The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

You should. I basically have Tractor Supply and on 2 different purchases, I've had to return my layer feed due to mold. 40 - 50 lbs of it. I can travel 40 miles....

That is ... I can't even think of a word.

 

[aoxa]

Holy cute as a button chicks Aoxa!
I will be really interested to see how you like the wood floor in your shed. This is a picture of my coop. I have a 100X60 foot area all fenced in for daytime. At night they are locked up tight inside the coop and run area you see.
I wish I hadn't put in wood and could do deep litter. Maybe I can see how you manage yours and I'll like mine more? I have shavings like you do, and poop boards under the roosts. It is fine, and very clean. I just like the deep litter. I do have deep litter in the small run area. They can scratch and play in there when it is bad weather.
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I've done deep litter on wood floor before no problem. I don't see how it would be an issue Wet + wood floor can be an issue. If I house waterfowl in here at a later date, I will put stick tile down to repel the water. Again, not sure.

Your coop is adorable!

 

[maggiemo]

Hmmm good point. I didn't think of the wood rotting. I haven't even noticed it damp. But it must get damp sometimes. One think I really don't like is the mice can get under the flooring. Does that happen to you?

 

[maggiemo]

I've done deep litter on wood floor before no problem. I don't see how it would be an issue Wet + wood floor can be an issue. If I house waterfowl in here at a later date, I will put stick tile down to repel the water. Again, not sure.

Your coop is adorable!

Thanks.I love it. I really like the Dutch doors and the external nest boxes.

 

[aoxa]

Hmmm good point. I didn't think of the wood rotting. I haven't even noticed it damp. But it must get damp sometimes. One think I really don't like is the mice can get under the flooring. Does that happen to you?

The mice can get under what flooring? The wood?

 

[Ashdoes]

I have a question, based on something I saw in a another thread. Am I supposed to be bringing my Cochins in and giving them baths for dirty butts? All those feathers, some days there butts are clean and others not. But there are some people that are bringing their chickens in, bathing them and treating them for mites, which they say they do every time they bring them inside. These are outside chickens, pretty, but outside. Should I be more involved?

 

[maggiemo]

The mice can get under what flooring? The wood?

Between the flooring and the soil. My coop is on skids. It doesn't set on the ground. The mice can get under the floor between the plywood and the ground. It is a perfect place for mice. When it warms up I am going to put hardware wire all around the bottom perimiter of the coop. I know it won't keep all of them out, but it will slow them down.

 

[aoxa]

I have a question, based on something I saw in a another thread. Am I supposed to be bringing my Cochins in and giving them baths for dirty butts? All those feathers, some days there butts are clean and others not. But there are some people that are bringing their chickens in, bathing them and treating them for mites, which they say they do every time they bring them inside. These are outside chickens, pretty, but outside. Should I be more involved?

No you shouldn't bathe them unless you want to bathe them. I only bathe for a show or if one is so dirty I don't want to look at the dirty chicken so I will wash them.. I washed Margaret because she had lice (got rid of them YES!) but otherwise you are doing just fine.

Trim some of their butt fluff to keep the poop off. My cochins were notorious for their racing stripes.

 

[aoxa]

Well...I'm going to try re-writing the post. I was saying....

I'm enjoying reading about everyone's feed. And thank you, CM, for the peat moss primer!

I still have an old fashioned feed mill in our area that will make feed to order so what I feed probably isn't helpful unless you have that kind of place. I can specify what I don't want in it, the protein level and calcium level, and they formulate around that. I do middle of the road on protein (16%) and lower calcium so that everyone can eat it. Then I put out calcium carbonate free choice, and give extra meat protein (and especially for the babies to raise their protein level).

The feed does have fish meal in it. And I've asked the formulator to see if he can track down some quality meat meal for the next time I buy but he's not sure if he can find it or not.

I feel so blessed to have a real-life old fashioned feed store

I was told by Jamie (APA judge and curator of the zoo with a degree in animal science) That their protein level should be 18-20% at all times. He pretty much said my 15% grower was not cutting it and I really needed to up it if I wanted to hatch healthy chicks and get the best out of my birds.

Yes he says layer is about the worst thing you could feed your birds. Not so much because of the calcium (which roosters CAN handle when it's breeding season - it helps their fertility) but because it is formulated to feed your birds the minimum nutritional values to get eggs. IE: Don't feed this to your breeding flock and avoid feeding it to your laying flock as well.

I had just started game bird breeder for the birds in the barn. Made for breeding season. 20% protein (animal protein) and the babies were still on starter (18%).

They don't have an all flock around here. I will stick with unmedicated starter until next breeding season.

He studied nutrition and is very smart when it comes to these things. I'll take his word for it His birds are the picture of health. His main breeds of focus are: Toulouse Geese, Silkies, Modern & Old English Game Bantams.

Wow I got distracted and didn't post this.

 

[Ashdoes]

Protein is something I'm always worried about. I use an 18% All Flock, and some scratch for my FF. Always keeping an eye to make sure the birds are pick'n feathers or anything.
Aoxa- I think maybe this summer I'm going to trim the Cochins behinds, just seems like a better solution then baths every two weeks. I don't want to do it till after I find two of my Roos new homes, keep them pretty and hopefully they can find good homes.