The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[NanaLynn]

Everything you guys are discussing is so interesting and I love the pics of the new chicks. I keep learning so much from this thread. Thank you!

I hope that you do not mind me switching topics? I did follow through with chicken jail for my White Rock for a full week. I put her back in with the rest of the flock and it was an epic failure.

It was fine for about 3 to 5 minutes then she started chasing the younger ones again when she was in the coop and a few of them flew to the top roost to avoid her. Three of the older hens tried to control her, but she just continued harassing the younger ones . She started hopping on the backs of two of them and pecking their heads and combs again. If she was a rooster, I'd understand, but she is just mean. I put her in jail because of this and the fact she was getting more vicious and made one of them bleed, plus her claws are just getting bigger and she digs into their backs.

It was a completely different flock without her, the others just did their own thing with the occasional pecking here and there. So, I pulled her out again and she is back in her jail cell. She won't be going back in with them again, so now we have to decide what to do with her.

I still feel sorry for her, she's a sweet chicken to us and poor thing won't be a year old until the end of this month. But she has to go, just a little nervous since we have never culled a chicken before so she'll be our first one. I purchased a killing cone and have read everything about processing, but I guess this is something you really learn from experience.

 

[Scott H]

I would put a nesting box just off the ground she can step into and try a roost 2' up. Chickens are naturally ground nesters.

 

[maggiemo]

she has to go, just a little nervous since we have never culled a chicken before so she'll be our first one. I purchased a killing cone and have read everything about processing, but I guess this is something you really learn from experience.

Sorry you are going through this. Do you have a friend who can help you? I have a friend who has chickens and I cull her birds and she culls mine, so we don't have to kill our own.

 

[Scott H]

Quote:
That's a great idea, maggiemo.

 

[tjo804]

I would put a nesting box just off the ground she can step into and try a roost 2' up. Chickens are naturally ground nesters.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Everything you guys are discussing is so interesting and I love the pics of the new chicks. I keep learning so much from this thread. Thank you!

I hope that you do not mind me switching topics? I did follow through with chicken jail for my White Rock for a full week. I put her back in with the rest of the flock and it was an epic failure.

It was fine for about 3 to 5 minutes then she started chasing the younger ones again when she was in the coop and a few of them flew to the top roost to avoid her. Three of the older hens tried to control her, but she just continued harassing the younger ones . She started hopping on the backs of two of them and pecking their heads and combs again. If she was a rooster, I'd understand, but she is just mean. I put her in jail because of this and the fact she was getting more vicious and made one of them bleed, plus her claws are just getting bigger and she digs into their backs.

It was a completely different flock without her, the others just did their own thing with the occasional pecking here and there. So, I pulled her out again and she is back in her jail cell. She won't be going back in with them again, so now we have to decide what to do with her.

I still feel sorry for her, she's a sweet chicken to us and poor thing won't be a year old until the end of this month. But she has to go, just a little nervous since we have never culled a chicken before so she'll be our first one. I purchased a killing cone and have read everything about processing, but I guess this is something you really learn from experience.

Lynn -
I've been getting advice on separation from a couple of people. One told me that they have done it 2x consecutively to see if it would work. sometimes yes, sometimes no. One also told me that it's works best if they do it for 2 weeks.

I did just have a conversation with one of the Indiana people that tried 3x with a rooster and finally did process him as it didn't work for him.

If you're at the point of processing for food, this is my favorite video demonstration to help.

 

[Leahs Mom]

PS: I know you have the cones and you can do the process the same...just using the cone instead of hanging. When we did one that we learned on, we did hang by the feet but after cutting the neck, we held the wings to the body to keep him from flapping blood all over since it was done inside an unfinished basement. In that situation he was hung over a 5 gallon bucket to catch the blood.

 

[hellbender]

Lynn -
I've been getting advice on separation from a couple of people. One told me that they have done it 2x consecutively to see if it would work. sometimes yes, sometimes no. One also told me that it's works best if they do it for 2 weeks.

I did just have a conversation with one of the Indiana people that tried 3x with a rooster and finally did process him as it didn't work for him.

If you're at the point of processing for food, this is my favorite video demonstration to help.

Absolutely the best cure for a rampaging hen (or any nonconformist member of the flock)....given her felonious record.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Here is a link to our "processing lesson" that I posted about earlier. I won't re-post but if interested, it's here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...keeping-thread-ots-welcome/4490#post_10304325

 

[ChickChickChicky]

I have been concerned that my Hens may be to thin.

I have been doing some more reading and internet searching

I am wondering if anyone else uses Layena and has the same thoughts about Skinny gals?

I quit using Purina Layena because I kept getting bags full of moldy food (three seperate occassions). I now use Nutrena All-Flock and am quite happy with it.