The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Toast n Jelly]

Aahhhh! I just came home to find my broody had switched nests

it's day 19 and she was on them three hours ago. They weren't cold but not toasty warm either. We put her back and she tucked them all back under her. All the chickens were acting like something had upset them. It's about 10 degrees Celsius outside. What should I do? I just got an incubator but have never used one. She has about 15 eggs under there.

Maybe I overthink some things, but I always set up my incubator to be ready in case something happens to the momma hen..
Hope they hatch for you!

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Quote: Somewhere on one of the Old OT threads this was discussed and it was said that squash seeds and I think cucumber seeds worked as well....that was at least one person's experience.

 

[Sally8]

Welcome amberr!!! Lots of great wisdom on here - one of my favorite threads!

Okay, so if someday I got a Delaware or a Partridge Rock, are either of them cold or heat hardy? I heard that you have to be careful with Delaware combs as far as frostbite??? We can get down to the single digits in winter on occasion, very rarely have a few nights at 0, and in the summer it can get into the high 90's for a few weeks.

Delisha, I only can do supervised free-ranging for a couple hours a day and sometimes they don't get out at all. They have a decent sized run, but definitely not the same as free-ranging. So, I am thinking maybe I should wait on those breeds until I have more land and room for them to free-range more often...

Thanks everyone for all the great info on the two breeds - they both sound wonderful and someday I would love to add some!!

My Delaware chickens do just fine in the cold. I forgot to see where you were from but here around the Finger Lakes it get's pretty cold ( below 0 f a lot during the winter). They do just fine. I think Delisha lives where it also gets quite cold. As far as heat, I did lose that one but I didn't have proper ventilization, no windows and the temp got 110f (a rarity). I've never had a comb get frostbite. Mine are hen's but that doesn't seem to be a problem. Mine also get to roam about 1/2 acre fenced in. They didn't always get to. Either way, they were content. Glad you're researching, sometimes people just step out, but what's pretty and doesn't look to see if they might be just a warm climate bird or they have a huge floppy comb but will go to live in the extreme cold. It does make a difference. sue

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

wooooohoooo I have finally after WEEKS read the entire thread! I refused to post anything because I didn't want to lose my spot. Wow everyone so much great info here, love the narratives and step by step instructions with visual aids

followed almost all the links and read more valuable advice it's been great.
So much loss and so much happiness in here and everyone shares in it all. Can't wait to start replying now! AOXA love Henry so sweet!
Realized after LM bubblefoot video and some of the necro (sp?) that the little bit of queazy stomache I get better get use it I'm sure ill have my share of those moments.

from another Oregonian. Glad to have ya here.

 

[armorfirelady]

Okay, so if someday I got a Delaware or a Partridge Rock, are either of them cold or heat hardy? I heard that you have to be careful with Delaware combs as far as frostbite??? We can get down to the single digits in winter on occasion, very rarely have a few nights at 0, and in the summer it can get into the high 90's for a few weeks.
Thanks everyone for all the great info on the two breeds - they both sound wonderful and someday I would love to add some!!

I live near buffalo,ny where we are known for the snow & cold lol my 4 girls had no heat and the temps frequently get -0 at night & sometimes during the day. Wind chills are easily -15 during the winter. As I write this the wind chill is 10F and its freezing lol. My hens tolerate the cold wonderfully. No frostbite (plenty of ventilation in coop to prevent it) and I have stuck my fingers on their feet and in their feathers on those -10 nights and they have toasty toes and bodies. Of course 4 LF hens on a 24 inch perch ensures they help keep each other warm. They will even venture out in the snow. The bitter winds they come out for veggies and go back in their run. Lol

The originally outside run I had for them was 15x15 and they did fine with such a small space but they def like their 30x50 area lol. Some days when my mom puts them to bed she locks them up as early as 4 or 5 and they are in their 4x8 enclosed run and they do ok. I have lots of perches in their so ey can roost. There is some picking but not to bad. I def wouldn't keep them locked up in the enclosed run for more than a few hours tho nice they rather be out foraging

 

[armorfirelady]

can squash seeds be substituted for pumpkin?

Interesting question.

Somewhere on one of the Old OT threads this was discussed and it was said that squash seeds and I think cucumber seeds worked as well....that was at least one person's experience. 

Yup squash, pumpkins, cukes, zucchini are all the same kind of plant.

Sally8 I get my pumpkin seeds from wegmans in the bulk food section.

 

[delisha]

Good advise every one about the broody and her clutch of eggs..I too would leave her for the day. However if you come home today to her off the nest, you might consider moving her and her eggs tonight.

Seeds and substitutions
Everyone else is correct about other options of seeded squashes..pumpkin has the most kick (cucurbitacin)for the quantity. The most important thing to remember if using these for worming to make sure you with hold feed for 12 hours before feed the seeds and with hold feed through most of the next day hours.

Del's and PR are cold hardy..I am sorry I do not know if they are good with heat. I live in the fridged weather. Hot and unbearable here is 80. We are getting 50 this week..so it is sweater weather and working in T-Shirt weather..wooo hoo!!.

 

[aoxa]

OMG OMG OMG I LOVE HIM!!! I know I am late as I am just catching up and I know this picture has been reposted on the thread ... but its been a few days and really can one have too much HENRY??

I grew up with lots of Newfy's and I love big working dogs!!!

Love myself a big dog as well. Hoping we can train him to pull a cart for Parker to enjoy. Since that is what they were originally meant for.

wooooohoooo I have finally after WEEKS read the entire thread! I refused to post anything because I didn't want to lose my spot. Wow everyone so much great info here, love the narratives and step by step instructions with visual aids

followed almost all the links and read more valuable advice it's been great.
So much loss and so much happiness in here and everyone shares in it all. Can't wait to start replying now! AOXA love Henry so sweet!
Realized after LM bubblefoot video and some of the necro (sp?) that the little bit of queazy stomache I get better get use it I'm sure ill have my share of those moments.

Thank you! I know he's adorable isn't he??

Did I mention he is as smart as a whip? I have him doing tricks already!

Welcome amberr!!! Lots of great wisdom on here - one of my favorite threads!

Okay, so if someday I got a Delaware or a Partridge Rock, are either of them cold or heat hardy? I heard that you have to be careful with Delaware combs as far as frostbite??? We can get down to the single digits in winter on occasion, very rarely have a few nights at 0, and in the summer it can get into the high 90's for a few weeks.

Delisha, I only can do supervised free-ranging for a couple hours a day and sometimes they don't get out at all. They have a decent sized run, but definitely not the same as free-ranging. So, I am thinking maybe I should wait on those breeds until I have more land and room for them to free-range more often...

Thanks everyone for all the great info on the two breeds - they both sound wonderful and someday I would love to add some!!

They are cold hardy for sure. As for heat hardiness - I never had an issue. We never get THAT hot, and even if we did, they have LOTS of shade to cool down.

 

[aoxa]

Good advise every one about the broody and her clutch of eggs..I too would leave her for the day. However if you come home today to her off the nest, you might consider moving her and her eggs tonight.

Seeds and substitutions
Everyone else is correct about other options of seeded squashes..pumpkin has the most kick (cucurbitacin)for the quantity. The most important thing to remember if using these for worming to make sure you with hold feed for 12 hours before feed the seeds and with hold feed through most of the next day hours.

Del's and PR are cold hardy..I am sorry I do not know if they are good with heat. I live in the fridged weather. Hot and unbearable here is 80. We are getting 50 this week..so it is sweater weather and working in T-Shirt weather..wooo hoo!!.

I think you and I have very similar environments.

I get so cranky in the heat. This summer we are definitely investing in a mini split heat pump for AC. Henry already overheats when we have the wood fire up to 72F.

Last summer our temps inside rose to mid 80's and we all pouted and walked around in very little clothes LOL

 

[aoxa]

This video made my day yesterday.