The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Toast n Jelly]

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I just came in from using that on my outlets. Great minds..... LOL

 

[Sally8]

Garedella makes red and dark chocolate chips for valentines...I just made cookies. The are disgustingly good..I might have to post some picks and make you all jealous

I am jealous but the rooster is a nice touch! lol

 

[kian]

Those cookies do look good! I have some dark chocolate chips......my kids will appreciate you posting that photo!

 

[armorfirelady]

this worming advice below refers a couple of times to fasting the hens, treating, and then "followed by a laxative period". Well, isn't that just, they'll poop again after a while? or what?

I've never had worms in my hens but have learned from the OTs on here that cayenne pepper & garlic will help rid hens of worms. Never have they mentioned making the hens fast tho.I use both as a preventive in my FF.

When we put electric in our chicken coop hubby put in a GFI outlet. It works great and makes me feel so much safer. My concern is how flammable all that chicken dust is.

I was thinking today of rigging one of these up in my new hoop coop. I think I can attach it to the side and just have the extension cord come into the cover and plug the heater into that. I figured even just using the cover over the extension cord where I plug in the heater will help keep dust & debris out.

As I am dealing with bumble foot issues... I keep reading everywhere that flat roosts (as in 2x4 or 1x4), even with curved edges, can cause foot injuries. I'm sure that many - if not all - of us were told to use a 2x4 with the 4" side flat for them to roost on. I know plenty of people that are using those successfully with no problem so I'm not totally convinced that flat roost boards are a problem at all.

I use 2x4s and have never had problems. But I read again today about roosts to high and 2x4s could cause bumblefoot problems. I guess I have been lucky. But I am curious as well as what size branches people use for LF birds. My girls are built like tanks and like to roost together. I don't know how a small branch would hold them up lol. I also never thought a higher roost would cause problems. I thought hens liked to roost high?? Thanks for asking this questions since I am also looking for ideas for the new coop

 

[Sally8]

Still trying to catch my breath!! Such fun.

This was so funny! Thanks for sharing. sue

 

[camilleathome]

Just wanted to share that the woman im getting my horse from is giving me her whole flock of chickens. she has like ten or more. Mainly buff orpingtons. She does not feed them other than in winter. They free range and they eat bugs and forage all summer. Gorgeous healthy chickens. The rooster is breathtaking

 

[Sally8]

Just wanted to share that the woman im getting my horse from is giving me her whole flock of chickens. she has like ten or more. Mainly buff orpingtons. She does not feed them other than in winter. They free range and they eat bugs and forage all summer. Gorgeous healthy chickens. The rooster is breathtaking

Unbelievable! I have been looking and looking and looking for Buff"s Ugh!!! Now I AM really jealous

 

[camilleathome]

Unbelievable! I have been looking and looking and looking for Buff"s Ugh!!! Now I AM really jealous

I will post pics when I get them . I so cant wait to be in there(The farm. Were moving on the 2nd of march). I also am waiting on a response from someone as to wether im getting their mare or not she is a perfect bomb proof trail horse that can handle my weight. Shes a standardbred like bear(My other horse im getting) also and has been used in lessons. 600$. I just need to pay around 300$ to get her trailered here maybe less if her local rescue can do it

 

[kian]

I will post pics when I get them . I so cant wait to be in there(The farm. Were moving on the 2nd of march). I also am waiting on a response from someone as to wether im getting their mare or not she is a perfect bomb proof trail horse that can handle my weight. Shes a standardbred like bear(My other horse im getting) also and has been used in lessons. 600$. I just need to pay around 300$ to get her trailered here maybe less if her local rescue can do it

Camille, that all sounds so great! I'm happy for you!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote: Aoca-
I agree with this as well.

Couple thoughts for your new barn- GFI outlets.......I have them in my garage & outside & those suckers pop easily with any moisture. They are also set to pop for power surges as well. Its the outlet I have my cord for the heated dog bowl plugged into it in my garage. I also use one for my dogs electric fence and will use another GFI outlet for the electric poultry fence. But I just checked them all again like Delisha did.

I also agree with her idea about the smoke detectors & baby monitor. I had thought of it earlier but forgot to mention it. And I think outside stairs to the upper area in the new barn is a good idea but I think having a roof over them would def be easier in the rain, ice & snowy weather. One less chore for you to do & it will be easier in the future with your family starting

I wired my shed with electrical this past spring. All 5 outlets are on a 20 amp GCFI circuit and each outlet is GCFI. So aoxa, when they wire into your power supply circuit box make sure the put the barn on a GCFI circuit breaker, as well as GCFI outlets in the barn.

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She laid a green egg, which I figured it would be green. I am pretty sure Peep's will be green to olive color since her feather coloring is darker than Elphaba's. I have noticed in EE's with the pea comb and the lighter the feather color, the more blue the egg will be. But I am ok with green, my brother wants green eggs and ham.