The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[bluebirdnanny]

Well I found the camera. Deer are out now so waiting. (And I just got up at 8... not dressed...making my coffee now. Will go out after breakfast and take photos. Then you all can advise on if I am ready enough for the chickens and can build pen around it all.

 

[Mumsy]

She is likely out with the chickens, she has been on twice since the slide. I am pretty sure she was not affected.

I am touched deeply that my friends were thinking of me out here on an island that still wants to slide back into the sea. I didn't know about the slide until late afternoon yesterday. Was so busy with new arrivals and an incubator popping like a pop corn popper with new chicks. I live twelve miles South of Coupeville where the land slide was. My daughter and her family live near the slide but a half mile inland. It is amazing no lives were lost. The topographical shape of the island has changed!

Eight HRIR chicks have hatched. Another pipped in the incubator. If it hatches that will give me a twenty count to start my flock selection from. A couple of these new hatched chicks are CHUNKS! And they are dark red. I can now look forward to selecting and breeding two flocks. They couldn't be any more different than each other. Silkies and heritage RIR. Now the fun REALLY begins.

 

[chikenscratch]

Mumsy-glad to hear that you and family are doing well on the ever changing island you call home! Enjoy the rest of your hatches.

 

[krcchickens]

Glad your well mumsy... I have a question about FF. my chickens loved it yesterday. Does it take 2 days when I add more feed to the mix? If so I seriously gotta get another bucket. Do I need to use all that's in the Bucket before adding more?

 

[aoxa]

I am touched deeply that my friends were thinking of me out here on an island that still wants to slide back into the sea. I didn't know about the slide until late afternoon yesterday. Was so busy with new arrivals and an incubator popping like a pop corn popper with new chicks. I live twelve miles South of Coupeville where the land slide was. My daughter and her family live near the slide but a half mile inland. It is amazing no lives were lost. The topographical shape of the island has changed!

Eight HRIR chicks have hatched. Another pipped in the incubator. If it hatches that will give me a twenty count to start my flock selection from. A couple of these new hatched chicks are CHUNKS! And they are dark red. I can now look forward to selecting and breeding two flocks. They couldn't be any more different than each other. Silkies and heritage RIR. Now the fun REALLY begins.

That's such a good number to choose from. You can really get a good handle on things if you pick just the best (which I know you will!)

Those two breeds are polar opposites. hehe

If I keep a few HRIR I will most likely only use them as eye candy and layers. Unless I end up with a boy that is really beautiful. I won't go out searching for better stock if the three I MAY keep don't make the cut for breeding. We shall see.. I loved the one HRIR I had. She was very sweet, and actually went broody once last year. She was not a great layer at all though. I think she was quite old.

Hallus who we got the 2 dozen HRIR eggs from - all but 1 is developing! 2 I can't see in enough to tell (they will have been incubating for a week tomorrow).

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Well, I think I am gonna put Elphaba down today when I get up. She has not eaten or pooped since yesterday afternoon. Pig Pen(rooster) would not let her near the flock after I dusted everyone, I was letting her stretch her legs since she has been in the crate inside for several days.

Aoxa, that pup is too cute for words.

So my meat chicks I got this past weekend are about a week and half old and already as big as my hatchling that is almost 5 weeks old. Dang these Cornish X do grow quick. And they gobble up the FF. They are twice the size of the 2 week old Catdance chicks in the brooder with them.

 

[armorfirelady]

I have a question about FF. my chickens loved it yesterday. Does it take 2 days when I add more feed to the mix? If so I seriously gotta get another bucket. Do I need to use all that's in the Bucket before adding more?

I am consistently inconsistent..........sometimes I put more dry ingredients in when the bucket is still half full or I wait till I am scrapping the bottom. Either way it doesn't matter since even soaked food is better than dry IMO. When I am at the bottom of the bucket and adding dry ingredients to make a *new batch* I will put it next to the wood stove for awhile to help jump start the fermenting process.

Some people add dry to their bucket every time they scoop out feed. Its really just depends on each persons preference

 

[veryberry]

I love the hoop coop. I'd like to put one up next to my chicken coop more for protection in the winter snow and summer rains. My coop isn't huge so hoping to put it close. I'd leave both ends open running east to west as our storms have to come down the gully n - s. The vents on top, can you shut them to keep rain from dripping in? My only problem is figuring out how to get the cattle panels home.

aoxa - I always love your pictures. I also love candling eggs. It's fascinating.

dbaydak - were those pic's taken today? Usually your weather gets us the next day. Very nice pic's. We love seeing them. Thanks. sue

All you need is a pickup truck. Put the panels in and bend them up just like the hoop coop (upside down u), close the tailgate and they will stay put for the trip. Just be careful when you open the tailgate to unload them as they will spring out if you are not putting pressure against them then start letting the pressure up to slowly straighten them out. Any farm supply store will know exactly how to load them up in a truck for you.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Mumsy-glad to hear that you and family are doing well on the ever changing island you call home! Enjoy the rest of your hatches.

X2

Glad your well mumsy... I have a question about FF. my chickens loved it yesterday. Does it take 2 days when I add more feed to the mix? If so I seriously gotta get another bucket. Do I need to use all that's in the Bucket before adding more?

You might want to take a look at this 3 Part series on lacto-fermenting feed. It covers a lot of those questions! Be sure to read all 3 parts Part 3 talks about how to keep the ferment going perpetually.


Quote: Armorfirelady
IMO also! There is also some info and research quoted on that in the series noted above and in the sprouting information on how just soaking grains overnight reduces some of the anti-nutrient properties in seeds.

 

[delisha]

Quote:
Mumsy..
I am so relieved everyone is fine in your family and you were not involved in any mud issues. Congrats on your hatch and new additions!! Keep it up and take picks soon!

I also recommend reading the article. So many wonderful bits of information will help clear up misinformation given.

I have two chicks out and two pips. Only one Basque egg and it hatched. I am relieved.