The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

I've finally caught up! I wanted to introduce myself, since I'm probably the only one on here who doesn't have and has never had chickens. I sure hope that's ok. Someday I hope to have poultry and since I'm a researcher (and impatient to get started), I joined. I've learned a lot! I did raise 5 turkeys last year. My neighbor said he might let me raise turkeys on his place this year. I'm waiting for him to get back in town to find out for sure. My land lady hates all poultry, so none here.

Loan Wizzard, I wanted to comment on your dog, since dogs are "what I do". I'm pretty sure he's a Sibe/Lab mix. I have a large terrier mix, a foster failure. I was her 4th foster home. She was adopted out several times and always returned. I adopted her out once and she came back after a month. I kept her. I always say Hannah isn't the right dog for me, but I am the right person for her. In a year and a half of limited trialing in dog agility, she has earned 14 titles in 2 organizations. You just never know.

Welcome to the group! I am glad you are doing all of your research before you purchase your birds. It is the smart way to go. Having a landlady who does not want you having poultry is going to be a problem. Perhaps time and promise of fresh eggs might change there minds. Turkeys are pretty hard to do successfully so you have some experience there.

The babies are so cute Sally, love this one!

MB

Sally...way too cute!!! Love your baby's


Shawn,
That dog is in pretty good condition..there still might be some little boy or girl who misses him desperately. No Craig's list adds for missing dogs in your area? Sounds like you are trying your best to make a fit..I could not imagine so many dogs inside of a house. I give credit to people who have the courage to do it.

Aoxa,

I am sure you will have several shades to choose from..I also like the traditional shade of red. I also like the clay color for blending into the environment. Sounds like you have a great contractor if he is going to also add your runs for the price. He is going to do right by you and make some good suggestions.I like the steel roofs too. The sound of rain on the roof is very relaxing to me. I have no idea about heat and cold inside a large steel building. Your contractor will be your best information for that. Chickendale too since he sells them.

 

[delisha]

I have silkie eggs in the incubator. I ordered from a lady who already has catdance offspring. These are from those kids. She shows her stock and has won a few awards. The eggs were cheaper and i wanted to try again. My DH still wants catdance eggs. I think this is a good route to go for now. I will see what off spring will look like. I candled last night on day 4 and weighed the eggs. They are loosing weight like they should this time. I am so relieved. All 12 are fertile..how could I be so lucky?

 

[armorfirelady]

I have silkie eggs in the incubator. I ordered from a lady who already has catdance offspring. These are from those kids. She shows her stock and has won a few awards. The eggs were cheaper and i wanted to try again. My DH still wants catdance eggs. I think this is a good route to go for now. I will see what off spring will look like. I candled last night on day 4 and weighed the eggs. They are loosing weight like they should this time. I am so relieved. All 12 are fertile..how could I be so lucky?

Fingers crossed you have 100 % hatch rate this time

 

[Bulldogma]

Shawn - do you have a treadmill? A high energy, nervous dog like that needs a job and lots of exercise. We got a treadmill for a dog we had like that and it made a world of difference! She "jogged" for 30 minutes while I was getting ready for work in the morning and 30 minutes while the family had dinner in the evening. No more chewing, whining, howling, fretting... she became a whole new dog. We had to train her to use the treadmill slowly and gently and used lots of treats, but once she caught on, she loved it! We'd find her sitting on the treadmill "asking" us to turn it on for her.

As for teaching old dogs... YES - it CAN be done. I started with our current dog when she was 7 years old, and in less than a year she became a certified Service Dog. (Not your average service dog!) She's 10 now and has arthritis, so we don't take her out as much... plus my daughter in the autism spectrum does a little better in public now.



Aoxa - Metal siding is good! The barn on my blog header is metal (obviously). You can get all sorts of lovely color combinations, so follow your heart when it comes to color! Check out THIS Google search for a few ideas, but you can get creative when it comes to color.

Sally - Great chick pics! Thank you for sharing!

I've finally caught up! I wanted to introduce myself, since I'm probably the only one on here who doesn't have and has never had chickens. I sure hope that's ok. Someday I hope to have poultry and since I'm a researcher (and impatient to get started), I joined. I've learned a lot! I did raise 5 turkeys last year. My neighbor said he might let me raise turkeys on his place this year. I'm waiting for him to get back in town to find out for sure. My land lady hates all poultry, so none here.

Loan Wizzard, I wanted to comment on your dog, since dogs are "what I do". I'm pretty sure he's a Sibe/Lab mix. I have a large terrier mix, a foster failure. I was her 4th foster home. She was adopted out several times and always returned. I adopted her out once and she came back after a month. I kept her. I always say Hannah isn't the right dog for me, but I am the right person for her. In a year and a half of limited trialing in dog agility, she has earned 14 titles in 2 organizations. You just never know.

Welcome!! I agree with you on the Lab/Husky or Siberian mix! The "sled dog" breeds tend to be a bit high strung, energetic and have a wanderlust. They need to be kept active. Welcome to the thread - great input!


And Now - I'm off to work on my coop!
Later, folks!

 

[aoxa]

We had grey steel siding and roof on our 60'x100' shop on our last property. It rarely got above 80 inside when over 100 outside. Non-insulated. When in the teens outside it would get near freezing inside. If you insulate it you should have no overheat or freezing inside(not so sure since you get so cold there)

Thank you for weighing in Trav!

Welcome to the group! I am glad you are doing all of your research before you purchase your birds. It is the smart way to go. Having a landlady who does not want you having poultry is going to be a problem. Perhaps time and promise of fresh eggs might change there minds. Turkeys are pretty hard to do successfully so you have some experience there.
Sally...way too cute!!! Love your baby's


Shawn,
That dog is in pretty good condition..there still might be some little boy or girl who misses him desperately. No Craig's list adds for missing dogs in your area? Sounds like you are trying your best to make a fit..I could not imagine so many dogs inside of a house. I give credit to people who have the courage to do it.

Aoxa,

I am sure you will have several shades to choose from..I also like the traditional shade of red. I also like the clay color for blending into the environment. Sounds like you have a great contractor if he is going to also add your runs for the price. He is going to do right by you and make some good suggestions.I like the steel roofs too. The sound of rain on the roof is very relaxing to me. I have no idea about heat and cold inside a large steel building. Your contractor will be your best information for that. Chickendale too since he sells them.

You've all got me convinced. Red steel siding it is My favourite is red as well.

Great link for images BDM. Love it!

 

[texasmomma]

Just quickly checking in here. I haven't been able to read or post for a while since my two eldest dd's are competing in speech and debate this year. We have been attending tournaments. We just came back from one last week and we have another to go to next week. It's definitely a busy time for us.

I did learn how to leave the chickens while we were gone without having to worry too much about them. I feed FF, but gave them some dry food to tide them over. I had a neighbor boy come to collect eggs. He came every other day. I only have 3 layers and we don't get many eggs from them. It seemed to work out just fine. I have 4 cockerels and 2 pullets in a pen together. They are about 8 weeks old. They ate a TON. So, I have to figure out what is up with that. I think it's the cockerels that are eating everything in site. I have a CLB that seems to be eating every chance he can.

With all the talk about hatching these days, I have been getting itchy to do the same. I'd have to find some Skyline Poultry basques or CLB's to be super tempted, though.

Aoxa, I am so very sorry about your home. Having been through a flood, I have some idea as to what you have had to deal with. If you need to talk with someone who has btdt, feel free to pm.

 

[loanwizard]

Shawn, The dog is adorable. What eyes. Hope we can meet him when we finally meet up. Just need some love and discipline. I will give you a call in a few days about the Tams. I think we are losing our wolf/shepherd in the next few days. He is 15 and failing. It will break our hearts since we have had him since he was born. Darn animals, you get so attached to them.

You could HAVE him if you wish

I tried to call you back and left a message. Lunch is not necessary, but appreciated the offer. Come up just about anytime with a little notice.

It is hard to lose an animal for sure.

Here is the last will and testament of Silverdene Emblem O'Neil.


Quote:

 

[Mumsy]

I vote for the red as well......but it is my favorite color

X 2

 

[Sally8]

This one is super cute Your DH is a good man! I have a couple stuffed chickens like that - Susan got them for me. One even crows. Parker, my nephew has claimed it as his own. How do you tell a kid about the fire? His dad told him all the chickens went to live at another farm because our barn burnt down. He said to me yesterday "I'm going to mail the chickens a letter and tell them I miss them". He's obsessed with letters and the mail system right now. He'll be 5 in April. I shouldn't have added this comment into this picture.. whoops Remember how I said we are thinking about doing steel siding? This is what it looks like: Not our barn, but that's steel siding. I think we will do it. It's low maintenance and easy for them to install. Now for colours.. Classic barn red, or what?

We have a lot of barns built like this around here. I think it's a great idea and should go together faster than a conventional one. I like red trimmed with white too. Can't wait until it warms up around here to paint my chicken coop the same way. I do have a little advice on it though. If doors are on the down slope sides of the roof, keep in mind that snow and ice slide off creating danger under and mounds of whatever was on the roof. Our neighbor has his house roof like this and they love it but especially this winter with so much snow, it's bent his gutters nearly to the ground and instead of cleaning it off the roof, they just use a different door. Go figure. Loan wizard, please tell me that this isn't the destructive one. We love dogs too. All ours are rescues. What a great heart you have. Bless you!

 

[rrrmamma]

Shawn,I read your message and quote with tears in my eyes. We just got back from having Bear put down. It will be hard digging a grave today with this horrible weather, but we will do it. We owe it to him for all the years of laughter and joy he brought us. He will join his half-brother in a grove in our woods. I will give you a call tomorrow. Thanks,
Deb

Aoxa, I have always wanted a red barn! Love it. We are going to be restoring an old barn on our property this spring. I want to keep the outside looking original, but with real wiring, water etc. It will be a long process as it is in really bad condition.