The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[chicalot]

I hope you guys/gals don't mind if I jump in. I've been trying to read this entire thread and it's taking forever! I'm in April. This is my first year with chickens and I'm loving it! Now I want pigs, goats, and everything else, lol. Aoxa, Vivian is gorgeous.

Delisha, if I can post pics of some of my ladies I'm hoping you can see if you think they are cornish rock cross or regular white rock. I got them earlier this year and I'm not sure of their exact age. By my best estimates they should be about 6-8 months. They are hogs and waddle like linebackers. I stopped feeding them as much about a month ago and they're coming around. I took pity on them because they were in a bad way when I got them, but I nearly loved them to death.. oops.

 

[ki4got]

No offense taken here, Delisha!! Goodness gracious people need to lighten up! Both my husband & I thought it was funny!! It is certainly something that all of us should be aware of. I have 2 friends--both in their 40's--who had to have a double masectomy. They said the one thing that is getting them through it is having a sense of humor about the situation. One has started a Knitted Knockers group and donating their creations to a local hospital that has a Breast Cancer Survivors support group. http://theknittingexperience.com/knitted_knockers_program/ She also said "Now I can be whatever cup size I want!"

LOL my mother (double survivor of 12 years) knits hats for the ladies and donates them as well (and sells outright at flea markets & such). I've got a number of her hats and love them all.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:

Now I'm not 100% sure that was the issue with my pumpkins and the uninterested birds. But I'm guessing so. Not even any wild creatures would eat them.

depressing!

I had the same experience with corn - used to always be a favorite for chickens for a decade, picked out first from feed, etc, but in the last 4 or 5 years, it gets literally left on the ground! I quit buying scratch because of it, and just use my own blend of oats and boss and whatever is around.

I found a farmer I get non GMO sweet corn from ....I pick what is left in the field

 

[lazy gardener]

Delisha, consider your graham crackers to be a well needed community service. It is chicken related, b/c if any of us end up needing treatment, that will take us away from our flocks. I believe the stats are 25% or some other scary number. And yes, it is controversial... so is every other decision in life... Eggs and bagel for breakfast, blue or white socks... Leg horns or Dominiques. I don't mean to trivialize, but we all have to make decisions every day, and I for one hope that stating ones preferences is not considered to be controversial.

 

[lalaland]

Delisha, consider your graham crackers to be a well needed community service. It is chicken related, b/c if any of us end up needing treatment, that will take us away from our flocks. I believe the stats are 25% or some other scary number. And yes, it is controversial... so is every other decision in life... Eggs and bagel for breakfast, blue or white socks... Leg horns or Dominiques. I don't mean to trivialize, but we all have to make decisions every day, and I for one hope that stating ones preferences is not considered to be controversial.

x a zillion

 

[Leahs Mom]

I found a farmer I get non GMO sweet corn from ....I pick what is left in the field

Wonderful!

I think that's the best way...either find someone in the area that you know and trust how they are raising their crops, or do it yourself. Very frustrating that it's so hard to find just plain, unaltered food.

 

[aoxa]

x a zillion

I was also not offended They are cute.

I am quite young. Don't think I need to start getting them yearly yet, but will talk to the doctor next time to see when I should start.

I had to google how much they would cost you guys in the USA without health insurance. :O

 

[delisha]

I hope you guys/gals don't mind if I jump in. I've been trying to read this entire thread and it's taking forever! I'm in April. This is my first year with chickens and I'm loving it! Now I want pigs, goats, and everything else, lol. Aoxa, Vivian is gorgeous.

Delisha, if I can post pics of some of my ladies I'm hoping you can see if you think they are cornish rock cross or regular white rock. I got them earlier this year and I'm not sure of their exact age. By my best estimates they should be about 6-8 months. They are hogs and waddle like linebackers. I stopped feeding them as much about a month ago and they're coming around. I took pity on them because they were in a bad way when I got them, but I nearly loved them to death.. oops.

The one in front looks like she loves her feed dish and might be a cornish/rock white rock from what I can see. If you hatch from her the meat will be delicious. The one in back is a rock. I see no cornish. If they have access to free range you can consider pulling that free feeder up for the next month in the mornings. Wintering with excessive fat is risky since winter is when they move less and days they do not get out much to hunt and put fat on from lack of activity and our good intentions to make sure they have enough. ...well at least i do. I always over feed over winter. I toss in heads of cabbage, frozen Brussels sprouts, pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchini, heads of lettuce, and other vegetables i have around and collect.

 

[armorfirelady]

Question for the OTs.....

Red went broody in July(?) and then thru a molt. She is still going thru the molt but is/should be almost done. She only has a few pin feathers left coming in that I can see. She is the smallest & was the one that had prolapse last year (but rectified itself when I took them off the layer) She still roosts, eats, acts normal. But her comb & wattles are very pale. I understand with the broody & going thru a molt that might happen but I figured after 3 months they would start reddening up?
She wasn't infested with mites either. I have been giving all the hens extra meat protein with the mite issue & with almost everyone molting. (no mites seen in 4 days

) Including liver & hearts for the extra vitamins. She def gets the meat protein.

No nasal discharge, wheezing, etc. Just the very pale combs.

Any thoughts?

 

[chicalot]

The one in front looks like she loves her feed dish and might be a cornish/rock white rock from what I can see. If you hatch from her the meat will be delicious. The one in back is a rock. I see no cornish.  If they have access to free range you can consider pulling that free feeder up for the next month in the mornings. Wintering with excessive fat is risky since winter is when they move less and days they do not get out much to hunt and put fat on from lack of activity and our good intentions to make sure they have enough. ...well at least i do. I always over feed over winter. I toss in heads of cabbage, frozen Brussels sprouts, pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchini, heads of lettuce, and other vegetables i have around and collect.

If you think one has no cornish then I bet they are all the same. I haven't used the free feeder in a long time because the rocks would sit on it all day. Before I knew this, I had filled it one day and they seriously ate until they couldn't move. They've been shaping up lately but are still quite large. They get moistened crumbles once a day and free range on pasture from morning till roost. The only treat is a mix of BOSS, crack corn, and oats about once a week. I appreciate your input. Hopefully I find a rooster to do them justice as I dont think my bantams will be adequate.