The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mumsy]

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

It's up to ten recipes and is a thing I make and sell.

 

[chickiemomy]

don't you think the catnip lures the cats which deters the rats? I know 'they' say that cats don't bother catnip seeded directly into a garden -- however, it's been my experience, that it only takes a bruising of a couple of leaves to get a cat's attention - and then those who are prone to catnip intoxication will roll all over it.

 

[Ashdoes]

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

It's up to ten recipes and is a thing I make and sell.

Mumsy, you should sell them on eBay or Etsy so we can buy them from you. I know I would, just don't have the time for making them.

 

[Mumsy]

Gah!

My Still Air LG is new. I have ten eggs in lock down on day 20. I have been logging the air temp, probe temp, and humidity every hour on the hour except when I'm asleep. Probe 100 degrees, air temp 100 degrees. Humidity: 63% This has not fluctuated at all for all of lock down except by a half a degree or so every few hours. I don't touch the adjuster. I don't open the lid. I barely breath on the thing! Between 3:30 and 4 pm the prob spiked to 103, air temp to 105 and humidity to 70%!!! While I was standing there just looking at it! I immediately opened an out side door that is in the same room! Also used a syringe to put a few drops of cold water through a hose onto a sponge. It took about 20 minutes to bring every thing back to normal. I have no idea what happened! I'm so annoyed. 20 days of everything normal and perfect and then this for no bleeping reason! That's it! I've got to get a better incubator!

 

[lalaland]

big problem: I just came back from the coop - hens were on the roost and I noticed that there has been some serious feather picking going on. History is that there were 6 hens (2 black orps and 4 wellsumers rescued from a guy's bedroom where they lived for their first year of life. The wellies had been badly feather picked on their backs and wings by one or more of the orps. I introduced them to, outside, well, life!

Molting went well, they have been looking gorgeous, and now today looking by flashlight, suddenly pathetic. There are two astrolorps that I believe are the culprits. Not entirely sure, but their feathers are perfect, and 3 of the 4 welsummers are showing signs of feather picking on their back, plus two very small ee mixed hens are also badly picked.

I'm sure there is adequate protein in their diet. Today, i left home in the dark and it doesn't look like they came out of the coop on their own. THe coop is too small to allow 13 hens lots of space - I"ve added all the layers of space and roosts to maximize room to get away, and opened up another area. to add more space.

I can't right now in the dead of winter add more space.

I don't want to cull the probable culprits - could be just one of them

ideas?

 

[delisha]

I checked another one of my Wyandotte pullets eggs this morning &

I saw the "bullseye" ! so we put 5 W eggs under a broody AG today

I so want GLW!! Good luck!! I am so jealous

I have 2 eggs pipped!

Wooo Hoooo I have 2 piped too..my Orpington crosses. Non of the shipped...

Gah!

My Still Air LG is new. I have ten eggs in lock down on day 20. I have been logging the air temp, probe temp, and humidity every hour on the hour except when I'm asleep. Probe 100 degrees, air temp 100 degrees. Humidity: 63% This has not fluctuated at all for all of lock down except by a half a degree or so every few hours. I don't touch the adjuster. I don't open the lid. I barely breath on the thing! Between 3:30 and 4 pm the prob spiked to 103, air temp to 105 and humidity to 70%!!! While I was standing there just looking at it! I immediately opened an out side door that is in the same room! Also used a syringe to put a few drops of cold water through a hose onto a sponge. It took about 20 minutes to bring every thing back to normal. I have no idea what happened! I'm so annoyed. 20 days of everything normal and perfect and then this for no bleeping reason! That's it! I've got to get a better incubator!

I made that decision yesterday..I think most of the problem is temp fluctuation when I am not there. No pips at all in any of the shipped eggs

big problem: I just came back from the coop - hens were on the roost and I noticed that there has been some serious feather picking going on. History is that there were 6 hens (2 black orps and 4 wellsumers rescued from a guy's bedroom where they lived for their first year of life. The wellies had been badly feather picked on their backs and wings by one or more of the orps. I introduced them to, outside, well, life!

Molting went well, they have been looking gorgeous, and now today looking by flashlight, suddenly pathetic. There are two astrolorps that I believe are the culprits. Not entirely sure, but their feathers are perfect, and 3 of the 4 welsummers are showing signs of feather picking on their back, plus two very small ee mixed hens are also badly picked.

I'm sure there is adequate protein in their diet. Today, i left home in the dark and it doesn't look like they came out of the coop on their own. THe coop is too small to allow 13 hens lots of space - I"ve added all the layers of space and roosts to maximize room to get away, and opened up another area. to add more space.

I can't right now in the dead of winter add more space.

I don't want to cull the probable culprits - could be just one of them

ideas?

You are not going to like it.
Cull 4 birds.
They will make a good dinner.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I love your new project of a coop !!!! please post pictures as you progress!!

Trav..sorry about your little girl..


I am ordering one or three of those balls..thanks for posting..

Is that directed to me? I am taking pics as I go on mine, Working on it tomorrow and Sunday.


Thanks everyone for the thoughts on Teriyaki

 

[delisha]

Quote: Yes Trav...keep us in mind as you work away..

 

[delisha]

What one are you looking at Mumsy?

I am going to get the genesis I think..not sure yet. I will have to discuss it with DH, and he will say no, and I will give a good argument and he will say..yes
I am so spoiled rotten.

 

[lalaland]

You are not going to like it.
Cull 4 birds.
They will make a good dinner.

which 4? I have 6 that are being picked on and two possible culprits. or maybe three, one wellie looks ok. if I cull the ones being picked on, then.....isn't it a matter of time before the picker chooses someone else?

wish I could hang out all day and find out who is picking.
thanks delisha.