The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[subhanalah]

Every man needs a tractor. No matter his circumstances.

that's my dad's motto anyway!

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote:

Every man needs a tractor. No matter his circumstances.
I agree !! Of course my tractor is my lawn mower but I use that sucker for everything with the trailer I have for it .......even been known to drive it down the road to pick stuff up at the neighbors

 

[Shan30]

every thing will be fine..just remove the turner or turn it off and let things finish out. You can add water if you need it with a straw or a tube threw the air holes if you are worried. I usually have a warm damp wash cloth ready before I open the box for any reason. Adding it to the incubator while I am doing what I need to do adds humidity and heat that i am stealing by opening it. (I do try not to do it. It risks chicks still in the eggs, but you have an early start and probably should.) I never suggest anyone to assist in a hatch. They do not hatch for a reason. Saving them now is not about the chick..

Thanks Delisha! That first one hatched on Wednesday, day 18. We are now up to 13. Only three unhatched eggs left in the bator and I'm sure one is dead. Feeling like its pretty good for a first hatch. I have to admit I helped one this morning. Humidity was way down when I woke up and one was almost totally zipped but the membrane was very dry and holding tight. Had the humidity been higher I'm sure it would have made it on its own. I just put it on a warm wet towel and dabbed moisture on the membrane and it hatched in my hands. Running around and super spunky now. May not have been the natural way to do it but let's face it, using an incubator is not natural! So amazing to have it burst out right in my hands.

A hot cloth is a good idea. I just keep arming myself with a syringe full of hot water when I have to open it and filling a tray each time.

 

[tjo804]

Quote:
I do mix the layena in with the scratch and Boss and ferment. I ferment to get the good bacteria and to soften the scratch and Boss for more effecient use by the hens. The cost benefit in one month I have cut my feeding cost in HALF!

I also add dry layena to the ferment and they do not seem to be eating the stuff in the house anymore but I keep it there in case they get hungry or bored so they are not picking at each other.

What Manna Pro products do you use regularly?

Do you mix all of yours together to ferment or do you ferment just the grains?

 

[Shan30]

Every man needs a tractor. No matter his circumstances.

Oh too true... I dream of owning one. It was the first vehicle I ever drove and the last time I drove it. There was a fence involved... I was five I mean come on!

 

[subhanalah]

Oh too true... I dream of owning one. It was the first vehicle I ever drove and the last time I drove it. There was a fence involved... I was five I mean come on!

my dad "accidentally" ran over a fresh cow pie the last time I was on a tractor. We were riding on the trailer/mower thing, I think. It was a long time ago, I may remember it incorrectly.
Anyway...again, I've never really know when my dad is just trolling me or what.

ETA: yeah, it was not a nice experience, let's just say that about it.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:

Every man needs a tractor. No matter his circumstances.

correction... every WOman needs a tractor! I have a Massey sub-compact with bucket and backhoe (also augur, scraper blade, box blade, bushhog and wood chipper...)

 

[maryhysong]

correction... every WOman needs a tractor! I have a Massey sub-compact with bucket and backhoe (also augur, scraper blade, box blade, bushhog and wood

Arrrgggghhh! you are like the fifth woman to post she has a tractor! I am sssooooo jealous; I really need something with bucket and backhoe, but it needs to be fairly small to get into tight spots around here.... just haven't been able to find anything under twenty grand....

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
LOL well, he's making the payments on it, and he's the one who HAD to have all the implements to go with the old tractor. but I use the massey way more than he does... mostly for toting water down to the horses, moving pens, even as a taller step from the step ladder LOL (helped in putting the reinforcements to the roof that blew off a few weeks ago!)

 

[hellbender]

I do mix the layena in with the scratch and Boss and ferment. I ferment to get the good bacteria and to soften the scratch and Boss for more effecient use by the hens. The cost benefit in one month I have cut my feeding cost in HALF!

I also add dry layena to the ferment and they do not seem to be eating the stuff in the house anymore but I keep it there in case they get hungry or bored so they are not picking at each other.

What Manna Pro products do you use regularly?

Do you mix all of yours together to ferment or do you ferment just the grains?

I ferment only grains. I use the Calf Manna. We started with that about 40 years ago and have seen no reason to change to anything specific for poultry. I even fed it to raise show puppies.

When I first began fermenting, I included everything but didn't like the results. I seemed to get something in the mix (I think Calf Manna) that didn't agree with the process but by only mixing the grains, everything is great. I also but a cup of black-strap molasses in each 55 gal. container every 2 weeks .This works well for me. Black-strap is loaded with goodies and has been leached of most of the sugars...It works for me and the FF really smells great.

I try to use enough FF to equal approx. 30% of their daily ration.