The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[chickiemomy]

Quote:
a comment on #2 -- I don't think lactobacillus KILLS ecoli or salmonella - (bleach would kill those organisms outright) -- but in a contained environment, lactobacillus will outcompete those bacteria, thus sort of 'starving' them out of existence. over time --

don't want anyone to think lactobacillus is an antibiotic -- & would make otherwise tainted food items safe to ingest...

otherwise -- it's also good for digestion - this is the active organism in deli dill pickles, sauerkraut & kim chi.

 

[Eggcessive]

There is a long thread here on the salmon faverolles breed. They were brought over from France by 2 breeders and BYC members, I believe, Peter Merlin and Dick Boulanger. They come in large or bantam sizes. The salmons are the most common color, but people are working on black, mahogany, white, blue, and maybe others. They have 5 toes, feathered feet, and muffs and beards. They are hard to find unless you find them through breeders here on BYC. I got a couple of hatchery chicks from Meyer 2 years ago, and they are too dark. Their temperament is very docile and sweet, even the roosters, and can be bullied if in with other more aggressive breeds. Some recommend not keeping them with other breeds, but I had mine altogether until I obtained a nice Merlin roo that was nearly killed by my Ameraucana head roo. Since then he and his girls are in there own coop. We even let them free range around our yard right now. Many of the good breeders are in Oregon or Washington, but I know of some good ones throughout the midwest and in New York.

 

[countrygirl74]

Good point!

Oops - thought I was right underneath chickimomy's post about the lacto...

 

[Mumsy]

Ohh, Eggcessive, pic's are beautiful!!! I love the mailbox. Thanks for sharing.

Mumsy, I bought half doz of rubber bowls because I used to use glass/ceramic but I have a pile of broken ones. I'll use the rubber ones in the winter and change to plastic in the summer, although I have a lot of cracked plastic ones too. New York winters are not a good place to use glass.

I finally took a pic of Thor my only living survivor of a dozen Silkie eggs shipped through the mail. After opening each and every egg I found 8 that never started, 2 that quit half way through, 2 made it but when Thor came out he cracked the only egg with a full grown live chick in it. I so wish I had helped. It took Thor 36 hours to come out. Is that normal? One more point for my Marans. How old before I know if he's a she? Never mind that Ill spend all afternoon crying, I'd still like to know.






My reason for thinking it's a he. Look at the stance and attitude.

I'm sorry you had a hatch like that. It really does a number on our stress levels.

I didn't have the temperature go below 30 degrees here this winter and no snow. I think I might have to get rubber pans if I lived where you live too!

He is such a cutie! And look at that stink eye already! He does have some boyish traits. Show us another picture in the nest couple weeks.

 

[chickiemomy]

I read that chickens cannot tolerate milk. Is this true?

my chicks get PLAIN (non-sugar, non-flavored) full fat, live yogurt every morning. about 1/2 Tablespoon per bird. - They've been getting this for most of their lives, are about 10 months old. They are all very healthy - no poo issues ;-)

I use the yogurt as a medium to mix in some powdered PRE - biotics - mix in a little layer crumbles to give it some texture - so it's not so messy & gets ingested.

can't speak to other milk sources tho -- think the sugar is a major issue - as in flavored yogurts...

 

[countrygirl74]

There is a long thread here on the salmon faverolles breed. They were brought over from France by 2 breeders and BYC members, I believe, Peter Merlin and Dick Boulanger. They come in large or bantam sizes. The salmons are the most common color, but people are working on black, mahogany, white, blue, and maybe others. They have 5 toes, feathered feet, and muffs and beards. They are hard to find unless you find them through breeders here on BYC. I got a couple of hatchery chicks from Meyer 2 years ago, and they are too dark. Their temperament is very docile and sweet, even the roosters, and can be bullied if in with other more aggressive breeds. Some recommend not keeping them with other breeds, but I had mine altogether until I obtained a nice Merlin roo that was nearly killed by my Ameraucana head roo. Since then he and his girls are in there own coop. We even let them free range around our yard right now. Many of the good breeders are in Oregon or Washington, but I know of some good ones throughout the midwest and in New York.

So.... it would be best to not put them in a mixed flock? I was thinking about just getting one pullet, so maybe that would be a bad idea? I have all the breeds I currently own in my signature. I have 3 roos (2 silkies and one EE). Any other roos I get are eaten.

 

[Bulldogma]

They are sooooo pretty! I really want some!

I have 12 hatching eggs available...

 

[CoopChick719]

I'd definitely do these come summer. Spring it would be too much to have in all the pens I need for breeding.



This is my favourite waterer we have. Is not heated. I love how it fills from the top. That black thing screws on to the bottom so when you are moving it from tap to where you set it down, the water does not fill in the base. Once in place, unscrew the little cap and place it where you see in the picture.

You know how some waterers get dirt all in them from waterfowl? This one doesn't!!!

I have this waterer too. Does anyone else have trouble opening this sucker? I have to straddle the white part between my knees and put everything I've got into unscrewing the lid!! My husband and daughter think it's a riot to watch!! Me...not so much! Maybe I'm just not eating my Wheaties!

 

[aoxa]

Ohh, Eggcessive, pic's are beautiful!!! I love the mailbox. Thanks for sharing.

Mumsy, I bought half doz of rubber bowls because I used to use glass/ceramic but I have a pile of broken ones. I'll use the rubber ones in the winter and change to plastic in the summer, although I have a lot of cracked plastic ones too. New York winters are not a good place to use glass.

I finally took a pic of Thor my only living survivor of a dozen Silkie eggs shipped through the mail. After opening each and every egg I found 8 that never started, 2 that quit half way through, 2 made it but when Thor came out he cracked the only egg with a full grown live chick in it. I so wish I had helped. It took Thor 36 hours to come out. Is that normal? One more point for my Marans. How old before I know if he's a she? Never mind that Ill spend all afternoon crying, I'd still like to know.






My reason for thinking it's a he. Look at the stance and attitude.

Never sex a bird by it's stance!

If I had to guess, I'd say boy based on the thickness of it's legs, but not the stance.

I'm interested in hearing about the salmon faverolles too...I've never read about them.

You've never heard about them?

They were one of the first I admired

Just not many around here, and already found the breeds I want to work with more than them - so never pursued them.

 

[aoxa]

I have this waterer too. Does anyone else have trouble opening this sucker? I have to straddle the white part between my knees and put everything I've got into unscrewing the lid!! My husband and daughter think it's a riot to watch!! Me...not so much! Maybe I'm just not eating my Wheaties!

I had trouble with the waterer over flowing. I liked it at first, but it seemed to get worse and worse!