The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[CoopChick719]

I'm very happy to hear how old your dog was when you had kids. Unfortunately they don't have a long life expectancy, but knock on wood, this breeder has really healthy and sound dogs and has had them up to 12 years old.

Newfs have a life expectancy of 10 as well, so your mix was very long lived!!

We were trying to decide between the two - newfs and berner. We chose Bernese Mountain Dog based solely on the fact that they drool less! We love both breeds.

We had a Newf who came from a breeder in Newfoundland. He definitely had a wet mouth. We still have some drool stains on the hardwood floor that will not come out. Loved him to death but unfortunately had to give him away when my shih-tzu went into heat.

He tore the backdoor off the barn & destroyed the storage room trying to get to her. Even after she went to visit Grammy, he was frantic looking for her.

 

[Bulldogma]

Aoxa - I'm stealing that precious puppy! He just couldn't be more perfect!

Mumsy - those chicks are beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing pictures! (And glad you are not near the landslide area.)

Well - "Darth "Bator" has one chick hatched and I'm waiting on 4 more! The first to hatch is from my splash SFH hen, Elinor, and is a blue with a red head. I haven't yet had this particular color combo in a chick - always so neat to see how SFH turn out!

 

[countrygirl74]

It's raining...Again. So I took the opportunity to get some quicky chick pix.

The shipped chicks are active and STILL hungry! I gave them a dish of scrambled eggs to slow them down for a picture. They are so strong and healthy. This is not my experience with shipped chicks at all. I always lose some to weakness, stress, and pasty bum. Not these guys. Ron Fogle must have excellent breeders. That's what I was counting on.

So adorable Mumsy! What pretty little chicks - and I love Chunk!

 

[countrygirl74]

Countrygirl & Kassaundra -
The video and info on making the LABs has got me thinking! I have used a bacterial spray on items such as pet urine on carpets and other items to consume the "bad stuff" and neutralize the smells, etc. I purchase this in spray bottles from a local store and the stuff is GREAT.

I honestly don't know what specific bacteria strains are used in the product as that is their "trade secret" and isn't listed on the MSDS so I'm not sure if it is a LAB strain or something else.

So one of the things I'm wondering is if you could actually use something like whey from raw cheese made w/mesophillic LAB culture to spray on the chicken house litter and achieve the same results as using the LABs you make? This is of interest to me as I am a "cheesemaker" (and instructor) so I often have plenty of whey around...and this is from RAW milk so it has even more benefits.

What is your thought on that? Do you think I could spray whey into the chicken litter to jump-start LAB proliferation without any negative effects?

Just thinking it through, it seems like it would be another good use for the whey that never occurred to me to try until you 2 told us about using your home made LABs in the litter.


OH...and just in case anyone is interested, here is an example of a bacterial spray like I'm referring to above. I HAVE NOT USED THIS PARTICULAR BRAND but may try some someday!

http://www.antiickypoo.com/anti-icky-poo-1-gallon
http://www.treatsforchickens.com/products/Anti-Icky-Poo.html

I don't know that much about it but I would think that it would work - anything with LAB cultures going into the chicken coop would be good. Even if they just end up consuming some of it it would be good - you can always try it and see!

 

[countrygirl74]

Okay, so here's today's photos of the next 3 new babies...









I get the most comical photos of this silly girl below - last time it looked like she was dancing, this time it looks like she's headed down the catwalk strutting her stuff (in the second photo)

 

[Leahs Mom]

It's raining...Again. So I took the opportunity to get some quicky chick pix.





Holy Carp! These chicks can really scarf down the groceries. Hah!

I took nine chicks out the bator this morning. They are lucious red and look like little Sumo wrestlers.
These chicks are twelve hours and less old. They purr! So calm and sweet. While they sleep, some of them are trilling. I love that.

This chick just hatched and fills my hand. So calm he fell asleep in my palm. I call this one 'Chunk'.

I want to know when you and Del are going to have some of those heritage RIRs for sale!

 

[loanwizard]

16 years I have been a Used Vehicle Dealer and a landlord.... I can blame the economy, people not paying, whatever.... but the upshot of it is, I made every decision, so the blame lies squarely on my shoulders. I find out shortly from my bank whether I get to continue or not, so some rocky adventures ahead, and a little bit of stress.

Last night I went home to the farm and complained that instead of 52 eggs, I only got 32 eggs..... Ahhhh, but I wish that was all I had to complain about.... About 10pm I went to tie out a couple dogs and said to myself, with massive forboding in my voice... Where the (heck's) Buck? Choker laying out straight on the ground.... went slowly to the barn.... collected 10 or so dead and dying birds to the center of the floor.... Called and collected said devil dog and let him in the house..... it was dark.... 14 year old went out and butchered 10-12 birds.... went out at daylight and found another 10 or so littered about the hillside.....

Brought him into town, was told that chokers could be slipped.... nice to know now.... was going to drop at shelter, but mechanic.... ok, I forced him to take it..... wonder how many eggs I will get tonight? Wonder if I will operate my businesses as usual tomorrow and beyond? Wonder if there is a new chapter coming?

On a positive note, an urban dweller has contacted me about a side of beef and a side of pork, so that is good news.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Bummer, LW.

 

[mlowen]

Loanwizard...you & your family (and your animals) will be in my thougts & prayers.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

LW - So very sorry - As my DH would say in his best cynic's voice "No good deed goes unpunished". The timing is never good. Wishing you all the best, and that means what is best for you. Sometimes it means reinvention of oneself. It's a darn shame about the chickens.