The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Oooo - not chicken related, but look what just rolled in to our neck of the woods!





(Just looked out the back window... the hoop coop is still there. Yay!

Cloud walls scare me, usually means possible twister. We only get an average of 1 a year here in Oregon. Last year there was an EF2 that hit the Central Valley. Usually we only get EF0(cold air twisters)

Quote: How ya been Mumsy? I haven't been on much due to schedule changes at work. Hope your birds are doing good. My remaining 2 MB birds are thriving well now. I still have not contacted her though, don't know if I will. She seems to be selling off stock and maybe retiring.

 

[delisha]

Have a question about fermented feed.... Does it make their droppings more runny?? They are all acting healthy, but ever since I started feeding them the fermented feed, they've had it. Is this normal???

In the beginning it cleanses out the intestines. It takes a solid month for the chickens to adjust. Chicks do not have loose stools. It is really nice for chicks.

Quote: IMO...an adult is over a year old.
All others under a year are chicks/pols/pullets/cockerels. Those need higher protein..more meat based proteins.

Quote: thanks for the information...

 

[NanaLynn]

IMO...an adult is over a year old.
All others under a year are chicks/pols/pullets/cockerels. Those need higher protein..more meat based proteins.
thanks for the information...

Thank you for your help. I appreciate it. I'll keep them on the 20% until they're a year and by then my younger ones should be laying too so they can all go on layer or a lower protein with oyster shell on the side. I really appreciate your input. It helps me to have a plan, problem solved. -Lynn

 

[bluebirdnanny]

SO! After being all proud at how my broody is doing with her babies, and how cute it was that my other Marans was being a 'helper' to Mama....

She went a little nuts.

I had this one baby (the light splash) that I had to rescue 10 times between 8:30 and 10:30 AM yesterday morning. The last time was getting it out from under the A/C unit. When I got it out, I noticed a little blood right above it's tail. I figured I scraped it. I slathered it in NuStock and put it back with the flock. Well helper hen started going after it big time, to the point she picked it up by a wing and flung it away then pecked it. I grabbed it right up, saw a little more blood, cleaned it off and re-slathered with the NuStock.

Put it back only to watch the helper hen grab it hard above the tail. BIG hole. *sigh*

Grabbed the baby, washed it good, added more NuStock, put it in our outdoor brooder box with the run to keep it safe. Kept an eye on it and it was doing fine.

Hours later I put it back, stupid hen did it AGAIN and now, besides cursing myself, I started to think that maybe I had been rescuing it all morning because it was being rejected. Mama didn't seem to care much when I put it back or the helper attacked it.

So then, after more washing and NuStock, I put it back in the brooder and went to get Mama. I put her in with the baby and the baby ran to her and she clucked at it and tucked it under herself. So... off I went and gathered up the other 6 babies and put them all in the brooder box with Mama and injured chickie. Mama was very attentive and I watched for a long time. No one pecked at the hurt baby, Mama kept it close, it was eating and drinking, etc. I decided to leave them all in there for the night to give the baby time to heal up and be warm with Mama. I was actually expecting a dead chick this morning, from shock or Mama deciding to reject it, whathaveyou.

This morning? It was out with Mama, and eating and doing all sorts of baby chick stuff. I gave them some greens and everyone was happy. SO...

After a couple hours in there, I let them all out. She had them all over the yard, no problem. Helper hen got out and made a beeline for that splash baby. Tried to peck it a few times but I didn't let her get to it. Now SHE'S in the brooder box jail, and she is going nuts! Pacing and making noise (she has eaten). Mama has had all the babies all over the yard, and the splash has stayed close by. She's given food to it. Not one of the other chickens has even tried to peck at it, and they've all been in a big heap together when I gave them some wheat grass sprouts. So I've figured that the issue is solely with helper hen. She'll be in isolation for a couple days until it looks like she's gonna be nice. She still hasn't laid, but she won't just sit on the nest either. Maybe this will break her of that too.


This is Mama and babies one hour ago. Hurt chick is the blond splash one.

Wow not a helper anymore. Glad mom took her back in and the others aren't bothering them. LOL love the 'chicken helper' thought

Oooo - not chicken related, but look what just rolled in to our neck of the woods!





(Just looked out the back window... the hoop coop is still there. Yay!

Hope it passes without any damage. Praying for you and the birds.

At first I thought it was a big wave.. Really neat photos Leigh!

I did too!



Shan... I hope you can take care of that other bear. I pray no more problems from it.

 

[jlynnet]

Well my girls are adjusting to finding their own food. Until this year I was too worried about predators to let them free range every day all day. I've cut my feed bill in half. I've still not tried ff. They wait at the door every morning and return late every night. They've even slimmed down from their winter chub. I'm so glad I've learned to let them be chickens. I have 4 mostly wooded acres but they still like to hang out close to the road. Ok back to hockey!

 

[delisha]

BDM..those look scary and beautiful

Kian..great story and good animal husbandry decisions!


I have to share a picture of a really huge splash Orpington Chick


10 days old
Now a picture of different breeds..same age

I hope its a pullet of course..because it is sold if it is.
No knobs on the comb yet and skinny legs...10 days old is to young to tell

 

[Sally8]

The pic's are not the best. I haven't had time to try to be creative. Even in NY, we're having storms every day. Nothing like OK and I'm not trying to take anything away from them. My prayers are with them every single day. So, I have 4 BCM. 3 I think are pullets and 1, an upcoming troublemaker. Also, I have 2 Barred Rock. I think I have 1 of each. I'm surprised at the difference of color. I believe the pullet is darker. Any ideas? I'm now nearly 1000 posts behind. I hope all is well.

 

[Mumsy]

Cloud walls scare me, usually means possible twister. We only get an average of 1 a year here in Oregon. Last year there was an EF2 that hit the Central Valley. Usually we only get EF0(cold air twisters)
How ya been Mumsy? I haven't been on much due to schedule changes at work. Hope your birds are doing good. My remaining 2 MB birds are thriving well now. I still have not contacted her though, don't know if I will. She seems to be selling off stock and maybe retiring.

Hey Trav!

Busy as can be here and rarely have time for the computer. The gardens are in full swing. I'll be spending some time at the local farmers tilth with produce to sell on weekends so time is at a premium.
The little turkey poult is the only death out of sixty six birds over the last few months. The HRIR chicks are trying to eat me out of house and home. The Silkies are all growing. The two Catdance hens lay everyday but neither has decided to go broody yet. Judy the Broody is on a nest now for the second time. I gave her a few Catdance eggs. I don't even know if they are fertile. Haven't checked them yet.

My Sheryl Butler White Silkies have turned out better type than the Catdance White trio. The Catdance color mixed chicks are spectacular. They are better at free ranging than the HRIR. That has turned out to be a smart flock of Silkies. The HRIR flock just laze around the feed dishes all day. They follow me everywhere begging and constantly get under foot. The Silkies are out in the shrubbery foraging all day. Who would have thunk it?

My flock is closed now. I'm looking to sell off twelve more Production juvies soon and then I'm going to take a good long look at the rest and start thinking about who goes and who stays. No mediocre free loaders allowed.

One of my RIR bantam pullets lay her first egg today. I smiled when I found it hidden beneath the hay in the big girl nest box. It looks so tiny next to those two jumbo large eggs. I was going to show her in the fall but by the time the Chehalis show rolls around she might be faded out from laying. Oh well.

 

[Kacey's Krazee's]

Be careful with that some lime can burn the feet when wet I use barn lime it is white right out of the bag. Hydrated lime is best.

I didn't get a chance to put the white wash on the coop today. Spent far to much time just cleaning it out. I will check the bag, and see what type of lime it is. When you say it can burn the feet when wet, does that mean, after it's dry, if it gets wet again, that it will re-activate the solution?

Kacey

 

[TeriO]

I love this plant. Many uses. Wormwood also goes by Latin name Artemisia. There are a half dozen varieties. It's a Mediterranean plant so is going to want the same conditions as Lavender, Rosemary, and the like. Hard winters may take it out but you can grow it new every year like an annual if you want. It's very pungent. Has lots of uses. Watch out for toxicity with livestock and humans. Not the kind of thing to throw to the chickens for fodder or making a tea out of. Dried in bunches and hung in the rafters or a closet you can deter lot's of nasty insects. Planting Artemisia  is a great idea.

mumsy so glad you posted this I have it planted on one side of my yard but didn't know its vommon name. Chickens lay under it buy never eat it. Thanks