The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

Mumsy

You have a really nice set up..I would like to have room like Aoxa, but, I do like having seperate buildings. My DH was talking about chnging the hospitol and making special silkie pens..lol..sheesh

A man and his Silkies - LOL. He's going to spoil those birds rotten, isn't he?
It would be nice to keep a hospital area, but perhaps you don't need as much room as it currently takes up? I think it's neat your hubby is getting so into the chickens as the arrival of his Silkies grows closer.

 

[Sally8]

Where, oh where has the warm weather gone
Where, oh where can it be?
With the sunshine out and the chickens are too
Where, oh where can it be?

 

[Bulldogma]

Question for those who incubate and hatch a lot -
As I've mentioned before, I have a cheap-o Little Giant styrofoam (sp?) incubator. I did a dry incubation and now my eggs are in lockdown... but ironically I can't keep the humidity up. I have an open bowl of water sitting in there, and the humidity only stays around 30% - except for the time some of the water spilled onto the paper towels the eggs are on... and then it went up to around 50%... but only until the paper towel dried.

Thoughts and suggestions on this? I mean, with an open bowl of water in there, you'd think the humidity would be higher. I even loosely covered one of the 2 vents to try to keep the humidity up.

 

[limhyl]

I'm new here but am very interested in what everyone has to say. With such an active thread it seems like it would make more sense to have a separate forum for natural chicken keeping rather than just a thread. Has anyone suggested this? Looking forward to learning from you all!

 

[stonykill]

Question for those who incubate and hatch a lot -
As I've mentioned before, I have a cheap-o Little Giant styrofoam (sp?) incubator. I did a dry incubation and now my eggs are in lockdown... but ironically I can't keep the humidity up. I have an open bowl of water sitting in there, and the humidity only stays around 30% - except for the time some of the water spilled onto the paper towels the eggs are on... and then it went up to around 50%... but only until the paper towel dried.

Thoughts and suggestions on this? I mean, with an open bowl of water in there, you'd think the humidity would be higher. I even loosely covered one of the 2 vents to try to keep the humidity up.

wet sponges. Open water bowl ...bad. Trust me I had a newly hatched chick drown in one once. Very wet sponges help to bring the humidity up. Once the hatching starts it will take care of itself

 

[Bulldogma]

wet sponges. Open water bowl ...bad. Trust me I had a newly hatched chick drown in one once. Very wet sponges help to bring the humidity up. Once the hatching starts it will take care of itself

Is it OK to open up the 'bator during lockdown and switch from the bowl to a sponge? It won't hurt anything? Tomorrow is *supposed* to be hatch day.

I'm new here but am very interested in what everyone has to say. With such an active thread it seems like it would make more sense to have a separate forum for natural chicken keeping rather than just a thread. Has anyone suggested this? Looking forward to learning from you all!

Interesting idea. We are a very active thread and have a lot of wonderful people with great ideas and advice to share. Welcome to the thread!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Okay...now it's my turn to frustrate crochity old men and women everywhere on BYC.......

.

I'm posting to get the opinions of those of you that are good at figuring out sexes. They may be too young at 4 weeks (?)

These are my 4 Swedish Flower Hen chicks that are with the RIR broody. They are 4 weeks old this weekend. Any guesses as to sex? Aoxa? Delisha? Mumsy? Others? I apologize that some of the photos aren't the best. Trying to get these photos was like trying to herd cats. Little Black is especially hard to photograph.


The next 2 photos are Little Yellow. It is the largest chick of the bunch - the one that we hatched here.









The Next 2 photos are Little Gray.






Here is Little Orange with Little Gray in the background.



This is Little Orange alone.





Little Orange with Little Black in the background.



Next 2 photos are Little Black alone.

 

[stonykill]

Is it OK to open up the 'bator during lockdown and switch from the bowl to a sponge? It won't hurt anything? Tomorrow is *supposed* to be hatch day.

I used to worry about such things until I watched dozens of broody's get up for a quick 5 minute snack after the 1st egg has a pip.


Just keep it open as short a time as possible. Then what I have done is for a few minutes after closing it is put a towel over it to help the temp rebound quicker.

 

[stonykill]

I'm new here but am very interested in what everyone has to say. With such an active thread it seems like it would make more sense to have a separate forum for natural chicken keeping rather than just a thread. Has anyone suggested this? Looking forward to learning from you all!

Welcome!

I feel if we all stayed on topic better the thread would be easier to follow and find information in. I've hinted at this before

 

[limhyl]

Thanks! Glad I found you guys. I posted in the pest and disease forum about not treating for coccidiosis and boy did I get an earful! I prefer to go the natural route if possible. All my chicks are doing well and have recovered with no issues with only probiotics for which i'm very thankful.