The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[LoveChickens123]

Hands in the air for a heat wave!!!!!!!!!

that is good here in Georgia tomorrow it is going up to 70*f!!!!!

 

[Mrs Rebecca]

I have been researching and researching, but I think I need some actual advice. I currently have 4 hens and 1 rooster. I keep them in a small coop with attached run that I bought at a local farm store. I really am not happy with the quality of this small coop, especially in the winter months. I prefer to free range, but in the beginning, I lost 3 birds to neighborhood dogs. Now I can only free range when I am with the chickens, and I generally have to carry a gun to scare some pretty scary dogs away.

Anyway, I need to increase my flock size of layers, to at least meet the needs of my rooster. I would also love to butcher throughout the year to provide meat for my family. I'm not really interested in butchering 50 birds at a time, but 50 birds over the course of the year, if I can provide enough space.
I have had 2 metal sheds given to me. One is a barn style storage shed and the other a 3 sided shelter. I am considering using the storage shed as the coop, and the shelter as a covered run. I think I would like to use the deep litter method. I also would like to make the run safe enough that they could come and go as they please. I plan on running an electrical line out to it, for heated water bowls and a light, maybe. I also plan on fencing a larger yard around it so that if they can not free range safely, or if I can not be out with them, they can at least have a safer outside area to be in. I should also mention that I have a very small budget so I can't get too fancy.
Thanks for any tid-bits of wisdom you can share with me.

 

[wolfglen]

I know what you mean about local dogs. When I lived in NYS, I had a Samoyed which became really, really protective of my chickens. Never had a chicken lost to a raccoon, possom, bobcat or anything else.

Lost my most recent dog a few years ago and down here, you can't find anything but pit bulls in the shelters. Now, I know a lot of people love pit bulls, but my experience has been bad with them. I love dogs, but after having been attacked three times by dogs running loose (once a bull, once an rottweiller, and once by a shepherd, and seeing so many dog bites while in my career as a police officer and private investigator, I tend to be wary of dogs I don't know.

Here in Florida, our principle enemies of chickens are raccoon, possom, hawks and bobcats. The bobcats seem to be the worst as they have the power to go through chicken wire but a .45 eliminates that problem.

 

[RedRidge]

Just placed 4 Maremma pups, one in TN, AL, TX, and OK. Needless to say I am keeping the 5th who would not leave his sheep and chickens to sleep in the shelter even when it got down to -4 last week (and he is only 4 months old).
I hear of so many losses that people have and it breaks my heart. Since I have had Maremma I have not lost one lamb or one chick to any type of predation (and we have plenty).
I free range and rotationally graze.
You folks seriously need to consider a Maremma. I simply could not run my farm without them.

 

[aoxa]

Just placed 4 Maremma pups, one in TN, AL, TX, and OK. Needless to say I am keeping the 5th who would not leave his sheep and chickens to sleep in the shelter even when it got down to -4 last week (and he is only 4 months old).
I hear of so many losses that people have and it breaks my heart. Since I have had Maremma I have not lost one lamb or one chick to any type of predation (and we have plenty).
I free range and rotationally graze.
You folks seriously need to consider a Maremma. I simply could not run my farm without them.

I was going through old photos for a memorial we are putting together for February 11th, and of course had to add in pictures of Clementine - who perished along with her flock.

She had Great Pyr in her as well, but I found she looked far more Maremma than Great Pyr except for her early puppy markings.

 

[lazy gardener]

I absolutely love my electric poultry netting. It's pricey at about $170 for 160 l.f. but allows me the freedom to give the girls 1600' of run that can be moved around my yard and garden as I see fit. It is not totally predator proof, as a determined animal can jump over it, and hawks are not deterred by it. Also added to the cost is the price of a charger and it must be either hooked up to household current or a battery, and grounded. If I had plenty of money to spend on my hobbies, I'd consider solar. ~~Your cheapest way to electrify their run would be a house hold current charger hooked up to a minimum of 5 strands of tape style electric fencing, starting about 5" above the ground, and spaced at 6" intervals for the first 2 spaces, then at 12-18" or at the very least, run a strand above your fencing, and down towards the base of it. However if you're faced with buying standard fencing and electric fencing as well, you'd probably be happier with the electric poultry netting as a one shot purchase. It comes with posts spaced every 12' and you'll have to add a few more depending on how flat your land is. To make chickens truly predator proof, you'd need a coop and run completely closed in with 1/2" poultry netting, including a skirt around the perimeter. That's the only thing that will keep them safe from weasels.

Are you planning to grow a dual purpose bird, or perhaps grow several batches of meat birds? If you chose to grow meat birds, you could do 2 - 3 batches in the summer and house them in a moveable tractor. Research Joseph Salatin.

Decide how much money you can budget for this enterprise, and how much risk you are willing to deal with. You can cut your risk quite a bit by running electric around your run. Most predators will nose the fencing first. (especially if you put a bit of peanut butter, or other attractant on it) If they get a zap, they'll avoid it. You can put up netting in the run for protection from hawks, or make the air space more risky for a hawk by stringing fish line with streamers or other light reflectant objects, provide open shelter for the girls to get under which will also provide shade, and hawk protection.

 

[Mrs Rebecca]

Just placed 4 Maremma pups, one in TN, AL, TX, and OK. Needless to say I am keeping the 5th who would not leave his sheep and chickens to sleep in the shelter even when it got down to -4 last week (and he is only 4 months old).
I hear of so many losses that people have and it breaks my heart. Since I have had Maremma I have not lost one lamb or one chick to any type of predation (and we have plenty).
I free range and rotationally graze.
You folks seriously need to consider a Maremma. I simply could not run my farm without them.

I know what you mean about local dogs. When I lived in NYS, I had a Samoyed which became really, really protective of my chickens. Never had a chicken lost to a raccoon, possom, bobcat or anything else.

Lost my most recent dog a few years ago and down here, you can't find anything but pit bulls in the shelters. Now, I know a lot of people love pit bulls, but my experience has been bad with them. I love dogs, but after having been attacked three times by dogs running loose (once a bull, once an rottweiller, and once by a shepherd, and seeing so many dog bites while in my career as a police officer and private investigator, I tend to be wary of dogs I don't know.

Here in Florida, our principle enemies of chickens are raccoon, possom, hawks and bobcats. The bobcats seem to be the worst as they have the power to go through chicken wire but a .45 eliminates that problem.

We have been in rural NWMO for only 1 year and I have never considered dogs as predators until they attacked (not just my chickens, but my puppy as well). Living in town, I never touched a gun, never cared to. Since moving out to the country, I have had to be trained and even taken classes and gotten my ccw. I have had to call the law on one neighbor because of the aggression of their dogs. My kids and I can not even go to the bus stop safely. I would LOVE to have a LGD, but can not justify the expense for my 5 birds and my husband isn't fully on board with running a full fledged farm. He works very hard and long hours at UPS, he doesn't want to come home and work a ton more. So, I am going to have to ease myself into farming, so that I can handle it myself mostly. For now, we do have 2 dogs. Both shepherd mixes, one 11 yrs old and another 2 yrs old. I have only very basic knowledge in dog training, and trust neither dogs with my chickens. My older dog gets very excited and I usually end up sending her away from my birds. My younger dog is calmer around them (this is the only time she is really calm) but she wants to lick them.
Anyway, back to the coop, if I want to make a metal shed dog proof, can I do a dirt floor with a cinder block foundation, or can I bury hardware cloth? My little coop has a cinder block foundation, and something has tried to dig under it, but didn't succeed.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Hands in the air for a heat wave!!!!!!!!!

I know you guys will laugh about how cold we were here in Louisiana recently (like we laugh, all in good fun, when we hear people complain about the heat in the summer), but it did get cold here for several days. I have never had to break ice out of waster bowls multiple times a day bec it didn't get above freezing. We don't have heated bowls bec we don't normally need them. Our Louisiana thread had so much advice on managing the cold. I have a new admiration and appreciation for you guys that deal with intensive cold. I did put Vaseline on their combs and wattles. If you have a big heat wave with lots if humidity, just ask me. Lol BTW, thanks for some of your health hints. I ate chia in my oatmeal this morning.

 

[Mrs Rebecca]

I absolutely love my electric poultry netting. It's pricey at about $170 for 160 l.f. but allows me the freedom to give the girls 1600' of run that can be moved around my yard and garden as I see fit. It is not totally predator proof, as a determined animal can jump over it, and hawks are not deterred by it. Also added to the cost is the price of a charger and it must be either hooked up to household current or a battery, and grounded. If I had plenty of money to spend on my hobbies, I'd consider solar. ~~Your cheapest way to electrify their run would be a house hold current charger hooked up to a minimum of 5 strands of tape style electric fencing, starting about 5" above the ground, and spaced at 6" intervals for the first 2 spaces, then at 12-18" or at the very least, run a strand above your fencing, and down towards the base of it. However if you're faced with buying standard fencing and electric fencing as well, you'd probably be happier with the electric poultry netting as a one shot purchase. It comes with posts spaced every 12' and you'll have to add a few more depending on how flat your land is. To make chickens truly predator proof, you'd need a coop and run completely closed in with 1/2" poultry netting, including a skirt around the perimeter. That's the only thing that will keep them safe from weasels.

Are you planning to grow a dual purpose bird, or perhaps grow several batches of meat birds? If you chose to grow meat birds, you could do 2 - 3 batches in the summer and house them in a moveable tractor. Research Joseph Salatin.

Decide how much money you can budget for this enterprise, and how much risk you are willing to deal with. You can cut your risk quite a bit by running electric around your run. Most predators will nose the fencing first. (especially if you put a bit of peanut butter, or other attractant on it) If they get a zap, they'll avoid it. You can put up netting in the run for protection from hawks, or make the air space more risky for a hawk by stringing fish line with streamers or other light reflectant objects, provide open shelter for the girls to get under which will also provide shade, and hawk protection.

I haven't really thought "electric fencing" yet. I was just thinking of putting some outdoor electrical outlets near the coop. I am interested in the electric poultry netting though, and will have to look into that more. I am lucky to say that my dad owns an electrical company so I can save a considerable amount of money on any electrical expenses I need for my coop. I do already have a large roll of 4' chain link fencing on hand.

I would like to do both dual purpose and meat birds for butchering. My 5 current birds are all dual purpose ( I believe). My roo is a buff orpington, and I have a gold comet, production red, black australorp, and barred rock. I like to think that maybe I can butcher some of their off spring. I will look up Joseph Salatin. Thanks!

 

[aoxa]

I know you guys will laugh about how cold we were here in Louisiana recently (like we laugh, all in good fun, when we hear people complain about the heat in the summer), but it did get cold here for several days. I have never had to break ice out of waster bowls multiple times a day bec it didn't get above freezing. We don't have heated bowls bec we don't normally need them. Our Louisiana thread had so much advice on managing the cold. I have a new admiration and appreciation for you guys that deal with intensive cold. I did put Vaseline on their combs and wattles. If you have a big heat wave with lots if humidity, just ask me. Lol
BTW, thanks for some of your health hints. I ate chia in my oatmeal this morning.

I may take you up on that this summer

I hate the heat. I much prefer the cold. I'd take -30 before 100F any day. Can't do it. I get extremely testy in hot weather. I lash out at everyone.

I worry much more about my flock in heat.