The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Where did you get the ball thing? I've tried putting greens in a square suet holder but doesnt work well. I know cut them up with scissors into small pieces but if I could find something like this it would work even better

 

[aoxa]

Might try some fake eggs or golf balls in the nests as a visual?

Golf balls. Steal 'em from your dad/brother/cousin. My dad had many.
There are many golfers in my family.

 

[midnightroo]

Something nutritious you can give you chickens and you don't have to go to the store to buy is....... Chickweed it is growing in my 30 f weather right now and gives them nutrients the chickens need. Here's a link for identification http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Chickweed.html and another breaking down the nutrition found in it a little more http://www.livestrong.com/article/393151-nutrition-of-chickweed/. I just gave mine some that I pulled out of the garden and they were eating it before I left. Another is cress, a weed many people spray to kill that is very healthy for humans and chickens.

 

[loanwizard]

says the woman typing from a plastic computer

Very OT..... Just sayin

Loin

 

[loanwizard]

Someone (our wry tailed buff orpington? I presume) has started laying and has layed 3 thin shelled smooshy eggs in the last week. Once on a rock and twice in the coop (not the nesting boxes).

Is there anything I can do to encourage her laying in the boxes, and is there anything I can do to help promote the thickness of the shell? I have oyster shells available and I FF

Would wry tail have anything to do with this?

Good morning everyone!

To really get a hen to go to the right box, you need to pick her up, carry her into the laying area, sit down with her on your lap and hypnotize her. To hypnotize her, you face her away from you and move your hand up and down over her eyes. They will close. After about 30 seconds of her eyes closing, you get up and carry her to the box that you wish her to lay her eggs in, and whisper several times, your box, your box, your box. Then you go back to the spot where you originally hypnotized her and set her on the ground and snap your fingers.

Works every time.

Some may laugh, but it is an ancient Chinese Secret.

Loin

 

[delisha]

Something nutritious you can give you chickens and you don't have to go to the store to buy is....... Chickweed it is growing in my 30 f weather right now and gives them nutrients the chickens need. Here's a link for identification http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Chickweed.html and another breaking down the nutrition found in it a little more http://www.livestrong.com/article/393151-nutrition-of-chickweed/. I just gave mine some that I pulled out of the garden and they were eating it before I left. Another is cress, a weed many people spray to kill that is very healthy for humans and chickens.

Wonderful links..thank you!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Where did you get the ball thing? I've tried putting greens in a square suet holder but doesnt work well. I know cut them up with scissors into small pieces but if I could find something like this it would work even better

I think Tractor Supply had the balls. But, if not, if you google "chicken treat ball" a lot of places carry them. Cost about $4.99. Just a sample place: http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Hen-Chicken-Treat-Ball/dp/B0093UPSF0

Something nutritious you can give you chickens and you don't have to go to the store to buy is....... Chickweed it is growing in my 30 f weather right now and gives them nutrients the chickens need. Here's a link for identification http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Chickweed.html and another breaking down the nutrition found in it a little more http://www.livestrong.com/article/393151-nutrition-of-chickweed/. I just gave mine some that I pulled out of the garden and they were eating it before I left. Another is cress, a weed many people spray to kill that is very healthy for humans and chickens.

I bought chickweed last year to plant around the chicken house area. I'm going to seed some more this spring! Thanks for the links

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Thanks Leah I am going to look for one.
And Midnight thanks for the info on the chickweed

 

[Bulldogma]

I totally want one of those chicken treat balls! Very cool!

And drum roll please................

I got my new coop!

OK - well it's not much to look at right now. It's sort of the ultimate recycling / upcycling project right now, but I think it will have all the space I need for 3 different breeding pens plus a broody / chick area and storage!


Lots of doors to allow for openings into different pens once the partitions are up.


Fully enclosed, but vents in the top and windows on the sides. I will probably try to do hardware cloth inserts on the top part of the back doors so they can be left open through the warmer months for lots of airflow.


Separate coop space in the front with its own access door and its own roof vent and windows.

OK - and see the little bottom door between the wheels and the "screen door?"
STORAGE!

And the door above the storage?


There is one on each side... and the perfect size for a broody or chick area!

Yeah - I have a LOT of work to do on this big hunk of rusty metal, but I can already "see" the final product. If all goes as planned, it should make for a great coop - and better yet, we can take it with us if the house we're renting is sold or if the DH gets transferred (again).

And just for fun -

BROODY!

She has 5 Swedish Flower Hen eggs under her. I had to move her into a dog crate because the amorous rooster was trying to chase her off the nest to breed her.

 

[jockeyeba]

Do you think she'll last the 21 days?