The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Hi all
Would like to ask for some advice please. I have 17 3 week old chicks who are feathering out really well and are getting huge. I am going to put them outside tomorrow with a new House where they can go for shade as well as a tarpaulin over half the mini run as I want them to be outside on the grass and then I will bring them in at night - would this be ok?

They are basically off heat as we have had very hot temps here lately and I have reduced their heat down as I did not want them to overheat during the day.

I really want them to be out as long as possible as I want to clean their brooder and put it in the sun to disinfect by sunlight.

Is there anything I need to be aware of and watch out for with them being outside? Should I dampen the grass first to help keep them Cool? The temp tomorrow is supposed to get upto 84F or 29C?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

As long as they have shade they should be fine.

Sounds like they have a fun weekend ahead of them!

 

[Alibabe]

As long as they have shade they should be fine.

Sounds like they have a fun weekend ahead of them!

Thanks Justine, I am really looking forward to putting them outside. From 2 chickens to 23 chickens is a major step for me and I am loving it all the way, but I want to make sure I don't do anything wrong to harm them!

Do chicks go through frequent growth spurts. The reason I am asking is because I am convinced that these chicks have grown by at least an inch in height in 2 days. Their wings are all feathered out and their tails are also starting to grow where they are becoming more noticable and longer.

I have given them grated zuccini, boiled egg and youghart the last few days and they clean it up in about 15 minutes. Boy can these chicks eat.

 

[camilleathome]

Hope you get it done before the summer is out. Don't want to miss all that ample foraged foods!

I keep telling hubby he needs to work on it as I havent been feeling the best(I think the cpap machine isnt putting out as much air as usual). Ill post photos of the barn on here as Right now Im needing ideas for how to layout the whole thing.

 

[starlingdaly]

For those of you experiences with wing feather sexing and tail feather sexing in 1-3 week old chicks:
I have a batch of chicks at 3 weeks now and was able to tell pretty well when they were 1 week old who was going to be girls and boys by their wing feathering. Now that their tails are coming in I am second guessing myself because two of the supposed girls have virtually no tail while a couple of supposed boys are growing 1-2 centimeters of tail already.

Which one should I believe more? Wing or tail?
This hasn't happened to me before.

 

[Alibabe]

For those of you experiences with wing feather sexing and tail feather sexing in 1-3 week old chicks:
I have a batch of chicks at 3 weeks now and was able to tell pretty well when they were 1 week old who was going to be girls and boys by their wing feathering. Now that their tails are coming in I am second guessing myself because two of the supposed girls have virtually no tail while a couple of supposed boys are growing 1-2 centimeters of tail already.

Which one should I believe more? Wing or tail?
This hasn't happened to me before.

I am in the same boat as you. Hopefully somebody more experienced will chime in here.

 

[Mumsy]

Mumsy, my Fogle HRIR's are 13 weeks old now and are the most meek and gentle chickens I have had. They have been raised with German New Hampshires and a few black copper marans all the same age, and are the sweetest and most non-agresssive with food. I ended up with 5 pullets and 3 cockerels (HRIR,) but 7 out of 8 GNH are cockerels, so they will be going, although they are gorgeous.

Yes! They really are! I have no regrets getting this strain from Mr. Flogle. Mine are coming onto four months old and watching those fourteen cockerels that tower over every bird on my place get chased away by the littlest silkie hen blows my mind! There are four or five boys that you can spot across the yard that even at this young age you can see the outstanding type and quality shining through. I'm going to band two or three more boys that are slower coming on but look good and then the hard part will be whittling down those six to just three. I have had inquiry's already from folks wanting to buy some of the cockerels. When visitors and family see these birds, they can't believe how young they are but so huge. I love watching them. The flock of them with the sun reflecting off their backs on their red feathers are stunning already. They really are a regal looking chicken.

 

[lalaland]

I am about to embark on the great sulphur experiment.

I have feather mites and fowl lice, and have been unsuccessful in getting rid of them in the past few weeks despite changing litter, using poultry dust permethrin on the coop cracks and crannies, wood ash dust baths and nustock. (I have a lot of wild birds in the run and they use the waterers too)

After doing some more research, I am going to add sulphur to their mash. 3 pounds per ton (about 2,205 pounds). So on my scale, that means only one half ounce of sulphur per 50 pounds of feed.

wish me luck!

 

[delisha]

Hi all
Would like to ask for some advice please. I have 17 3 week old chicks who are feathering out really well and are getting huge. I am going to put them outside tomorrow with a new House where they can go for shade as well as a tarpaulin over half the mini run as I want them to be outside on the grass and then I will bring them in at night - would this be ok?

They are basically off heat as we have had very hot temps here lately and I have reduced their heat down as I did not want them to overheat during the day.

I really want them to be out as long as possible as I want to clean their brooder and put it in the sun to disinfect by sunlight.

Is there anything I need to be aware of and watch out for with them being outside? Should I dampen the grass first to help keep them Cool? The temp tomorrow is supposed to get upto 84F or 29C?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Make sure they have shade and water..they will love it.

For those of you experiences with wing feather sexing and tail feather sexing in 1-3 week old chicks:
I have a batch of chicks at 3 weeks now and was able to tell pretty well when they were 1 week old who was going to be girls and boys by their wing feathering. Now that their tails are coming in I am second guessing myself because two of the supposed girls have virtually no tail while a couple of supposed boys are growing 1-2 centimeters of tail already.

Which one should I believe more? Wing or tail?
This hasn't happened to me before.

Wing feathering is usually reliable the first few days and it only works on spacific breeds. After that its a crap shoot.

I am about to embark on the great sulphur experiment.

I have feather mites and fowl lice, and have been unsuccessful in getting rid of them in the past few weeks despite changing litter, using poultry dust permethrin on the coop cracks and crannies, wood ash dust baths and nustock. (I have a lot of wild birds in the run and they use the waterers too)

After doing some more research, I am going to add sulphur to their mash. 3 pounds per ton (about 2,205 pounds). So on my scale, that means only one half ounce of sulphur per 50 pounds of feed.

wish me luck!

Good luck and let us know how it goes

 

[wlhtx]

I am about to embark on the great sulphur experiment.

I have feather mites and fowl lice, and have been unsuccessful in getting rid of them in the past few weeks despite changing litter, using poultry dust permethrin on the coop cracks and crannies, wood ash dust baths and nustock.  (I have a lot of wild birds in the run and they use the waterers too)

After doing some more research, I am going to add sulphur to their mash.  3 pounds per ton (about 2,205 pounds).  So on my scale, that means only one half ounce of sulphur per 50 pounds of feed.

wish me luck!

Ooooh - good luck! Please report back with your results!

 

[Alibabe]

Make sure they have shade and water..they will love it.

I think I am more excited than they are!

I can't wait