The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Stony,
There's an article on the front page of BYC that states Sumatras aren't good foragers.

Says the same thing about hybrid layers. My layers are great foragers. Obviously no experience with these breeds I guess.

Wonder why they said that..I better go tell my birds.

 

[aoxa]

Sounds like you have a lot to contribute to the group with all of your birds and expirences..

Welcome!!

We need a welcome emoticon just for this thread

 

[stonykill]

Stony,
There's an article on the front page of BYC that states Sumatras aren't good foragers.

Says the same thing about hybrid layers. My layers are great foragers. Obviously no experience with these breeds I guess.

 

[aoxa]

Wonder why they said that..I better go tell my birds.

I went and posted that I didn't agree with their chart. Hehehee

My naked necks are awesome in the cold. I can see why they wouldn't look like they would be.

 

[aoxa]

that is truly hilarious

. I have to find this and read it. a laugh today would be good

Here's their chart
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...cken-guide-to-picking-backyard-chicken-breeds
and the link to the article

 

[stonykill]

I flat out asked if they compiled the information from their own flocks or just surfed the internet. Nicely written article that is really really weak on actual real world facts. Nicely written but very misleading article to someone who is thinking of getting chickens. And it got on the front page.

 

[aoxa]

Stony,

Love your response to it

They got the silkies spot on. So I didn't have to correct them on that. They are not good foragers and don't do well with heat.

How do they list cochins as foragers, but not sumatras or hybrids? Crazy...

From the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy:


Quote: Even a little more research other than BYC would prove fruitful to that article.



Quote:

Quote:

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote: I love my Genesis.
Thanks guys! After your suggestions, and reading quite a bit yesterday I decided I like the genesis as well. Seems like it would be the easiest to use, and I like the window too.

Stromberg's sells the Genesis Hovabator 1588 with the automatic egg turner combo for a decent price (item# ETPWA-C), with free shipping.

They also sell a basic, low-end model still air Hovabator incubator and turner combo (without a fan), the Hovabator 1602 (Item# SOIA-C), but it lacks the large viewing window.

I have 2 1588s (with automatic egg turners) that have served me VERY well (they are very stable as long as the room they are in doesn't have major temp fluctuations), but they are older models that do not have the LCD control/display panels. I very much appreciate the 1588/turner combo's 42 egg capacity, vs the Brinsea 20's. I have not bought an updated 1588 tho, and can't comment on their reliability so I suggest using some sort of additional Hygrometer and Thermometer just in case there are ever any issues with the LCD panel. (Electrical things fail, even on the Brinseas).


I do not hatch in my 1588s (way too messy/yucky and hard to completely clean and disinfect them afterwards)... so I have 2 cheapo Little Giants that I got from my local TSC that I added cheap PC fans to. I use those for all of my hatching to save wear ad tear in my 1588s (which has been mostly hundreds and hundreds of keets, but I've also hatched turkey poults, quail chicks and Silkie chicks in them... that were all incubated in my 1588s).

 

[aoxa]

Peepca,

Incubator Warehouse is a tad cheaper, and I had very good customer service. Shipping was good as well.

You find them hard to clean? Not me. Simple compared to the cabinet incubator! Lol

Oh and one more thing.. Skip the digital model. It does not read correctly, and you need an addition hydrometer/thermometer anyway.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Okay all you wonderful BYCers, do any if you have a chicken that is scared of heights?? Seems that I do! Snow, one of my 18 week old New Hampshires, gets up on the roost every night with no problem, but every morning, she is the last one down by several minutes. I watch her and she paces back and forth, looking down at the floor until she gets up the nerve to jump! I can almost hear her saying to herself " It's okay, only a couple feet down. I can do this, I did it yesterday..." It cracks me up. Of course I am usually encouraging her too!

My 3 game hens do the same thing, but they prefer the high roosts. The big LF chickens (hens) can't get up there to peck at them when they are on the high roost. In the mornings, the game hens wait for all of the LF to leave the coop, then they take aim for the far lower roosts. One hits the wall sometimes, and comes out sneezing. The only LF bird that can get up that far is the EE roo I have, but he has decided the game hens are his harem. He has no trouble getting off of their roost, but he has his own just opposite theirs. They are both about 7' up, and the LF roosts are waist level and lower.

The game hens also have the highest nest box, as the LF hens chase them out of the lower ones.