The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aaggjg]

Okay let's talk molting again. I have a Wheaton Ameraucanas that is molting and she's not taking it well :-0 during free play she forages for a bit and then comes and stands next to me. If I move she find a bush or chair to lay under. She seems to be dropping feathers pretty quickly and I'm sure that's hard on her. So I know we've discussed upping their protein during molt. I gave them some live this morning. How often should I be giving her extra protein??? Any other things I should be doing to make this easier on her??? Thanks!!!

 

[loanwizard]

Okay let's talk molting again. I have a Wheaton Ameraucanas that is molting and she's not taking it well :-0 during free play she forages for a bit and then comes and stands next to me. If I move she find a bush or chair to lay under. She seems to be dropping feathers pretty quickly and I'm sure that's hard on her. So I know we've discussed upping their protein during molt. I gave them some live this morning. How often should I be giving her extra protein??? Any other things I should be doing to make this easier on her??? Thanks!!!

I may not give you the answer you are looking for, but my answer is be natural, and let that chicken be a chicken. I have 80 of them and sometimes they have feathers, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they lay eggs, sometimes not.

Provide them adequate shelter, water and food and they will be fine. Anything else is more for your benefit than theirs.

 

[aaggjg]

I may not give you the answer you are looking for, but my answer is be natural, and let that chicken be a chicken. I have 80 of them and sometimes they have feathers, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they lay eggs, sometimes not.

Provide them adequate shelter, water and food and they will be fine. Anything else is more for your benefit than theirs.

Hahaha!! I try to let them be chickens but since they can't free range all the time I try to supplement their feed with things they might find whilst out digging.... Ok they probably would dig up a beef liver but a little extra protein & some greens..... She just stands and stares at me with this pathetic chicken look ....

 

[aaggjg]

As I was away from the thread for awhile and haven't had time to skim..... I didn't know if anybody posted that mypetchicken now sells the oregano oil formula that is the one used by the commercial farmers in that NY times article. It's not cheap $17.50? Ish for 250ml & $24ish for 500ml plus shipping which is about $10. I wonder what else is in their formula ..... Hmmmmm

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Snapped a mouse in the shed near the bushel of apples and cracked corn. Sucker got into the apples first. Threw it to the Treats area of yard I scatter to make them scratch and hunt. Well rooster found it.... He started stabbing and shaking and clucking but when Purr Boss went near he shooed her and moved it a little farther away to work on it. Now I am wondering if he will share when Charlotte comes back out of the coop (think he finally is letting her lay in peace.

She definitely has the feathers missing at back of neck and sides roughed up. Don't see that yet on Purr Boss. I slept over this morning so I guess he had lots of time with them penned in small quarters. Can't wait to get that coop done so they at least have room to make him dance or chase, or simply get away from him. I definitely need more hens for him. Until the larger coop is done there just isn't room for more in the smaller secure part.

Ah but things are looking better. This Saturday is Ladies Enrichment Day at Atlanta Church of Christ so won't be doing any work on it that day. Unless I putts in the evening. Maybe tomorrow in am or Friday afternoon. Thursday I may do everything I can on it as that is the only day this week I will be home ALL day.

 

[jockeyeba]

What do ya'll think? Can a Wyandotte roo & dotte hens live in harmony with 3 little bantam roo's & their 7 bantam hens? It would be in a large coop & run I don't have enough pens & runs but have 2 Wyandotte roo's in with 8 hens & the 1 roo is getting beat up by the other one all the time. I'd like to split them up & give him a few hens of his own

 

[armorfirelady]

Aaggjg my red has been molting for weeks. It's a slow process. She looks better than she did a few weeks ago but her tail feathers are sticking out every which way & she still moulting some fluffy butt feathers. My hens get meat protein a few days a week. I basically just leave her be and let her do her thing. I figure with the colder temps we are having she might get them to grow in a little sooner.

Spent the morning running electric to the coop for the winter. No it won't be below freezing for months (I hope) but it easier to run when your fingers are not frozen :/. I will share pics for anyone interested. I followed all precautions I could to ensure no dirt, dust, feathers or bedding will be a hazard. I probably went overboard but thats what being a firefighter for 23 years does to you

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Aaggjg my red has been molting for weeks. It's a slow process. She looks better than she did a few weeks ago but her tail feathers are sticking out every which way & she still moulting some fluffy butt feathers. My hens get meat protein a few days a week. I basically just leave her be and let her do her thing. I figure with the colder temps we are having she might get them to grow in a little sooner.

Spent the morning running electric to the coop for the winter. No it won't be below freezing for months (I hope) but it easier to run when your fingers are not frozen

. I will share pics for anyone interested. I followed all precautions I could to ensure no dirt, dust, feathers or bedding will be a hazard. I probably went overboard but thats what being a firefighter for 23 years does to you

Pictures are always great.

 

[armorfirelady]

I might just see if there is a section on here (BYC) like they have for your coops and do it up that way. That will be my project for tonight it's raining/ misting out so I am trying to warm up without starting a fire . I was out all morning in it so I'm a little chilled lol

 

[Mrs.SB]

They don't make heated glass water buckets, so I need to use this sort of stuff. If I used glass I would break it. If I didn't break it, Susan would.

I don't keep my FF in it though. Just water for the goats. The chickens drink out of plastic waterers or puddles. Some things I just can't change. This is one of them.
You may want to talk to RedRidge about Maremmas. I did have an LGD back in February, but she passed in the fire. I wouldn't get an LGD without having sheep, goats or something similar to that for them to bond with. They do not bond well with chickens. The chickens often just fall into part of their property. It belongs, and they protect their property as a whole. They wouldn't generally be seen loving on them. They can be... but it's not something you hear of them doing exclusively. As puppies they are really hard to train with this type of livestock, as the chickens do not care to bond with them. Goats and sheep will. They will initiate play, snuggle, etc. Plus if you start a pup out with an ewe or a doe, they will put her/him in their place early on. A chicken really can't. Maybe a goose could. 

Thank you! We only have chickens... I want to let them free range more but I can only let them out while I'm at home because of stray dogs...