The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[flagirl]

that was me with the grove. I am in florida and put lots of peels in my compost, but then throw most in the woods to break down. citrus peels is supposed to be a deterent for nematodes in the garden, so sometimes I bury some where I plant my tomatoes and peppers. the peels from oj processing go to the cattle, they love ground up peels. since all the cattle here is basically grass fed, it is an added nutrient. my friend, who I get my raw milk from, feeds his cows some every week and it does not affect the taste. I have never done candied peel either-looking forward to the recipe.

 

[aoxa]

Some of you may remember I was trying to create my own strain of meat bird using a Meat King or Cornish Cross as the mother, and a Heritage Barred Plymouth Rock as the father. I posted pictures of the chicks, who were hatched February 27th, so will be 7 weeks tomorrow. They are wide like a CX, but are definitely not as big (which is fine by me!) they are twice the size of their half siblings though.
Both of them are girls it appears. Really wide stance. I am happy with them

 

[Leahs Mom]

Some of you may remember I was trying to create my own strain of meat bird using a Meat King or Cornish Cross as the mother, and a Heritage Barred Plymouth Rock as the father. I posted pictures of the chicks, who were hatched February 27th, so will be 7 weeks tomorrow. They are wide like a CX, but are definitely not as big (which is fine by me!) they are twice the size of their half siblings though.
Both of them are girls it appears. Really wide stance. I am happy with them

Will you butcher any out this year to try the meat? Keep us updated. I think a lot of us are interested !

 

[Leahs Mom]

that was me with the grove. I am in florida and put lots of peels in my compost, but then throw most in the woods to break down. citrus peels is supposed to be a deterent for nematodes in the garden, so sometimes I bury some where I plant my tomatoes and peppers. the peels from oj processing go to the cattle, they love ground up peels. since all the cattle here is basically grass fed, it is an added nutrient. my friend, who I get my raw milk from, feeds his cows some every week and it does not affect the taste. I have never done candied peel either-looking forward to the recipe.

Whoops...mixed up my grove owner!

Interesting on feeding to the cows. I still use raw milk and I'm always considering getting a "family cow". Considering is a big word because I'm not sure I want to be tied down to milking unless I have a "hired hand" that is available for me to get out of town, etc.

I wonder how much you can feed without tinting the milk...

I'm pretty sure we WILL get a feeder or 2 for meat at some point, but of course no grove so no peels for them!

 

[aoxa]

Will you butcher any out this year to try the meat? Keep us updated. I think a lot of us are interested !

Not this year. Only kept two back. Sold the rest, but asked if she gets a male if I could have it back. She only bought chickens from me, so I feel comfortable with that. I will have some next season to butcher out though.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
How are they comparing to the weight of the meat birds you did last year at the same time?

 

[randerson846]

I got some eggs about an hour in the post, and I have them tilled my incubator was meant to artive yesterday, but now I was told that it's not going to arrive till Monday maybe, so what do I do will the eggs be all right, when do I need to change the tilt twice a day, but I don't know and do I need to candle them

There was 30 eggs and 1 cracked open and opened it and it was fertile as seen in picture

 

[aoxa]

How are they comparing to the weight of the meat birds you did last year at the same time?

I haven't weighed them since they were 5 days old. They compare to the size of a 4 week CX now at nearly 7 weeks.

 

[armorfirelady]

I received coupons in the mail for Manna pro products. If anyone can use the coupons I will happily mail them to you if you PM me your address.

Here are the coupons available:
-Organic starter crumbles
- chick starter
- non medicated starter
-life lytes mega tabs
-organic layer pellets
-poutlry protector
-coon n compost
-chick stick
-omega egg maker

 

[armorfirelady]

So imdismantled the old tiny coop and got the pieces situated where I want them.

The other one is on the other side where the pop door is for winter. I need to make a frame for the bottom so it sits higher so the door can clear it.

On a happy note I got a pleasant surprise when I looked in the nest box

7 eggs out of 8 hens. Can you guess which egg makes me happy? That pretty dark brown one is SOPHIES !!!! She is laying again I'm guessing she must be feeling better if she is back laying

And one last pic for fun. This is what Edie does when my mom stops by to give a handful of scratch