The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Ashdoes]

Yay!!!  Where did you get your CL from? 

He really wants to breed and sell them, so I went straight to the source...Greenfire. It took me weeks to finally just do it, big purchases are not something I take lightly. But he'll be super excited...after I tell him what kind they are, he'd have no idea just looking at chicks. I'm trying to decide when to set up the brooder, if I do it too soon he'll know. Surprises are fun!

 

[aoxa]

He really wants to breed and sell them, so I went straight to the source...Greenfire. It took me weeks to finally just do it, big purchases are not something I take lightly. But he'll be super excited...after I tell him what kind they are, he'd have no idea just looking at chicks. I'm trying to decide when to set up the brooder, if I do it too soon he'll know. Surprises are fun!

How are your ducks?

 

[aoxa]

Two chicks I have decided to keep from my last hatch (100% by the way!) Pickles & Patty. Named by Susan.

I hatched in an egg carton for the first time. Thought maybe it would keep the incubator cleaner. It did, and didn't bother the chicks hatching in the least.

 

[Ashdoes]

How are your ducks?

I can't believe how much they EAT and GROW! It's amazing. Every time I go out I swear they're bigger. The chickens get to go over every few days to scratch in the stall, and have a little face time. The ducks are finally not afraid of them, but of course when I walk in the barn they all scream and huddle in a corner. As soon as they finish the second bag of starter ill be switching them to the all-flock, which should make things easier. I figure next weekend we'll put them in the run, with the door shut and after a couple weeks let them out to free range. I know some people dislike the mess they make, but I just love them and I'm sure once the food and water is out of their stall it'll be much cleaner. We have the stall set up with a bedding area and a dirt area for the food and water, when they can climb in and out we'll move it all to the dirt. I can see how they would waste dry feed, I'm pretty happy with how long the bags of food are lasting.
Anyone started fermenting a bigger then 5 gallon container?

 

[OohLaLa]

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Awwwwwwww

 

[OohLaLa]

I have been quite busy this weekend, but coming in to say hey.

I have kept up with the posts, just haven't posted anything in response.

But here are some pictures to share...


Henry


Ivy She is our green silkie.. Long story short, Jamie and his daughter dyed a few silkies for Easter. Bath, and than rebath with food colouring. She is white. and she will be white again. I just liked her type. All of them are in poor condition from breeding season. They've been plucked, clipped, and were very smelly. I gave all the girls baths, and still have to do the two boys.


Boy #1 white. His tail and crest is all clipped.. I can't wait to see them in their full potential.


With both of his girls


and Blue boy with his girl in the back. She is the most out of condition. I won't even bother posting a picture of her.

Henry is growing so fast, but still so cute

 

[aoxa]

I can't believe how much they EAT and GROW! It's amazing. Every time I go out I swear they're bigger. The chickens get to go over every few days to scratch in the stall, and have a little face time. The ducks are finally not afraid of them, but of course when I walk in the barn they all scream and huddle in a corner. As soon as they finish the second bag of starter ill be switching them to the all-flock, which should make things easier. I figure next weekend we'll put them in the run, with the door shut and after a couple weeks let them out to free range. I know some people dislike the mess they make, but I just love them and I'm sure once the food and water is out of their stall it'll be much cleaner. We have the stall set up with a bedding area and a dirt area for the food and water, when they can climb in and out we'll move it all to the dirt. I can see how they would waste dry feed, I'm pretty happy with how long the bags of food are lasting.
Anyone started fermenting a bigger then 5 gallon container?

When they have the right sized pen, and the proper feed and water options, they are a lot easier to take care of.

Yes they grow so fast. I find they feather out slowly though. Compared to chicks anyway.

Please share some pictures sometime!

 

[kian]

I think the hatch might be done. She has taken the babies on a field trip to the main part of the coop and left#8 egg on its own. I get no peeping from it and there is no pip or anything. However it is only day 22 and#7 did just hatch today so it may still happen for #8.

The biggest babies are already hopping on things and drinking water. Everyone has eaten. Having the Mama is just amazing!

 

[lalaland]

klan, it is such fun to see and hear about your mama hen.

I'm so excited because after spending a week thinking the chick hatching lady dropped out of sight....and exploring where else I could get chicks of breeds that I wanted....she emailed me and the eggs are all in the incubator, lock down on 5/21.

I can't wait.

It has been about 3 years since I've had chicks, and there are some things I am doing differently this time around:
1. sod in the brooder
2. ff or wet feed at the least
3. brooder in the coop, not in the house for even one day (hoorah)
4. brooder at eye level instead of down (this is a very cool thing especially as I'm getting older)

and....my bathtub in the house is a stock tank. So brooding before was in the tub, and every time I wanted to bathe I would have to transfer the chicks to a kennel, pick up the newspaper/litter, etc, rinse the tub, - So I am especially looking forward to brooding in the coop.

It actually snowed yesterday. melted on contact with the ground, but, it was a bit depressing. It will be below freezing again tonight.

 

[armorfirelady]

klan,
It actually snowed yesterday. melted on contact with the ground, but, it was a bit depressing.  It will be below freezing again tonight.

It's been in the 40s all day here with high winds & wx forecast for the next few nights is freezing temps & snow it would of been a much nicer Mother's Day present if Moher Nature would of kept the temps in the 70s like last week. We had hail here and thankfully I had already covered e veggies. I AM READY FOR SPRING