The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

 

[amenfarm]

I have been pondering something for some time now. I live in a small neighborhood, on a small lot, in cold, snowy southern Maine. I will not have a rooster and will not breed, so would it be a bad thing for me to want to buy heritage birds from a breeder, rather than just feed store birds? I'd really rather have a real NH, Barred Rock, BCM, Cream Legbarr (or one of each) but since they are rare, should I not get Heritage birds and let the people able to breed them have them? I would be delighted with NON show quality...as long as they are healthy (no wry tails

) Thoughts/advice?

No, I don't think it's a bad idea at all.I do not have hybrids ( well except the EE, who was not suppose to be.) ,because I wanted to help create a market for heritage birds. Tthat being said, I won't keep roos either, and won't buy the rarest birds because in effect they will be going to a old maids home. I would love to buy the second choice birds from a breeder of the rarer birds, and have with my Buckeye. If I go to a larger population of birds, I way bite the bullet and get a roo--But so far the donkey makes enough noise on his own. So, If you want the birds go for it, far more newbies do damage by not learning how to breed/cull than owners who do no breeding at all. Just MHO.

 

[loanwizard]

We have the dog in custody!

Nice mutt Dang it!

He is in the kennel and we will find a home for it.... far away!

Think he knocked up my beagle too...

Lot's of work this spring to keep my beagles with the right breed....

 

[Bulldogma]

We have the dog in custody!
Nice mutt Dang it!
He is in the kennel and we will find a home for it.... far away!
Think he knocked up my beagle too...
Lot's of work this spring to keep my beagles with the right breed....

I take it you breed beagles? Boo on a wasted heat cycle!

 

[flagirl]

For testing your hypothesis, I have a very dark colored EE, Jezebel, who lays blue eggs. She has green legs and is beardless, is not wheaton or silver, but dark dark brown with some lacing.

I did not want ee's, but ended up with 3 and thought-oh well, I like blue and green eggs. mine are dark brown and all 3 lay the lightist pink eggs-they may as well be small white eggs

 

[loanwizard]

I take it you breed beagles? Boo on a wasted heat cycle!

I do not breed beagles. I own beagles. I had my AKC beagle have a litter last year and sold the pups. One of the buyers desperately wants another one, but I haven't talked to my buddy about breeding her again.

I have 1 AKC registered, and 2 rescues. I would dearly love to breed the one rescue bluetick because she is a tremendous hunter. I'd bet dollars to donuts that she probably was registered and just never came home. Her instincts, tracking, are equal to my registered dog, but her will surpasses the other dog.... I don't think I have ever seen her tail with hair and bloodless.

Unfortunately, I have way too many irons in the fire to dedicate myself to one thing and call myself a breeder. Heck, I can't even keep the kids from tearing down my kennels lol!

Like I said, lots of work this spring lol... gonna learn to lay concrete this year and build a real kennel that I can hose out.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

If you end up with mutt puppies, I'm sure my boys would like one. We live kind of far away and I know my husband would prefer no dog. But still a puppy, those are hard to say no to. I'm sure there are lots of local to you people wanting puppies too.

 

[loanwizard]

If you end up with mutt puppies, I'm sure my boys would like one. We live kind of far away and I know my husband would prefer no dog. But still a puppy, those are hard to say no to. I'm sure there are lots of local to you people wanting puppies too.

If you're serious, I would keep one for you. Yes, we can get rid of puppies. Carla would have a rescue if I'd let her.... but.... we have 8 dogs.... that's enough.... I don't even know how many cats, just that we go through 36lbs of cat food every 2 weeks.... but.... the chickens like cat food too, as do the dogs.....

 

[Mumsy]

This is an image taken from the https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407294/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site/2890





I've been on a waiting list for a few months for a shot at hatching and raising them. Ever since I started researching Heritage RIR I kept coming back to this line. Next month, chicks and eggs will be on a jet airplane in route to my eager hands. This prospect makes me quite nervous!

I'm kinda at the end of the road as far as distance for shipping. It's a real gamble.

Between hatching those tricks-y Catdance eggs and getting chicks and eggs from Arkansas, I'll be a nervous wreck.

There are no Heritage RIR within 100 miles of where I live. Even if I don't breed them to sell, there will be plenty of folk that will see them for the first time if all goes well for my efforts, time, and $. *Gah!* March can't come fast enough!

 

[off-grid hen]

Wow, people are having a tough time. It's hard for me to touch base with everyone with posting only once or so a week,, but sorry about Sally's Mom, and peope's incubation and chicken losses.

One thing about outlets and barns. What people can do right away before having smeone install the heavy duty water and dust-protected outlets: vacuum each outlet to get the dust out. Then plug the ones not in use with those baby-proofing outlet covers. Or simply Dust then cover with electrical tape. (DON'T use a dap cloth) Vacuum/dust off your light fixtures and light bulbs. An exposed/uncovered light bulb of even low wattage incandescent can get hot enough to ignite the thick dust that coats them. This is why I use an LED bulb in the coop. Even an exposed 23 watt CFL bulb feels to hot to the touch. If it's too hot to grab, it can start a fire. I brood with an ecoglow in the house. I know it's not the most sanitary, but it's a lot safer than running a heat lamp outside in a very dusty environment. If you must brood in a dusty coop area with bedding present, then keep the bulb dusted off. And check the cords for wear. And obviously replace anything that shows wear and tear on the cords. If any cords feel hot, replace them. they should not even feel warm to the touch. I know some of this has already been stated, but it's worth repeating. I made sure every outlet was covered today, and my light bulb dusted off. I checked my cords. I feel a little better. When the ground thaws we are digging a trench to run power to the coop to have a proper fixture instead of the trouble light/brooder lamp style fixture. No more messing around.