The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[countrygirl74]

So, I let my chickens and ducks out for supervised free-ranging almost daily and my chickens have finally found the compost - yay!! However, I was wondering if it was ok for the ducks as well??? I am worried about them ever finding some old moldy food as I heard that can kill them. Should I make the compost off limits to the ducks? What are your experiences? Just want to be safe but was hoping the chickens at least could turn my compost pile for me...

 

[Bulldogma]

So, I let my chickens and ducks out for supervised free-ranging almost daily and my chickens have finally found the compost - yay!! However, I was wondering if it was ok for the ducks as well??? I am worried about them ever finding some old moldy food as I heard that can kill them. Should I make the compost off limits to the ducks? What are your experiences? Just want to be safe but was hoping the chickens at least could turn my compost pile for me...

When left to their own devices, a well fed free range bird will almost never eat something moldy. They'll pick around the mold a bit, but instinct seems to serve them well when it comes to avoiding what needs to be avoided. Chickens have been pecking through compost and manure piles for thousands of years.

 

[Bulldogma]

I must brag!

I have 2 external pips!

Babies not due until Tuesday, but these particular eggs are Silkie x Cochins and seem to be on the Silkie hatching schedule - LOL!

 

[jockeyeba]

I must brag!

I have 2 external pips!    :yiipchick   Babies not due until Tuesday, but these particular eggs are Silkie x Cochins and seem to be on the Silkie hatching schedule - LOL!

I tried putting a few WR & W eggs under 2 AG pullets but they are in nests in the older AG hens coop & the older hens keep running them off the nests so I doubt that experiment is going to work

 

[delisha]

I must brag!

I have 2 external pips!

Babies not due until Tuesday, but these particular eggs are Silkie x Cochins and seem to be on the Silkie hatching schedule - LOL!

 

[Bulldogma]

 

[Mumsy]

I must brag!

I have 2 external pips!

Babies not due until Tuesday, but these particular eggs are Silkie x Cochins and seem to be on the Silkie hatching schedule - LOL!

 

[Sally8]

I must brag!

I have 2 external pips!

Babies not due until Tuesday, but these particular eggs are Silkie x Cochins and seem to be on the Silkie hatching schedule - LOL!

What is the Silkie schedule?

 

[Mumsy]

When left to their own devices, a well fed free range bird will almost never eat something moldy. They'll pick around the mold a bit, but instinct seems to serve them well when it comes to avoiding what needs to be avoided. Chickens have been pecking through compost and manure piles for thousands of years.

I think people in general don't realize chickens taste things differently than people or even most other animals. However...A chicken has a very excellent sense of smell. Many studies have been done on this. If a hen scoots a bad egg out of her nest it isn't because she has some sense of knowing it's bad, she can SMELL that it's bad. When introducing chickens to FF for the first time, it is that aroma of vinegar that they often do not recognize and are reluctant at first to try. Studies have shown that chickens can also smell blood from some distance. Many of us have wittnessed them come running at processing time and it's why some cannibalism goes on in too crowded conditions.

It used to be worried in some of my old books that chickens can get botulism from rummaging in compost piles but I don't know how that would happen. Botulism grows in an oxygen free environment. If anyone has more info on botulism/compost piles, and chickens, I'd like to know.

 

[farmerfogg]

Very exciting! Can't wait to see fuzzy friends emerge!