The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

Delisha... you know I'm going to steal this post. LOL! Great information on doing an exam to determine POL... and more great information on Orpingtons.

I wrote this out twice already and it just disappears with one wrong keystroke.

I have had American bred..this is my first English experience and I love them.

My blacks lay an egg a day..the blue is yet to start.

Physical exams of your hens and pullets are important. You should simply know them....

 

[Sally8]

A pic of one of the adopted babies. When my first hatch ended up with disastrous results and only 1 survived, I bought a few "friends" This is a Silkie Mix. I'm thinking he's going through his awkward ugly teen years

 

[Sally8]

posted twice.

 

[chickiemomy]

Thank you chickiemommy for the explanation. I also don't worry about what the chickens are eating in the yard/veggie garden. And mine seem to know the tomato plant is poisoness and just snuck off the fruit that grew over the fence

I dont think back in little house days they fretted over their birds as much as some people do. I just keep telling myself that when I think their cold, wet, etc. They survived back then & they survive just fine now being a chicken (But yes I do care for them....u just wont find them in my house watching tv with me lol)

EXACTLY !!! We bring the cats in at night, else they'd be coyote food - but there's something about - you do what you can to protect your pets, chickens, livestock - (KIDS) - whatever - and then you leave it to them and nature - or whatever you believe in - you can't babysit all living things, they have some responsibility for their own survival -- do what you can, then let it go,

& they do try to follow me into the house too - was it this thread or a different one where someone said one of their chickens figured out the dog door?? Now that's using your inherited jungle fowl survival smarts. We'd be overrun with all sorts of wild things if we had a cat or dog door!

 

[chickiemomy]

A pic of one of the adopted babies. When my first hatch ended up with disastrous results and only 1 survived, I bought a few "friends" This is a Silkie Mix. I'm thinking he's going through his awkward ugly teen years

ohh - soo cute - & I'm not into those fluffy breeds - but this is adorable - & you say awkward ugly??? love those feet - bet it's not practical outside??? wonder if the feathers have a biological purpose? or were they bred for looks? - mumsy was it you who said you read about history of chick breeds??

 

[SallyinIndiana]

No.... not nice.... He has issues. I wouldn't kill a child, how can I a dog? If he was aggressive toward the kids.... dead dog.

He was fine with me all day Friday. He has been abandoned for a long time I suspect, and has survived. He has abandonment issues. I found a rescue that is coming tomorrow to pick him up. I am hopeful that a good family will love him and accept the love he has to offer. Love that he gave once, but apparently wasn't enough for his previous owners. THEY are the ones I would like to shoot.

Wow I thought some one had broke in or a giant wind storm maybe. I hope he gets the love he needs too.

 

[Mumsy]

ohh - soo cute - & I'm not into those fluffy breeds - but this is adorable - & you say awkward ugly??? love those feet - bet it's not practical outside??? wonder if the feathers have a biological purpose? or were they bred for looks? - mumsy was it you who said you read about history of chick breeds??

Yes. I do love to read up on the history of chickens. Feather foot chickens originated in Asia. There is much debate whether from China or Japan. I tend to go with the China camp. Just as the Persian cat and Pekingese dog were favorite specialties of the Emperor's court, I believe Silkie chickens and feather foot chickens were also favorites. Marco Polo wrote about the Silkie chicken in 1298 and for hundreds of years people thought they must be a cross between a rabbit and a chicken. The first painting depicting a Silkie does not look anything like one. It's because no one but Marco Polo had seen one outside of China. In 1555 a Swiss zoology historian described the chicken as a 'Wooly hen without tail feathers, and having a rose comb."



First painting of a Silkie done in France in 1775. Most historians believe this painting was done by an artist that had not actually seen a Silkie in person.

There is a great scarcity of information on the origin of feather foot chickens. But the discription of the Silkie leaves no doubt to which breed they were talking about.

Many people believe the Silkie to be a breed apart from the Jungle fowl from which most modern day chickens trace their ancestory. I'm in that camp.

 

[Mumsy]

Y'all worry so much. My chickens get apple cores, peels, potato skins.... everything but onions.... and moldy food sometimes

....

Nothing kills them birds.... except dogs.....

When they free range.... I wonder if they eat poison ivy? OMGOSH! What shall I ever do? Henny Penny, the sky is falling! I am planning to plant apple trees for the hogs, chickens and deer lol!

This made me laugh! Hah! My chickens eat all that too and worse. I ate apple seeds as a kid. I drank from the hose. I didn't wear a helmet when I was racing my cow pony bare back hell bent for home. None the worse for any of it. My chickens eat the green tops of my onions too! I survived my childhood on the farm and no chickens of mine have dropped dead on my little piece of ground from anything they are eating. My chickens eat all the fallen apples they can get in my orchard before the squirrels and deer get to them first.

 

[chickiemomy]

Yes. I do love to read up on the history of chickens. Feather foot chickens originated in Asia. There is much debate whether from China or Japan. I tend to go with the China camp. Just as the Persian cat and Pekingese dog were favorite specialties of the Emperor's court, I believe Silkie chickens and feather foot chickens were also favorites. Marco Polo wrote about the Silkie chicken in 1298 and for hundreds of years people thought they must be a cross between a rabbit and a chicken. The first painting depicting a Silkie does not look anything like one. It's because no one but Marco Polo had seen one outside of China. In 1555 a Swiss zoology historian described the chicken as a 'Wooly hen without tail feathers, and having a rose comb."



First painting of a Silkie done in France in 1775. Most historians believe this painting was done by an artist that had not actually seen a Silkie in person.

There is a great scarcity of information on the origin of feather foot chickens. But the discription of the Silkie leaves no doubt to which breed they were talking about.

Many people believe the Silkie to be a breed apart from the Jungle fowl from which most modern day chickens trace their ancestory. I'm in that camp.

thanks mumsy - had a hunch you'd know -- cross between a chicken and a rabbit - how funny! I can't see a survival reason for feather on feet -- unless there's some warmth there??? Kind of fits with a pet of the emperor doesn't it?

I just love this thread & the super-diversity of knowledge from this group!

 

[Mumsy]

thanks mumsy - had a hunch you'd know -- cross between a chicken and a rabbit - how funny! I can't see a survival reason for feather on feet -- unless there's some warmth there??? Kind of fits with a pet of the emperor doesn't it?

I just love this thread & the super-diversity of knowledge from this group!

You're most sincerely welcome chickiemomy.
My own personal theory is that the feathered feet are good in snow. Like built in snow shoes. I have seen Ptarmagin in the wilds of Alaska. They have feathered feet.



I can't back up my theory with research, but maybe Silkies or their ancient ancestors were much more adapted to snow and cold back then rather than now.