The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Quailsong]

I am so behind- I've been super busy for the past two weeks, and you know how fast this thread moves!

Anyway, I have a question. My broody was due to hatch in the next few days. I don't know if I can't count or what because this happened to me last time, but I got a chick today. Anyway, that's not my question- when I found this chick, it looked dead and was too the side, so I thought it had died so she had pushed it out of the nest. But then I noticed it was breathing, and that the side of the head was bloody. So I picked it up and looked at it and it cheeped. When I tried to put it back into the nest she pecked it. I took it and put it in the brooder under heat, but I don't know if it will make it, the head was pretty beat up and I don't know how long it was cold. Should I be worried about her doing that to the rest of the chicks? One of the eggs at least (I only looked for like 1/2 a second) is pipped, but who knows how long it will take the rest to hatch.

So at the moment I'm camped out right outside her nest box watching. It's going to be a long couple days. Needless to say, if she pecks the next chick her leg band is getting changed from "broody" to "cull." But is this something that she did because there was something wrong with the chick, or do hens just do this sometime? I guess a hen attacking her own naturally hatched chicks never occurred to me. Any advice or experience would be appreciated.

Sometimes hens will attack a chick 'cause they don't recognize it as theirs. They might think it's a mouse or whatever. Sometimes you can just show the chick to her & put it back under. Other times it's just best to take it in, let it heal then re-introduce a week later or when the others have hatched.

I'm sure there's more reasons, & tips for the broody/hen. I bet others here can give you more info.^^

 

[aoxa]

I wouldn't know by specific farm/breeder. You'd have to double-check via searches online (and again, I can't link here directly due to BYC's policies). Though I'm sure there are some not easily found online. In my case, I managed to find a Canadian quail breeder by word of mouth & another on kijiji.

Here's a quote from the farm I mentioned earlier:

"Swedish Flower Hens were first imported to North America by Greenfire Farms in Florida, in 2010. At the time of their import, they were extremely rare, even within their native Sweden, and unheardof elsewhere.

We imported chicks in the spring of 2012, and at this time I am not aware of others present in Canada."

Didn't know the import fee was the same, although I've yet to bring in live animals across the border.

Best of luck!

Yes $100 set fee. Might as well get as many over as possible right?

That's just between US and Canada. I'm sure it's different for other countries.

Can you PM me that farm name?

 

[bbsnooks]

One more.. article of note.. about Black soldier fly supplementation and egg size.
http://naturalfarminghawaii.net/2013/03/dr-jeff-tomberlin-on-black-soldier-flies/

I thought you may want to check out the photo.. egg size increase on 2 wks worth of BSF I'm pretty sure I'd have to see this to believe it..
but i would like to try.. again.
my first attempt at the BSF probably didnt work I did see a few adults.. ; )
.. and with the wind today and the past few weeks.. they're probably in Missouri by now haha. ; )

a how to <written> lecture for those interested - http://compostmania.com/blog/hawaii-workshop/

 

[aoxa]

Progress for today June 3rd:

Breeding pens started. Each of these pens are 4x4 and intended for breeding trios/quads. Covered runs will be out the back. Each pen is walk into.


Mock pop door. He wanted to know if we wanted ones that slid up and latched. Yes we do! He's going to make them look more finished.


Large breeding pen in the hallway. you can see we painted this room. It has no windows (except the door will be dutch, so we will open that during the day) but the white paint makes a world of difference. We will be painting the hallway and brooder room as well. Priming first this time though.. It took 5 gallons of paint to do this 12 x 14 foot room..

Doors. The smaller chicken wire used so I don't have to worry about chicks getting through. I'll use these two pens for Silkies & Mottled Houdans in breeding season, but will be using them for Meaties on one end, and layers on the other for brooding. We have an order coming in on June 28th. 30 meaties and 40 layers. There will be pop doors to go outside to free range as well when they are old enough.


This pen is 4' wide by 14 feet long.


This one is 14 feet long by 5 feet wide.




This pen has about a foot lost. This is where our fuse box will go.



Here is our brooder room (very dark) going to paint here as well..

I have a question for you guys about these brooders.. Contractor brought up that 4 feet deep may be hard to clean... but I want lots of chick room.. Will it be worth it? Yes? No?

I figure I can use a rake to get the further behind, but if this is going to be a hassle, we can trim to 36" instead (3 feet). Thoughts?


The hallway going out the exit.

 

[Ashdoes]

So, should we candle broody eggs?

 

[aoxa]

So, should we candle broody eggs?

Not a should or shouldn't question.

Can? yes, Need to? No.

If you do candle, do it when she is off the nest, or once it's dark.

 

[armorfirelady]

Progress for today June 3rd:

Breeding pens started. Each of these pens are 4x4 and intended for breeding trios/quads. Covered runs will be out the back. Each pen is walk into.

Everything is coming together beautifully Justine. I am so glad to see that its coming together so smoothly & built just the way you would like. And the fact you have so many birds coming soon is wonderful.

 

[aoxa]

Everything is coming together beautifully Justine. I am so glad to see that its coming together so smoothly & built just the way you would like. And the fact you have so many birds coming soon is wonderful.

Thank you Yes it's so exciting and overwhelming. I can't wait, yet I don't want to rush things all at once.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Here's the article about the teflon coated "rough service" bulbs killing chickens:

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/7...light_bulbs_toxic_to_chickens_the_full_story/

 

[bbsnooks]

More from the natural farming pages.. and the imo's and good bacteria... .

deep litter diagram for pigs could be used for coop's too... - I hadnt thought about the plastic liner.. or .. charcoal at bottom..
the photo's.. appear to be open ended pens.. like the open air chicken coop.. with a deep litter bed
http://naturalfarminghawaii.net/learn-natural-farming/odorless-pig-technology/