The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[AletaG]

Aleta-- I planted forage plot of oats back in the Spring. It didn't go well at all. I think perhaps I should have passed back over the broadcast seed with a 2nd till, I am seriously considering Alfalfa again. Do chickens eat alfalfa?

I've heard some people actually feed their chickens flakes from alfalfa bales, so yeah, could work!

I do BOSS all the time but only sprout...I don't grow them to the "grass"/mat stage. I always have some of those on the counter and only go the the tiny root stage.
I've also sprouted wheat and spelt. The wheat makes a nice "grass/mat".

there's a growing fodder for chickens thread. very useful source of information. You'll do well with wheat, it sprouts beautifully, as does buckwheat, lentils, and barley. be careful with rye, some kinds I believe the seeds are poisonous to poultry. In our climate we have several months where things are either under two feet of snow, or the ground is too soft for anyone to be out in pasture.

My problem isn't climate, it's space... so need to supplement some. I will look up the fodder thread and subscribe to that, too. Thanks for the warning re rye. It's just that's all our feed store has in 'whole' grains. Oats n Rye. They'll special order by the pallet anythin' you want. <sigh> I'll probably have better luck next spring when they stock for field planting.

So I wondered if simply sprouting and growing seeds in dirt filled planters in the greenhouse would pose any issue. I understand growing it hydroponically for large mammals etc. but since chickens dig things out of the dirt all day, would it matter? Sprouting in earth just deems so much easier since the dirt protects the seed from the temps. I already give them old planters that are full of dandelions. One could just plant a few a week and carry the whole planter outside to be cleaned out.
Just a thought

My entire lot is, well, sand. Probably was beach 2000yrs ago or so. To me, good soil is not to be trifled with LOL. My dirt is too good for them chickens.

On the water kefir - forgot to add that I would LOVE to try it if I knew someone nearby that I could get some already started grains from.

Post on CL or Freecycle. Around here, there's a F cycle post at least every other week or so giving it away. It's like friendship bread....

 

[aaggjg]

So I have sad news ... I ended up having to put my hen down... that is why I have been away from the thread this last week..... I was caring for my chicken. She was one of my favorites.

Her panting got worse and worse and she finally started wheezing .... sitting gasping for air with her eyes closed... her crop stopped emptying and I knew she was just waiting to die so I helped her out... Ok to be completely honest, I did not, but got someone who could help me. I know many of you have an aversion to GLW but she was simply the best ... she had a great personality. My yard is a lot less colorful without her.... I took her body to the UC DAVIS Lab for an autopsy. So now I wait for the results ...

 

[MEMama3]

So I have sad news ... I ended up having to put my hen down... that is why I have been away from the thread this last week.....  I was caring for my chicken.  She was one of my favorites.     Her panting got worse and worse and she finally started wheezing .... sitting gasping for air with her eyes closed... her crop stopped emptying and I knew she was just waiting to die so I helped her out... Ok to be completely honest, I did not, but got someone who could help me.  I know many of you have an aversion to GLW but she was simply the best ... she had a great personality.  My yard is a lot less colorful without her....  I took her body to the UC DAVIS Lab for an autopsy.  So now I wait for the results ... 

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope they figure out what happened so you can get closure.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yes - please let us know what they find.

 

[Sally8]

So I have sad news ...

I'm so sorry. It's so hard to lose something we love so much.

sue

 

[uglychickens]

So I have sad news ... I ended up having to put my hen down... that is why I have been away from the thread this last week.....  I was caring for my chicken.  She was one of my favorites.     Her panting got worse and worse and she finally started wheezing .... sitting gasping for air with her eyes closed... her crop stopped emptying and I knew she was just waiting to die so I helped her out... Ok to be completely honest, I did not, but got someone who could help me.  I know many of you have an aversion to GLW but she was simply the best ... she had a great personality.  My yard is a lot less colorful without her....  I took her body to the UC DAVIS Lab for an autopsy.  So now I wait for the results ... 

OMG! I'm so sorry! It just plain out hurts when you know you have to kull your favorite!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Blocking can make some threads a touch harder to follow for the user doing the blocking and maybe the one being blocked. 

Very true. It can make certain things more difficult, but it can generally make things easier, too. I haven't blocked anyone here at BYC (this seems to be a very nice and mild place), but I've used that User Control feature plenty at other forums. I feel it is my responsibility to set my user controls before I resort to other solutions. User controls are awesome.

It hasn't always been about blocking people who upset me, either. I've sometimes used it to block posts from people who tend towards very long and/or repetitive posts which can be exhausting to try to scroll past using a smart phone -- especially if those posts aren't informative. Or I've used it to hide posts by posters who phrase things in ways that are hard for me to understand and I found myself spending too much time compulsively trying to figure out their posts ... Sometimes it is more convenient for me to block than skim and scroll ... especially on a phone. I have encountered deliberately nasty and hostile people on other forums and chose to not give them my time or attention so blocked them.

I certainly don't always mean it personally and wouldn't necessarily take it personally if someone chose to block me. If I like a forum I'd rather block user(s) than stop reading it. And it often makes me sad to see someone leave.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope they figure out what happened so you can get closure.

That's very sad. I'm sorry for your loss. Hugs.

If by GLW you mean Golden Laced Wyandotte, we have some hatchery GLWs -- hens and one rooster -- and I like them a lot for a lot of reasons. We shared one of our GLW pullets with a friend (along with a mutt rooster and a few other breeds of pullet) and the GLW has turned into a very loyal pet for her.

 

[armorfirelady]

.  I now have a sensor light on the outside.  When it comes on, the dogs bark,  I'm hoping it's enough to keep predators away. 

Sue - I've been shopping for SOLAR motion detector lights for probably more than 6 months off and on.  I was hoping to find one that I could put outside the coop to detect motion and perhaps scare away a predator from the light suddenly coming on.

-Have you had your sensor light long?
-Do you think it's working to scare predators?
-What size bulb or brightness do you use?

I was just shopping for some last night and was looking at these:  http://www.outdoorsolarstore.com/watchdog-solar-security-light.aspx

They seem to be the "brightest" I can find without spending a huge amount of money.  But even these aren't very bright.  Not sure it will accomplish what I'd like or not so I keep putting off buying.

I have sensor lights in a rooster decor at the coops door and one at a pole near the coop. They were the garden stake ones but my dogs broke the stakes. I like having a light to see my way to the coop a night.

I was thinking of using one of those battery operated light you push to turn on inside the coop when the days are shorter.

And on a good note by next spring the electric netting should be on solar power and I should be able to use it for the heated dog bowls in the winter also which means no electricity in the coop and off the grid so no extra costs for electricity

Ok I am camping but we found a Mennonite store and made some great finds. I got coconut oil cheap, raw honey & raw milk from the dairy.

Anyone have any good ideas what I can do with the raw milk besides drink it? I have a quart of it but can get more before we head back home. Pm me if you do. Thanks

Who knew I would find such a great area. Sure wish I could move up here so close to the Amish & Mennonites beautiful area

 

[aaggjg]

That's very sad. I'm sorry for your loss. Hugs.

If by GLW you mean Golden Laced Wyandotte, we have some hatchery GLWs -- hens and one rooster -- and I like them a lot for a lot of reasons. We shared one of our GLW pullets with a friend (along with a mutt rooster and a few other breeds of pullet) and the GLW has turned into a very loyal pet for her.

Yes Golden Laced Wyandotte She was just hatchery stock but the most beautiful girl ... I have no idea what SOP is for the breed but when I went to the few poultry shows I've been to they were no where near as pretty as my girl. Every since my hen was a chick she would always come over and jump on my knee ... she was super friendly and very curious. She did not like to be held BUT LOVED to jump up and perch on you. She was a great bird and I will miss her a lot .....