The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lazy gardener]

Kassaundra: Which Bocking variety of Comfrey do I want to buy? I understand that one is better for feed, and an other is better for composting.

Mrs Hall: My cats tried to catch my chickens during their first year, even when they were 3 months old. They finally gave up when the chickens started investigating the cats a bit too closely for their comfort level. This year, they are not quite as interested in the young ones, but I wouldn't trust them until the chicks are full sized. I think it depends on the cat and the specific cat's hunter instincts. I had a cat when I was growing up who would catch rabbits that were almost as long as he was. He also once caught and killed a fox. When ever I slept out in the tent, he'd spend the night bringing me LOTS of little critter snacks.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

Remember that they may be a bit early OR a bit late. Don't fret

 

[delisha]

Hey, anyone know about how late you can candle eggs when a broody is sitting on them?

I'm not at all sure any of the eggs were fertile, so need to figure it out. She's at day 16....

it is coop cleaning day. I hate hate hate doing it, so dusty that even with a face mask I spend a week hacking crap up out of my lungs. Upside is it smells so nice and clean when I'm done, with fresh hay and all. also, first hummingbirds are here, and orioles, grosbeaks, yellow rumped warblers, ....its darned colorful out there . tulips are starting to poke otu of the ground....

You can candle any day you want to..on day 16 they will be formed and you can see the whole chick with the correct type of flashlight. Even bits of feathers. The heart beat and blood vessels are strong at this time of development.

Quote: Okay - give us a little tutorial. What is the difference between the root kind and the seed kind? Are they both a natural plant? Are they both perennial? To what zone?
x2
I need more comfrey..I do not think mine reseeds..

Quote:

Remember that they may be a bit early OR a bit late. Don't fret
x2
but saying that never works..

 

[Leahs Mom]

That's for sure!

 

[Kassaundra]

Kassaundra: Which Bocking variety of Comfrey do I want to buy? I understand that one is better for feed, and an other is better for composting.

Mrs Hall: My cats tried to catch my chickens during their first year, even when they were 3 months old. They finally gave up when the chickens started investigating the cats a bit too closely for their comfort level. This year, they are not quite as interested in the young ones, but I wouldn't trust them until the chicks are full sized. I think it depends on the cat and the specific cat's hunter instincts. I had a cat when I was growing up who would catch rabbits that were almost as long as he was. He also once caught and killed a fox. When ever I slept out in the tent, he'd spend the night bringing me LOTS of little critter snacks.

bocking #4

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Does it reseed itself? Or have to plant every year?

Your source to purchase, please.

 

[Kassaundra]

Does it reseed itself? Or have to plant every year?

Your source to purchase, please.

Coe's comfrey is where I got mine, he has lots of info on his site. It is a perennial you harvest several times a season, it keeps coming back from the roots.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
So you purchase seeds, but it comes up from roots the succeeding years?

 

[beccasev]

I've been following the Muscovy duck thread, because its active and interesting and I'm also toying with the idea of getting ducks for eggs and pest control. Lots of really good natural management ideas on that thread. I bet you'd also like the duck pond thread. Inspirational photos of what some really creative and resourceful people are doing!

Thanks! I'll look into those threads.

We have Khaki Campbell, Rouen, and hybrid white laying ducks from Metzers. We got the Khakis last April and the others in late August. We love our ducks!

The white laying ducks are our largest ones. So they are a great dual-purpose duck.

Our Rouens are laying great and one of our three lays a beautiful blue-green egg. They took the longest to start laying but have been consistent now. I'm not sure how they will do with egg production throughout the year though.

Our Khakis gave us eggs all winter and have been great consistent layers from a young age. They are smaller than the others so not great meat ducks.

I feed them an organic soy free layer feed that is available in my area. They are great foragers and we noticed a decrease in bugs last fall.

I wish I could find a soy free layer. But I can't. Not locally anyway. I tried scratch and peck through Azure, but my girls didn't care for it.

I have saxony ducks they are large (for meat) i do not eat them they are to pretty they lay ok, but when they go to rest they go to rest.And I have muscovy as well this are good layers but really good mothers as well so I use them for hatching call duke and saxony.The muscovy are better at bug control they go crazy for flies , the saxony are better at foraging, my muscovy moms spend most of the time on the manure pile with the babies almost like they know the babies will get plenty of food there.
I feed my ducks only grain 19% mix of grains, legumes ad seeds.15% mix of grains (sprouted) and barley fodder all organic. I only feed flock raiser to the babies just to make sure they get a good start sand only until they feather out once they are out they get the healthy stuff.
The muscovy don't use as much the pools as the saxony.

Thanks jime! Do you mind listing out your ingredients and proportions? It helps me to see what others are feeding.

 

[Kassaundra]

So you purchase seeds, but it comes up from roots the succeeding years?

No I purchased roots