The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[whiskeytripping]

If y'all are looking for organic feed, go to your local mom and pops feed stores, ask them to order it next time they do a stock order. You might have to buy a little extra. But they can normally help out in this. That's why I love small businesses

 

[aoxa]

If y'all are looking for organic feed, go to your local mom and pops feed stores, ask them to order it next time they do a stock order. You might have to buy a little extra. But they can normally help out in this. That's why I love small businesses

Yeah mine can order it, but it's $39 for a 50 pound bag.

 

[whiskeytripping]

That's why I don't feed it. Mine free range and get a little scratch every 3 days or so. They seem happy too

 

[stonykill]

Yeah mine can order it, but it's $39 for a 50 pound bag.

I watch city folk who own chickens here buy that. Crazy expensive eggs

That's why I don't feed it. Mine free range and get a little scratch every 3 days or so. They seem happy too

 

[Leahs Mom]

I love my local feed mill! Mix to order and much less per 50 lb. Even cheaper if I mix my own

 

[EmSteele]

I would love to let mine free range but I technically live in town. a very, very small town but still... and my neighbors are keep their dogs loose! I have stationed my dog right in front of the run to keep wandering ones out but we have it VERY secure still. My next door neighbor is a cantankerous old man who feels that he moved to his house first so his dog can use my yard as bathroom/hunting ground as he pleases! Animal control does NOTHING down here unless it's for cats or pitbulls. I believe I'll try making my own feed. I have enough chickens that the bulk amount. Would make wouldn't go to waste!

 

[TexasLisa]

Good Morning Lynn!

I am so sorry for your loss! I pray that you wake up to some perky hens! You can't help but feel guilty, we understand. After 2 dogs killed 1/2 of my flock, I sat in the coop with them for the rest of the day (I had only had them for a week). It calmed them down. Please keep us posted.

Lisa

 

[aoxa]

Del:

How many heat lamps for 70 chicks?

My eco glows can't handle that many birds. 30 meat kings, and 40 layers. I can raise them together right? I have no other option right now.

I told Susan to pick up one heat lamp today. I have a spare that I am using with an energy efficient light in the bottom brooder (dark down there) If necessary I can move it to the meat kings.

Note that it is not that cold out this time of year, so I can't see it being a huge deal.. though we went from 99F one day to a cold 50 the next. What is wrong with the world?! I am at my desk wearing a jacket!

 

[midnightroo]

Aoxa, wow! Talk about extreme temperature change! At least you are cool.

I said a few days ago that my chickens wouldn't eat Japanese beetles, well I wasn't serving the beetles correctly evidently. I gather them up in a plastic container, if they are mating they drop right down into the container usually, and I shake or swirl the container. This dazes the beetles so they don't fly away. You could always cover the opening, but I like to have one hand free to swat at the ones I miss and fly at me. Keep swirling and shaking and you won't lose that many and then shake them out of the container for the chickens. Mine have been going crazy for them like meal worms when they are alive. They didn't like the ones I killed to keep them from flying away, even if they were freshly smooshed.

 

[salt and pepper]

I have a dilemma with my recent FF batch. It seems to have grown a dry mold over the top. Worried it would hurt my chickens, I put another lug of ACV in it, as well as some garlic, well, the mold hasn't reformed. Is it safe to feed the birds? It's a big batch, so that why I don't want to throw it away

Now it's just a reddish tint with some foam on top ( looks normal to me ) But I don't want to make my birds sick, which would cost me more money in the end than just throwing this out. Anything I can do?