The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Free range kittens?

Love the video. Those running meat birds are a hoot.

BAHAHA I didn't even catch that! Yep I totally BBQ my kittens LOL

I don't eat my geese, goats, kittens and rabbits. The wild ducks either.

 

[armorfirelady]

Aoxa I love the meaties running!! OMG best thing ever!!!

Where are the dogs??? I was working from someone's house and they had a Bernese Mountain Dog. His way of greeting you was to sit on you feet and lean back practically pushing you over as he tried to force you to pet him. He was amazing!!!


I hope you solve the mystery of how the chickens got out .... I hate when things like that can't be explained makes you worried all the time!!

I'll go with meaties busting out for food for the time being

Mystery solved,

A++ for AFL - it was the pop door. It was unlatched and they must have got out and the goats playing around closed it again. Kids were over and were really surprised about it. 

The dogs were inside the house. Henry is being worked on by leash with the chickens, and I can't do two things at once. Koda was outside, but must not have made it into the video. Chloe is very pregnant and probably lounging on the couch inside LOL

Did you spot the kitties though?  

Woohoo for me!,!! Bet the goats helped......

I put drawing salve on greens feet yesterday but didn't wrap them. This morning I snagged her and I swear they look better (wishful thinking I'm guessing) but the redness hasn't returned since I attempted surgeries. So today I put some more drawing salve on and put some booties on her. She was not impressed but I'm curious to see what they look like tomorrow. Fingers crossed this clears it up.

I don't know if its the weather, its been cooler, my guys are molting or what but their ff consumption has increased. I moved their poultry netting to a different part of the yard and they were all. Out foraging again and still food left. Maybe they ate all their bugs in the other area? They sure didn't eat all the clover though. Weird chickens. The big girls aren't laying either. Well one does every other day. I saw one in the nesting box yesterday but no egg. Today green was in there. Only Edie has been laying daily since she started 3 weeks ago,

 

[aaggjg]

http://www.fleafree.ca/product/prod_fleafree

 

Works GREAT!

I haven't used it much this summer. I've gotten lazy. I have it in case anything comes about though. 

One of the kittens appears to have ear mites. either that or really dirty ears, but I am assuming ear mites. They drink the chickens' water. This stuff works for mites. I am going to have to add it to the waterer to get it into the kittens' system.

Angel our 10 year old rescue cat has had them many times. 

Can you see ear mites move? Because I can't see any movement, and I have very good eyes.

Thanks!! Not sure you can see ear mites.... When I found my kitty last spring she had it all fleas, mites, worms..... All I saw in her ears was a bunch of black gunk....

 

[aoxa]

Woohoo for me!,!! Bet the goats helped......

I put drawing salve on greens feet yesterday but didn't wrap them. This morning I snagged her and I swear they look better (wishful thinking I'm guessing) but the redness hasn't returned since I attempted surgeries. So today I put some more drawing salve on and put some booties on her. She was not impressed but I'm curious to see what they look like tomorrow. Fingers crossed this clears it up.

I don't know if its the weather, its been cooler, my guys are molting or what but their ff consumption has increased. I moved their poultry netting to a different part of the yard and they were all. Out foraging again and still food left. Maybe they ate all their bugs in the other area? They sure didn't eat all the clover though. Weird chickens. The big girls aren't laying either. Well one does every other day. I saw one in the nesting box yesterday but no egg. Today green was in there. Only Edie has been laying daily since she started 3 weeks ago,

Of course they helped.. They are bad like that

 

[armorfirelady]

I spent a lot of time in the animal barns at the fair the other day. I would of spent ALL day in there if I could. My mom had enough tho or figured I would start bringing critters home so she dragged me out of there lol. But I do have to say I loved watching the goats especially the babies. If I could have them they would be here already

We are going back today so I will be making a trip back to the barns

And watching the show "how to give your chicken a bath" in 23 years I haven't watched it so its on my to do list

 

[aoxa]

I spent a lot of time in the animal barns at the fair the other day. I would of spent ALL day in there if I could. My mom had enough tho or figured I would start bringing critters home so she dragged me out of there lol. But I do have to say I loved watching the goats especially the babies. If I could have them they would be here already

We are going back today so I will be making a trip back to the barns

And watching the show "how to give your chicken a bath" in 23 years I haven't watched it so its on my to do list

If you liked hanging out in the barns, I'm sure they could use a volunteer to help out 'watching' the birds next year. I did that last summer and had a blast. I kept them all watered. It was a 4 day event. I hated that my birds had to be there for 4 days, but they didn't complain.

My white Ameraucanas made such a terrible mess of themselves in the cage though. There should almost be roosts if they are going to spend that many nights there. The white birds sleeping in their poo is not a great idea for a winning show bird

We saw a guy kick his cow, and Susan told him off. I mean.. if you are going to move a cow, I understand slapping it's bottom but kicking it? Not cool.

But I really enjoyed the chickens!!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

 There is this guy on FB who is telling everyone there is an alternative meat bird out there that can free range where the cornish x can not. He said they have legs that won't support running/jumping/flying/etc...

I am tired of hearing all this false info on the meaties. They can totally free range! Run, jump, sorta fly (though not like light breeds).

People offer food 24/7 and wonder why they won't forage for bugs. Ticks me off!

I learned very quickly with restricting my meaties feed, they learned to forage just like the real chickens. They would eat their FF in ten minutes and then had to forage for food when that was gone. They are clumsy running after bugs, but hungry enough to do it.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Aoxa - I have a question about that new feeder you got.

Are you using it w/ff? If so, how is it holding up? Is it getting gnarly from the acid?

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa - I have a question about that new feeder you got.

Are you using it w/ff? If so, how is it holding up? Is it getting gnarly from the acid?

Nope. It's in perfect condition when I wash it off.

Yes I am using it with FF, though my FF isn't highly fermented right now. Just 24 hours old. I leave a bit of the old stuff on the bottom and add fresh, stir and let sit for 24 hours and serve. Repeat.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Thanks!

Do you use them for water also? I remember you were trying to figure out your winter water system. Did you ever decide how you are handling that...did you end up heating the building enough to keep the water from freezing?