The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

On this pullet order that turned out to be roos.... Did you complain to the company and are they going to replace with pullets?

 

[aoxa]

I have a question for all of you that have raised chicks. Have you ever had just 1 and how did you handle it. I had a single one, "Bob" and he only lived 4 days. This morning I went out to check on the one under the hen and there he laid on his side barely peeping and very cold. He's in the bathtub up running around acting like a chick but like before will only eat and drink when encouraged. I just read somewhere to put a mirror in. What else can I do until I can travel to a few towns over tomorrow to purchase a couple chicks?

A Silkie question, I'm not interested in raising them at all, but my little Frizzle, Cecilia, I'll do anything for her because she's so cute. Useless but cute. Anyway, I posted those pic's of the 2 males and someone posted that they were hatchery. How do you come to that conclusion? To "upgrade" to a non hatchery bird, do you take something like this, look for all the qualities you would want, cull for the one's you don't and keep going on and on for poultry generations until you get SOP perfection? If so, isn't that like a whole lot of work and frustration? My hat is off to you, if so. I really love my chickens, but WOW, that's almost mind boggling to me This may seem so obvious to you all but I really never thought about it. The Sikies that I see on here are just puff balls, is that the difference between hatchery and upgrade? To go through the motions to upgrade is it done so that you can show, or sell for more money, why do it?

Life is crazy. Mom made it through surgery, (unexpected) In a week we should know what type of cancer we are dealing with. Makes me want to pass out hugs. Sue

Everyone else answered this so much better than I could have

My starting silkies were not top quality, but I worked with them and came out with really good results. Lower quality birds paired with the right partner sometimes come out with better offspring than two really good quality parents. This coming from a friend of mine who has bred show winning silkies for 25 years.

His breeders are often not his show birds, but are the ones that produce his show birds.

 

[loanwizard]

I just saw these for the first time and was wondering if anyone has used them or knows anyone that has as a brooder heater? (Of course, I mean for in the hen house - not for an in the basement set-up)

http://sweeterheater.com/page4.asp

http://sweeterheater.com/bizweb.asp

It looks to me like it may have the same problems as a ceramic heat emitter not putting out enough heat to use when it's cold out but I thought I'd ask.

I love chicks in a tanning bed!

 

[aoxa]

I love chicks in a tanning bed!

LOL!

That is the perfect caption for this photo!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Just be sure to keep the aforementioned "cloth" securely fastened.

 

[aoxa]

Have you guys watched the Super Bowl commercials? There are at least 3 about farming.

The Budweiser one made me tear up.

 

[Sally8]

Everyone else answered this so much better than I could have

My starting silkies were not top quality, but I worked with them and came out with really good results. Lower quality birds paired with the right partner sometimes come out with better offspring than two really good quality parents. This coming from a friend of mine who has bred show winning silkies for 25 years.

His breeders are often not his show birds, but are the ones that produce his show birds.

I've read where people breed up or upgrade their chickens and I was curious because again, I Read where some people as their chicks grow, when one exhibits undesirable traits, then "off with their heads". Someone posted that sometimes whole batches are nearly all culled. So, I'm thinking that breeders have a very long process ahead of them. It's obvious that i know nothing about breeding. I recently saw a beautiful Buff Orpington and thought I need one of those. After inquiring, it would cost me half of 1 months mortgage to purchase a doz eggs. I'm just going to admire photo's on here. lol. Everyday, I enjoy looking out across my yard and seeing a scattering of beautiful feathery birds. Although, I can't/don't cuddle them, they certainly are fun.
The 2 Silkie roo's I've acquired are for Cecilia but we are only keeping 1. The one I like best is very aggressive so K'm glad I brought 2 home. Around here I rarely see or hear anything about Silkies so I'm certain I can find the other one a good home. I'm not planning on breeding Cecilia but the larger hens sort of shun her. I thought maybe one of her own would be a companion. I didn't care if it were male or female.

 

[rambunctious]

They're here! I'm a lil concerned w/temp though. I covered brooder w/ a heavy blanket and added a heat fan. I'll check on them every 20-30. One died already...wasn't standing well when I got them this am, put in a separate spot under heat w/water, food. Came back from taking son to school and she had died..a SLW. My favorite.

 

[rambunctious]

I checked on them again and they were 'huddled' under the light..I lowered the light some .. the thermometer reads 110. But they're still huddled. Most of them seem to be eating the FF well. I introduced everyone to water again. A few just kinda stand there and sway a bit. Hopefully everyone else survives! I think the packing blanket helps keep the heat in...now just to make sure they don't get too hot...or too cold...it's like Goldilocks!!

 

[delisha]

I checked on them again and they were 'huddled' under the light..I lowered the light some .. the thermometer reads 110. But they're still huddled. Most of them seem to be eating the FF well. I introduced everyone to water again. A few just kinda stand there and sway a bit. Hopefully everyone else survives! I think the packing blanket helps keep the heat in...now just to make sure they don't get too hot...or too cold...it's like Goldilocks!!

110? if it is accurate, raise that heater, it is too hot. try to get it at 80-85. They are stressing from heat..they need air circulation. Where do you have them?