The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Sally8]

Sally..I have chicks out in the coop too. I have only seen one. I think I hear more. The one peeking out is not the Orpingtons. I gave her 4 Orpington eggs and I see no black. That means more eggs were layed in her nest than I had thought.

How do others keep tract of eggs in nests? Do you mark them? Separate the hens at onset of nesting?

Because these were not planned, I haven't done anything. About now, I am going to separate the BCMarans from the EE's because I want the BCM to be true. What I am worried about is the babies getting water. I could put a small jar cover in the nest (I already have been putting feed in one corner) I don't want to get the nest wet. What does anyone with a broody hen do? This one that just hatched is a cross between an EE and a BCM, EE with an EE or Delaware with either of the other 2. They are only for me so I'm not concerned. The BCM I'm trying to keep true as I have grandchildren that might want to show at the county fair for fun. I don't want to be unprepared. Once I realized they were setting, I would pull all the dark eggs.

 

[Sally8]

actually I'm thinking of unsubscribing.

I sure hope you don't. There are a lot of posts on topics that I'm not interested in either. I probably miss things I wish that I would read but I pass these articles over. I am as guilty as I have posted about my turkeys, run over dog, dropped dead cat and cancer ridden mother. I did re read the rules and will try.

 

[delisha]

I have a very silly question, but still curious and on topic.

Do hens that stop laying still go broody? Just trying to pre-plan 3-4 years from now when my current little flock is done laying, what I can do with them. (Maybe I'll have a farm by then )

Not a silly question at all..If you ever have a question please post it and don't feel like you have to temper what you say..please

1. Hopefully your little flock will not be done laying in 3-4 years
2. Yes some continue to produce hormones after they stop laying
a. I would not trust them to successfully sit with out constant supervision and have a back up plan
3. If you ever do this please document it and post your results
4. Eat the chickens after they are done laying

 

[delisha]

I am sooooooo frustrated!!

I posted this information on my Arizona thread and hope it's okay to post here as well as I would love some feedback on things I can do to increase my ratio of hens because this is ridiculous...

When I ordered my batch of chicks from Ideal Poultry, I specifically asked for all hens - NO MALES, not even any to keep the others warm in transit as suggested. I was willing to take responsibility for any losses. I asked them to not throw in any extras or anything. The only straight run I ordered were 3 silkies and I knew I could get roos in there.

Well, here we are about 4 months later... our FAVORITE hen started crowing this morning. A beautiful Americauna which I was hoping to get pretty eggs from. They also DID send me an EXTRA Australorp which also turned out to be a rooster and is now crowing too. Then, next thing I know, our one and only speckled sussex they sent me is starting to crow. And from what I can tell, 2 of the silkies (the blue and red) are both roos.

That leaves me with 1 white silkie hen, 2 barred plymouth rocks, 1 rhode island red, 1 Americauna, and 2 australorps that are scaring me a bit with looking like roos. Do Australorp hens have bigger combs and wattles then other breeds?

That's like 5 roosters to 7 hens and that's if I'm lucky and the other 2 Australorps are hens. I expected that there may be some error in sexing, like maybe I would end up with 1 roo or something but this is ridiculous. I am going to have to start all over with getting enough hens for the eggs I want to get and butcher some of our favorites. Is there a more accurate place to order chickens from?

One more thing I've noticed... It seems like what Ideal called "Americauna" is actually "EE" based on the photos I have found. So, I guess I have EE's, not Americaunas - do they mislabel them there?

I am sorry you had such a bad shipment.

1. Contact Ideal and ask them to replace the hens they neglected to end
2. eat the cockerels
3. It is almost impossible to' get Americauna's from a hatchery. They will be EE's.
4. how about taking the risk and doing the easter hatch out..order eggs from reputable breeders on BYC!
If hatching is not your thing..order pullets from reputable breeders here or find a show in your area and go pick them up in person.
If you tell me where you live in pm I will find you a close show and when it is going on.
I used to post show dates but that is off topic and I stopped out of respect for the thread...anyone please feel free to pm me who needs and wants how dates.

 

[Sally8]

Not a silly question at all..If you ever have a question please post it and don't feel like you have to temper what you say..please

1. Hopefully your little flock will not be done laying in 3-4 years
2. Yes some continue to produce hormones after they stop laying
a. I would not trust them to successfully sit with out constant supervision and have a back up plan
3. If you ever do this please document it and post your results
4. Eat the chickens after they are done laying

 

[Bulldogma]

Big Chicken News!





All three of my Swedish Flower Hen girls are laying... and did it all at the same time this morning! I put in a new nest box (the blue one) and apparently they approve - LOL! This was the first real egg for the blue splash girl on the far left. Her egg is pictured on the far right (taken from the opposite side through the egg door). Her egg is lighter in color than the other two... and it was a pretty big egg for a first time! Astrid (the girl in the middle) lays a long, skinny egg - it's so nice to be able to tell who lays what egg!

And Stony - we sure don't want to lose you. I understand - and what ever you feel is right for you. Just don't be a stranger - I'm looking forward to putting up more of your articles! You have good stuff to share!

 

[delisha]

Quote: I have a small waterer in the corner..I will go out and take pictures..it will at least give you ideas. The temps were 17 last night and the water only had a small crust of ice on the edge, so she is generating a lot of heat in that box.

 

[Elliemae 77]

I agree about the off topic thing. I think its kind of silly to try to maintain a business like atmosphere. I like the thread the way it is....more like sharing information and advice between friends. And friends care about each other. Not just our chickens, but all aspects of our lives, because let's face it....we all love our chickens, but it is not the soul purpose in our lives.....ok. off my soap box now.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Sally..I have chicks out in the coop too. I have only seen one. I think I hear more. The one peeking out is not the Orpingtons. I gave her 4 Orpington eggs and I see no black. That means more eggs were layed in her nest than I had thought.

How do others keep tract of eggs in nests? Do you mark them? Separate the hens at onset of nesting?

I mark mine with a sharpie. I draw a line lengthwise and around the middle of the egg. That way when I check under the broody, it is obvious if an unwanted egg is there.

I am sooooooo frustrated!!

I posted this information on my Arizona thread and hope it's okay to post here as well as I would love some feedback on things I can do to increase my ratio of hens because this is ridiculous...

When I ordered my batch of chicks from Ideal Poultry, I specifically asked for all hens - NO MALES, not even any to keep the others warm in transit as suggested. I was willing to take responsibility for any losses. I asked them to not throw in any extras or anything. The only straight run I ordered were 3 silkies and I knew I could get roos in there.

Well, here we are about 4 months later... our FAVORITE hen started crowing this morning. A beautiful Americauna which I was hoping to get pretty eggs from. They also DID send me an EXTRA Australorp which also turned out to be a rooster and is now crowing too. Then, next thing I know, our one and only speckled sussex they sent me is starting to crow. And from what I can tell, 2 of the silkies (the blue and red) are both roos.

That leaves me with 1 white silkie hen, 2 barred plymouth rocks, 1 rhode island red, 1 Americauna, and 2 australorps that are scaring me a bit with looking like roos. Do Australorp hens have bigger combs and wattles then other breeds?

That's like 5 roosters to 7 hens and that's if I'm lucky and the other 2 Australorps are hens. I expected that there may be some error in sexing, like maybe I would end up with 1 roo or something but this is ridiculous. I am going to have to start all over with getting enough hens for the eggs I want to get and butcher some of our favorites. Is there a more accurate place to order chickens from?

One more thing I've noticed... It seems like what Ideal called "Americauna" is actually "EE" based on the photos I have found. So, I guess I have EE's, not Americaunas - do they mislabel them there?

Hatcheries usually spell it with an i in the name, which tells you it is actually an EE. The ONLY way to get a true Ameracauna is to get one from a reputable breeder. But there is nothing wrong with EE's, I have 2 and waiting to see if I get blue or green eggs. Ind I would contact Ideal, that is a horrible ratio for sexed chicks.

 

[jendodd79]

Not a silly question at all..If you ever have a question please post it and don't feel like you have to temper what you say..please

1. Hopefully your little flock will not be done laying in 3-4 years
2. Yes some continue to produce hormones after they stop laying
a. I would not trust them to successfully sit with out constant supervision and have a back up plan
3. If you ever do this please document it and post your results
4. Eat the chickens after they are done laying

Thanks! I only have brand new laying pullets so it's still quite far down the road. We made it through our first rooster cull and it wasn't as shocking as I thought (though we haven't actually eaten one yet). I'm not sure that my daughter will let us eat "Little One", but perhaps with her booming egg business funding all of the things that a 10-12 year old would want, she won't mind so much!

Countrygirl, If they are spelled Amer"i"cauna, then they are EEs.