The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Allysha1990]

Yours are too young to molt.
This not laying thing has been a thing this year for a lot of ppl. There was a thread about it and a bunch of ppl were complaining about it; not just newbs like me either, ppl who've been chicken-ing for 15 years or more have been saying that they're not getting half as many eggs as they should for the hens they have, even considering it's winter.

Just keep things healthy and consistent for them and they'll start laying.
What breed(s) do you have?
Some breeds lay better in the winter than others.

I have 3 Speckled Sussex hens and 1 Dark Cornish hen. Still only getting 1 egg a day, but check out the egg I got today!

 

[Scott H]

WOW!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Thanks for the ovation, TeaChick. I appreciate that.

 

[lalaland]

Nope. I do heat that brooder room, but that's it.

They are really starting to get used to the cold Acclimating.

Susan was in charge of chores last night and left the pop door open (no big deal, I have done this so many times) and I woke up to this:


"You forgot to feed us this morning."

I slept in.. They decided to chastise me for it. FULL VIEW to see the look on her face LOL

glad you explained it was the top of a birdfeeder! was trying to figure out what the heck she was standing on. Hope you felt properly chastised

And guess what? someone else is laying - I found a pullet egg (frozen and cracked) that is white...not cream like the sulmtalers...could be from seaquist although she is supposed to be a superblueegglayer I think.

Turning it was a good thing,but from now on let your chickens do the work of keeping it all stirred up by throwing a couple handfuls of black oil sunflower seeds onto the litter a couple times a week (be sure to call them and let them know you're throwing it down!). They will do a great job of keeping it all mixed up and it will keep them occupied for quite a while. Also, add some Sweet PDZ http://www.sweetpdz.com/ to the litter, it works GREAT at absorbing moisture and eliminating odor. It won't hurt the chickens a bit. I use it not only in my chicken coop but also in my cat's litter box... by doing so I can buy the cheapest cat litter available. Sweet PDZ is pretty inexpensive and available at most all farm-type stores like Tractor Supply, etc.

huh, you use the sweetpdz instead of cat litter? might have to try that, thanks for the idea!

 

[jlynnet]

Newly hatched Tolbunt Polish

 

[lalaland]

ohhhhhh, too sweet!

 

[lalaland]

good news is that Booster the rooster shows no agression to me in the coop - and the coop is where the entire flock has been hanging out for days. feels like forever. For the most part, the oldsters take over the youngsters portion of the coop and the youngsters hang out in the oldsters part, which is sunnier and has more windows. Possibly a few degrees colder too.

Lots of roosting in the DL going on.

Booster has the worst frostbite I've ever seen - he has a huge comb which is pretty much rainbow colored (no green though). I have to imagine it must be painful. It isn't the moisture, as there are no frost crystals in the coop. If anyone has any suggestions for the care of a frozen comb, please chime in. Buster has more of a rose comb and has just a tiny blackened tip, but Booster has horizontal lines of red, purple, white and yellow.

stil subzero for another week, and windchills are predicted for -30 F.

I'ld like to invent a warm nest for them to lay in so there would be a chance of getting eggs that are intact.

 

[ChickChickChicky]

glad you explained it was the top of a birdfeeder! was trying to figure out what the heck she was standing on. Hope you felt properly chastised

And guess what? someone else is laying - I found a pullet egg (frozen and cracked) that is white...not cream like the sulmtalers...could be from seaquist although she is supposed to be a superblueegglayer I think.

huh, you use the sweetpdz instead of cat litter? might have to try that, thanks for the idea!

NO, not instead of cat litter, but ADDED to el cheapo cat litter. I put a thin layer of PDZ in the bottom of the litterpan, add an inch or so of the cheapest kitty litter available, then sprinkle on a little more PDZ and slightly mix it into the litter.

 

[armorfirelady]

good news is that Booster the rooster shows no agression to me in the coop - and the coop is where the entire flock has been hanging out for days.  feels like forever.  For the most part, the oldsters take over the youngsters portion of the coop and the youngsters hang out in the oldsters part, which is sunnier and has more windows.  Possibly a few degrees colder too.

Lots of roosting in the DL going on.

Booster has the worst frostbite I've ever seen - he has a huge comb which is pretty much rainbow colored (no green though).  I have to imagine it must be painful.  It isn't the moisture, as there are no frost crystals in the coop.  If anyone has any suggestions for the care of a frozen comb, please chime in.  Buster has more of a rose comb and has just a tiny blackened tip, but Booster has horizontal lines of red, purple, white and yellow.  

stil subzero for another week, and windchills are predicted for -30 F.  

I'ld like to invent a warm nest for them to lay in so there would be a chance of getting eggs that are intact.  

I would goop it up with Nustock when he is roosting at night, I wonder if he got it wet when drinking?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Booster has the worst frostbite I've ever seen - he has a huge comb which is pretty much rainbow colored (no green though). I have to imagine it must be painful. It isn't the moisture, as there are no frost crystals in the coop. If anyone has any suggestions for the care of a frozen comb, please chime in. Buster has more of a rose comb and has just a tiny blackened tip, but Booster has horizontal lines of red, purple, white and yellow.

stil subzero for another week, and windchills are predicted for -30 F.

I'ld like to invent a warm nest for them to lay in so there would be a chance of getting eggs that are intact.

There's an article on frostbite that may help.

But I do have a question...... I'm thinking it might not be the best idea to bring them inside during this weather for treatment. Seems like too much of a temperature change.

I have to take a look at "Mister" today. I think the top of his comb is looking suspect too.