The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[farmerfogg]

I do not like spending money on *purdies*. I was looking for new plants and cages. That is what I do during rummage o rama. That cute shelf was so cheap at the time I could not pass it up. And I was trying to talk DH into building me this. I thought that shelf would have looked great with it.

Oooh!! I like that! It looks like a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden?

 

[Bulldogma]

I was thinking the same thing as I was taking the pics. Thank goodness I didn't have an angry vents like last time lol

From the pictures, aside from the prolapses, those vents look pretty darn good. I couldn't tell really, but there doesn't seem to be redness and white clumpy stuff stuck to the feathers around them which would indicate vent gleet.

Keep an eye on those prolapses. I'd be curious to learn if they come right back out when the hen lays again, or not. It's one of those things - it's not a good thing, but I wonder how much it actually gets in the way for the hens? I'm sure only the hens know for sure. Preparation H, anyone?

 

[Bulldogma]

LM - I love your chick pictures! They're growing up so fast (because I don't see them every day) LOL! They look great and obviously mama has done a very good job with them!

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Time for a few baby photos

7 Weeks old and still trying to get under mom. At night it's quite hilarious. Little black peeking.

Checking out the nests. Little black is peeking again!

This is such a cute pic of Black! All are looking nice and strong.

 

[aoxa]

Time for a few baby photos

7 Weeks old and still trying to get under mom. At night it's quite hilarious. Little black peeking.




Checking out the nests. Little black is peeking again!




Little Black (still the smallest).


Little Blue




Little White (formerly yellow - he/she has taken on a new identity

)



Little white checking out the nest box. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come but....this is the most likely to be a rooster

Little Orange

They are beautiful! I only see one rooster, but I'm not confident with the breed. Maybe their combs are slow developing...
I am pretty confident that little white is a rooster though.

Little black is also suspicious, but maybe not.. My 7 week olds usually have much bigger combs

 

[aoxa]

I have a new picture to share of one of the little basement babies.. This one has been named Doc Holiday. There were a lot of votes on it. I think it's an adorable name.

Pretty sure this is a boy. Check out his stance! He looks just like his daddy in the face...

Advice on this one.. Boy or girl? I think boy, but it is 6 weeks old. Shouldn't he have a bigger comb?

These chicks are very highly delayed. I think it is because they were eating low protein feed from day one. No starter.. I didn't have any at the time, so they had fermented grower. I switched them to starter a week ago and they have feathered out at least 50% more in a week.



No question on this one's gender.. hehe.. he's 8 weeks old. I need to get them out of the basement... They need more room.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Well...I hope you're right. on the genders!

I wish I could breed a whole bunch of blues. Love that color.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have a new picture to share of one of the little basement babies.. This one has been named Doc Holiday. There were a lot of votes on it. I think it's an adorable name.

That's cute baby!


Some day I hope to be able to give advice on genders.

 

[aoxa]

That's cute baby!


Some day I hope to be able to give advice on genders.

Don't you love his little white eyebrow? hehee

Didn't take long in the breeds/genders section for me to feel confident in determining genders.

Single combs are usually easy for me. I do think the one I asked about above is a boy. He's probably just not developed enough because of the low protein maybe...

 

[Leahs Mom]

That's one thing with using the general feed. Most people think of giving extra calcium to the layers but don't think about adding extra protein for the kiddos.

Since mine is formulated so that all can eat it I put out free-feed calcium and then give the babies extra protein too (usually in the form of meat).