The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[stonykill]

no I don't ship birds. I think it is so wrong to pack a living thing in a box and hope the USPS doesn't kill it. Perhaps that thought will change in the future, but right now I don't.


I peeked in at Mama this morning. 4 lil face looking at me and Mama is still sitting tight on the nest

 

[aoxa]

I love all the watering talk, since that was the hardest part of chicken keeping our first year. Dragging hot water out to the barn twice a day, below freezing, was not fun. Every time I go to my husband or FIL with a new idea, they sigh and then just figure out how to do whatever is in the picture I've gotten from this thread, it's quite funny. I like that pump idea. We've been talking about running plumbing to the barn.
We worked all day yesterday and got the ducks stall ready, then of course the news decided we're going to have freezing temps tomorrow, so the ducks are staying in the garage for two more days. Those little ladies stink, and I can't believe how much water they're going through. We're going to have to switch them to the five gallon jug, because one barely lasts half the day. They grow so fast! They'll be much happier in a bigger space.
Looking forward to more sun in the coming weeks.

I told you those ducks would smell like farts!

Wonderful photo of you & Henry snuggling...nothing like a hammock, a blanket & a dog...or in my case 3 dogs!!!

Gah...must stop showing my DD your pictures!! Now she wants bunnies!!

Chicken hugs are soo cute, aren't they?!

Yes they are!

Okay, you guys have to share your recipes and instructions. We will be processing our first meaties in a few weeks. I need some new ways to cook chicken!



AOXA - LOVE all your new pics - the bunny is soooo stinkin' adorable!!

Thank you!

no I don't ship birds. I think it is so wrong to pack a living thing in a box and hope the USPS doesn't kill it. Perhaps that thought will change in the future, but right now I don't.


I peeked in at Mama this morning. 4 lil face looking at me and Mama is still sitting tight on the nest

I was thinking about Mama on the ride to work. Wondered how you told her apart from all your other Sumatras. Is there something about her that stands out? Besides her butt kicking mothering style of course.

 

[stonykill]

I was thinking about Mama on the ride to work. Wondered how you told her apart from all your other Sumatras. Is there something about her that stands out? Besides her butt kicking mothering style of course.

well I have had Mama 5 years and she is 6 so there are a few things that stand out. At the base of her tail is one out of place black feather, the has HUGE spurs for a hen, and there is her personality. I'm her favorite human. She is the only Blue I have who will purposely seek me out. She looks for me for special private meals. With or without lil ones. Very few of my Sumatra's stand out from each other. Mama is in the handful or 2 that stand out.

 

[aoxa]

well I have had Mama 5 years and she is 6 so there are a few things that stand out. At the base of her tail is one out of place black feather, the has HUGE spurs for a hen, and there is her personality. I'm her favorite human. She is the only Blue I have who will purposely seek me out. She looks for me for special private meals. With or without lil ones. Very few of my Sumatra's stand out from each other. Mama is in the handful or 2 that stand out.

Definitely a keeper!

 

[aoxa]

Came across this abnormality on FB. Thought it was the weirdest egg I have ever seen. What do you think?

The shell is described as hard shell and no yolk!

 

[delisha]

Came across this abnormality on FB. Thought it was the weirdest egg I have ever seen. What do you think?

The shell is described as hard shell and no yolk!

Abnormal eggs are funny to talk about. As long as it is rare and not the norm every thing is fine. It is usually just a hormonal hick-up or even a grain of sand like substance.

a female chick's ovary contains all of the ova it will ever have when it's hatched. The ovary begins to convert ova to egg yolks when she is mature. With the right lighting conditions exists, hormones stimulate ova to develop into yolks. Yolks are released from the ovary into the oviduct when they reach the right size and travel down the oviduct to acquire their whites, membranes, color (if any) and shell. Sometimes things are not perfect and the shell can be squed, and even backed up and another shell layd over the top of another shell. An egg requires approximately 25 hours to complete the addition of the egg white, the shell membranes, and the shell. Soon after an egg is laid, the process starts again.

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[aoxa]

Abnormal eggs are funny to talk about. As long as it is rare and not the norm every thing is fine. It is usually just a hormonal hick-up or even a grain of sand like substance.

a female chick's ovary contains all of the ova it will ever have when it's hatched. The ovary begins to convert ova to egg yolks when she is mature. With the right lighting conditions exists, hormones stimulate ova to develop into yolks. Yolks are released from the ovary into the oviduct when they reach the right size and travel down the oviduct to acquire their whites, membranes, color (if any) and shell. Sometimes things are not perfect and the shell can be squed, and even backed up and another shell layd over the top of another shell. An egg requires approximately 25 hours to complete the addition of the egg white, the shell membranes, and the shell. Soon after an egg is laid, the process starts again.

​

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I have never had anything that cool. I'd be calling a news paper just for kicks

 

[brandislee]

Ugh... I just moved my turkey poults and broiler chicks (3 weeks old tomorrow) outside, and now it's supposed to snow 3-6 inches. They will probably be fine, but I may die from the stress...

 

[Mrs.SB]

Hi guys mind if I join in?

I try to eat and use natural products myself and would like to do the same for our chickens. We had 5 but a dog killed 2 and we are having to put one down

I have 2 left right now but I just ordered 10 new babies!!! I'm so excited, they should arrive July 15. My dh and neighbor also just made my run about 3x bigger than it was! Super excited about that too!

I'm thinking about getting rid of our 2 adult girls and just starting over with the babies. I would love to keep the babies in the coop but I can't do that if I keep the girls we have now... Any advice?

I would also love to have the link with instructions on how to make that waterer with the cups on the bucket! (My dh won't be happy to have something else to make though LOL)

Is there a general post with how to get started with the natural way? I going to try fermented feed and ACV in their water and herbs in the nesting boxes. Any other ideas? I also would love to feed them organic feed but no where here sells it and the shipping is high to have it shipped! Anyone know any place that has free shipping?

I've learned a lot from everyone here! Thanks for all the knowledge!!

 

[jockeyeba]

my 1st Wellie eggs! She started laying at 6 1/2 months last Thursday. They seem small, will they be bigger after she's been laying a few weeks?

Beautiful!!!!!!!

my 1st Wellie eggs! She started laying at 6 1/2 months last Thursday. They seem small, will they be bigger after she's been laying a few weeks?

Thank you I now have 5 eggs from her out of 6 days