The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

I am thinking they probably have hatchery stock and then were breeding too.

I think I got that link from someone on the old "Rocking Chair" thread.

After I figure out what sex the 8 week old kiddos are I'd like to get a few cream legbars and maybe a marens or 2. But for me, the marens would just be for variety in the egg carton. However - I'd rather start out with good stock than get hatchery birds. That way if I want to continue with them I can breed something for myself that I know have some level of quality.

Always get color of eggs of that days collection. This time of year..Maran eggs should be a good color. If they are light..they are probably pet quality. They have dark eggs on ebay all the time..David lines..extra dark..beautiful eggs..expensive sometimes..I just hatched out some Marans from dark eggs and I am looking forward to see them grow..they are nice and fat. I bought 6 eggs and hatched out 4. I think I have two males and two females

 

[Bulldogma]

It's been 24 hours since I brought my Grey Silkie pullet 'Binkus' into the house. She has exhibited brain injury symptoms. The roo 'Stinkus' she is penned with started crowing recently and grabbing her by the crest. I can only assume he injured her in his exuberance.

So glad she seems to be doing better. The Angry Birds vetwrap is too funny! I almost bought Angry Birds duct tape the other day, but it was twice as expensive as the plain duct tape.

Keep us posted on her progress! Neurological damage can be tricky... but in some cases critters end up no worse for the wear.

Some pictures of Margaret and her frost bitten feet.
This is her worst one. See the scab there? That's where the healthy tissue ends and the mummy foot begins.
Looking at me with her beautiful eyes.
Her other foot. This one I worked on as soon as it was swollen. The other one was not as bad in the beginning, but got worse (swollen and sore) after a couple days. This foot has lost all of the scales/skin and is all healthy underneath except that one toe at the knuckle.
Her bad foot again. She will have one toe.. That's about it. There has been worse though.
Here she is trying to balance and walk.
Her kennel. Her sleeping spot is at the back right corner. She will come up to eat and drink no problem.

What a lovely bird! Thank you for sharing the pictures. She is using her wings like crutches to get about. Hopefully once those toes fall off and the flesh heals up, she'll get some good new scales and some callouses on her stump and move much more comfortably.

 

[Sally8]

You all are such good chicken mom's! They are lucky to have you. I'm finding that around here chickens are for eggs and meat. No fancy birds. Our Tractor Supply sells straight run. If you ask what kind, they don't know.
No signs.

A couple weeks ago I bought 2 different dozen of Silkies and White Leghorns. Tonight I tossed 6 out of each. They never grew. Tomorrow, I'll break them open and see.

We have at least 1/4 in of ice and its snowing. Still no camera, they better call soon to say it's ready. It'll be so pretty tomorrow.

 

[delisha]

Speeking of snow..I am snowed in good. I have a 7 foot drift in my drive and taller than that from the snow plow on the other side of it. I can see part of my mail box on one side. Wicked amount of snow in one dumping and two more days of snow. I shoveled for over an hour already and I have gotten to the first coop. I am a bit panicked about getting out to the last one. I better get my butt going..

 

[aoxa]

Speeking of snow..I am snowed in good. I have a 7 foot drift in my drive and taller than that from the snow plow on the other side of it. I can see part of my mail box on one side. Wicked amount of snow in one dumping and two more days of snow. I shoveled for over an hour already and I have gotten to the first coop. I am a bit panicked about getting out to the last one. I better get my butt going..

Wow that sucks! We only had one that bad this year. We had the whole family + Dylan out shovelling/ploughing.

You want to know a good snow blower trick? Coat the blades with PAM and it goes so much better! I know you are having trouble starting yours up. No male neighbours with a good strong arm that could help you? Not being sexist or anything. Men are just so much more helpful when a women is in need of assistance then other women

My last village I lived in I constantly had men help me out - one time while getting groceries a nice older gentleman dusted my entire car of snow... Now that I'm in a rural area I don't get the same treatment.. but I have neighbours I can call up and ask who would in an instant.

 

[Leahs Mom]

The snow we got weighs about 100 lbs for every shovelful.....Not sure what y'all got over WI way but if it's like this stuff, you couldn't use the snow blower anyway.

At least mine is not deeper than 3" and it's warm enough that it is like walking through a slushy.

 

[delisha]

The snow we got weighs about 100 lbs for every shovelful.....Not sure what y'all got over WI way but if it's like this stuff, you couldn't use the snow blower anyway.

At least mine is not deeper than 3" and it's warm enough that it is like walking through a slushy.

It is too deep to use the snow blower we have I think. Not sure if it would move it. I got out to the second coop. my back is killing me. Taking a break. I should get out to the third coop. As long as my back holds up. Well I will dig by hand and crawl..I will get to that coop. The mom and chicks are in that coop. It only took me 45 minutes to shovel from the first coop to the second coop so it should be fine. It is heavy..but not slushy. I do have to get rid of it because we are getting more. I will be hauling gallons of water too..just in case.

 

[aoxa]

The snow we got weighs about 100 lbs for every shovelful.....Not sure what y'all got over WI way but if it's like this stuff, you couldn't use the snow blower anyway.

At least mine is not deeper than 3" and it's warm enough that it is like walking through a slushy.

I must have a good snow blower. It was up to my neck and it still worked awesome with the PAM.

Without the PAM I might as well hire someone. I'd rather pay someone to do it with a plough than put my back or shoulder out shovelling (which I've done TWICE!) Back out = have to take time off work for either doctor or just too painful to sit all day. I'd rather spend the $30 to plough it out.

Though now my FIL's friend takes care of us. He has a big ride on plough and he owes Don (FIL) many favours.

 

[aoxa]

This was our worst storm this year. 40 cm with drifts up to 6 feet high.

This all happened the day before the fire. I spent the better part of 2 hours snow blowing down to the barn and up to the house. It was windy too. Don did the drive way. Susan, Ann and Dylan shovelled the decks off. What a storm!

 

[aoxa]

Thursday
February 28​

Friday
March 1​

Saturday
March 2​

Sunday
March 3​

Monday
March 4​

Tuesday
March 5​

Conditions
6am - 6pm​

​

Mainly cloudy Light snow Light snow Mixed precip. Scattered flurries Flurries

P.O.P.​

30 % 70 % 70 % 40 % 40 % 40 %

High​

34 °F 32 °F 34 °F 36 °F 36 °F 32 °F

Feels Like​

21 19 23 30 28 25

Low​

23 °F 25 °F 30 °F 30 °F 30 °F 27 °F

Wind​

E 9 mph NE 12 mph N 16 mph NE 3 mph E 3 mph N 6 mph

24-Hr Rain​

- - - trace trace -

24-Hr Snow​

2-3 in 2-3 in close to 2 in close to 1 in close to 1 in close to 1 in​

Looks like a good weekend to move the chicks to their new baby barn yes?

They are 7 weeks old the youngest of them. I wouldn't need any heat at all right? I have had the window open overnight for the past few days and it hovers around 40 downstairs now. Don't want to shock them