The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

So when are chickens at full maturity?
I would quote from the post I'm asking about, but the mobile version of this site does not make that easy.

Each breed has its own marking point on the SOP as far as when they are mature. For an example..Jersey Giants take 18 months to mature. Wyandottes take 16 months....Orpingtons take 13 months..you get the idea. If you are talking about sexual maturity it is 12 months to move from pullet to hen and from cockerel to rooster.

Woo finally caught back up. (I am sure that will all change by the time I am done posting this). Between going back to work. 10 hr shifts. Building an addition on the coop and evicting the garage dwellers....I am caught up. I am more of a lurker than poster. So hi to all the new people. This is the best thread on this forum and it moves fast. Keep a note book handy. Which I had but since misplaced.

very nice...welcome back!

 

[Sally8]

I'd like to welcome all of you who have jumped over to this thread. You won't believe what you might learn here! Happy Birthday, Countrygirl74. I also get fruit trees, berry bushes, flowers, incubators and hunting dogs for my birthday. I wouldn't have it any other way! Good night all.

 

[chikenscratch]

I finally got all caught up, but I am soooo tired now!

Avoided a chilly night for the babies, when I noticed that my heat lamp in the grow out area was about to break/burn out. I got it switched out when I changed the zip ties and examined the birds.

 

[delisha]

while checking the birds and changing zip ties..did you check for mites? Do you still have the ash available?

 

[CoopChick719]

I wouldn't mind having RIRs for laying and looks. What's holding me back is my fear of heat lamps.
No one blames you one bit on that, aoxa!

Quote:
Originally Posted by loanwizard Yeah.... You almost hurt my feeling..... If I had one.... Remember, I am a used car dealer.... difficult to hurt me, especially with a keyboard.

And this.... Is for Country Girl!

LW, you have a lovely singing voice! Also this was very thoughtful of you!

I wouldn't ever give up on my dogs. Chloe has her fair share of issues..


Would you ever peg this one for my most dominant animal? She even outranked Clementine.

Yes, I would! I have 3 Poms. My BIL's dog was a great big lab and he was afraid of my 5 pound little girl, Molly.

I have 3 kids now, one is married for over a year, another wedding for my 2nd son is next year and I also have a 19 year old daughter in college. My kids accused me of replacing them with chickens and they think I am going thru some sort of mid life thing. The fact is I am finally actually doing something for myself and I love it!!!

LynnEBC!! I heard that very same comment from my kids--21 & 18. I love that I don't HAVE to have dinner on the table every night or run someone to a practice or a game! I can go out to the coop and relax! My DH calls them Therapy Chickens. He's trying to figure out how to "re-coop" the money we've spent on my new venture since right now I only have 2 laying AND those are my Sizzles!

Have a nice evening Ladies <3

BAHAHAHAAAA....You are one funny guy, LW!! P.S. Drive a Ford Expedition and can park that sucker anywhere...even DH is impressed which is no small task! tee-hee

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Hey Del, I am thinking of beginning to restrict the "meat group" on their feed. They have had 24hr access for 3 weeks now and are now only eating about 3 cups in that period(now that they have adjusted to the FF). I think I will still give 3 cups but spread it out over three 15 min feedings and see how they do. I cannot put them in the run with the layers because they will attack the chicks not under a broody. The "meat group" will be going into the tractor by end of the weekend once the Silkie pen is done. Should I also taper down feed to less once they are in the tractor?

 

[chikenscratch]

while checking the birds and changing zip ties..did you check for mites? Do you still have the ash available?

I checked all of the little ones tonight and the older ones on Monday. None of them have any noticeable health concerns. Well except they keep stepping in poop right before I examine them and I get the poop on me!

Such is life. I know they do it on purpose. The conversation (if you were a bird) would sound like this, " She's after us, she's coming for us...quick run around and look for the biggest pile of poo, step in it and wait for her to pick you up!"

 

[Leahs Mom]

A Black Soldier Fly question for Kassaundra or anyone else that had tried it...

I'm thinking of trying to use a 5 gal bucket to do a mini version of the "fancy pants" one. I'd try to set it up with all the angles and a tray...just 5 gal instead of a 55 gal drum. Think it would work?




EDITED TO ADD: I've been doing some reading and it looks like they aren't native to my area. Best conditions are zone 7 - 10 and I'm in zone 5A. So...for us "northerners" it looks like it isn't an option. I don't want to start a colony with shipped larva as I don't want to introduce anything into the environment that isn't native here.

 

[lalaland]

ok, there won't be a necropsy! I put her in an empty galvinized trash can in the run (it is freezing temp outside) til I could get to it - but when I went to do chicken chores at 4 this morning, something had gotten into the run and made off with her body. The snow shorted out the fence, and since the hens were locked up tight in the coop, I am not real careful about securing the gate at night. oh well, hope I fed whatever it was - coons are barely out of hibernation here, and with the new snow (couple more inches overnight) I couldn't see any tracks.

I knew there was a reason I shoveled snow off the electric fence wire on wed and got it up and going for the season ! too bad it snowed so much on Thursday.

all I can say is TGIF and where the heck is spring? it is still snowing!

 

[NanaLynn]

Delisha - Thank you for your answer about my honking chick, I guess it happens a lot.

LynnEBC!! I heard that very same comment from my kids--21 & 18. I love that I don't HAVE to have dinner on the table every night or run someone to a practice or a game! I can go out to the coop and relax! My DH calls them Therapy Chickens. He's trying to figure out how to "re-coop" the money we've spent on my new venture since right now I only have 2 laying AND those are my Sizzles!

It is so nice to only have to worry about the two of us on most nights for dinner. I was the same way driving everywhere for all 3 kids, plus trying to work full time. I did not want to miss one event and I volunteered too. I enjoyed it, but now it is our time, my husband and I. So nice!
My chicks are Therapy Chickens too. When I started my raised bed garden my DH called our tomatoes thousand dollar tomatoes, now he is saying these chicks better grow up and lay golden eggs. He loves the chickens as much or more then I do though.

I am still trying to catch up on this thread, almost there...to those of you that have had losses, I am really sorry for your loss...I have learned the past few weeks that it is easy to get attached to a chicken, especially the sweet ones, so many personalities.

Also, to those of you with all those cute pups, adorable! Wish I could have one like Henry.

I am so envious of all of you hatching chicks on your own, those pics of them are adorable, my DH is lucky we live on 1 acre and are limited. Those of you with all that land,,,,so jealous!!!

I also would much rather be outside then in the mall shopping, if there is something I need or want I like to go in and get it and get out.