs. While they are not outside 24/7 they are out most of the time wx permitting. I have no bunnies or squirrles in my yard. Anything that ventures in my yard my dogs go after. The only thing I have seen recently is a mouse in the garage and he is only alive because he lives in the wood pile. And when they are out during the day Bear is normally right around the chicken run area or checking on them every 5 minutes or so. I am constantly working on the *leave it* command with him. He is stubborn but so am I

He could easily scale their fence to get in with them but doesnt. He knows that is a big no no since he used to scale fences years ago. He likes his freedom to run & doesnt want to lose it again.

Now I know at night its a whole different story. The dogs are in the house. But I have been watching around the coop when I go out first thing in the morning and there have been zero tracks in the snow around the run or the coop all winter. As cold as its been I would think if there were coons or fox or other predators around I would of saw tracks around something. Especially since there are pumpkins in the garden under a tarp that they could eat.
I have a friend with one of those deer cams & I might see if I can borrow it to see what comes near the coop at night.

Leahs Mom I think you said you are making a hoop coop as well? My friend came up with the idea of old skis under the 2x4s so that I can move it around when I need to. Guess who will be watching craigs list and garage sales for old skis?

 

[atmaclean]

armorfirelady, you could think about an electric fence around the perimeter - turning it on/plugging in just at night to help with predators. Otherwise, it is just a matter of time and luck. I can't remember if you have dogs or not.... they are less expensive by far than the hardware cloth.

I can't recommend the maremma enough! Ours is worth his weight in gold. Their intelligence is astounding. We have a very high population of coyote where we live as well as opossum, skunk and hawks. We have only lost one chicken since we got our Banjo last Summer and that was a day I was not home and Banjo was over at the barn with hubby weed-eating fence far away from the house. Our chickens and guineas free- range all day on 50 acres with our horses so Banjo stays busy and does a wonderful job for just the cost of good dog food and love
Angela

 

[aoxa]

I can't recommend the maremma enough! Ours is worth his weight in gold. Their intelligence is astounding. We have a very high population of coyote where we live as well as opossum, skunk and hawks. We have only lost one chicken since we got our Banjo last Summer and that was a day I was not home and Banjo was over at the barn with hubby weed-eating fence far away from the house. Our chickens and guineas free- range all day on 50 acres with our horses so Banjo stays busy and does a wonderful job for just the cost of good dog food and love
Angela

Did you get him as a pup?

 

[aoxa]

My fiance posted this on FB. Really love it.