The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[FridayYet]

Friday - sounds like good stuff!

It worked out really well - I ended up throwing the crumble spice mix in the food processer with the chicken liver and some lettuce, and a big fistful of cilantro I cut from the garden. Processed a bit and smashed it into a few ziploc baggies.

Good thing DH is helping his parents move today, he might not understand what I'm doing (LOL)

And.......Happy Birthday

 

[BlueMouse]

Just want to add that there ought to be a policy prohibiting those totally gratuitous pics of spring!!!! I have snow on the ground and more snow coming and lordy lordy you'ld think some of you southerners and west coast gals would have a little sensitivity to us greenstarved northerners! Just kidding, right now the flowers in Mumsy's garden and the spring blooming tree stopped me in my tracks. Good boost when you start to lose faith that green will ever happen here.

X2. Alhthough I think my yard MIGHT be starting to have a little green stuff here and there!

I did crawl out of bed long enough to go to the swap this morning and pick up my reserved Ameracauna chick and hen. I also bought a 8 week old cuckoo Marans. Everyone looks in good health. I put the Ameracauna chick in with my 6 week olds, and the production red we refer to as bossypants immediately started beating the crap out of the poor thing. pecking her and jumping on her back. I think this may be a hint that bossypants is going to be dinner, not an egg layer.... So I took the ameracauna (more likely EE) out and stuck her in with the 4 week old bantams. The two of them that I am pretty sure are cockerels are chasing her around the brooder, but at least they're enough smaller than her that I think they are pretty much physically incapable of actually hurting her. The Marans and Ameracauna hen are out in the main coop in dog crate isolation. we'll give people a couple days. This is the last time I will bring birds into the flock like this, even buying from local sources with a good reputation it's too risky. I talked with my husband today and he agreed to build me a double decker quarantine/hospital pen in the garage when we rebuild it this summer. I want to build it with pegboard sides, and a hardware cloth front, borrowing from those wonderful silkie pens (I think they're delisha's?) and mumsy's fabulous cabinet style grow out pen. What do you more experienced folks think that I should put in as a floor though? and should I put in low roosts? Opinions from more experienced parties would be very welcome. I also have an old cabinet I can put in next to it that I can keep all my chicken first aid supplies in. then I won't have to automatically bring any injured chickens straight into the house so they can be sniffed by Grizzle the ever curious blue heeler..... See what happens when you hang out here? You get all these IDEAS.

 

[camilleathome]

My RIR and Chantecler(Three little surprise Chanteclerc chicks) are finally here. Just checking for hot spot. Its 95 to start with right? It went up to 100 so just re-checking to make sure their set up ok. Their doing great and active healthy bright eyed chicks.

For you FF feeders. what size container would I need to use to make ff for my 18 chicks plus my two adult silkies? I had gone back to dry as I didnt have a good spot to make it where I was and I want to start making it again now that we are at the farm and I have a heated tack room and more than enough space to make ff.

 

[delisha]

Thanks for the welcome, especially to MB and LeahsMom

.

Since I'll be feeding a bagged chick crumble for a while and probably won't start FF, I decided to make some healthy treats I can keep in the freezer for supplements. I took about 2 cups of the chick crumble, added a tablespoon of cayenne, garlic powder and oregano, and poured the bacon grease from breakfast over it. SInce I'll be putting a chicken in the crockpot in a bit, I was thinking of chopping the liver up and a bit of raw meat and some chopped spinach and adding it to the mixture. Then I'll press it flat in a ziplock bag and put it in the freezer. That way I can break off pieces for during the week. Sound OK? Since I work so many hours during the week, all prep work needs to be done on the weekends.

Any suggestions on what else I should add? (Already have some Braggs ACV for the water.)

PS: Love the chick pics and love the "cats watching chicken TV" above Sally8.

.I can never grow enough for the chickens..they love it and it is so good for them..
Welcome to the group!

Quote: I have no idea..I never raised rabbits. I do use pumpkin in season to help keep a ballance in my chickens. It is also very nutritious and inexpensive.I grow it in a field. I also use other things too and do not rely on one single thing.

Quote: They will love that!

Birthdays everywhere! Happy birthday LM! (although I don't have as much style as LW. He sure can sing!)

the only advantage of being sick in bed on a weekend is that get to catch up on what you all are doing here during the day

Quote:
Originally Posted by camilleathome
Feel better soon

My RIR and Chantecler(Three little surprise Chanteclerc chicks) are finally here. Just checking for hot spot. Its 95 to start with right? It went up to 100 so just re-checking to make sure their set up ok. Their doing great and active healthy bright eyed chicks.

For you FF feeders. what size container would I need to use to make ff for my 18 chicks plus my two adult silkies? I had gone back to dry as I didnt have a good spot to make it where I was and I want to start making it again now that we are at the farm and I have a heated tack room and more than enough space to make ff.

Nice to see you around..like your new place

 

[delisha]

I wanted to share this adorable silkie..he is really turning out pretty ..

 

[camilleathome]

Nice to see you around...Like your new place

Thanks . I love it too XD. Still cant believe were here really. Itll settle in soon . Especially now that I have 18 chicks to care for plus my two silkies and horses soon.

 

[Bulldogma]

Welcome new folks!

Happy Birthday, LM!! I would sing but I can't find the iPhone anywhere to record a video.

There are so many things I wanted to reply on but I must have hit the "Multi" button too many times again and none of them came through - LOL.

I seem to have strep throat (just because life can never be interesting enough) and my little one had another x-ray of her lungs this morning... and the pneumonia is WORSE! Unbelievable, really.

So my other 2 kids and I spent a few hours out sitting in the grass covered in chickens. Best stress reliever EVER! (Just remind my lily-white behind next time to put on some sun screen!)
I'm sick and frustrated and worried about my youngest, but at least I have chickens.

 

[aoxa]

Welcome new folks!

Happy Birthday, LM!! I would sing but I can't find the iPhone anywhere to record a video.

There are so many things I wanted to reply on but I must have hit the "Multi" button too many times again and none of them came through - LOL.

I seem to have strep throat (just because life can never be interesting enough) and my little one had another x-ray of her lungs this morning... and the pneumonia is WORSE! Unbelievable, really.

So my other 2 kids and I spent a few hours out sitting in the grass covered in chickens. Best stress reliever EVER! (Just remind my lily-white behind next time to put on some sun screen!)
I'm sick and frustrated and worried about my youngest, but at least I have chickens.

Sunscreen in April?! So jealous!

 

[Bulldogma]

Sunscreen in April?! So jealous!

Yup - a beautiful 74 degrees (F). Normally we start getting this weather in mid-March, but spring was delayed for unknown reasons this year - LOL. A lot of our early flowers started a number of weeks ago, and then got frozen. Now we're in the do-over portion of spring.

 

[delisha]

Welcome new folks!

Happy Birthday, LM!! I would sing but I can't find the iPhone anywhere to record a video.

There are so many things I wanted to reply on but I must have hit the "Multi" button too many times again and none of them came through - LOL.

I seem to have strep throat (just because life can never be interesting enough) and my little one had another x-ray of her lungs this morning... and the pneumonia is WORSE! Unbelievable, really.

So my other 2 kids and I spent a few hours out sitting in the grass covered in chickens. Best stress reliever EVER! (Just remind my lily-white behind next time to put on some sun screen!)
I'm sick and frustrated and worried about my youngest, but at least I have chickens.

Take care of your self..and get better soon