The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[mlowen]

Sue (Sally8) how's your mom? I've just been thinking about y'all.

 

[Ashdoes]

Thank you lala
It's the perfect solution

You need to find a buyer for your eggs. Promote them. 

You free range right? There should be a market for that anywhere... I only know one other person near me who free ranges and he has no eggs left to spare! I am just not eating eggs now.

I've been talking about that with my husband, I'm sure I wouldn't have a problem selling them. But, we haven't been in the new house a year yet, hubby isn't back from the deployment yet and while I have A LOT of eggs, I'm not sure I have enough to sell as well. I'm at the mid point, but think by next year between ducks and the Cream Legbars we've decided to get I'll be ready to sell and all that. It's exciting when we make decisions like that, even though it takes a long time to actually get started.

 

[loanwizard]

"Live free or die" (Quoting PG)

That is something I've pondered quite often. From time to time I remember when b opened the door and let the gnarly bunch out rather than keeping them cooped during that first week. The thought was similar... if they're going to die at least they're going to die free.

I keep having this argument with myself to just open the gate and let them free (hawks and all). I think that argument is going to win someday. But I also think it would be easier with 30+ chickens than it would be with under 10.

So I keep pondering and trying to convince myself...

(Mine do get out to run an area but I have LOTS more room they could go if I took down the electronet. I need Del to convince me to just turn 'em loose...

)

That's MY quote, thank you very much......

Easier how? Takes the same amount of effort to lower the fence regardless of how many birds..... Just kidding, I understand.

We have 12,500 acres behind us and during the fall migration, we have 20-30 hawks per day it seems. I have yet to lose a chicken to them, I believe. The worst predators I have are my own pups and my "stray".....

It will hurt, if you have 10 birds, that you've named, give treats to, hold, brush, dress..... you get the idea, and you lose 1, or all 10.

Chickens are replaceable and I like them at all ages. Way I look at it is why I am proud of the little girl. In my opinion only, it is selfish to keep chickens penned in a vegetationless run/coop.

Let them do what they were designed to do, even if it is to become a foxes supper.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:I'm at the mid point, but think by next year between ducks and the Cream Legbars we've decided to get I'll be ready to sell and all that. It's exciting when we make decisions like that, even though it takes a long time to actually get started.

Cream legbars! Where are you going to get yours? I think I'm going to be getting some as soon as I have enough room and know for sure what my young kiddos are (m/f)

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Sorry... BLASPHEMY! It was NOT PG.... (I corrected it in my prior post

)

What I mean by "easier" is that if I have 30 birds and lose 10 of them to preditors I still have 20 left.

If I have 6 birds and lose 2 of them I only have 4 left.

My egg supply goes down and I lose all the time that I've fed them and then all the time it takes to get new birds to point of lay.

So...it's easier from the point of view of replacement.

 

[DawnB]

Hi...I really like this thread and have learned a ton. At one time, there was a link to the natural chicken keepers website that showed the steps for butchering (with GREAT pics). And I thought I bookmarked it, and of course now cannot find it.

Can anyone help me out and re-post the butchering link?

As much as I'd like to flip through all the pages, 1000+ is a little too much.


Thanks again for all the great info!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Oh...have you really not had a hawk go after chickens? I had one in the dog pen run last weekend trying to help himself.

 

[Sally8]

Sue (Sally8) how's your mom? I've just been thinking about y'all.

I guess my best answer is about what you'd expect from an 80 yr old woman with heart and lung problems on chemo. I'm only beginning to see how long and bumpy the road ahead is. I try to keep her in my loop as I'm always asking advice on my chickens and turkeys, knowing that she tries to remember but it always brings a smile to her face and usually a story. Thank you so much for asking.

 

[Ashdoes]

Cream legbars!  Where are you going to get yours?  I think I'm going to be getting some as soon as I have enough room and know for sure what my young kiddos are (m/f)

We decided on them because they are foragers, and I really like that trait. We let ours free range all day, every day, unless I'm going to be gone for the day. I saw Mypetchicken.com has eggs, but I can't figure out where they get their stock from, so I'm not for sure where we want to get them yet. If I'm going to spend the money, I want them SOP, so they're sellable and all that.

 

[Sally8]

Hey Del, I am starting the chelation(sp) treatment tomorrow. it helps

I'm not sure where my head was, but did your chickens get into lead also?

Can anyone tell me what a debeaked chick is? Please don't tell me that it is what it sounds like!

Also, I was so excited to take my teen aged chicks out of the house last night but as I was readying everything around, it started snowing like crazy, I checked the temp and it was 20 and it got even colder over night. So, you can guess, i didn't move them. Tomorrow is the big move day. REGARDLESS!