The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Some of the nails are small in the pallets and I was afraid they might get them stuck in the feathers/skin when dust bathing and create a wound I couldn't see. It only takes me a few minutes to sift it so I don't mind.

So far I only put ash in one area outside and not tons of it. I kind-of let them decide if they want to use the ash area or a different area. That way I'm not locking them in to using the ash if it is irritating or such.

ETA: Last winter I had some inside too. I DEFINITELY understand the indoor dust storm syndrome.

Hmmm. That raises a question I've had about my current broody. I was wondering if I should be doing something for her for pro-actively for lice/mites.

When I filled the nest I moved her to, I put in a handfull of the herb mix, then added some around the edges a couple of times since she's been in there. I was just concerned about the ash or the herbs effecting the eggs since they are permeable. I wondered if the ash could actually get on them an suffocate the eggs. Just thinking again.

When I fill the nest boxes with grass clippings I add a small amount of wood ash into the nesting box. Again my rationale being will keep the lites/mites away. Plus my boxes are plastic so they wont encourage them in there anyways

I do have to add though that its quite entertaining to see them when they shake after dust bathing in ash. They remind me of pig pen from the peanuts with their dust bath cloud following them

 

[Leahs Mom]

I had started putting a very small amount of ash on the very bottom of the nesting boxes. Then a layer of pine chips, then a nice amount of grass clippings with some next box herbs mixed in. I don't renew the ash unless I take the whole next out and renew (which I haven't in a long time...maybe 1x/year.

They dusting of ash on the bottom is pretty light.

 

[Sally8]

You buy them grown out so you can assess quality? That makes much more sense than day olds. Even the best breeder chickens give culls. $55 would be a huge risk IMO.

$55 for a quality imported bird that is old enough to know the quality is still a bit steep (IMO anyway), but much more reasonable than a day old.

I so badly wanted a beautifully golden Buff Orpington. I contacted someone from BYC and they thought probably $300.00 doz. (eggs) I decided my EE's were just beautiful. I have a BO now but she's not golden. What a wonderful temperament she has.

Made the decision to sell my 3 remaining turkeys. I needed to decide turkeys or chickens as I'm not really set up to have both. The turkey hens are stomping my chickens.

My turkey (hen) laid her eggs in the ash pile and all the eggs hatched. I would pick them up every day and blow the dust off and put them in the incubator. Every one hatched. I also put a dusting of ash in the bottom of all the nesting boxes and I rub the roosts down also (with a glove)

 

[Leahs Mom]

Question for you seasoned rooster owners.

What is the vent area of a rooster supposed to look like? Just curious as my guy always looks messy around the bottom (I assume semen?). The ladies are all clean and dry, but he's always looking messy or like the feathers are streaked with the "stuff".

Is that the "norm" for the guys?

 

[mlowen]

Somebody posted a link to a temporary fence made from 2x4 lumber with a cross brace at the bottom and a wooden turn latch at the top to just hold the fencing material against the wood. It is being sold by a company, I believe. I cannot find it again, to save my life, so I'm asking in every thread I subscribe to. If you posted it or saw it, please direct me to it, again. Thanks so much!

 

[MumsyII]

I so badly wanted a beautifully golden Buff Orpington. I contacted someone from BYC and they thought probably $300.00 doz. (eggs) I decided my EE's were just beautiful. I have a BO now but she's not golden. What a wonderful temperament she has.

Made the decision to sell my 3 remaining turkeys. I needed to decide turkeys or chickens as I'm not really set up to have both. The turkey hens are stomping my chickens.

My turkey (hen) laid her eggs in the ash pile and all the eggs hatched. I would pick them up every day and blow the dust off and put them in the incubator. Every one hatched. I also put a dusting of ash in the bottom of all the nesting boxes and I rub the roosts down also (with a glove)

You are making hard but excellent decisions. Knowing what you really want to keep and enjoy rather than collect a bunch of different kinds and have troubles with them. I wish I could breed and raise every known color of Silkies but it would be folly. I am already counting down the weeks till we process the turkeys. They spend most of their free time chasing my flock and though there is no stomping yet, I know it's only a matter of time. My pullets are already terrified of the turkeys as it is. They look like five velociraptors chasing them all around the barn yard.

 

[Sally8]

Quote:

. They look like five velociraptors chasing them all around the barn yard.

x2

 

[Rnbwbrite1207]

For a sifter:
If your not a builder, I use a thrift store picture frame with hardware cloth stapled to it

 

[Gramma Chick]

Somebody posted a link to a temporary fence made from 2x4 lumber with a cross brace at the bottom and a wooden turn latch at the top to just hold the fencing material against the wood. It is being sold by a company, I believe. I cannot find it again, to save my life, so I'm asking in every thread I subscribe to. If you posted it or saw it, please direct me to it, again. Thanks so much!

Go into your computers history ...it should show up there

 

[Gramma Chick]

Question for you seasoned rooster owners.

What is the vent area of a rooster supposed to look like? Just curious as my guy always looks messy around the bottom (I assume semen?). The ladies are all clean and dry, but he's always looking messy or like the feathers are streaked with the "stuff".

Is that the "norm" for the guys?

Mine only looked like that when the flock had yeast infections .
We had one hen that was prone to them through the rooster all of them had some symptoms .
Try giving him some yogurt by himself ...if it clears up you know it was yeast .