The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Hi All, I've been trying to make my way through this thread, but after a while only made it to post 25. Please forgive me, but I'd like to ask a few questions, which you probably already touched on. I did enjoy reading about garlic and AVC and plan on using them. I will be getting my first layers ever in April, just 3 of them. Not sure which breed as of yet, but they will be young chickens from an organic farm, not baby chicks. We'd like to stay on the natural / organic route as well. I went down to the feed supply store today just to see what is available. Here is a list of what i found:

Producer's Price - scratch grains
Prunia Layena sunfresh recipe
Dumor Poultry Layers
Manna Pro Oyster Shell
Manna Pro Crushed Granite
Purine Layena Plus - Omega 3

So here are my questions:

Scratch - how does that differ from feed? Some people feed scratch, others give it as a treat. The bag usually states that it should be used as 15% of the diet. It does nott contain the nutrients and vitamins a bird needs. (read your lables because they may differ)
Oyster Shell - Am I correct in thinking that it is for calcium to help with the egg shell production? Does this get mixed in with feed, frequency? It is used for calcium. Some feeds already contain calcium.
Granite - that is to help them grind grain? frequency? It is used to move the food out of the crop I free range and they have access if they need it. If you cage your birds they will need access to it.
Feed - Pellets vs. Crumbles? No difference other than the pellet form swells more when fermented
Do most of you have organic feed available locally? I did not see anything that said organic. You might need to make a few calls.
Is Soy bad? Some think so..I am part of the some.
How does corn fit into all this? Corn is a treat and not a staple. I use very little

Sorry for all the questions. I have been making my way through the threads, and doing specific searches, but still was unsure about a few things.

Never appologise for asking questions about chickens!!
Welcome to the group! Going to be great hearing about your progress! We need pictures of your set up when you get going!

Thank you in advance, back to making my way through this thread

 

[delisha]

Quote: What a great idea Mumsy!! that sure looks nice for a turkey! Your DH is a prize!!

 

[delisha]

I have Jersey Giant roo about 1 year old. In the last few days he has been shaking his head almost all the time. I searched on other threads and mites and gape worm came up. The solutions offered were wazine and Invermectin. Since I don't want to use chemicals I was wondering if any of you have any ideas. I feed FF, do DL and free range most days. There are no other symptoms and no one else seems to have this problem. It has been very cold and his wattles look a little dark on the bottom. Could it be frostbite? I have been lurking on here quite awhile and really appreciate the ideas and advice. Just can't keep up. Thanks for any help.

I love JG's. Have a few pullet chicks. Sounds like he needs an exam. Check them wattles. Use a q-tip dipped in oil and go around his ears..check the q-tip for mites. Put something on his wattles. NuStock might work for frost bite and mites. Some use vasaline on wattles for frost bite protection too.

 

[delisha]

I think one of the reasons people think vegetarian chicken eggs is better is bc of the mad cow thing a while ago. There were quite a few reports of how livestock were fed animal products (sometimes of the same species) and in general people thought it was a bad idea. After that, labels that said "corn fed" and "vegetarian diet only" kept popping up. I don't know enough about non-veg animal feed to comment otherwise, but I remember that people discussed all livestock raised, not just cows at that time. If I could find soy-free feed locally that wasn't double the price, I would feed it. I can't afford to have it shipped to me, though. I don't go through enough feed to have it justify the expense. I keep asking at my local feed stores, and I'm hoping someday they stock it.

Dust bunnies out of the mind cob webs..that was a long time ago and you are probably correct. I remember when soy was the new and improved food to feed. I was one of the people who jumped on the band wagon for a few years. I now try hard to avoid it. Feed prices are sky rocketing and I need to make sure I can cover the cost with production. I also understand why others have no choice. I am very fortunate to have a mill so close and I live in farm country.

 

[Bulldogma]

I do not add water..IF and I mean IF the air cells at day 18 are not correct I will add damp paper towels in the shot glasses. Right now my humidity in my house is 50%. I do not need water, my humidity is perfect and the air cells are doing great! To much humidity and you don't have enough room for the chicks, they fill up the egg and can't turn. They need to loose moisture. Usually the chicks as they pip are doing so to grow lung capasity and to dry out. Adding too much humidity and you end up with unabsorbed yolks and herniated hard to close belly buttons. So my answer to you is...depends on your house humidity. If you have several chicks in the incubator they add to the humidity as they pip too. It really goes up if one hatches.

What day are you on?
Did you take notes?

I'm on day 21 and I don't think any of the eggs/chicks made it.

Just too many issues and temperature spikes with the incubator. I did a dry incubation (the humidity was at 16% up until day 18) and then I added a wet sponge at lockdown. That's when the temps in the incubator went awry - first staying too low, and then spiking up to 103... and even 105! The stupid little temperature control knob is way too small and touchy. I had put a larger knob (from a milk bottle) on it as someone had suggested on another thread, but after a few uses, it became too loose and I couldn't tell if it was turning the knob or just spinning by itself. Sigh... thank goodness I took the "important" eggs (Heritage RIR) to a friend! This was a trial run with our incubator, and an educational process for sure!

I'm stubborn, so I will be trying again right away, and I know some things I will do differently from the start. I just wish this time had gone better - the kids are a little upset.

 

[stonykill]

I'm on day 21 and I don't think any of the eggs/chicks made it.

Just too many issues and temperature spikes with the incubator. I did a dry incubation (the humidity was at 16% up until day 18) and then I added a wet sponge at lockdown. That's when the temps in the incubator went awry - first staying too low, and then spiking up to 103... and even 105! The stupid little temperature control knob is way too small and touchy. I had put a larger knob (from a milk bottle) on it as someone had suggested on another thread, but after a few uses, it became too loose and I couldn't tell if it was turning the knob or just spinning by itself. Sigh... thank goodness I took the "important" eggs (Heritage RIR) to a friend! This was a trial run with our incubator, and an educational process for sure!

I'm stubborn, so I will be trying again right away, and I know some things I will do differently from the start. I just wish this time had gone better - the kids are a little upset.

don't give up yet. You never know. With an LG once youget the temp where you want it don't touch that little knob. Too touchy. Next time put the LG in a box. I built a wooden box but many just place it in a cardboard box.
I have never dry hatched. I always just water the well and try not to pay attention to what the hygrometer says. FYI eh you open the bator for any reason, like putting in eggs, adding water it can take an hour or 2 before the total internal temp of the bator stabilizes. That is why you need to leave the temp knob alone. It will rebound on it's own.

 

[Sally8]

Keep reading. In between all of the off topic gibber jabber there is plenty of good info on this thread.

Stony-Not meaning to offend but I have to tell you. My husband and I are always arguing because I accuse him of not answering me. He feels he only needs to answer if I say something important. I tell him what I say is always important. lol. I love the man to pieces. Just stick with us. We don't want to lose you or your helpfulness. But, I do always chuckle when I readcomments like above. No rats caught yet. No foot prints in the fresh snow either. I'll rebait tomorrow night.
My eggs in the incubator haven't done anything so far. Tonight is 21 days. I am starting to nail bite. I did have a few hours with 102 temps and yesterday had a few hours of 90 temps.. Thankfully, these were just my own eggs but some were fathered by Stanley, the wheaten splash EE just before I gave him away. Ah well. It's been so cold. I would have had to keep them inside There is still time.

Tonight I adopted 2 Silkie (that's what they called them) roo's. I didn't think they got this big and the combs on both looked like the Cochin I once had. I'll have to go back and review our class on combs. They are so pretty and tame. Not sure what to do with them as of yet. Maybe everyone will get along after quarantine. They are cute but I understand why people refer to them as not really being a chicken. My grandson named them Friendly and Pecky. At least it's not another Sally! I'm trying to download the silkies but no luck. I'll keep trying.

 

[stonykill]

Stony-Not meaning to offend but I have to tell you. My husband and I are always arguing because I accuse him of not answering me. He feels he only needs to answer if I say something important. I tell him what I say is always important. lol. I love the man to pieces. Just stick with us. We don't want to lose you or your helpfulness. But, I do always chuckle when I readcomments like above. No rats caught yet. No foot prints in the fresh snow either. I'll rebait tomorrow night.
My eggs in the incubator haven't done anything so far. Tonight is 21 days. I am starting to nail bite. I did have a few hours with 102 temps and yesterday had a few hours of 90 temps.. Thankfully, these were just my own eggs but some were fathered by Stanley, the wheaten splash EE just before I gave him away. Ah well. It's been so cold. I would have had to keep them inside There is still time.

Tonight I adopted 2 Silkie (that's what they called them) roo's. I didn't think they got this big and the combs on both looked like the Cochin I once had. I'll have to go back and review our class on combs. They are so pretty and tame. Not sure what to do with them as of yet. Maybe everyone will get along after quarantine. They are cute but I understand why people refer to them as not really being a chicken. My grandson named them Friendly and Pecky. At least it's not another Sally! I'm trying to download the silkies but no luck. I'll keep trying.

not offended at all. but the important questions get buried in all of the Off Topic stuff. There is no reason a natural horse keeping thread can't be opened, a natural canning thread can't be opened etc. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way as I get pm's from many who agree but just aren't "speak their mind" types like me.
Keep after the rats. Change to a different bait if need be.

 

[ocap]

how long should I quarantine?

 

[Sally8]

I'm on day 21 and I don't think any of the eggs/chicks made it.

Just too many issues and temperature spikes with the incubator. I did a dry incubation (the humidity was at 16% up until day 18) and then I added a wet sponge at lockdown. That's when the temps in the incubator went awry - first staying too low, and then spiking up to 103... and even 105! The stupid little temperature control knob is way too small and touchy. I had put a larger knob (from a milk bottle) on it as someone had suggested on another thread, but after a few uses, it became too loose and I couldn't tell if it was turning the knob or just spinning by itself. Sigh... thank goodness I took the "important" eggs (Heritage RIR) to a friend! This was a trial run with our incubator, and an educational process for sure!

I'm stubborn, so I will be trying again right away, and I know some things I will do differently from the start. I just wish this time had gone better - the kids are a little upset.

This sounds like my post. I don't think the dry hatch has anything to do with our troubles. Last year I hatched nearly 100 % without adding any water. No sticky chicks or ones that were soaking wet.
this time my temps were so constant, I couldn't believe it until Evan my grandson adjusted it for me. It might have gone 8 hours (or less) at 90 degrees. In the beginning, he adjusted only it went high, no longer than an hour. I'm wondering if mine won't hatch tomorrow, late. Last incubation, my temps were a little higher and they actually hatched on day 20. So maybe this time since they were lower they will come tomorrow. I had candled on day 7 and day 16. They were growing. The blue and green I could only tell if there was an air sac and even that was hard to see. Lets just keep our fingers crossed. I use the milk cap too but I draw a line with a black marker down the white shaft of the original knob so I can see if it was moving or not. No crying, put the tears away. We'll just try again. Sue