The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Kassaundra]

Congrats on the new chicks.

Congrats on the first process, it is always the hardest.

 

[delisha]

Del - I don't remember...did you say where you got the BCM?

I ordered them off ebay..I know a big risk..however I emailed first and asked for pictures of eggs gathered that day. The birds are not show quality..I can buy those here in Wisconsin. I wanted to deep dark color. I might purchase a show rooster next year..for now I am just keeping hens for egg color.

 

[mlowen]

Don't forget pigeonguy! (Guessing from the name and his building skills.) and Stonykill used to be a great advisor, too. The men may be few but they're very much "us."

 

[aoxa]

Don't forget pigeonguy! (Guessing from the name and his building skills.) and Stonykill used to be a great advisor, too. The men may be few but they're very much "us."

Oh yes pigeonguy!

 

[delisha]

you purchased your chicks from a hatching plant that are NPIP certified. NPIP certification means ..National Poultry Improvement Plan.
The United Stated Department of Agriculture put together a program to help poultry breeders prevent diseases and the spread of poultry disease. It is a blood test that is done yearly on breeding poultry. It is not Rx. It is just a blood test to clear the parents of a disease that can be passed through to the egg. I test for Pullorum, Fowl typhoid, Avian Mycoplasmas, Salmonella Enterica, Avian Influenza. I only test... I do not treat. I pass or fail and nothing more.
If you are going to breed your birds or sell eggs it is something some States require. To travel over State lines it is a requirement. After 30 days I will be able to show my birds out of State now...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Anyone have a source for dried liver or dried earthworms?

 

[dcba flock]

The weather here is cold for April. 30's and 40's with rain and wind. Snowing in some areas. *Blet!* Doesn't slow me down much. Busy busy in the garden and barn. 38 chicks are keeping me very much on the go. Got half the barn cleaned out of DL and starting to haul it out onto the pathways and beds in the potager garden. Husband is turning it into the soil. Last batch of chicks moved to the barn into the cabinet brooder. Husband and I like to frequent second hand and antique stores looking for useful things. I found a few old glass drawer pulls and he put them on the doors of the cabinet brooder for me. I love them! These kids are four days old and like to roost on a brick under the heat. The HRIR chicks are growing fast. I can already tell boys in the shipped chick batch. Lots of chest bumping going on with five of them. All the HRIR chicks now have pop door access to outside runs. Waiting for the weather to dry out a bit before turning them out into the orchard. They have roosts but still prefer to warm up in the shavings under heat. They are about a month old.

I love your brooders such a great set up!

 

[Bulldogma]

I had class today ..I am an official NPIP certified tester for everyone now..I can test other flocks..when I left I had one egg piped..I came home to an incubator full of chicks.I really have no idea exactly how many I have. I am trying not to go in there often. Last time I looked I had 4 splash and 2 blue Orps, one quail, and one BCM. One piped BCM and one piped Orp.

I will take picks threw the glass later.
How exciting!!!!

Congrats on your certification and on your new chicks!!

That tiny quail on top

My first BCM
These eggs are so dark I really want them all to hatch.

Also.. -- I'll be getting my chick delivery.. on Monday.. < way to excited > I'm sure you all remember.. but my heart just went into.. Hyper excitement
- going to dbl check the brooding area.. and start the chick feed ; )
I'm so. so glad.. to have y'all here as support.!!

Hooray for your upcoming chick delivery!!!

I finally finished reading all the posts that happened over the last couple days - lots going on! BD - hope your daughter gets better soon. Hospital stays are no fun.

I got my grow-out coop, and the babies are all outside today - yay! It's really windy but they don't seem to mind too much and they have a nice little sheltered area they can go in. I'll try to check in later this evening - gotta head out to work again - heading into our busy season with work, lots of weddings and high school senior sessions this month.

Thank you for the well-wishes. It's been stressful. It was so nice to spend time with the chickens today!

I want to see pictures of your new grow-out coop too!

I love your brooders such a great set up!

X's 2, Mumsy! Great setup and love the glass cabinet pulls!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Time for some 15 week photos. First the "mystery chick".

Black Australorp??

Little Black

 

[armorfirelady]

Anyone have a source for dried liver or dried earthworms?

In a few days when the temps warm up I will have some dried earthworms on the driveway & sidewalks (sorry couldn't resist)

Aoxa- thanks for the info & congrats on the chicks
Mumsy- I love your set up & ur gardens
BDM- hope ur daughter feels better soon
Delisha- congrats on the chicks. I will be getting some BCM pulleys soon. And congrats on your certification.