The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Quote: Broken bones just make everything that much more complicated. Its really to bad.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Congratulations!

My husband and I are discussing trying for our first over the next year (need to quit smoking first). January sounds best to me. I won't have to miss hunting season. (I asked my doc. about this and I promise to be very careful!) won't be hugely pregnant in the summer heat, can lose some of the weight by summer and the little one will be a bit more mobile by summer! To be honest I'm a bit terrified. I don't know how moms do everything they do. You guys are like superheroes! It's a lot to live up to.

I did a quick tourist search on your Jan temps. They look so much better than what I am used to in January. Around here having a baby in January can be tricky with arctic blasts and snow. Even having the baby in Feb still means lots of appointments in Jan. Not a real big deal if the midwife comes to your house. But for those that choose the OB and a hospital, snow covered roads can really put a damper on getting to the weekly appointments and the final run or two to the hospital.
There is a fertility book, taking charge of your fertility, I recommend reading it if you are going to try and time your due date.

Quote: For me baby spit up is downright disgusting. Chicken poo is nothing compared to the baby runs or the child that thinks poo is perfect for painting designs on the wall during a nap. Now DH, he can't stand yucky food stuff, like the chicken scrap bucket.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

I sold thirteen dozen eggs on Tuesday!

Egg production really picked up. Washed another four dozen today.

 

[lalaland]

Mine broker her foot (toe) several months back....it healed but she isn't as strong on it on the roosting bars like she used to be...though she does always roost and still goes about her life. This is the one that the other girls have been picking on....it's a real bummer...today they pecked her foot open (did they just notice in the last couple months and decide to take her out?)-- so frustrating. I removed her and am prepared to allow her separate accommodations until spring/summer when I will try to reintegrate them when they can free range everyday--all day. If they can't get along- I will still figure something out with her for more permanent housing.... It is a real bummer....

when the hens started picking on Angelina (scrappy and scruffy little hen) it took a couple of tries of putting rooster pick no more on her comb before they left her alone. She's a little sweet heart but "different". Holding her own now, though. It will be better come summer and more room. Nothing like big snow banks to close you in!

so maybe if you nustock her foot they will leave her be. I think sometimes a hen can be too docile...

 

[CourtsCacklers]

when the hens started picking on Angelina (scrappy and scruffy little hen) it took a couple of tries of putting rooster pick no more on her comb before they left her alone. She's a little sweet heart but "different". Holding her own now, though. It will be better come summer and more room. Nothing like big snow banks to close you in!

so maybe if you nustock her foot they will leave her be. I think sometimes a hen can be too docile...

thanks lalaland-- yes... she is very very docile. She has always been my biggest girl (not fat but just structure wise), not a shred of aggression in her...she has always been the one to greet me over having any treats and/or snacks. I have had their coop and run open but they don't desire to get out in the this 2 ft. of snow... I have a couple that are broody and even more nasty than they were a few weeks back though I think we are finally getting through that stage since I stole the basket that the broodiest one desired. She seems so lonely now that she is separated but when I put the pick no more on her and added her back in a couple of them tried to peck at her feet right away and she crouched down so that they couldn't get to her feet and then they were ready to start at her head. I really thought that I would come out in the morning and she would be pecked to death if I left her in there. They have been clipping the ends of her feathers for a couple of weeks. I think a break away from them for a month or two is in order so that she can restore her feathers and at that point they will be out all day. In the summer-- usually the only time they are in the coop is to roost at night.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I sold thirteen dozen eggs on Tuesday!

Egg production really picked up. Washed another four dozen today.

Just curious but is there a really cheap way to wash lots of eggs? So far I wash them one at a time and use a bottle brush when needed. I typically only wash before using. But it would be nice to save time and wash a dozen or two at once.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Quote: I put my eggs in the sink and wash them one at a time with a dish sponge. I do dozens at a time.

 

[mlowen]

thanks lalaland-- yes... she is very very docile. She has always been my biggest girl (not fat but just structure wise), not a shred of aggression in her...she has always been the one to greet me over having any treats and/or snacks.  I have had their coop and run open but they don't desire to get out in the this 2 ft. of snow...  I have a couple that are broody and even more nasty than they were a few weeks back though I think we are finally getting through that stage since I stole the basket that the broodiest one desired.  She seems so lonely now that she is separated but when I put the pick no more on her and added her back in a couple of them tried to peck at her feet right away and she crouched down so that they couldn't get to her feet and then they were ready to start at her head.  I really thought that I would come out in the morning and she would be pecked to death if I left her in there.  They have been clipping the ends of her feathers for a couple of weeks.  I think a break away from them for a month or two is in order so that she can restore her feathers and at that point they will be out all day.  In the summer-- usually the only time they are in the coop is to roost at night.  

I wonder if you could put the next lowest hen in the flock in with her? That way she'd have a "flock" and be less lonely & stressed.

 

[Shan30]

Well my friends husband came home to find the little rooster in bad shape and decided to "put him down".
She's upset but it sounds like it was for the best.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
good luck with that and having kids... LOL