The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Child of Noah]

I recently read somewhere on BYC a comment about grandparents who had chickens and they had a water "pit" below the frost level, so that it would not freeze in winter. I can't find the comment again, and don't remember who said it. Does anyone know anything about such a thing, or how to build one? I think this is what I would like to do for my chickens in winter, the alternative is to take their waterer inside and swap it out a couple times per day.

 

[BlueMouse]

I've lost track of who asked about the stinky litter! But I don't think anyone answered that.

Did you say you were using leaves and grass clippings? I haven't used either of those inside yet. But...when I use grass, I rake it our or spread it out on the driveway or lawn so that it can dry in the sun before I use them as litter (like drying hay). I'd do that for grass and wouldn't put wet leaves inside either as I think they would have that rot/mold factor.

I know some folks have said they MOW OVER THEIR LEAVES TO CHOP THEM UP FINELY especially if they're oak leaves as they don't break down very quickly.

CAN ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE USING THE LEAVES/GRASS AS LITTER INDOORS COMMENT ON THE STINK ISSUE?

I guess i should clarify? I use DRY leaves from outside chopped up. I windrow them like hay, and turn them in the sun until they're really dry. I won't add damp litter. It's supposed to be absorbing the moisture, not adding to it!! actually I find that the chickens break the leaves up pretty finely for me a lot of times. I've put in a batch of un chopped and couldn't tell the difference after they'd scratched in the litter for a couple days. of course, these are last years leaves too, so they're not quite as tough as fresh ones. I haven't used grass clippings yet, we haven't had to mow yet, the lawn is only just starting to begreen. So what I have in there is straw, wood chips, and leaves. it's about three inches deep right now with "drifts" where they've been scratching it up that are six or eight inches.I've also been drying out the wood chips from where my husband uses the chainsaw to cut wood and I was going to add those.

I guess the two things I was thinking about was a) adding a wheelbarrow full of dirt to see if that got it working better, and making some LAB, which I want to try on my persistant powdery mildew problem anyhow, and spraying it all with that. The other thought I had was maybe it's just stinky in the morning because there's big piles of poo under the roosts that haven't gotten turned in or covered up yet? I do hope that getting smacked in the face with smell when I open the door in the morning isn't going to become part of my regular chicken chore round though....

 

[aoxa]

I've lost track of who asked about the stinky litter! But I don't think anyone answered that.

Did you say you were using leaves and grass clippings? I haven't used either of those inside yet. But...when I use grass, I rake it our or spread it out on the driveway or lawn so that it can dry in the sun before I use them as litter (like drying hay). I'd do that for grass and wouldn't put wet leaves inside either as I think they would have that rot/mold factor.

I know some folks have said they MOW OVER THEIR LEAVES TO CHOP THEM UP FINELY especially if they're oak leaves as they don't break down very quickly.

CAN ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE USING THE LEAVES/GRASS AS LITTER INDOORS COMMENT ON THE STINK ISSUE?

Whoever asked about this... any chance of feed spilling with water? Spilled feed + water = a really disturbing smell I don't care to recall

 

[chikenscratch]

This is a GREAT idea. If I can't get the cup waterers not to freeze I might try this! although for this I think it might be easier to use a bitd bath heater that is supposed to be completely submerged.

Ok all you DL masters. My coop smells! Am I doing something wrong, or has it just not had time to get "working" yet? I started with staw, because I didn't know any better, but have been adding to it with dry leaves, and pine chips. I throw down some birdseed in there every day, and they vigerously "turn" it for me. Every couple days I put a new layer down on top. My coop is not overcrowded, and they free range during the day. I leave the big double doors open during the day, and by the time I lock them up the smell has mostly dissapated, but when I open them up in the morning... whew.... stinky.

BM-you should not be slapped in the face with ammonia/poo smell upon entering your coop. Here are my questions/suggestions:

• what is your ventilation like when your coop is closed up overnight? There should be plenty of open vents at all times. The ammonia can cause breathing problems for the chickens (and you). Based on the size of the coop and the number of birds you may have to adjust the number of vents that are always open.
• do you live in an area where you are just now thawing and receiving a lot of rain? It is possible that your waste has built up over winter and is now thawing. Get in there and turn all of the DL and add more shavings if this is the case.
• when was the last time you did a clean out? You should clean out the 3/4 of all DL once a year. I do mine in the Spring because the heat that is produced helps to keep the chickens warm in the winter.

Question for y'all. I am processing two meaties today and want to know what I can feed back to the other chickens. I know heart, liver and gizzard muscle. Anything else?

They can and will eat any of it!

 

[aoxa]

Question for all experienced rooster owners, and breeders of chickens.


How long should one expect after a rooster switch do you think that the first roosters sperm will still be present in the flocks reproduction systems before one can assume the second roosters sperm is now the one fertilizing eggs? I have a friend who wants to try and hatch some of the Ameruacana pullets eggs, along with a few of my own flocks eggs for some possible EE chicks. The last thing we want is any chicks from the aggressive roo that used to live here! The new rooster has been with the girls since April 12. I have slowly seen him making his way to covering more of the girls. The 3 girls that have accepted him are sure getting a heavy dose of coverings, I have yet to see him cover all the girls. I have also noticed that some eggs are not fertilized so I know he hasn't gotten to everyone yet.. One thing I can say about the mean ol Columbian Wyandotte I got rid of,, I never saw an unfertilzed egg. Will everyone eventually let him mate with them, or is it possible he just isn't as assertive as my first roo? Any thoughts are appreciated.

MB

2-3 weeks for the old rooster's sperm to be out of their system.

Wait until Friday and start collecting eggs just to be safe I think you're relatively safe now though.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

This is a GREAT idea. If I can't get the cup waterers not to freeze I might try this! although for this I think it might be easier to use a bitd bath heater that is supposed to be completely submerged.

Ok all you DL masters. My coop smells! Am I doing something wrong, or has it just not had time to get "working" yet? I started with staw, because I didn't know any better, but have been adding to it with dry leaves, and pine chips. I throw down some birdseed in there every day, and they vigerously "turn" it for me. Every couple days I put a new layer down on top. My coop is not overcrowded, and they free range during the day. I leave the big double doors open during the day, and by the time I lock them up the smell has mostly dissapated, but when I open them up in the morning... whew.... stinky.

Is ventilation sufficient at night? If closed up without ventilation you will have a definate problem.

I think a bird bath heater may not work for aoxa due to extremely low temperatures where she is. I originally used one and it didn't heat heat hot enough to keep the cups open. The fish tank heater did a great job as they get the water warmer... and it's also designed to be submerged in water

I have tried both of these in the past on bird water/baths. I had to take fresh water to add all day anyway as it does evaporate and then can cause overheating and fire. So with the same thought (fish tanks are indoors and the water level drops too) I would be afraid to use the tank heaters because I HAVE had a few that failed and caused loss of fish.

Question for all experienced rooster owners, and breeders of chickens.


How long should one expect after a rooster switch do you think that the first roosters sperm will still be present in the flocks reproduction systems before one can assume the second roosters sperm is now the one fertilizing eggs? I have a friend who wants to try and hatch some of the Ameruacana pullets eggs, along with a few of my own flocks eggs for some possible EE chicks. The last thing we want is any chicks from the aggressive roo that used to live here! The new rooster has been with the girls since April 12. I have slowly seen him making his way to covering more of the girls. The 3 girls that have accepted him are sure getting a heavy dose of coverings, I have yet to see him cover all the girls. I have also noticed that some eggs are not fertilized so I know he hasn't gotten to everyone yet.. One thing I can say about the mean ol Columbian Wyandotte I got rid of,, I never saw an unfertilzed egg. Will everyone eventually let him mate with them, or is it possible he just isn't as assertive as my first roo? Any thoughts are appreciated.

MB

BM-you should not be slapped in the face with ammonia/poo smell upon entering your coop. Here are my questions/suggestions:

• what is your ventilation like when your coop is closed up overnight? There should be plenty of open vents at all times. The ammonia can cause breathing problems for the chickens (and you). Based on the size of the coop and the number of birds you may have to adjust the number of vents that are always open.
• do you live in an area where you are just now thawing and receiving a lot of rain? It is possible that your waste has built up over winter and is now thawing. Get in there and turn all of the DL and add more shavings if this is the case.
• when was the last time you did a clean out? You should clean out the 3/4 of all DL once a year. I do mine in the Spring because the heat that is produced helps to keep the chickens warm in the winter.

They can and will eat any of it!

x2

 

[Leahs Mom]

I recently read somewhere on BYC a comment about grandparents who had chickens and they had a water "pit" below the frost level, so that it would not freeze in winter. I can't find the comment again, and don't remember who said it. Does anyone know anything about such a thing, or how to build one? I think this is what I would like to do for my chickens in winter, the alternative is to take their waterer inside and swap it out a couple times per day.

Now there's something I hadn't thought about. I'm not sure how far down you have to dig, but at some point, like in a well, the temperature of the earth remains at about 55 degrees. Like a root cellar. They must have had some kind of stairs/ramp to get down in there?

 

[Leahs Mom]

On the fish tank heater - I never had mine evaporate enough to go below the level of the heater - even if I only filled it 1x/week or less.

You MUST keep them totally submerged or you will have problems

ETA: Usually if you have loss of fish it's because a heater fails and they get too cold. if the heater fails in a waterer, you get frozen water but since the chickens aren't swimming around in it, the main thing for them is that they'd have to wait for water till you come out for your next chores and see it failed. Any electrical item can fail at some point...

I know that HU finally gave up on figuring out a winter water solution and decided to bring the waterer in at night, then take it out first thing in the morning. He keeps 2 waterers - always has one inside his house. Takes one out in the morning, the switches it out at mid day (or whenever he goes out next). Takes the one from the house out and brings the one outside back in to thaw for the next switch-out.


I just have this thing about really wanting to figure out a way not to have to keep thawing them!!!

 

[delisha]

Quote: Hmm..if you can take on another chick or two..I'de go pick a few up.

Quote: Th chickens do stir it up but no always all the way to the bottom. If you are feeding and watering in your coop, that is where the smell is. Remove all the bedding in that area, and put down fresh.

Question for y'all. I am processing two meaties today and want to know what I can feed back to the other chickens. I know heart, liver and gizzard muscle. Anything else?

I toss it all on the compost pile,(the chickens find it) but the liver, kidneys, gizzard and hearts. Those go to chicks or me.

I've lost track of who asked about the stinky litter! But I don't think anyone answered that.

Did you say you were using leaves and grass clippings? I haven't used either of those inside yet. But...when I use grass, I rake it our or spread it out on the driveway or lawn so that it can dry in the sun before I use them as litter (like drying hay). I'd do that for grass and wouldn't put wet leaves inside either as I think they would have that rot/mold factor.

I know some folks have said they MOW OVER THEIR LEAVES TO CHOP THEM UP FINELY especially if they're oak leaves as they don't break down very quickly.

CAN ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE USING THE LEAVES/GRASS AS LITTER INDOORS COMMENT ON THE STINK ISSUE?

I toss it all in, damp sometimes, but never fresh or wet. My litter stinks when I stir it all up and get in the corners, otherwise, I really do not smell it. I cleaned and stirred today..pee u. It is over 70 today. I need to open the coop up.

Question for all experienced rooster owners, and breeders of chickens.


How long should one expect after a rooster switch do you think that the first roosters sperm will still be present in the flocks reproduction systems before one can assume the second roosters sperm is now the one fertilizing eggs? I have a friend who wants to try and hatch some of the Ameruacana pullets eggs, along with a few of my own flocks eggs for some possible EE chicks. The last thing we want is any chicks from the aggressive roo that used to live here! The new rooster has been with the girls since April 12. I have slowly seen him making his way to covering more of the girls. The 3 girls that have accepted him are sure getting a heavy dose of coverings, I have yet to see him cover all the girls. I have also noticed that some eggs are not fertilized so I know he hasn't gotten to everyone yet.. One thing I can say about the mean ol Columbian Wyandotte I got rid of,, I never saw an unfertilzed egg. Will everyone eventually let him mate with them, or is it possible he just isn't as assertive as my first roo? Any thoughts are appreciated.

MB

MB..he will eventually get to all of them..no worries. I would say his semen is present in all eggs you have fertilized.

I recently read somewhere on BYC a comment about grandparents who had chickens and they had a water "pit" below the frost level, so that it would not freeze in winter. I can't find the comment again, and don't remember who said it. Does anyone know anything about such a thing, or how to build one? I think this is what I would like to do for my chickens in winter, the alternative is to take their waterer inside and swap it out a couple times per day.

I only found a few things about water pits.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/b...g-frost-free-plumbing-pit-under-my-cabin.html
http://www.balkanplumbing.com/winterize-plumbing-protect-freezing-water-sewer-lines/

On the fish tank heater - I never had mine evaporate enough to go below the level of the heater - even if I only filled it 1x/week or less.

You MUST keep them totally submerged or you will have problems

That might be something I try this winter.

 

[Leahs Mom]

My dad and grandpa built their houses. they had a well pit that is a cement lined (basically box) that is about 8 ft. deep and 5ftx5ft square. In that pit was the pump for the well. My grandparents used to put bushels of potatoes and what-not down there. It had a cement lid (my dad and gpa were brick masons so they did lots of cement/brick/block. The cement lid - think similar to a septic tank lid except square.

We used a 5 ft. ladder to get down in there.

Now ... how would a chicken get down in something like that for water? It would be really cool if you could build something like a cave entrance that ramps down deep enough for the water to stay thawed.... Then again, sounds like a lot of work unless you had a large farm that a lot of livestock could make use of it.