The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[countrygirl74]

My new chicks are gone. In the classic "I thought the door was shut and I was away for two minutes" my terrier mix jumped into the brooder box and killed all four. He was in the box still and must have just finished it. My older kids took care of the bodies for me because I am just broken. I know its my fault, thinking that the door was shut and he was with me. I just feel horrible and sick. Just dreadfully sick. Sorry for the sad post but I think you all understand.

So sorry... it know it's hard.

 

[kian]

Sorry Kian..

I had a beautiful cocker spaniel that had fun with a batch of 50 chicks. Not a peep left. I never made that mistake again.

Thank you Delisha, I won't make the same mistake twice. How devastating for you. My boy knows now that he made one too, he's trying to wiggle back into my good graces as I type this!

 

[kian]

So sorry... it know it's hard.

Thank you.

 

[rambunctious]

My new chicks are gone. In the classic "I thought the door was shut and I was away for two minutes" my terrier mix jumped into the brooder box and killed all four. He was in the box still and must have just finished it. My older kids took care of the bodies for me because I am just broken. I know its my fault, thinking that the door was shut and he was with me. I just feel horrible and sick. Just dreadfully sick. Sorry for the sad post but I think you all understand.

I'm so very sorry to hear that! I can only imagine.

I vote for a chocolate milkshake and a big serving of strawberries with whipped creme.

I second that!

 

[loanwizard]

I found some layer feed for $.25 lb But it is a touch of a drive so I'm debating the cost of gas.
No way would I want a ton. I'm not on the ff bandwagon yet, too many personal issues with it. Where to store so my children don't play in it. Children love to play in goo. It might attract mice or even worse bugs to the house if I store it inside. There is not really room to store it in the coop and I know there are mice in the back storage building.
I was thinking yarn, you could braid it into a little ring and knot it so that it could not stretch off.

I would not have thought of using hog feed. Do you do anything to it like soaking it in water or can it be dumped straight into the feeders? How much would about 20-25 RIR chickens eat a day?

Straight out of the bag. I think someone said 4 cups per day per bird. 20-25 birds..... 50lb bag per week, week and a half.... Less if free ranged more in winter.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO MARK A CHICKEN WITH SOMETHING I ALREADY HAVE LAYING AROUND? Without bands, please...I don't have any.

The 2 BRs are pretty much twins and I can't consistently tell them apart. One of them is seriously cranky and from as long as I can remember will just attack the others for no good reason at all...just because they exist. I'd like to mark her and really watch her for a few weeks but...

Right this minute she's looking like a nice bowl of soup to me. Atilla Soup.

Hate to lose the eggs, but I also hate watching her just stirring things up for no reason at all. And now w/the babies, she's a possible threat. We'll see...

I use medical tape turned in on itself with a junction of more tape. It's soft and easy to remove. Good luck with the bratty chick.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

My new chicks are gone. In the classic "I thought the door was shut and I was away for two minutes" my terrier mix jumped into the brooder box and killed all four. He was in the box still and must have just finished it. My older kids took care of the bodies for me because I am just broken. I know its my fault, thinking that the door was shut and he was with me. I just feel horrible and sick. Just dreadfully sick. Sorry for the sad post but I think you all understand.

Oh Kian... How sad!!! I'm so sorry.

 

[loanwizard]

Kian, I am sorry to hear that.

This won't make you feel any better, but once, I decided I was going to build a tractor for my meat birds. I admired my handiwork, then when I moved the tractor to fresh grass.... I killed 4 birds that day that were too dumb to move with the tractor. Soon after I bought electric poultry netting. I have dogs and getting them trained, I have lost many.

I had 2 pigs this summer just waste away. I slept with 1 for about 2-3 hours trying to keep it warm... it passed by morning. The other one I shot with a .22..... 4 times....

I had a cat decided to sleep on my Suburban tire......

I wrote a long post in here about how I felt when I betrayed my girls headed to processing....

A friend lost 4 horses a month ago due to bad hay.....

In the end analysis, working with livestock, these things are going to happen.

Never lose the humanity in whatever it is you do.

A hug, a kiss and a prayer is sent to you via Loin message.

 

[loanwizard]

BTW, did you use the moment to train the dog to NO.... MY Chicken?

 

[aoxa]

I gave them a call..they want to know if they are supost to address you as Loinwizard or Chippendale

You know...that brings up another question, Del.

I was reading an article regarding raising roosters in Backyard Poultry and the gal that wrote it said something I've never seen anyone of you experienced folks mention. It made me want to ask you, Stony, Aoxo, Mumsy.... and any other OTs (or is that ot ??) for your "take" on it.

She was talking about training a rooster to respect you as "top rooster" or dominant so he will be submissive in your presence. Pretty much what we've already learned from y'all here. Then she said this as part of that process:

"Whenever your rooster is breeding a hen, stop it immediately! Make it clear to him he is not allowed to "breed" in your presence. This tells him you are the dominant rooster and only you are allowed to "breed" the hens when you are around. A dominant rooster shows the submissive rooster his place by attacking him if he breeds a hen in the dominant's presence." Quote: A Guide to Raising Roosters; Backyard Poultry; Brittany Thompson Georgia; February/March 2013 edition

Your thoughts, please

Yep! I do this. Especially with young boys. My barred rock cockerels have mated a hen right at my feet. They get pushed off right away. I won't run across the yard to stop them mating, but they won't mate in my close proximity. Jagger and Steve both know the rules (my only two boys over 18 months).

I wouldn't put anything on a chicks leg that will come off when other chicks peck at it and they will. I use Blue Kote. Dab a dot on a right leg front, left leg front, and reverse for different chicks. I also use food coloring for feather foot chicks. Can also put a drop of food coloring on the head, back, tummy. It lasts a week or two. When they are older, I use small zip ties. They come in many colors. Cheap in the dollar stores. I cut them off with manicure clippers or sissors when they start to get snug.

Blue Kote! That's how I marked one of my Pennies that was acting cold. I called her Penny Blue Foot. She came around. Hehe.. The Blue Kote stuck on her for a good 2 weeks at least.

Maybe paint her toenails....just a couple of them?

all the other girls will be jealous!

My new chicks are gone. In the classic "I thought the door was shut and I was away for two minutes" my terrier mix jumped into the brooder box and killed all four. He was in the box still and must have just finished it. My older kids took care of the bodies for me because I am just broken. I know its my fault, thinking that the door was shut and he was with me. I just feel horrible and sick. Just dreadfully sick. Sorry for the sad post but I think you all understand.

I'm so sorry Kian How terrible...

Is there some way you can train your dog? I know that won't help you now, but that behaviour is unacceptable.

If I have a young cockerel that has alpha issues..I do not allow him to breed in my presence, you need to make sure they understand who you are..that should not be necessary when they are older, by then he knows and understand I am alpha. Normally I just leave him be. When you are breeding..you need to witness the mounting. The last thing I want to worry about is..I wonder if he is breeding or not. My cockerels are a bit afraid of me as it is. I like it that way. They scramble to get out of my way.