The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Sally8]

your pallets could be loaded with mites..
cute roo pic

Thanks, I wouldn't have thought of that. I wanted them removed after the coop was done but DH felt they wouldn't hurt anything by leaving them. They'll come out. I don't see any evidence of mites, I treat everyone with wood ash regularly but didn't remove the pine flakes as it was so cold. Next week end.... (I'm sure their still there)

See, old dogs can learn. I've never bothered to go through the steps to learn sexes of any chicks before. I thought he was a roo too. YES! (Me going through the happy dance, not because it's a roo but because I guessed it accurately). I've always had troubles hatching Barred Rock eggs (from my uncle. His roo is the most beautiful roo I've ever, ever seen). When I do get 1 or 2 to hatch, they usually turn out roo and very aggressive even very young. I've culled the 2 previous and prob this one. No more hatching eggs that come from him.

That pic I took by pacing him in a Caen white trash can. Since I don't handle them enough to make them friendly, pictures can be tough to take.

 

[Sally8]

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Countrygirl74, the eggs that are light on both ends....the egg shell itself isn't evenly coated in the chicken so it looks that way. I get them this way also. I've never noticed that it makes a difference. When the chick fills out in the egg, you won't notice it.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: front is pullet back is roo?


Ok I am trying to play guess the sex......These are Sally8's pics but I'm curious if I guessed right? Could the OTs help? Thank you

 

[Sally8]

front is pullet back is roo?


Ok I am trying to play guess the sex......These are Sally8's pics but I'm curious if I guessed right? Could the OTs help? Thank you

 

[Sally8]

Can anyone sex my Silkies? Remember Thor from Maine? He's all grown up and such a gentle little guy? My poult is the blue Slate from a Hatchery. They are so pretty. I see that Mumsy's don't have any black on them but I can't wait to see what they grow up to look like. The Sizzle and whitish Silkie are from my Sizzle and a BCM. Interesting, huh?. Thanks. sue

 

[NanaLynn]

Since everyone is putting up new chicks pics, I had to share this picture of my GLP at almost 4 weeks old. I just love her mohawk. I just hope the other chicks don't pick on her.



I am still keeping my chicks apart but only with some chicken wire between them. Every few days I let them run together, but some of the older ones still gang up on the younger ones. I guess in time it will get better, especially once the little ones get bigger. I lock the 15 week old chicks outside most of the day and let the little guys have the run and coop all to themselves on most days. When I put the big ones back in the little ones have a safe brooder in the coop and little mini run inside the big one. I am so looking forward to having them all together! It is so much work keeping them apart!

 

[RedRidge]

Woke up to chirping... almost two days late my Rhodebar eggs starting hatching overnight.

So glad I didn't give up on them.
I have 5 hatched, at least 3 more piping.
I haven't opened the bator since I had a low humidity problem toward the end of hatch last time after getting anxious and opening to take chicks out.
My last few were too dry and died.
So... I'm determine to leave these chicks until this evening...
YES... it's killing me. LOL
Pics tomorrow... maybe I can tell sex by then.

 

[TexasLisa]

I was checking hatcheries today online and they all have something similar. The Postal Service is hurting due to all the other means of transporting information. I bought a few chicks a few weeks ago and had to pay $7.00 for a small order. I drove to the hatcheries' pick up point. It made me think of when we had a Kentucky Fried Chicken locally, only they didn't use tongs to whip the chicks in the bucket!! I could understand if I were ordering and having it shipped.
I have been writing useful information down as I was worried it would be gone. I appreciate it also. Thanks for your hard work with everything else going on in your life.

Looks like cottage cheese with a little pineapple! I so want a hoop coop. Not for their coop but for protection in the winter (snow)
My opinion, my first coop had a wooden floor and I used pine flakes. It just sort of sat there and smelled. I would stir a little or the girls would. Last summer we built a 2nd coop. It's 2 different levels. The lower level has a dirt floor with a couple of pallets down. (We used them to walk on and then just left them.) It also has pine flakes and dried leaves from last fall (8 - 10 in) Those flakes have broken down to dust. I'm amazed. I would leave it all except I'm hoping to white wash both coops next week end. Since I have had problems with mites, I won't use any of it. I wouldn't think it would matter what the flooring was but it seemed to in mine. After whitewashing, we'll try again and I'll let you know next year.

We have had so much rain. I don't think anything smells as bad as wet poults! Oh my gosh, they are dumb birds. Plants are covered, temps are supposed to get near freezing and weather channel said we could get a few snow flurries. Hopefully, Monday I'll start planting the garden.

I hope you all have a great week end. My DH and I have been married 10 years and every year on this day along with Veterans Day, I tell him how much I appreciate all the sacrifices he made. He's now 60% disabled because he did serve. Thank you all.

Sally8, please thank your husband for me. Happy Memorial Day!

Love the picture!

Lisa

 

[delisha]

These are just guesses and it all depends on the breed. If these are americauna they look like males.

Quote: front is pullet back is roo? I can't see the back one...I would say both pullets unless back one had red wattles.


Ok I am trying to play guess the sex......These are Sally8's pics but I'm curious if I guessed right? Could the OTs help? Thank you

 

[delisha]

Woke up to chirping... almost two days late my Rhodebar eggs starting hatching overnight.

So glad I didn't give up on them.
I have 5 hatched, at least 3 more piping.
I haven't opened the bator since I had a low humidity problem toward the end of hatch last time after getting anxious and opening to take chicks out.
My last few were too dry and died.
So... I'm determine to leave these chicks until this evening...
YES... it's killing me. LOL
Pics tomorrow... maybe I can tell sex by then.

congrats!!!