The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

The chicks went outside today for the first time ever!

After my complaining this morning, the sun actually came out and I corralled all the chicks - they were screaming and so upset even though I did my best not to freak them out. Catching them was difficult. A few paniced so much they did the shock thing - not moving and panting - when I opened up the carrier inside the outdoor pen. I had to take them out but most came out on their own.

Getting them back in at night was a repeat except this time they were hysterically trying to go through the netting to avoid getting caught. Next time I might wait til dark!

I sure wish I had a set up where letting them out meant simply opening the door - but to keep them separate from the hens I have to take them out.

The hens spent a lot of time at the pen watching the littles. No sign of agression yet.

 

[Sunflowergirl]

The chicks went outside today for the first time ever!

After my complaining this morning, the sun actually came out and I corralled all the chicks - they were screaming and so upset even though I did my best not to freak them out. Catching them was difficult. A few paniced so much they did the shock thing - not moving and panting - when I opened up the carrier inside the outdoor pen. I had to take them out but most came out on their own.

Getting them back in at night was a repeat except this time they were hysterically trying to go through the netting to avoid getting caught. Next time I might wait til dark!

I sure wish I had a set up where letting them out meant simply opening the door - but to keep them separate from the hens I have to take them out.

The hens spent a lot of time at the pen watching the littles. No sign of agression yet.

Lalaland, when I was carrying my chicks in and out before we had their coop finished, I had a box on its side set in the tractor that they could rest in. I found that they would congregate in the box at roost time. They were SO easy to scoop up then!!!

 

[lalaland]

Lalaland, when I was carrying my chicks in and out before we had their coop finished, I had a box on its side set in the tractor that they could rest in. I found that they would congregate in the box at roost time. They were SO easy to scoop up then!!!

Maybe I just need to be more patient and give them a chance to get used to a new routine. It will get better - its jut sthe first week or so it is a nightmare!. With 17 chicks, I can't use the small carrier because they don't fit it in!

It was funny because it was getting dark, and the hens were wanting to go in but were almost worried about the chicks. The hens would go up the ramp, cluck, go back down and stand next to the chick's pen and cluck at them. It was almost as if they were telling them it was time to go to bed!

 

[armorfirelady]

Aoxa, I'm interested in what you feed your flock when nobody is broody or raising babies (like wintertime). Do you still stick with starter all the time or do you switch to grower after the chicks become juvies? What about All Flock feed? My flock is mixed and I had them on layer last winter (didn't know any better). I want to do better this winter. I just started last fall with some juvies and now I have a rooster, 9 hens, 7 juvies, 9 chicks, and two of my hens are still setting on nests of eggs that are due to hatch any day now. This is so much fun!! But all my chickens are together and though I supplement with fresh garlic and wheat fodder and whey and ACVwM, and they have grit and calcium in a trough in the coop, I want to choose the best prepared "kibble" for them. Help? 

I always have chicks it seems. I have broodies in the winter as well. I always feed starter 18% protein. Non-Medicated. I would feed an all-flock, but they don't have it at all here. Four feed stores in my area and none of them carry an all-flock. 

If you can get an all flock, and it's reasonably priced - that is a good option. I don't feed grower now because here it is too low in protein (15-16% - which is too low for chicks). I fed grower all last winter with no issues at all. 

Ideally I would like to do whole grains and grind my own, but the options for grains here are very low. The recipes I find online look great, but I can't locate half the ingredients. 

Thanks Aoxa. The layer pellets are from a 50# bag I bought last fall. It's lasting forever since I ferment it. I fed them it because that's what the lady I got them from was feeding them. I plan on not giving the babies layer at all. I want one feed for all, and when the grower is gone I am going to try for an all flock with a lower protein value, right now the big girls only get a scoop or 2. What they can eat in a short period so that the babies don't eat it, tho they will peck at the big girls food when they can but usually its just what coats the tough.

Peppers Chickens can't taste heat, but the chemicals in hot peppers kills and prevents worms. also yogurt, pumpkin, garlic, and cinnamon help.

Thanks! Do you feed them daily all of these or each periodically? Can you use ground garlic and red pepper like you could get in bulk from Sam's? Or, minced garlic you can get in a big container? We are growing pumpkins for them but I wasn't wondering if seeds are fine either fresh or dry. Is this enough unless a bird actually gets sick? Should I be doing anything else? We have not seen mites or anything. They dust bathe and I believe some people give de for dusting. We don't but can if we should. Thanks again!

I use garlic, cayenne peppers, cukes, zukes and pumpkins a a deformer. I don't give it on a schedule or anything. Just addit when I remember, I believe,prevention is easier then trying to cure and so far no worms, mites or lice in my flock.
Wood ash is a natural lice & mite preventive. I chose not to use de since its a chemical.

 

[Sunflowergirl]

Too cute!!!

It was funny because it was getting dark, and the hens were wanting to go in but were almost worried about the chicks. The hens would go up the ramp, cluck, go back down and stand next to the chick's pen and cluck at them. It was almost as if they were telling them it was time to go to bed!

 

[starlingdaly]

Oh I feel so bad for my chooks in this heat! I checked on them around dusk when they were roosting and they were still panting! Going to put Ice in their water tomorrow I think.

 

[maryhysong]

Oh I feel so bad for my chooks in this heat! I checked on them around dusk when they were roosting and they were still panting! Going to put Ice in their water tomorrow I think.

We were 115 today, which is about as hot as we have ever gotten in my lifetime, tho I don't know off the top of my head the altime record for us. I have been wetting down pens, even spraying the chickens, tho it freaks them out a little. I fill up all the dusting holes with water and they come and drink it and stand in it. So far so good. I understand we will have heat like this most of the week, so I have some containers in the freezer; will deliver up an ice block to the dusting holes when it starts to warm up tomorrow.

At my elevation it is usually much cooler as soon as the sun goes down, but it was still 100 at 7 pm. The thing is today is the first day that egg production has been half of the norm, but it's also been the hottest day so far.

 

[countrygirl74]

Lalaland, please send the rain to Texas!!! It was 105 degrees yesterday. Our ground is so dry that I think you can see China through the cracks!!

Lisa

Right there with you on these two posts!!!

If it's any consolation I live in the desert foothills. Was 110 yesterday and the last half inch of rain I got was on April 4. My ground is bone dry ten or twelve feet or more down.

Well, we lost Google, my big BR around noon. So I am left with just 2 injured ones.



Daisy -WR, the 8 week old up on the top roost that she never was allowed to go to before.

So sorry about Google! Thanks for sharing all the photos and info on your girls - hope the others continue to get better!!
P.S. I have a little California White named Daisy!!

 

[lalaland]

I made a mistake last night about temps - didn't check the weather. It was pretty chilly this morning, 52 degrees - and when I went into the coop the 5 week old chicks were all hunched up and miserable. At first I thought they were all sick, but realized it was too cold. I put the heat lamp on, which hasn't been on for a few weeks, and they immediately all crowded under it. 15 minutes later, they were still jockeying for place under it, so I lowered it - and all 17 huddled under it. After maybe 10 minutes, you could see their bodies relax and they started mass preening - followed by mass napping.

I think they just got chilled during the night, even though most of them are pretty feathered out.

Also, after yesterday's two chases to get them into a box and out to the run, and then back for the night, they are all very very skittish around me. slightest move and they panic. I think it is because their pen is so big, it isn't easy to gently corner the ones who are standoffish. Even the ones who are usually climbing all over me stayed their distance this morning.

I know it was good for them to be outside yesterday but I don't know if I will repeat it. The only thing I can think of is jury-rigging a covered walkway 15 feet and down a 4 foot drop to their outdoor pen. WOuld take me most of the day to do that. but.. if i could, I'ld be set for the next 8-15 weeks til they can go with the big girls.

 

[Leahs Mom]

lala - is it possible to put a pop door on their side? Seems like I remember that it wouldn't work based on how your coop sets in there, but if possible to cut one, that could solve your problem and it would only have to open when you wanted it to and could be secured at other times.