The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

In this day and age ANY farm animal is rare and exotic. Folks think food comes from the grocery store.

It's so sad.

 

[aoxa]

Stony.. I know you hate idle talk, but if I remember correctly, you are a huge fan of Maine Coons and Maine coon mixes..

Had to share this image I came across in my album the other day. My boy Charlie and his daughter. Both have passed away, and both will never be forgotten.

I didn't pose them in this picture. They did it themselves. What divas!

 

[Arkansas81]

In this day and age ANY farm animal is rare and exotic. Folks think food comes from the grocery store.

I know right!! I have a girl scout troop that i do with my daughter...they think it is sooooooo uber cool to come to my farm and help take care of the animals. They just don't have a clue about things anymore these days. Most kids are clueless about what it takes to make an honest healthy living these days.


I am so excited about getting my orchard up and going in full swing this year. I probably won't get much out of it this year but am looking forward to next spring. I will section it off so the critters can't get in there and wipe me out like before. But I will leave plenty for all to par-take in as things grow. I've always wanted to live this life style where we are growing, raising most of our food. I mean you just don't know what/where your food comes from anymore these days. I am really enjoying knowing where my food is coming from..

 

[loanwizard]

That's so nice of you to say. I got lucky. I was there to witness it. She is one of my very rare Ameraucana Bantams. I have so few of them that I check them over often. They are with the large fowl for the winter, so I try to make sure they aren't getting bullied around (doing really well!) Poor girl was having a really hard time walking, and as soon as I lanced her - she felt better. The swelling continued though for a few days. Yesterday she was at least 50% less swelling in the worse foot 75% in the other. I could not find any corns or whatever they call the infection in bumble foot. It was just like painful blisters.

Have you ever seen anything like that? Chris09 told me to put coconut oil on her feet. I have pure organic coconut oil already - so I did. Maybe it's doing the trick?
Will do! I'll have to take some pictures.
It's all about what your used to. I bet your weather feels just as cold to you as my weather does to me.

I'd love to try your pork. I'm going to be getting some pigs eventually. I don't want anything huge... Something manageable.

I'd like to start out with a pair and breed and use said piglets to grow and use for meat.

I want something smart, friendly and easy to handle for a first timer. Any suggestions?

I don't think this thread should be all about chickens. I think it should be all about raising animals naturally. For meat and food (eggs). Great.. now I'm hungry.

Don't know that I would recommend a breeding pair just yet.... Just because I like raising them doesn't mean you would. As a betting man I am pretty sure you would, but for the first time.... Remember, a breeding sow and boar is good for 5-7 years so it is quite a commitment. They eat too so the feeders are not free. Additionally, a good sow throws 12-14 piglets a litter which is a lot to feed when a feeder takes about 800lbs of feed from weaning to butcher. All that said, of course I recommend a heritage breed. Not only do you feel good saving a species, but you get hags that are bred to forage which fits into the sustainable lifestyle. I chose Tamworths because the guy I bought from raised them and sold me on his story. Large Black and Old Spot come to mind as other breeds to consider. I could bore you with the industrialization of the pork industry but.... you can check out my evolving website for that.

My Tams forage very well. I am currently using them to clear cut some very thick areas and then it will be on to intensive rotational grazing. My guess is, that if you and several others on here got some tams you would find them to be almost petlike quality. I have zero fear of my animals, and the ones I have had time to work with love being petted behind the ears, on the rump, belly, anywhere. They are fantastic inquisitive creatures. They all eat bread out of my hands.

Here is a link to local harvest and some heritage breeds: http://www.localharvest.org/features/heritage-pork.jsp

 

[loanwizard]

I am so excited about getting my orchard up and going in full swing this year. I probably won't get much out of it this year but am looking forward to next spring. I will section it off so the critters can't get in there and wipe me out like before. But I will leave plenty for all to par-take in as things grow. I've always wanted to live this life style where we are growing, raising most of our food. I mean you just don't know what/where your food comes from anymore these days. I am really enjoying knowing where my food is coming from..

I must have missed this. What type of orchard are you putting in? I am strongly considering apple trees for both my hogs and to draw deer. I have been told it is about 4 years from seed, or 2 years if I buy from a garden center.
I would love some input as I figure from seed, animals will do their best to eradicate the youngsters as they grow but have not looked at the cost of 2 year old trees. I am also looking forward to planting my grazing forage of White Clover, Fescue, Austrian Winter Peas, and other things.

 

[lalaland]

I was wondering if a chicken would stay inside the coop, where there is no food or water, and make herself ill rather then come out into the wind? These last two days have been so windy and I don't see this particular one come out so I am worried about her not getting enough food or water. The other two will poke their heads out and sometimes I see them scratching, but not the other one. This morning they all came out to free range for five minutes, but then the wind made such a noise they all went running back to the coop. I did put some food in the coop yesterday that I had added some water to, so she did eat some yesterday.

I feel like such the nervous nelly with the chickens!

.

Some hens are like that - wanting to hang out in the coop instead of outside. If I have one that doesn't come out on the second day, I leave some food and water inside for her, after check to be sure I can't see any signs of problems (broodiness, illness, etc). Right now I have a girl I shoo out and then she is fine and stays out, of course not on days like this when it is -20 and heavens knows what windchill. If it were summer, I wouldn't worry but when it is so cold, I do a little extra to make sure they have easy access to food and water.

 

[Arkansas81]

I must have missed this. What type of orchard are you putting in? I am strongly considering apple trees for both my hogs and to draw deer. I have been told it is about 4 years from seed, or 2 years if I buy from a garden center.
I would love some input as I figure from seed, animals will do their best to eradicate the youngsters as they grow but have not looked at the cost of 2 year old trees. I am also looking forward to planting my grazing forage of White Clover, Fescue, Austrian Winter Peas, and other things.

well my plan is to start with started trees, as starting from seed, for me just takes to long. I already have black walnuts (which have been on the property for who knows how long)? Apple trees, pear trees, blueberries. I also plan on doing a HUGE garden this year. I want just about everything in my garden. My daughter will be of course filling every available spot with flowers.

If I start from seed I have more success with starting them in a seed starter, mini greenhouse inside the house. Then as they start getting bigger then I transplant them into some kind of planter, depending on what it is. Like right now I have another pineapple started in the house. When it gets warmer and it grows then I will put it in the garden. If I try to start something (tree, bush, etc) outside then the weather gets it or a critter. The chickens destroyed the garden last year, did total havoc on our started trees last summer so I will defentaly section all of it off.

So my suggestion is to start with already started anything especially trees, to me just sooo much easier. Also see what zone you are in...makes a HUGE difference. Only certain things will grow in certain zones, research, plan out where you really want them, protect them from pesky critters then you ought to be able to start off on the right foot. I just love planting, planning stuff like this! It's my favorite part of spring..

 

[aoxa]

Don't know that I would recommend a breeding pair just yet.... Just because I like raising them doesn't mean you would. As a betting man I am pretty sure you would, but for the first time.... Remember, a breeding sow and boar is good for 5-7 years so it is quite a commitment. They eat too so the feeders are not free. Additionally, a good sow throws 12-14 piglets a litter which is a lot to feed when a feeder takes about 800lbs of feed from weaning to butcher. All that said, of course I recommend a heritage breed. Not only do you feel good saving a species, but you get hags that are bred to forage which fits into the sustainable lifestyle. I chose Tamworths because the guy I bought from raised them and sold me on his story. Large Black and Old Spot come to mind as other breeds to consider. I could bore you with the industrialization of the pork industry but.... you can check out my evolving website for that.

My Tams forage very well. I am currently using them to clear cut some very thick areas and then it will be on to intensive rotational grazing. My guess is, that if you and several others on here got some tams you would find them to be almost petlike quality. I have zero fear of my animals, and the ones I have had time to work with love being petted behind the ears, on the rump, belly, anywhere. They are fantastic inquisitive creatures. They all eat bread out of my hands.

Here is a link to local harvest and some heritage breeds: http://www.localharvest.org/features/heritage-pork.jsp

If I chose a very large breed of pig, I think I'd go with Berkshire, as a friend of mine raises them, and they are so smart. They sit on command and do tricks.. But... They are so big.. I don't know if I want something that big. I wouldn't sell any of the meat, it would just be for us.. and we are a small family. I would sell live piglets and keep maybe one or two for butcher. I know I'd love potbellies. But how practical are they? I've read they are mostly fat, and take a long time to grow out.. but their piglets sell well according to a friend that raised them for a time.

So... what are your thoughts on the Berkshire? I can get them here, and from someone who raises them RIGHT. I've seen how he raises them, and they have lots of foraging.

How costly is it to feed two pigs a year? I should ask you this in your thread.. But Stony can suck it up.


Look.. there's a chicken involved.

 

[midnightroo]

Ao

Stony.. I know you hate idle talk, but if I remember correctly, you are a huge fan of Maine Coons and Maine coon mixes.. Had to share this image I came across in my album the other day. My boy Charlie and his daughter. Both have passed away, and both will never be forgotten. I didn't pose them in this picture. They did it themselves. What divas!

Aoxa, love the kitty photo. They were beautiful!

 

[midnightroo]

Some hens are like that - wanting to hang out in the coop instead of outside.  If I have one that doesn't come out on the second day, I leave some food and water inside for her, after check to be sure I can't see any signs of problems (broodiness, illness, etc).  Right now I have a girl I shoo out and then she is fine and stays out, of course not on days like this when it is -20 and heavens knows what windchill.  If it were summer, I wouldn't worry but when it is so cold, I do a little extra to make sure they have easy access to food and water.

Thanks, lalaland. I did see her come out to eat and drink when the winds died down for a bit. It only seems to be this weather, I think she might be a diva. Didn't like the snow or mud, only the grass or the run with the straw and leaves.