The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[CoopChick719]

I'm 3 days behind but wanted to answer this one.

For those of you with any size flock that free range any size property:

Could you tell us:

-What kind of feed you give. FF chick grower/finisher, dry grower/finisher, FF layer pellets, dry layer pellets, BOSS & whatever is left in fridge that has not gone bad.

1. Number in your flock. 18

2. About how much area do they have to range? 1 acre -- they stick to the back lawn, the woods and the neighbor's brush pile.

3. How long do they get to range each day? 3-4 hours on weekdays sometimes longer depending on DD's class schedule. 10 hours or more on weekends.

4. What is your experience with predation? Nothing yet...thankfully!

However, our property borders a power line so lots of wildlife around.

5. Is the property primarily open pasture, wooded, or mix? lawn & woods

6. Compare the amount of feed you have to give them during a typical June or July vs. the amount of feed given in a typical January.
I've only had them since October. I've been feeding the big girls FF since December. The chicks I got in March were started on a FF/dry combo since Day 1. I've noticed dry feed consumption has dropped considerably since Spring has come and they can forage up until dusk.

 

[CoopChick719]

I finally gave up on 'catching up'. Every time I signed in, there were another 10-20 pages written. These guys CAN write!

What do you call 'black flies'? In Houston, we have 'buffalo flies'--little tiny black flies that leave a BIG whelp on you. I have learned on one of these forums to use Banana Boat 50 sunscreen lotion. Boy does it work. There are times--not many--when I will have to use bug spray also. All last year I used this and didn't have a problem. My husband, being a stubborn male, didn't use it and got bit!

Lisa

Never heard of the Banana Boat thing...will have to try it. Here in Maine, some people swear by Avon's Skin So Soft. I can't say that it works all the time but it does help. You do end up looking like a grease pit if you use too much. I spray ball cap with it and use a bug net over that. It keeps them out of my face...yuck...hate those things but I've heard they help pollinate the blueberry fields.

 

[OohLaLa]

The storms here have been horrible, Moore was badly hit and all over the news, but many other smaller communities have taken direct hits from that and other tornados in the past two days and we still have one more day to go, tomorrow they are forcasting more tornadic storms.

Prayers and hopes for calmer weather out to all

 

[midnightroo]

Hi becc! Welcome to the group. Very cute chicks, love the photo bomb of Queenie. I have 3 EEs one is very skid ish also.

 

[salt and pepper]

No, I mean the bedding I cleared out. I treated all the birds, and all the coops, and all the bedding. Found out where the mite were coming from, straw! My pile of straw was crawling with mites, so every time I replaced the bedding with new straw, I introduced the mites again. haven't tried wood ash, but am looking into it.

 

[NanaLynn]

I can't remember who was asking about covers to keep feed dry if you feed outside. I've used a large galvinized garbage can lid to shelter the feeder - hung it from a tree branch with a chain down to the feeder so it didn't blow sideways.

It was me, that's a great idea. Now I am having a "why didn't I think of that" moment. Thanks!

That's a great Idea!

I also knew someone that took a rubbermaid storage container, turned it upside down, cut holes in the sides (like a dog house entry), and hung the feeder inside it. They went in to eat and the bottom caught any dropped feed.

If I can't get the lid to work right, I'll have to try this idea. I may end up doing something like this to make hideouts for the little chicks to get away from the big ones. So many great ideas!

 

[bluebirdnanny]

After 4 eggs from three on Sunday afternoon they did zero eggs yesterday! First time of zero for these three birds. But I have several in ref so won't complain. But today it is raining and thunderstorms and I work @ Caring Place this afternoon so, I hate it but, they stay penned today.

Still wondering how 3 gave me 4 eggs on Sunday! Weren't there at 7:30 on Saturday when I cleaned the nests. Mysteries.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I'm curious where your pile of straw was. I still have some bales around the base of the hen house as a wind block but I don't use it on the floors or ground. I really hate straw..wondering if I should get the bales out of there that are blocking wind.

Quote:
With this, I don't think you'd have to hang the feeder in there ... I think I'd just put it on the bottom which sounds much easier.

After 4 eggs from three on Sunday afternoon they did zero eggs yesterday! First time of zero for these three birds. But I have several in ref so won't complain. But today it is raining and thunderstorms and I work @ Caring Place this afternoon so, I hate it but, they stay penned today.

Still wondering how 3 gave me 4 eggs on Sunday! Weren't there at 7:30 on Saturday when I cleaned the nests. Mysteries.

I had that happen one time. One of the kiddos layed really early in the morning then again later in the day.

 

[RedRidge]

By head do you mean the amount of space at the top of the barrel that is not filled with water?

No... pressure head...
Defined: "Weight of a given height (or depth) of water column at its bottom end, expressed as 'foot head' or 'meter head.' It is independent of the amount of water: the pressure head of a 10-foot high or deep 2-inch diameter pipe is the same as that of the 2-foot diameter pipe of the same height or depth. Also called hydrostatic head."

 

[salt and pepper]

I'm curious where your pile of straw was. I still have some bales around the base of the hen house as a wind block but I don't use it on the floors or ground. I really hate straw..wondering if I should get the bales out of there that are blocking wind.

It was on top of a pallet, and
under a shelter, so it wasn't getting wet or damp, but the mites still mover in. I won't be using straw any more, that's for sure!!! Can't find any more mites today =) Will repeat the process a week from now, just to make sure.