The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lazy gardener]

Oh, I quit having b-days when I was 30, no extras here for five years now!!

I'm still 20 between the ears... I just wish the rest of my body would slow down!

I had the best hatch EVER yesterday and today. 56 eggs into lockdown (because that is how I count my hatch rate..) 54 fluffy healthy chicks. 18 Easter Eggers, 14 Silkies, 10 Naked Necks, 5 Mutts, 4 Buckeyes, 2 Barred Rocks and 1 Mottled Houdan

Dry hatch?

I didn't want to do that because some people have said that DE destroys the liter for composting by killing off the beneficial bacteria, but I only put it in the dusting bins. I'm hoping the liter can be used for my garden.


They seem content to dig through the deep liter in the run throughout the day.

~~DE is actually recommended in the garden for insect and slug/snail control. It actually has some beneficial nutritional properties, so no worries there! I can't imagine that it would kill bacteria. I'm glad you give them DL in their run. It makes me so sad to see chicken runs being a barren waste land. I'm so sorry to hear that your Dad and Mom are not doing well, but am thankful that you have some siblings to share the load.

 

[aoxa]

Nice hatch Justine..


I hatched today also..

Small

6 eggs..6 chicks

I snapped a picture before they were done..I had a BLRW that is so red i had to snap a picture of it

I can't remember how many I put in.. I know a few were thin shelled and cracked, I had very very few quitters. Any I tossed were due to not being fertile, and it wasn't a large amount.. maybe 5? It was a good hatch!

Dry hatch?

Always!

 

[RedRidge]

Quote: But Maremma are like potato chips, you can't have just one.

Besides... they really work best in pairs... they establish their own coordinated work patterns and behaviors. It's really fascinating to watch.
And more importantly, as they learn to work as a team, they also learn to trust each other and know when the other has their back.
That is not only important when predators are present, but when sleep is required. When working as a pair they get much better quality, much more sound sleep because they know their partner is on duty.

 

[RedRidge]

Ok... Just have to share this...
"Is this chicken local? " ROFL

 

[aoxa]

Ok... Just have to share this...
"Is this chicken local? " ROFL

I've seen that, and got a real kick out of it

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Fed soy so... No thanks.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Fed soy so... No thanks.

Oh...and are those sheep they got the milk from guarded by Maremaa?

 

[LadyBehir]

His name was Colin!

 

[armorfirelady]

I don't care what the weather man says spring has to be on its way. Realized yesterday the oyster shell that I last filled up last fall was empty. Filled it up this morning & the girls started filling up. And I saw Lucy in the nesting box !!!! Woohoo that only leaves mrs black I haven't seen in there yet. Lucy didn't like me watching her so she got out. But I think it had to do more with the sprouts & burnt blueberry muffins I brought out I always check her crop,at night because the big girls chase her away from snack tho I do see she gets some after everyone leaves. She is a loner but she is getting food since her crop is always full. I hope when I go back out later I find an egg from her

 

[aoxa]

This video is the exact opposite of the one RR posted.