The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

As long it is chick grit, yes you should be able to feed most anything. Be warned about hard things to break apart. Meat should be somewhat finely chopped, no bigger than a pea. I had the unfortunate learning lesson of a 9 week old Silkie getting a blocked intestinal tract from a piece of meat she gobbled down. Even with grit she couldn't break it apart inside.

about chick grit, I just take my regular grit and put it through a sieve to get the smaller particles.

 

[chickiemomy]

In spring and summer I rarely feed my layers. They are gone all day. They find there own food. I do feed my meaties at night. With having HRIR now I have no idea what I am going to do. I know I am going to run one if not two males with my egg layers later this year, so I guess I will make that decision when the time comes. I guess my feed bill will be higher too.

I'm betting that foraging is the big difference between whether scraps - or qty of scraps are good or bad -- everything in moderation. A chicken allowed to forage all day can find what it needs to balance out its diet. Likely many suburban chicks get not enough forage time, or area, to balance out their diet. ??? Just guessing.

Also wonder if some of these 'super' production breeds have become needier for nutrients/ balanced protein/diets. Bodies bred to lay so much, they need better or more protein, or ?? in order to keep up with the new genes.

Just thinking out loud. I'm still of the general persuasion that animals, given good choices, will pick out what they need nutritionally. But refined stuff is not generally a good choice - but everything in moderation. (do I hear an echo in here??)

what's HRIR? something rhode island reds? heavy RIR's???

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

I'm so glad I found this thread! Thank you Bulldogma for starting it!
I still have some catching up to do and am loving everyones input.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote: Heritage Rhode Island Red

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
That should be fine. My chick grit is about 75% smaller than regular grit. I have my chicks on the regular grit now that they are 10+ weeks

 

[Bulldogma]

Anyone ready for chick pics? (OK - sorry for posting so many, but everyone knows they're cheeper by the dozen!)


P1 - Heritage RIR

P2 - Heritage RIR

P3 - Heritage RIR

O1 - Production Red

O2 - Production Red

O3 - Production Red

O4 - Production Red

W - as in "***?" Not sure - could be a Swedish Flower Hen or a Buff Orp cross.

B1 - EE x Dorking

B2 - EE x Dorking

Y1 - Silkie x Cochin

Y2 - Silkie x Cochin

I love having chicks in the house again!

(Please don't quote with all the pictures

- it's too long of a post to burn up all that forum space.)

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Anyone ready for chick pics? (OK - sorry for posting so many, but everyone knows they're cheeper by the dozen!)

I love having chicks in the house again!

(Please don't quote with all the pictures

- it's too long of a post to burn up all that forum space.)

I love the striking color difference in the HRIR and the Production Reds

 

[Sally8]

Just got done with chicken feet day 2.

I had been skimming over all the Bumblefoot stuff because I'd never heard it much less seen it. Then I watched the video. Ugh! Was your hen limping? Or do you randomly inspect feet and now several people are finding the bump/hole? I couldn't imagine one of my Silver Spangled Hamburg's lying still for me to cut half her foot pad out.

Countrygirl74 = That's wonderful that you were able to kill/process your roosters. As of yet, I've been unable. For the third week end in a row, I'm saying "Someone needs to take care of Bruce! He's so mean to the girls!" I'm thinking that someone is going to be me.

I'm so proud of you!

Sue

BDM = Those chick pic's are so cute!

 

[Bulldogma]

I ordered a new incubator and it should be here on Valentines day.

Well, we did it! I have to admit, my husband did the actual slicing of the jugular but I did hold the neck and was up close and personal.
I'll try to post a photo later...

Good for you! Yes - it is hard in the sense of knowing you are taking a life... but I know you must feel a sense of accomplishment! I botched my first cull - the neck skin was tougher than I anticipated and I didn't slice deep enough. I felt awful, but I was able to move on and the next culls were far easier as I knew what to expect.
There is nothing like eating the fruits (or meats) of your labors!

I love the striking color difference in the HRIR and the Production Reds

Isn't it neat? I love how dark red the H/RIRs are... yet the PRs are so pretty in their own way.

 

[lalaland]

bdm, the chick pics are gorgeous!