The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

I left before dark this morning and got back after dark. Didn't even get to see the chickens! They can go 3 days without needing food and water, but I love to hang with them. They make me smile.

We got supplies for Henry today. Puppy food, leash, collar, toys, etc. I am all ready!! I can't wait! Goes without saying I probably won't be on much this weekend..

I have been really busy at work so can hardly sneak in here either..

Already completed 200 returns so far.. on top of my regular accounting work. I work right through lunches most days.

I can handle the work. It's the constant traffic that drives me bonkers.. and the people who like to talk about their many ailments.

 

[Bulldogma]

My coop materials are scheduled to arrive on the 25th!!!! Yay! Then as soon as I get it together I can go get my 3 chickens!!! Already have grains fermenting! And my neighbor says I can have her old waterer! I have the containers for the wood ash bath. Making feeders out of old pvc pipes and topping it with a grid of plastic I trimmed away from filter support for my return furnace vent! Outside of a bulb & electricity for warmth (they are used to)I will be all set when I get some bedding.

It is real! the dream is real...I am going to have chickens!!!!!

Very exciting news! I'm so happy for you and for your new-to-you chickens! I know they will be very well cared for!

So I have a question for the OTs who know something about protein levels. I remember saying btw 18-20% is what you like. The current layer pellets I am using have is 16% the scratch has 9 %. Today while I was at TSC buying fencing that was on sale for the hoop coop I found calf manna grow/ conditioner and picked up a bag. That is listed as 24%.
Now my layer is mixed with scratch, BOSS alfalfa pellets and oats in a giant tub. I mixed it all together so that all I have do is fill the container I keep inside to fill the FF bucket. I added some grower to the FF bucket today & took the hens their 3rd bowl full out after work (must be an extra hungry day usually eat one bowl a day) they licked the bowl with grower in it clean in 10 minutes.

Since I had to make a new batch of FF today I just put the grower in it with oats, garlic, basil and the about 4 cups of layer mix into the bucket. It's happily bubbling away after being by the wood stove.

My question is if I buy more grower and add to my big tub with the other stuff already in it will the overall protein level be to high? There is probably a 3rd of a 50# bag of pellets left and probably same for scratch but that was a 25# bag.

Eventually I would just like to give straight grower since it has more ingredients in it that are better for the girls now that most layer feed is labeled vegetarian

Here is the grower ingredients and percentages
P

I would have calcium out for them to eat as they need it.
I am hoping will help with vent problems since it says its caused by lack of calcium (layer feed has calcium in it) and from the funky eggs with bumps and swirls in shell??

Thanks jenn

The protein levels will average... like if you mix black paint (high protein) and white paint (low protein) you will get something in the middle (gray) depending on how much of each you put in the mix.

 

[Bulldogma]

Well - apparently my SFH flock likes their new coop. All the girls laid an egg each again today! (Proud of my girls!)

 

[Mumsy]

It's been a busy day caring for the recovering Silkie pullet and getting the breeding pen ready for sand and chick house prepared for the next groups due to hatch.

All the talk about Silkies and whether they are dumb or not made me smile. They are chickens. I look at it like this. Smartness can be bred up or bred down. Doesn't matter if your talking Silkies, dogs, or horses. Go to any show or breeder of any of those animals. You will find barns or kennels filled with either very typy, beautiful, and SMART animals...Or very type-y, beautiful, and DUMB animals. It's in the breeding. Not the breed. Get it?

I raised Arabian horses and Springer Spaniel dogs for many decades. Blood lines are everything. If you want beautiful and intelligence in your blood lines, then you must breed for it. Same with Silkies.

I will tell you this straight up. Being a master breeder of great Silkies takes a master poultry raiser. It is not an undertaking for the impatient or careless flock attendant. It takes humor, diligence in good husbandry, good stock, and luck. The Silkie is one of the oldest breeds/varieties of chicken in history. They didn't survive because they are stupid. They survived because people love them so much. And having just said that....I hope mine survive my care! Hah!

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Hey figured out the multi reply process! He he. Learning here too. Now if I can get my hot water tank looked at so I can take hot showers and get the house cleaned right...... Outside home overhaul, new coop, chickens! Life is about to change!!!

Yippee!! You're going to love it!

Well probably going to drive you all nuts with questions and anxiety attacks related to chickens. And if what is happening is normal. If they are healthy etc.

as soon as your girl gets going..she is going to lay you some nice eggs...feed that yolk back to her and offer more calcium.

Congrats on the uh, yolk! Yeah let her have it. But extra calcium? How?

YAY!!!

Thanks. I am excited. Scared but excited.

Very exciting news! I'm so happy for you and for your new-to-you chickens! I know they will be very well cared for!


The protein levels will average... like if you mix black paint (high protein) and white paint (low protein) you will get something in the middle (gray) depending on how much of each you put in the mix.

I sure hope I do a good job. Got laughed at last night when I told friend (her hubby wants to clobber me... now SHE is getting chickens) I was fermenting feed. Ah well they will do whatever and I will do FF.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Yay! I'm so looking forward to getting fresh eggs. Don't laugh but I will have to remember how to take an egg without getting pecked! Since I have no roosters (might change if I can afford to feed more later) non will hatch if they brood anyway.

When I get the Chickens here how do I asses their health from past care? I am concerned there may be some problems from being kept inside the shed/coop in winter. What do I look for? How much should I handle them at first? How to cradle them?

Sorry but this is my first experience having my own. I know that I should keep them in the coop and protected pen yard at first so they know where home is. But should I just leave them to go in the coop on their own from the attached covered pen or call them into the coop and shut them in for the night so they get used to being called in? I do hope to free range them when I am outside in the summer.... concerned about getting them back to protection at night or when I come in.

Should I feed sunflower seeds right away in case they have worms? Ok have I asked too many questions already?

 

[ArielChick]

I have a question for you natural-minded chicken lovers. I will be getting four chicks next week and would like to make my own starter feed. I found a recipe that looks pretty good and includes soaked grains, peas, and greens. Does anyone make their own feed? Any suggestions or favorite recipes? My chicks will be coming from a friend, not through the mail. Thanks!

 

[aoxa]

Yay! I'm so looking forward to getting fresh eggs. Don't laugh but I will have to remember how to take an egg without getting pecked! Since I have no roosters (might change if I can afford to feed more later) non will hatch if they brood anyway.

You can just collect them later in the day when they are done on the nests. No worry about getting pecked if no one is there to peck you.

I got pecked often. Did not hurt enough for me to wear gloves, but you may want to. I know broody ducks can really pinch!

 

[rrrmamma]

Hey guys, can you slow down! I am going to CA and will be without internet access for 10 days. Do you have any idea how long it will be before I catch up again. On another note, my DH decided to make a second set of buckets for FF for me. He was drilling holes and when I looked at them he had put my name and a heart in the pattern. Gotta love him. He will be a bachelor and on his own with the chickens, cats and dogs while I'm gone. My dumb A@@ brother had the phones and internet at my mom's house turned off. No TV, no land line ( I have a trac phone) no internet. I feel like a caveman. I am definitely going to go through withdrawal. Got lots of work to do to get an estate sale put together so I really won't have that much spare time. I will really miss eggs since I don't have a connection there for " real eggs". I will miss all the hatches coming up. Darn!!!

 

[aoxa]

It's been a busy day caring for the recovering Silkie pullet and getting the breeding pen ready for sand and chick house prepared for the next groups due to hatch.

All the talk about Silkies and whether they are dumb or not made me smile. They are chickens. I look at it like this. Smartness can be bred up or bred down. Doesn't matter if your talking Silkies, dogs, or horses. Go to any show or breeder of any of those animals. You will find barns or kennels filled with either very typy, beautiful, and SMART animals...Or very type-y, beautiful, and DUMB animals. It's in the breeding. Not the breed. Get it?

I raised Arabian horses and Springer Spaniel dogs for many decades. Blood lines are everything. If you want beautiful and intelligence in your blood lines, then you must breed for it. Same with Silkies.

I will tell you this straight up. Being a master breeder of great Silkies takes a master poultry raiser. It is not an undertaking for the impatient or careless flock attendant. It takes humor, diligence in good husbandry, good stock, and luck. The Silkie is one of the oldest breeds/varieties of chicken in history. They didn't survive because they are stupid. They survived because people love them so much. And having just said that....I hope mine survive my care! Hah!

All of my smart silkies had good vision. I do think vision has a lot to do with how they go about their life..

They definitely aren't anymore stupid than polish and houdans. I would say my houdans were the funniest things. Gigi always thought someone was following him. He never walked.. he always ran where ever he was going. If you snuck up on him he would fly straight up in the air and flip out. Spazzy chickens!

Once I ensured the silkies could see where they were going, they did so much better.