The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[stonykill]

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?

it doesn't happen often but I have one I know will take orphan chicks if she is broody. Congrats. Certainly not the norm, but some hens are like that.

I never separate ever. Doesn't matter where the hen is on the pecking order. Mama always moves up when broody. Unless we interfere as humans.

 

[bbsnooks]

Quote: \ correction from the origional site.. "several" and probably.. which means.. that the laboratory was not consulted. < alot of conjecture.>
he.. has lots.. of chickens.. so .. It may be a small percentage of the total.
copied from origional.....

I have used it successfully for years, I have recently indeed had problems—including deaths of several chickens—that probably resulted from “limberneck”—that is, botulism poisoning.
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/feeding-chickens-maggots.html

I think with the use of lactic acid bacteria.. on the carion.. this may be a viable way of feeding.. and at least worth a trial.. study. JMHO

 

[Pozees]

it doesn't happen often but I have one I know will take orphan chicks if she is broody. Congrats. Certainly not the norm, but some hens are like that.

I never separate ever. Doesn't matter where the hen is on the pecking order. Mama always moves up when broody. Unless we interfere as humans.

The hen I have that went broody was the bottom of the pecking order until she hatched an egg. Now the others give her (and her chick) wide berth Glad I didn't try and separate her. No integration issues with this chick in my future.

 

[delisha]

I have one comment about this conversation about dogs and shooting and I will not comment about it anymore.

People do not shoot dogs, they shoot predators.

If it is on my property with my livestock it is no longer your dog. If it was your dog it would be on your property. Once it leaves your yard and your control it is a predator.

I have a tiny little white fluff ball, and if she went on someones land and they shot her, I did it.

Quote: lol..one hand too.

I have a chicken laying eggs the size of a Robin's egg. Not every day just about 1 a week. Any ideas what is causing this? I know she has been laying a while as I have gotten an egg from every bird several times over the past month and a half.

If they are pullets..don't worry.

Let me clear the dog situation up lol We have had our neighbor that speaks Spanish & English tell the neighbors with the dogs to keep them in their yard SEVERAL times. They apparently don't care. They will be shot the next time the come on our land. They only come on our land to eat chickens... This is 8 chickens they have killed and they have hurt 2. No more. We have secured our run more to help while we aren't there but if we see them it's a done deal as far as I'm concerned.

super..!

Look what came in the mail today!!! Cream legbar eggs! The photo does NOT do the beautiful color justice at all.



I ordered six, but he included two extras, plus they were double boxed and individually wrapped. A really nice shipping job. I have them sitting fat end up in a carton with the bottoms cut out for 24 hours, then I'll candle and put in the incubator. hoping the superlative packing job will have helped not to have detached air cells. I'm hoping to get at least 4 out of this group to hatch. I'm also putting in some eggs from my orpington pair at the same time. Crossing my fingers for a good hatch, this is the first time I've incubated.

Very very pretty..I want some too!!

Quote: x2

Quote: well said..

 

[FarmerJH]

Ok, awesome! Thank you for you experience, I was really surprised when I didn't hear cheeping only to look down and find a chick eyeing me from under her wing and the other tucked under completely content. I will definitely take pictures and document the progression

 

[jlynnet]

Very proud of herself! [/quote] She is beautiful! I do love their color variety. I can't wait for mine to get bigger and see what color they are.

 

[PatQ]

I'm in Hudson - not too far from you

 

[Mrs.SB]

Do you guys feed your chickens potatoes? I read somewhere once they weren't good for them something about the skins I think. Sounded weird to me but I haven't been just in case... What about you guys?

 

[mikkles]

Do you guys feed your chickens potatoes? I read somewhere once they weren't good for them something about the skins I think. Sounded weird to me but I haven't been just in case... What about you guys?

I'm guessing it's if the skin has that green on it.

 

[Mrs.SB]

I'm guessing it's if the skin has that green on it.

It's been a while since I read it but I think they were meaning any potato. I know the green skin is poison even for humans so I wouldn't give them those. Just ones past eating for us...