The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[mlowen]

I just track totals. Since the first one began laying last September, I've gathered 796 eggs. That's an average of 100 per month. I have 5 hens. I don't know which white egg belongs to which leghorn and I don't know which brown egg comes from the Wyandotte or either of the barred rocks. The leghorns are definitely the champs. They started first and rarely miss a day.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Yes it is.

The only way I know which ones are laying is because I started out with so few (6) and had seen them in the nests at least once. But... I only know they are an RIR or a BR egg, etc. I have "pairs" of chickens. 2 BRs 2 Reds, 2 Female Swedes, 2 Mixed Girls and one man.

The colors are different for each pair so I just put it in my log as 1 BR, 2 R, etc.

Now y'all have me curious...I want to go back and maybe stick it into a spreadsheet and see the "trends"

 

[SallyinIndiana]

@RedRidge keeps track of almost everything. If I remember right, she even includes pictures for her breeding chicks.

 

[RedRidge]

@RedRidge
keeps track of almost everything.  If I remember right, she even includes pictures for her breeding chicks.

I'm pretty anal. .. I admit it.
But the reason I do corresponding pics is to keep records of who has the best autosexing characteristics in my Rhodebar breeding project.
As fat as eggs I track per pen during breeding season only. I don't track the rest of the year - to much like work and everyone is ask together anyway.
For meat (both chickens and rabbits) I do growth weights at certain intervals. I haven't kept up with the RB wins because they are awful. Lol. But this next year they may be worth breeding to track. The HRIR I track and my different rabbits and lambs. .. Both at weaning to determine dam milkiness and then at 2 intervals and slaughter for growth rate.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
I meant my post in a good way. I think your attention to detail is something to strive for in a breeding program. I agree it takes time and that is where I fall short right now.

 

[lalaland]

k4got the pics were wonderful, as was getting the feeling that you are pretty easy going about the broodies. I've been reading some threads and thinking there was too much to stress over, so appreciate your approach (commonsense, non hysterical).

Its only day 4 or 5 but think I am getting past kindegarten in broodies. Mine is not eating on her own, I have to take her off the nest to eat and poop. I can tell she isn't getting enough to eat so I am going to do more with egg and yogurt. SHe just won't focus enough on mash. I haven't seen her drink at all, but she has had two days of liquidy poop so she must be getting enough water somehow.

I'm up to 3 broodies, seems one goes broody each day. Broke one but got a new one today.

also been bailing a lot of water off tarps etc. lots of flooding on my field, thankfully the coops are not in the flood area but it is squishy muddy!

On day two of the herbal wormer.

 

[potagergirl]

I'm learning quite a bit about keeping records with this post. I have been searching through and saving info for next year. I'm glad you are all taking time to respond, thank you for sharing.

 

[jime]

I do keep track about the eggs as well but just do it by colour/breeds, I have the breeds with different colour of eggs so that way is easy.
Then I put how many eggs I collect and how many I sell.
I do keep records on almost everything.
-I do inventory of the chickens I have , sold, give away or die.
THe same is or the other animals and house.I even inventory toys , clothes grocery, cleaning products.
My husband always tells me that if he and the kids don't move fast they will end up in the shelfs or in a totem.
In the beginning i shard but then becomes easy and fast.

I grew up like that so maybe that is why for me is simple.

 

[RedRidge]

 

@RedRidge


keeps track of almost everything.  If I remember right, she even includes pictures for her breeding chicks.

I'm pretty anal. .. I admit it.

But the reason I do corresponding pics is to keep records of who has the best autosexing characteristics in my Rhodebar breeding project.

As fat as eggs I track per pen during breeding season only. I don't track the rest of the year - to much like work and everyone is ask together anyway.

For meat (both chickens and rabbits) I do growth weights at certain intervals. I haven't kept up with the RB wins because they are awful. Lol. But this next year they may be worth breeding to track. The HRIR I track and my different rabbits and lambs. .. Both at weaning to determine dam milkiness and then at 2 intervals and slaughter for growth rate.

I meant my post in a good way.  I think your attention to detail is something to strive for in a breeding program.  I agree it takes time and that is where I fall short right now. 

I appreciate that bit my husband will tell you that I tend to goa little overboard sometimes. LOL. When does good record keeping become obsessive? ;-p

 

[gevshiba]

I did a quick candle on the eggs that haven't hatched when I opened the hatcher to grab out some chicks. If the eggs are dark, but sloshy, should I assume they are no good and remove them the next time I open to get chicks out? I need to move the turkey eggs to the hatcher tomorrow night. I have 2 pipped, 2 sloshy and 3?.