The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[SallyinIndiana]

well, I gone and dun it. LOL haven't told hubby, not sure i'm going to. maybe he'll just think they hatched...

got an email from mcmurray today about their rainbow egg layer collection (all pullets). on sale, minus the credit I had with them from last years' failed shipments, worked out to about $1 each...

where the heck am I going to put another 25+ chicks on Monday?

or the ones due to hatch next Saturday, or the ones the following Thursday? or the ones from the eggs delisha's sending me Monday? LOL cross fingers the weather improves. quickly.

I've been setting eggs about once a week, brooders are abounding in my basement. I need warm weather fast too.

There ya go again, Teachick, with alphabet soup post. Help me out please.

there is an urban dictionary. It is not family friendly so I won't link it here. But google can help you find it.
Basically that string of letters means rolling around on the floor laughing quite hard, something like a child would do after losing a tickle fight. That is my family friendly meaning.

 

[TeaChick]

I've been setting eggs about once a week, brooders are abounding in my basement.  I need warm weather fast too. 

there is an urban dictionary.  It is not family friendly so I won't link it here.  But google can help you find it.

Basically that string of letters means rolling around on the floor laughing quite hard, something like a child would do after losing a tickle fight.  That is my family friendly meaning.

Sally, I'm shocked that you insinuate that I might post something less than family friendly!
Well, there was that one time, I guess.....

 

[Shan30]

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.
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. 

Agreed, if something else throws up, so do I. This may make parenting difficult
When I feel a bit more ready I will take a look for the book. Otherwise buying it may cause panic attacks. I'm turning 26 in march and want two children so I should probably get a move on soon. However, we need two incomes here. Not a cheap place to live. So I worry about not being prepared.

Now that we know we won't have to cull this flock I have started naming the birds. The Chanteclers are now known as Monsieur, Chanty and Clair, and the surviving silkie rooster is Ike. I'll name the rest as it comes to me

 

[ki4got]

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apparently she's easily amused.

 

[Scott H]

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apparently she's easily amused.

She just likes her new made up alphabet soup reply.

 

[CourtsCacklers]

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.

possibly....at this point I don't know if just a couple of them were taking part or all of them.... I do know who the bossiest one is.... they had the pop door open to the run and were in and out all day. It happened between 8a and 2p... normally I am out there more often than that-- seriously, I am a chicken stalker, but I thought I would ease up a bit and give them some space... apparently... a BAD idea....

She did lay an egg now that she is on her own.... the last few days she must not have laid.... this egg I haven't seen in a few days.... maybe because of stress.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: ohh your string of letters was not out of line. I should have used bold for the MY in the my family friendly meaning. Sorry, my mistake. Although we don't use that b word with toddlers. Toddler boys especially find some words too funny to say and then break out saying those words over and over again in the most inappropriate settings.
But the home page for the urban dictionary has words that most families consider "bad" words as part of their words for the day. So the site is not family friendly.

Agreed, if something else throws up, so do I. This may make parenting difficult

When I feel a bit more ready I will take a look for the book. Otherwise buying it may cause panic attacks. I'm turning 26 in march and want two children so I should probably get a move on soon. However, we need two incomes here. Not a cheap place to live. So I worry about not being prepared.

Now that we know we won't have to cull this flock I have started naming the birds. The Chanteclers are now known as Monsieur, Chanty and Clair, and the surviving silkie rooster is Ike. I'll name the rest as it comes to me

That book is very math oriented so you might want to check it out early. Also it is common in my library.
Babies can be expensive but don't have to be. Lots of ways to keep the cost down. Avoiding formula, used clothes sometimes have not even been worn, shoes are not truly needed until walking, fancy toys are more for the parents than the child, basic old school diapers are a great way to save too.

 

[CourtsCacklers]

I would not put a hen lower than the injured one b/c the lower hen might try to use the injury to improve her position. I would put one who's a little higher so that they both know who stands where and that might avoid extra stress.
I don't know, I'm just guessing.

I am not putting anyone with her until her feet are healed.... It is one toe on each foot. Those nasty girls.... HUMMMMPPPPHHH..... It is really irritating! I can almost bet that once this snow clears they would probably all be fine with one another.... they generally get a long well. This winter is TERRIBLE....

 

[SallyinIndiana]

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maybe a mirror. It works with chicks and ducklings.

 

[Leahs Mom]

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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.

I remember someone posting that "back in the day" (whenever that was) their g-ma used a light steel wool or a dry scrubby sponge to "lightly sand" the egg rather than washing.

Not sure if that would save any time, but it might save some of the bloom?