The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Loghousemom]

Pine flakes here are $4.99 a bale, (I start out with 2) the bale is compressed, it spreads out a lot, then as time goes along 1 add part to another, etc by spring I have 4 - 5 bales on the floor (Remember, they come compressed.) It works for me. We do have lots of leaves but I'm always afraid to save them for fear of mold. I do use them along in the fall until snow comes. This winter, we went a couple months of below freezing at nights and most days. (Just commenting what works for me)

What size coop do you have? When I first moved the chickens out to ours I thought I would use the shavings. I had 5 bales and only did the one side barely an inch deep. It didn't seem like enough, so then I started tossing in the straw and hay and mixed it up. Then, in the fall I added in some leaves, not many, and when I toss them in, I don't cover much, just throw in a few scoops to give them something new to dig through. The ladies don't seem to like to be outside when the temps get below 25 so I try to keep them busy.

Thanks again.

 

[delisha]

Quote: They go in the coop. They are without heat in the house now. They are feathered out. It is above freezing during the day. They will have access to heat. I have an electric heater now. I will set up an area where it will be plenty worm for them. Normally I would use a heat lamp and if the temps drop below 20 i might have to plug it in at night. The weather forcas for this month is all above freezing during day light. My house is 60 so they are used to chilly weather. They need fresh air and sunlight at this age. In three months when I push hatching..I will not even keep them in the house at all.

ote:

Quote: It sounds like you have a nice size coop! how wonderful!

 

[chickencowranch]

Quote:
As a beef producer as well as having chickens, this kind of stuff is disappointing to read. No wonder people become leary buying food from the store.

 

[aoxa]

What size coop do you have? When I first moved the chickens out to ours I thought I would use the shavings. I had 5 bales and only did the one side barely an inch deep. It didn't seem like enough, so then I started tossing in the straw and hay and mixed it up. Then, in the fall I added in some leaves, not many, and when I toss them in, I don't cover much, just throw in a few scoops to give them something new to dig through. The ladies don't seem to like to be outside when the temps get below 25 so I try to keep them busy.

Thanks again.

My bales - it took 4 to cover the floor roughly 3 inches. I still have one extra bale that I sit on to visit them. I have 10 x 12 floor space.

Our bales are very large.



At this point I had 3 bales down but yesterday I added another.

This batch of shavings is very fine. The store seems to vary widely in the quality of the shavings. I prefer the Irving brand. It's not as dusty...

Our bales are $5.99 if you buy over 10, otherwise they are 6.99$ + tax..

GOOD NEWS! Our barn has been approved by the insurance company!!!!!!!!!

 

[Noncentzter]

GOOD NEWS! Our barn has been approved by the insurance company!!!!!!!!!

Yes! Congrats!!!

 

[jlynnet]

Aoxa,
Thats fantastic news! I'm so excited for you to begin this new chapter!

 

[Mumsy]

So happy to read Justine and Susan's insurance approved the new barn. That is happy news indeed.

I have tentative happy news. Not as spectacular as new barns but after three long days, there is improvement in Dumpling. That 4 am throat and crop massage must have helped. She has not coughed or sputtered, or panted in a few hours now and I just watched her take five long gulps of water laced with sugar and children's Vita-sol liquid vitamins without iron. Following which she started pecking and swallowing a bit of chick starter crumble. I'm exhausted but somewhat relieved. This is a big improvement over the last couple days. She is finally eating and drinking.

 

[Noncentzter]

Mumsy, very good news indeed!

 

[Pozees]

So happy to read Justine and Susan's insurance approved the new barn. That is happy news indeed.

I have tentative happy news. Not as spectacular as new barns but after three long days, there is improvement in Dumpling. That 4 am throat and crop massage must have helped. She has not coughed or sputtered, or panted in a few hours now and I just watched her take five long gulps of water laced with sugar and children's Vita-sol liquid vitamins without iron. Following which she started pecking and swallowing a bit of chick starter crumble. I'm exhausted but somewhat relieved. This is a big improvement over the last couple days. She is finally eating and drinking.

Fantastic! I know it's premature to just call it a Whew! but it is a very good sign, fingers crossed the improvement continues!

 

[Mumsy]

Fantastic! I know it's premature to just call it a Whew! but it is a very good sign, fingers crossed the improvement continues!

She was just pecking half interested on the crumble. I took the 1/8 cup of Swiss Chard broth with a bit of olive oil I made her at 6 am and soaked the chick starter. She has been working on it steadily now.

I need to watch that crop now and palpate it every couple hours and listen to her breathing. If she can go 24 hours without coughing and sputtering and keeps eating, drinking, and passing poo, I will call this a big fat *Whew!* I need to seriously consider new litter options for this little girl. The hay is too difficult for her to get around on and shavings are out. All the talk about cost of shavings bales had me shocked. You all have it pretty good. A bale cost me nearly $10 a piece!