The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[dewey69usa]

I guess I now realize how lucky I am in that I have an organic feed supply only 40 minutes drive from home. It would really try my resolve if I had to order & pay shipping to boot. I believe the organic, natural method of caring for my birds is teaching me patience. I want to go buy new birds to increase my flock, but what will I bring with them? I have had to cull before due to bringing someone else's problem home from a sale. I will add to the mix this Spring, but it will be day old chicks or eggs to hatch, then I'll have wait to see what I have..........

 

[Alibabe]

That sounds like it couldn't hurt.
Do be careful. Someone might know if any of those is toxic to chickens or not.
Tea is not usually a strong infusion, so if you had the EO of any of those around, that might do better being added to their water one or two drops at a time.
OR, you could sprinkle some of whatever on their food.
Just ideas. =)

Unfortunately no EO on hand but I could leave some tea to infuse for a few hours and add a bit to their water. Will see how they are tomorrow after having the oregano tonic in their water for a day and then judge from there. Thank you

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'd like to suggest if you guys have temps that cold, use dry feed. Especially with boys that have large wattles. I find the moisture in the feed does not help prevent frost bite at all.

I use coconut oil on frost bite. If it isn't too severe, I ignore it.

I have a barred rock who slept outside one night and has it on the tips. If they get frost bite they are unshowable. Just an FYI..

I haven't had more than the tips frost bitten. It isn't ALL about moisture in the coop. If they go outside they can somehow get moisture on their comb and if it as cold as Lala's place, it will freeze instantly.

My problem hasn't been with wattles. It has been the comb that doesn't come in contact with the feed or water. Right now my waterers are all restricted openings so the wattles aren't getting drug through the water. I've watched "Mister" drink and wattles stay on the outside while the beak is in. He does, however, shake his head and splat water everywhere which I'd think would land on comb, wattle and whatever else is anywhere near him.

Aoxa - what have you decided to use for water this winter?

Quote: How (and at what age) do you re-integrate your chicks and mamma into the flock? Can you give us a detailed description of this?

 

[aoxa]

My problem hasn't been with wattles. It has been the comb that doesn't come in contact with the feed or water. Right now my waterers are all restricted openings so the wattles aren't getting drug through the water. I've watched "Mister" drink and wattles stay on the outside while the beak is in. He does, however, shake his head and splat water everywhere which I'd think would land on comb, wattle and whatever else is anywhere near him.

Aoxa - what have you decided to use for water this winter?

How (and at what age) do you re-integrate your chicks and mamma into the flock? Can you give us a detailed description of this?

I'm doing the same as last winter. I don't have any bantams except Nora, and she is spoiled. She is in the heated feed room She is my only link to Margaret, and you could say I am protective.. She's actually in there with some chicks. She is very good with young birds.

I HAVE to have water deep enough for the geese and ducks, so I don't have much of a choice. I didn't have any frost bite at all last winter other than Margaret.

We are just hoping not to have any of those issues I guess.

The pens all have heated dog dishes. The layer coop has the large rubber dish for the ducks/geese. I can't have water inside the barn if the ducks/geese can access it. They will make a mess.

 

[Kassaundra]

My problem hasn't been with wattles. It has been the comb that doesn't come in contact with the feed or water. Right now my waterers are all restricted openings so the wattles aren't getting drug through the water. I've watched "Mister" drink and wattles stay on the outside while the beak is in. He does, however, shake his head and splat water everywhere which I'd think would land on comb, wattle and whatever else is anywhere near him.

Aoxa - what have you decided to use for water this winter?

How (and at what age) do you re-integrate your chicks and mamma into the flock? Can you give us a detailed description of this?

Moms can go back anytime they decide to leave chicks, however that has not happened w/ my broody moms, they seem to be very determined to mother I guess until crowing or laying it seems. But everyone gets let out at about 10ish weeks, when the young chicks are big enough they look much more chicken and less song bird to the average cat. I have never had an overly aggressive flock and they seem to fit right back in. The space they live in is only separated by a fence both inside the coop and outside, from the other chickens so they are in constant visual contact w/ each other so that might help.

 

[TeaChick]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but
visual contact seems to be important with chickens, I'm especially referring to integrating new birds or young newly hatched young flock members.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Thank you.

Do you have hawks in your area? I have kept gates closed (since everyone shares the same outdoor run) since the hawks got bad. The current kiddos are 14 weeks old and getting pretty good sized but still easy pickin's for a hawk.

The way my kennel run is set up I could definitely cut another door on the brooding side of the chicken shed and add an extra panel on the run to separate them off. I'm pretty determined to have something different the next time I have little ones so the older ones don't have to be stuck.

 

[Kassaundra]

Thank you.

Do you have hawks in your area? I have kept gates closed (since everyone shares the same outdoor run) since the hawks got bad. The current kiddos are 14 weeks old and getting pretty good sized but still easy pickin's for a hawk.

The way my kennel run is set up I could definitely cut another door on the brooding side of the chicken shed and add an extra panel on the run to separate them off. I'm pretty determined to have something different the next time I have little ones so the older ones don't have to be stuck.

Yes, we do and at a small enough age they have been taken by our resident small hawk who usually dines on rodents and reptiles. Oreo got his lb of flesh on one though, the hawk got the chick but he left his own blood and a few feathers for his trouble. We have the larger hawks in our area, but they don't seem to "hunt" in town much.

 

[TeaChick]

Oh, since OTs are welcome......

I have some news:

The puppies are opening their eyes!!!!!

They're two weeks old today. I'm so excited. It'll be like having puppies now, not like having little pigs in the back room of the house that make my dog have to go out in the middle of the night. lol

 

[TeaChick]

Okay, I free range, so I'm lucky if I happen upon one of my hens when they're laying.
I know that Goldie is laying light brown eggs and that Sandy (my lightest not white hen) is laying dark brown eggs (b/c I happened to catch them).
I know that my JG, when she's laying, lays light brown eggs (the ones I've gotten haven't and known were hers weren't pink or pinkish).

Who (between gold Comet, Jersey Giant, and Cochin [Bantam Frizzle]) is laying which egg here: