The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Child of Noah]

Now I know I'm way behind and I haven't read to the end so there may have been some comment on this already. But your statement is very interesting - especially since I'm one of the "resident proponents" of getting as much animal protein into their diets as possible. In fact, I'd not remove every ounce of legumes and as many grains as possible if I could!

Now I have some Swedish Flower Hens that turn 19 weeks old today. At least one of them started laying just 2 days short of week 18. I'm told by the SFH people that this is very early for this breed. BDM - correct me if I'm wrong...was it about 22 weeks they usually start?

Anyhow, I'm wondering if she may be earlier due to my practice of feeding a good amount of animal protein right from hatch. Of course, I'll never know, but your statement has me wondering.



.I watched her for awhile yesterday. Not sure if she's the only one laying but she's the only one I SAW.

She was doing the classic "picking up pieces of grass and putting them on her back" thing. I thought...oh my...will she go broody early? Not acting broody at all, however, except for picking up the grass like that.





The eggs you see there were already in the nest.



Very proud of herself!

That is a beautiful chicken.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Those Swedes are really pretty!

I have finally caught up. Just wanted to say that my question about protein this morning was just a curiosity after having been conversing with another person abt. protein levels. I gave "ovations" to some of you for your answers. It especially made sense why the percent vs. the grams per day.

Do y'all know how to see your ovations? It's kind of fun to go and read through them!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Well, bummer. I had several posts I was going to reply to but somehow they didn't come through on my "multi" quotes. And since my memory is short...

I did want to post the link to the thing about the maggots and the botulism just in case anyone wanted to read it: http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Feeding-Chickens-Maggots.html

Alll in all, a lot of good posts out there today! Sorry I have no idea which ones I wanted to reply to

 

[armorfirelady]

Very proud of herself!

Beautiful girl. If I ever move to my dream farm in the country these beautiful chickens would be on my wish list

 

[armorfirelady]

Do y'all know how to see your ovations? It's kind of fun to go and read through them!

I never knew what they were until I stumbled upon them. It what a real surprise to see them.

 

[Child of Noah]

Well, bummer. I had several posts I was going to reply to but somehow they didn't come through on my "multi" quotes. And since my memory is short...

I did want to post the link to the thing about the maggots and the botulism just in case anyone wanted to read it: http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Feeding-Chickens-Maggots.html

Alll in all, a lot of good posts out there today! Sorry I have no idea which ones I wanted to reply to

wow, yikes. Thank you for that information. I hadn't used the bucket of Dead Thing method myself, had only heard of it (here, in fact). Thank you for the warning.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

My feed store got in the organic feed just in time! The babies came yesterday so the feed is basically only wet, not yet fermenting.
My newest questions to my fermenting friends- the literature says feed hens once to twice a day. What about chicks? Also read somewhere about giving wheat germ to chickens so can I add some to the fermenting mix? I have some I bought to add to our human food but no one in house likes it so its going to waste. Also have some ground flax going to waste, can I throw that in the fermenting mix?

Now I know I'm way behind and I haven't read to the end so there may have been some comment on this already. But your statement is very interesting - especially since I'm one of the "resident proponents" of getting as much animal protein into their diets as possible. In fact, I'd not remove every ounce of legumes and as many grains as possible if I could!

Now I have some Swedish Flower Hens that turn 19 weeks old today. At least one of them started laying just 2 days short of week 18. I'm told by the SFH people that this is very early for this breed. BDM - correct me if I'm wrong...was it about 22 weeks they usually start?

Anyhow, I'm wondering if she may be earlier due to my practice of feeding a good amount of animal protein right from hatch. Of course, I'll never know, but your statement has me wondering.



.I watched her for awhile yesterday. Not sure if she's the only one laying but she's the only one I SAW.

She was doing the classic "picking up pieces of grass and putting them on her back" thing. I thought...oh my...will she go broody early? Not acting broody at all, however, except for picking up the grass like that.





The eggs you see there were already in the nest.



Very proud of herself!

Wow! Beautiful bird! Oh picking up pieces of grass and putting on back is sign of broodiness? I have observed that but didn't know it was an indication. I sitting allot under things and "purring like a cat" also a sign?

Well, bummer. I had several posts I was going to reply to but somehow they didn't come through on my "multi" quotes. And since my memory is short...

I did want to post the link to the thing about the maggots and the botulism just in case anyone wanted to read it: http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Feeding-Chickens-Maggots.html

Alll in all, a lot of good posts out there today! Sorry I have no idea which ones I wanted to reply to

I had several too but was so far behind. Had three days I couldn't get online for some reason. Gave up trying to catch up. Contractors are not here today and Pistol (cat) has chance to recoup from the stress. Yest at vet her heart rate was over 300! She has also lost a pound each year. He put her on a special Thyroid diet and I am to watch her really well over next few days. Glad it was raining today... chickens stayed in lock up, gave me 3 eggs anyway) and I got to watch pistol and try and calm her today. Can't feel and count her reps though due to all the purring SHE did on my lap earlier. So perhaps a day of no workers with me inside all day is helping. I'll have to do the chicken supplies shopping next week. Need more grit etc. Took them out some chopped kale with the evening FF ration and some eggs to make up for not free ranging today. They seemed happy. I'm assuming since they are staying in the boxed/nest part and only coming out into the screened/covered part when I go out with something.... they concur with staying in today. Usually they are climbing (baldy anyway) the screened wall to get out and push their way past my arm to free range in mornings. Like a kid knowing you came with candy from a trip..,.. squealing and clamoring!

 

[FarmerJH]

BOSS = Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

Thank you! haha

 

[FarmerJH]

I think it was on this thread where I read someone say that a hen likely won't foster a chick after a couple days. I just wanted to share my experience today - one of mine has been broody, she sits on eggs, I take the eggs and remove her from the nest, she returns and sits on nothing. None of my eggs are currently fertilized because the roosters I have are only about 13 weeks old. Anyways, today she found the chicks I added to the coop with the others yesterday and took them for her own. I got home and she was sitting on the chicks with a not so little anymore head (approx 6 weeks old) sticking up from under a wing.

Also, deciding which hen to make a sacrificial to test if the chicks is extremely nerve wracking. I was so anxious for the 10 days, I think I may only do hatching eggs in the future knowing I definitely have a broody who will raise the chicks. I do have a question about that though, does anyone have any experience with a broody at the bottom of the pecking order? What is your experience? Have you seen the hen protect them or do you put them in a brooder or what?

 

[Bulldogma]

Now I know I'm way behind and I haven't read to the end so there may have been some comment on this already. But your statement is very interesting - especially since I'm one of the "resident proponents" of getting as much animal protein into their diets as possible. In fact, I'd not remove every ounce of legumes and as many grains as possible if I could!

Now I have some Swedish Flower Hens that turn 19 weeks old today. At least one of them started laying just 2 days short of week 18. I'm told by the SFH people that this is very early for this breed. BDM - correct me if I'm wrong...was it about 22 weeks they usually start?

The eggs you see there were already in the nest.
Very proud of herself!

LM - she is one beautiful bird! I have one looking like she'll mature like that - one of Gunnar's kids. Yours is the earliest layer of any SFH I've heard of.

I think it was on this thread where I read someone say that a hen likely won't foster a chick after a couple days. I just wanted to share my experience today - one of mine has been broody, she sits on eggs, I take the eggs and remove her from the nest, she returns and sits on nothing. None of my eggs are currently fertilized because the roosters I have are only about 13 weeks old. Anyways, today she found the chicks I added to the coop with the others yesterday and took them for her own. I got home and she was sitting on the chicks with a not so little anymore head (approx 6 weeks old) sticking up from under a wing.

Also, deciding which hen to make a sacrificial to test if the chicks is extremely nerve wracking. I was so anxious for the 10 days, I think I may only do hatching eggs in the future knowing I definitely have a broody who will raise the chicks. I do have a question about that though, does anyone have any experience with a broody at the bottom of the pecking order? What is your experience? Have you seen the hen protect them or do you put them in a brooder or what?

I have 2 Silkies who hatched broods - and one took on a bunch of chicks of all different ages (not hers). I separated them from the flock as the Silkies are at the bottom of the pecking order. They are now free ranging with the flock and re integrating. I hate seeing the chicks get pecked, but it's all part of the process.