The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

All the cool kids were born in January

armorfirelady-- are you a January baby too????

Quote:

All the cool kids were born in January

Cool as in

Or Cool as in

(Totally freezing because it's January.) ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Yes I am and yes it's usually always cold for my birthday. But I would of,preferred 30s to the artic temps we have been having

 

[wolfglen]

Just got a possum in one of the traps already tonight. Gads, I think the whole jungle is coming out here after being away for a couple of years.

 

[wolfglen]

Yes, the Ruger is pretty pricy on rounds, over three dollars a shot. I reload all of my pistol ammunition. I used to practice about 500 rounds per week.
To Plymouth rock chicks have the little yellow spot on their head? A few years back, I got some eggs which were supposed to be rocks, but they were much more lightly barred.

Jack

 

[hellbender]

Yes, the Ruger is pretty pricy on rounds, over three dollars a shot. I reload all of my pistol ammunition. I used to practice about 500 rounds per week.
To Plymouth rock chicks have the little yellow spot on their head? A few years back, I got some eggs which were supposed to be rocks, but they were much more lightly barred.

Jack

My dogs take care of land predators and birds of prey have never been allowed to feel comfortable in this mountain valley.

 

[ClemsonAg]

Just found this on one of my hens. Is this poultry lice? How can I treat them.

 

[Turkeytruff]

Please elaborate on your Ohio Brooder. Where are you brooding the chicks, what are your day and night time temps like, what size bulbs are you using, how big is your brooder area? I'm NEVER planning to brood chicks in my house again! Will the Ohio Brooder work outside in below freezing temps??????? Thanks!

This is what we used.
http://morningjoyfarm.blogspot.ca/2012/04/how-to-build-ohio-brooder.html

The brooder is about 6 feet x 6 feet made out of 1/2 inch plywood. There are a couple of 1 inch holes cut out on top to slide fingers in to lift the panel
I built up a load of 'diaper packs'

of recycled plastic tarp, cardboard, and straw cut to size for under the brooder (6 inches outside all around it) where we can slowly slide in the new 'bottom' and slide out the old one.
We have a variable 350 to 250 watt bulb at one end, a 125 watt bulb opposite, and a Brinsea Ecoglow 20 in one corner.
The first 2 days we had them in a room in the house. The 3rd day (2 days ago) we moved them to an enclosed porch (30 x 20 feet but cut in half with a wall that has ventilation) with lots of venting covered in chicken wire and hardware cloth. We have stacked hay bales around the brooder to reduce drafts and have covered the top (being extremely careful about distances from the bulbs) with a large heavy wool Hudson's Bay blanket.

We needed the extra blanket to keep the heat in but are monitoring it carefully. It's about 38 degrees F at the moment here.
There is straw around the bottom but they can wander out from under the box about 4 inches if they really want to. They don't because they stay near the warmth and the food (Fermented food which they love) and chick starter which are spaced out around the box.
To be honest, I don't know if having it outside in below freezing temps would work. You would really have to check out the internal temperature of the brooder once it is all set up and make sure the drafts are reduced/non existent. Somebody else out there probably has experience of doing this. We are happy doing this in an enclosed porch where my friend can hear them on the other side of the wall (she is a light sleeper).
There are many versions of brooder, including an amazing looking metal one (google images for Ohio brooder) - good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[RedRidge]

 
Yes, the Ruger is pretty pricy on rounds, over three dollars a shot.  I reload all of my pistol ammunition. I used to practice about 500 rounds per week.
To Plymouth rock chicks have the little yellow spot on their head?   A few years back, I got some eggs which were supposed to be rocks, but they were much more lightly barred.

Jack

My dogs take care of land predators and birds of prey have never been allowed to feel comfortable in this mountain valley.

Yep, feel the same way about predators, that's what the Maremma are for. But when we practice we use .22 conversion kits - saves a lot!

 

[RedRidge]

I don't normally brood in the basement but with the below zero temps I do have a premier one heating tray down there with all chicks under a week old.
Normally all chicks get moved to the barn after 24 hrs instead of a week old to the real brooder.
We think this was a rabbit Hutch before we bought the place. .. hubby enclosed the bottom and put in a partition and converted it to a brooder a few years ago.

 

[CourtsCacklers]

Yes I am and yes it's usually always cold for my birthday. But I would of,preferred 30s to the artic temps we have been having

Well Happy Birthday Lady!!!!! Hope it was wonderful!!! What day?

 

[CourtsCacklers]

I don't normally brood in the basement but with the below zero temps I do have a premier one heating tray down there with all chicks under a week old.
Normally all chicks get moved to the barn after 24 hrs instead of a week old to the real brooder.
We think this was a rabbit Hutch before we bought the place. .. hubby enclosed the bottom and put in a partition and converted it to a brooder a few years ago.

I LOVE IT!!!!! I hope to have a set-up for just a few chicks and also an area for any sick/injured chickens that looks that good!!!!