The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Elliemae 77]

I will! Two Orp eggs so far. 8 more to go! I Luv Hatch Day!

 

[loanwizard]

Be very careful with that trailer coop. That metal will get hottern a fire cracker in 85 degree weather! Don't want you fryin yer chicken a bit pre maturely!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Be very careful with that trailer coop. That metal will get hottern a fire cracker in 85 degree weather! Don't want you fryin yer chicken a bit pre maturely!

Probably could park it in the shade really easy! Even my shed hen house gets hot...leave all the doors and windows open all summer with hardware cloth on every opening.

 

[chickiemomy]

Chickiemomy...do they eat that banana peel?

o yes - they love them -- I posted awhile ago that I'd given one hen a long length of peel and it disappeared in one swallow - well except for the 2inches sticking out of the hen's mouth! - I was horrified, as I had expected them to just poke at the peels, like they do cantaloupe rinds. Was afraid I'd cause impacted crop or ??? they'd been getting peels before, but I'd never seen it slurped up! someone on this thread - can't remember whom said they give theirs peels, but they cut them into pieces. Since then I've been taking the peels, about 1/2 inch wide maybe -- then cutting them in thirds lengthwise -- so they get pieces maybe 2 inches by 1/2 inch -- they slurp them up.

Only thing better is leftover canned catfood our spoiled cats leave behind that gets scrapped into the chicken scrap bowl. Well, maybe popcorn is more fun -- but I eat a lot of bananas -- potassium -- so they get a peel most days. When I get too ripe bananas, I slice them into 2 inch chunks, peel & all - haven't seen how they eat them - but there's nothing left by nighttime!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Thanks! I had friends that feed their chickens bananas but I didn't think they could eat the peels! We also have bananas every day around here. So I definitely have lots of peels.

 

[Bulldogma]

BDM - So excited for your trailer coop-to-be! How did you find it? What did you have to pay? I want one!!!

One of the guys where I work keeps his ducks in a trailer that looks a lot like that but he hasn't done anything to it. Just opens the back door and they go inside for the night. I'd love to find a trailer like that!

I had been stalking Craig's List Ads for horse trailers. I knew this was the one when I saw it. The trailer cost (much) less than one of those Amish made 4' x 6' coops - - and it has a lot more square footage!

I have 2 eggs pipped!

Yay!! Keep us updated!

Be very careful with that trailer coop. That metal will get hottern a fire cracker in 85 degree weather! Don't want you fryin yer chicken a bit pre maturely!

Yes - most of the windows and doors will be replaced with hardware cloth. I'll also be painting the top white or another light color to keep it cooler. In warm weather, it will all be opened up.

 

[armorfirelady]

Great find BDM. I never seem to find anything good & cheap on Craig's list lol. I have been searching it daily for a door for hoop coop and anything else I can use for it.

But I did find horse manure for the garden and the hens loved it!!! Even after all the snow we got they scratch down to that manure. Def going to get some more for the garden since the girls do a great job of spreading it for me

 

[midnightroo]

I keep forgetting most people have ALOT more then three chickens, so yes, the chickweed would be eaten quickly by more then a few. I think mine survived because they were under a "hoop" house" for most of the winter until the winds finally blew them down.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=OTGIWWi0jyQ&desktop_uri=/watch?v=OTGIWWi0jyQ. This video show a chicken tractor over some very large plantain plants. I saw on a couple of sites that chickens like it. One mentioned that it helped get rid of worms in goats, but didn't say if it helped in chickens.

 

[chickiemomy]

I second the question about Johnny cakes??? - Mumsy?? is there a recipe, or is it a thing you buy?

 

[chickiemomy]

If only
Quote:
I'm one of those who's laughing!