The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[loanwizard]

Welcome to all the first-time posters on the thread. We're happy you have joined us. Keep those questions coming!

And just for fun, here are some of the silly things I did with my new babies today.

Grumpy Chick





See? You can housebreak a chicken! (OK - no... not really.)







Racing stripes!




Hula, anyone?


Look at all those toes!

Somebody has WAY too much time on their hands lol!

 

[zinia8]

I have the most terrible news I can ever imagine typing here...

My barn..

My birds.

My Clementine.

All gone...

The barn caught fire and nothing is left. I don't even know.. I don't know what to say. My heart is broken. 

I am so sorry to hear about this. Been gone for two days and trying to get caught up again. This is truly heart breaking.

 

[Mumsy]

Cute chick pics everyone.

Aoxa, bigger is always better with a barn

Mumsy, that size difference in the 2 chicks is note-able. But cute

Yeah. I think so too. I'm getting kinda fond of that little bitty chick. I think it's a female but what 'tude'! When I call them they all scramble to the food dish but that little one climbs over and under the others to get there first and bites my fingers! She wants food so bad she takes everything she can from my finger tips or right out of the beaks of the big boys! Cracks me up!



Everybody got zipped today and a number identification in the notebook.


Little bitty Edith chick is #6. She is delayed by a good 24 hours. Very little wing feather development or color on her head.


This is a Phoebe chick with a whole lot of wing development and spots on the head.
Part of my progeny testing is looking for Johnny sex link traits. I'm going to document all six chicks in wing and down color and take a lot of notes of course. I think # 4 is a male. I am noticing differences already at three days old.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Here are the DW's kids after their first bath/blow dry

Parmesano(White pullet)



Kung Pow(Black pullet)



Marsala(Porcelain pullet)



General Tso(Blue cockerel)

They were all such a mess before the baths, they really love their FF and wear it proudly. I did trim the feathers around their eyes to help them see more, since we are not planning on showing at this point, yet.

And Mumsy, you initial guess at Kung Pow being a pullet, I concur that that is what she is. She is small like the other two, and General Tso is twice as tall now and the only one with the comb and little wattles under hes beard. So your guesses were 5 for 5 on accuracy.

 

[Bulldogma]

Somebody has WAY too much time on their hands lol!

LOL - My internet was down this morning and I had to wait until the dew dried off the trailer before I could get to work on my conversion to a coop... so yeah - I rolled about on the floor with some cute chicks! I know... you're jealous!

Here are the DW's kids after their first bath/blow dry

Parmesano(White pullet)
Kung Pow(Black pullet)
Marsala(Porcelain pullet)
General Tso(Blue cockerel)
They were all such a mess before the baths, they really love their FF and wear it proudly. I did trim the feathers around their eyes to help them see more, since we are not planning on showing at this point, yet.

And Mumsy, you initial guess at Kung Pow being a pullet, I concur that that is what she is. She is small like the other two, and General Tso is twice as tall now and the only one with the comb and little wattles under hes beard. So your guesses were 5 for 5 on accuracy.

Awwwww - what a cute little flock of fluffies!

 

[delisha]

What do you guys think of this barn? Just a bit bigger.



http://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/2011/09/29/chicken-coop-photos-and-description-from-maria-beason/

Someone has asked us to take images of the loss. I have documentation, but didn't think anyone would ever want to see it.

What is everyone's experience with Black Copper Marans? I want to know how they forage. How well they lay. What their personalities are like, etc. I am considering adding them when we rebuild. I have always wanted dark eggs.

Hay..that is my dream conversion for my two story..what a great choice!! I just hatched out 4 Marans..they are lovely huge chicks. Nice personalities so far.

 

[delisha]

Quote: x2!
Feed any raw meats..they do not need much..a tablespoon is enough.here and there. I like to give them chicken liver and gizzards. I don't like to share my livers with just anyone, but they are special. Don't forget eggs too. You can boil them, scramble them, and even give them raw. An egg have every vitamin a chicken needs. Grab some kale next time you are shopping. Chop some up and toss it in the pen...You are dong great!!! and your chickens are lucky to have you!!

 

[countrygirl74]

LOVE all the baby pics everyone!!! Looks like you definitely had some fun Bulldogma - you've given me some ideas...

I can't wait to get my new babies in March! After having to kill 5 roosters from the last batch, I hope whoever the feed store is getting them from did a better job sexing this time. It would break my heart to end up with a flock of roos again...

 

[delisha]

Quote: Good question..I would like to know that too..

 

[Melabella]

I know my silly phone camera can't compete with the equipment you guys all have, but wanted to share a picture of the gang in the manure pit today. Was thinking come fly season, they are going to have a blast in there!