The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Quote: Styptic powder is great to always have on hand. If you have chicks, the vitamins and electrolytes is a must. NuStock can be made too. I do believe the ingredience is on that *thing*. What is VetRx and what is in it, and what is it used for?

 

[rambunctious]

my local feed store has it for $14.00.

Thanks stony...I need to find a really great feed store around here. Most of them end up looking very similar to TSC. I went into one over the weekend..had some really neat microbrewery stuff...when I asked about any poultry feed they gave me a bag of cracked corn...

 

[Melabella]

Originally Posted by PeepsCA

years ago i saw a list of roosters that were used for dry flies (hackle feathers) maybe we should contact the big sporting goods stores

My Blacksmith has asked me to save Duke's feathers when he molts. Didn't realize they used these for lures. I should have...

So much warmer here, so nice to not feel so flippin cold. Who knew 30 degrees could be so balmy!

MB

 

[ocap]

I have enjoyed this thread and the entries of all that have partcipated.
The idea of living off the grid and doing everything myself has always lurked in the back of my mind.
As we wonder about "global warming", soy, sheading of blood, "frontline and similar chemicals" let us try and remember how we are all trying to be as natural as possible.
removing the need for fossil fuels by using silkies as a brooder for those hens that do not brood.
pith so that we can dry pluck instead of using fuel to heat water, or for that matter remove the feathers by skinning
finding the best chickens to free range instead of buying feed from a company that uses fossil fuel based fertilizer
pressure cooking over an open "wood fire"? or roasting over a fire?
please help me live off the grid Completely! by all the natural methods we can imagine.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Wish I could find it local. I'd def. get it that way if it were. Makes me wonder since I live in an area w/ lots of Amish farms and you can find all kinds of interesting things that you don't see anywhere else. But...no NuStock. I'm thinking of asking one of them about stocking it and see what they say.

 

[stonykill]

I have enjoyed this thread and the entries of all that have partcipated.
The idea of living off the grid and doing everything myself has always lurked in the back of my mind.
As we wonder about "global warming", soy, sheading of blood, "frontline and similar chemicals" let us try and remember how we are all trying to be as natural as possible.
removing the need for fossil fuels by using silkies as a brooder for those hens that do not brood.
pith so that we can dry pluck instead of using fuel to heat water, or for that matter remove the feathers by skinning
finding the best chickens to free range instead of buying feed from a company that uses fossil fuel based fertilizer
pressure cooking over an open "wood fire"? or roasting over a fire?
please help me live off the grid Completely! by all the natural methods we can imagine.

I'm always working towards this but realize I'll never be all of the way there. For instance we are using modern tech to comunicate. Typing on plastic machines to talk to each other. Here is how I see it. IF the "simple" off the grid ways pertain to keeping chickens them post it here. If it in no way shape or form pertains to chickens then feel free to start a new thread on it and post us the link here in case any of us are interested.

 

[Mumsy]

Make that a MUCH MUCH bigger pot lol.
I just can't see that happening. My turkeys are so agile. They can fly really, really well. They flew from the time they were 10 days old. I'm not talking a couple feet either.. At 2 weeks they flew up and kept lifted for a good 100 feet and 8 feet in the air.

If you don't want flying turkeys, I'd consider a meat turkey and not a heritage breed. Or you can clip their wings... though that doesn't stop mine as much as I thought.

I don't know what kind of turkeys my dad had as a kid in 1936. But I've heard that story since I was a kid in 1960. I think another reason he hated those turkeys all breaking their necks at the same time is he and his brothers had to process all of them right then and there. In 1936 they didn't have a freezer in that log cabin. All that turkey had to be canned using primitive methods. My Grandma has been long gone. I'd like to know how she did it. It was the Great Depression. Nothing would have been wasted. She had five kids to feed. My dad also took care of their chickens and goats.

Our turkey run attached to the hoop coop is finished and it is netted. They will bounce off if they try to fly out. Heritage turkey poults are the only kind offered for sale here. I will most likely clip the wings of any I may keep to breed in the future so I can let them free range with the rest of the flock on occassion. Like I said. I've never raised turkeys. I'm going to find out a lot of new things no doubt.

 

[Mumsy]

As far as silkie eggss and hatching..they seem more lively in the egg than other chicks I have seen..is this your experience? I also have never had blood rings before in my eggs and I have had several come up with it in silkie eggs..is this par for course in silkie eggs?

The only blood rings I've found in eggs I've incubated this year came from Silkie eggs. More than half died in the shell before hatching. One I culled at three days with severe wry neck. Worse Silkie hatch I've ever experienced. I suspect my incubating method was way off this time but I also suspect my eggs came from a highly inbred flock. The shells were thin and many had funny shapes too. Eighteen eggs set and I threw out five quitters that first candling.

It may be Catdance eggs come from healthy vital stock and you are seeing that in your hatch. Makes me all the more excited to get my Catdance eggs next month!

 

[aoxa]

I don't know what kind of turkeys my dad had as a kid in 1936. But I've heard that story since I was a kid in 1960. I think another reason he hated those turkeys all breaking their necks at the same time is he and his brothers had to process all of them right then and there. In 1936 they didn't have a freezer in that log cabin. All that turkey had to be canned using primitive methods. My Grandma has been long gone. I'd like to know how she did it. It was the Great Depression. Nothing would have been wasted. She had five kids to feed. My dad also took care of their chickens and goats.

Our turkey run attached to the hoop coop is finished and it is netted. They will bounce off if they try to fly out. Heritage turkey poults are the only kind offered for sale here. I will most likely clip the wings of any I may keep to breed in the future so I can let them free range with the rest of the flock on occassion. Like I said. I've never raised turkeys. I'm going to find out a lot of new things no doubt.

I wasn't trying to say your dad is lying by the way Just can't see MY turkeys doing such a thing.

I've also heard they are much more stupid than chickens. I don't believe this. They are less thrifty as poults, but if raised properly will thrive. I would check to see if blackhead is a problem where you are as well. That is a huge concern when keeping both chickens and turkeys. There hasn't been a case of blackhead in our area in many years according to our department of agriculture.

My Royal Palms were raised by their parents. Their mother laid, set, hatched and raised a brood of 8 (I think it was 8....) and free ranged from the get-go. I think allowing turkeys to hatch their own improves their immune system. Their mothers teach them to eat and drink. That's where a lot of people lose poults.. they are more difficult to start.

How large is your yard? Is it fenced? If so, how high is the fence? How tolerant are your neighbours?

Turkeys LOVE cars, trucks, bikes, tractors... anything that makes noise, is shiny and motorized. It can be an issue. Especially if you like your vehicles to stay clean and unscathed.

 

[delisha]