The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Phoenixxx]

Electronet itself is pretty inexpensive. It's portable and you can move it wherever you want it very easily. The fence charger is the most expensive part. You might even be able to use a piece of it just across the side you don't want them to go into and forgo the electric if you don't have the $$ for the charger. It wouldn't keep predators out but would at least keep them from going where you don't want them to go.

Where might I find something like this? I promised my husband he can have a poo-free area of the yard this year but I still have to let the kids out to forage and how inexpensive is inexpensive? Thanks!

 

[chicalot]

It looks like one...? Do they have 5 toes? The skin on the body, is it black like the legs and beak? If so, they're silkies.

Oh! I had forgot about the 5 toes. Just checked and yes that and the dark skin. All 3 silkies. Thanks!

 

[Shan30]

I found this egg this morning. Weird little bump on the side. Never have seen one like this before. I believe its from one of the big girls.

I have my eye on Sophie. I've seen her a couple times over the last week stretch her neck like she was trying to gulp something. She is active, eating & eliminating. She has not laid in ever a month tho. She is the one that lays in frequent. Other than a streak on her fluffy butt she looks good. I think tonight after work I will give her a dose of olive oil to see if it helps. They have all had yogurt and meat in the last week. Egg shells, grit and oyster shells are available free choice.

I know this one! The egg shell fractured or cracked while still being formed. The hens body repairs it so it is thicker and stronger in that area like a healed broken bone.

 

[Shan30]

I have gotten "repaired" eggs randomly but I remember seeing quite a few for days after the bears went on their rampage.

Question for everyone... At what age do you start supplementing your birds in feed and water? I have never given chicks (9 weeks and under for me) UPACV, garlic, herbs, etc. it just seems like they might be a bit rough on those little bodies. I'm sure others do things differently and would like to know when you start, what you start with and why. Thanks!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Where might I find something like this? I promised my husband he can have a poo-free area of the yard this year but I still have to let the kids out to forage

and how inexpensive is inexpensive? Thanks!

http://www.premier1supplies.com/fencing.php?mode=detail&fence_id=30

Sorry...thought I had put a link in.

I have the "plus" that has more posts in it. Dark green blends into the scenery. I was using it primarily to keep any stray dogs from getting in with them.

 

[armorfirelady]

Where might I find something like this? I promised my husband he can have a poo-free area of the yard this year but I still have to let the kids out to forage

and how inexpensive is inexpensive? Thanks!

I am not Leahs Mom but she convinced me last year to get electro netting I purchased mine from Premier: http://www.premier1supplies.com/c/fencing/electric_netting/ & I love it. It keeps my dogs & other predators out but the girls in. I am contemplating getting a 3rd roll. But 2 rolls give them an enormous area to range in. You just need to move it when the grass gets tall. I am able to set it up, move it & take it down on my own. Mine does not have a solar charger but its on my wish list for next year.

ETA oops sorry didn't see LM's post

ETA#2 the fencing should last for many years so its a one time price that you benefit for many many years to come. Its a good investment in my opinion for those who can not allow theirs to free range wherever they want yet it allows the chickens to be out in your yard eating whatever they find & cutting down on your feed bill. My netting takes up a 1/3 of my acre yard and they find plenty to eat allowing me to cut their feed to a 1/3 of what they normally eat. They each get a 1/2 cup of food per bird and once they are out in their netting I only feed at night. They have to find the rest of their own food all day

 

[armorfirelady]

I know this one! The egg shell fractured or cracked while still being formed. The hens body repairs it so it is thicker and stronger in that area like a healed broken bone.

Hmmm thanks for the info. That's funny because yesterday I found an egg with a small indentation that was slightly cracked. I will have to look to see if they match. I bet its the same hen is it is. I just put out a bowl of egg shells.

I am curious for those feed guru's who make their own. Do you think that not having fish meal & alfalfa added to their grains for a month would cause that? I ran out & just haven't had the time to run to the feed store. It is on my to do list for soon tho since I just took the last of the grains out of the storage tub so I will need to make up a fresh batch of everything. I didn't think the lack of fish meal & alfalfa would interfere with thickness of their shells. ANd other eggs I have used are hard as a rock like normal

I have gotten "repaired" eggs randomly but I remember seeing quite a few for days after the bears went on their rampage.

Question for everyone... At what age do you start supplementing your birds in feed and water? I have never given chicks (9 weeks and under for me) UPACV, garlic, herbs, etc. it just seems like they might be a bit rough on those little bodies. I'm sure others do things differently and would like to know when you start, what you start with and why. Thanks!

When I got my feathered chicks last June they were about 6 weeks old. I gave them yogurt & herbs right from the start as well as meat protein. I did not see any signs that it hampered their growth. I think I gave them chick starter for a month then switched them over to grower.

 

[hellbender]

Electro-netting: I use it to enclose about 3 acres for my yearlings, segregated from the laying flock which is not fenced at all...except OUT of my yard.


Feeding peeps: At day three, I start peeps on fermented feed...sorta'.....I mix Purina medicated chick starter with the stirred-up broth from the vat, along with some goat butter milk. I make it the same consistency as for adults...you could almost make a firm ball of the mixture.


This virtually eliminates wasted feed and I think the fermented broth is good for their little guts. I also helps keep them hydrated.

I'm not advising anyone to do this ...just saying it seems to help the chicks to be perky and healthy. drunk....Just kidding on the 'drunk' part.

:

 

[hellbender]

Hmmm thanks for the info. That's funny because yesterday I found an egg with a small indentation that was slightly cracked. I will have to look to see if they match. I bet its the same hen is it is. I just put out a bowl of egg shells.

I am curious for those feed guru's who make their own. Do you think that not having fish meal & alfalfa added to their grains for a month would cause that? I ran out & just haven't had the time to run to the feed store. It is on my to do list for soon tho since I just took the last of the grains out of the storage tub so I will need to make up a fresh batch of everything. I didn't think the lack of fish meal & alfalfa would interfere with thickness of their shells. ANd other eggs I have used are hard as a rock like normal
When I got my feathered chicks last June they were about 6 weeks old. I gave them yogurt & herbs right from the start as well as meat protein. I did not see any signs that it hampered their growth. I think I gave them chick starter for a month then switched them over to grower.

If your birds are accustomed to the extra protein and calcium of fish meal and alfalfa sudden deletion of them from their diets can cause varying degrees of changes of egg shell and bone production. JMHO

Edit: to add...

 

[lalaland]

I am not Leahs Mom but she convinced me last year to get electro netting I purchased mine from Premier: http://www.premier1supplies.com/c/fencing/electric_netting/ & I love it. It keeps my dogs & other predators out but the girls in. I am contemplating getting a 3rd roll. But 2 rolls give them an enormous area to range in. You just need to move it when the grass gets tall. I am able to set it up, move it & take it down on my own. Mine does not have a solar charger but its on my wish list for next year.

ETA oops sorry didn't see LM's post

ETA#2 the fencing should last for many years so its a one time price that you benefit for many many years to come. Its a good investment in my opinion for those who can not allow theirs to free range wherever they want yet it allows the chickens to be out in your yard eating whatever they find & cutting down on your feed bill. My netting takes up a 1/3 of my acre yard and they find plenty to eat allowing me to cut their feed to a 1/3 of what they normally eat. They each get a 1/2 cup of food per bird and once they are out in their netting I only feed at night. They have to find the rest of their own food all day

Hey AFL, if you are feeding 1/2 c feed at days end when they are out foraging, do you have an idea of how much you allow duirng the winter? trying to adjust how much I am feeding with two coops instead of one.... and am either under feeding as judged by the total absence of any food at days end, or way over feeding