The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Yeah I read an article about Buckeyes in Hobby Farm magazine and got quite interested. I thought from the picture that's what it might be because of the gorgeous mahogany colour. I also like calm and manageable animals. Makes everything so much easier. But even if you had chicks for sale you're way out east right?

Yeah but I can always ship hatching eggs when you are ready

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Yeah but I can always ship hatching eggs when you are ready

I blithely tried to incubate eggs a few years back. They were my own and the rooster was old and probably infertile and anyway none hatched. And after reading several of these incubating threads here I realize what a massively complex deal it is and I am most likely going to fail epically. But let me check with my neighbour who regularly incubates her eggs. I'll ask her what her success rate is and get back to you ok?

 

[aoxa]

I blithely tried to incubate eggs a few years back. They were my own and the rooster was old and probably infertile and anyway none hatched. And after reading several of these incubating threads here I realize what a massively complex deal it is and I am most likely going to fail epically. But let me check with my neighbour who regularly incubates her eggs. I'll ask her what her success rate is and get back to you ok?

No rush. I don't usually ship my Buckeye eggs because I am so backed up on orders for chicks - but I have shipped a few.

Here are some of the chicks that hatched in Quebec.


I only sent her two eggs because I was short on Mottled Houdan eggs.

 

[flagirl]

aoxa, love that the goats eat the pine needles. we had to buy a new juicer and this 1 says it will juice pine needles--now If I lived near you, I could just buy your goat milk and not have to juice needles

. although I cannot fathom why I would want to juice pine needles

 

[aoxa]

aoxa, love that the goats eat the pine needles. we had to buy a new juicer and this 1 says it will juice pine needles--now If I lived near you, I could just buy your goat milk and not have to juice needles

. although I cannot fathom why I would want to juice pine needles

That is strange! Doesn't sound tasty to me, but they love it.. Makes their breath smell nice and fresh

 

[subhanalah]

Even better, try fermenting their feed in kombucha.   2T of kombucha added to 1/2 pail of water and stir and start adding feed.   Stir  and sit for 3-4 days stirring daily. Cover lightly with the top or a towel.  This is the best find I've ever gotten on the forum.   Healthy,  less smelly poops,  feed goes a lot further.  I keep it the consistancy of thick oatmeal. Add more feed if necessary.   When it get down to almost the bottom  add more water and stir and start adding feed again.  No kombucha necessary anymore.  It's ready overnight.  I feed it in a trough or big dog bowls.   Check out the fermenting threads.     

I was reading on the fermented feed thread not to use kombucha due to the caffeine. I just use feed+water+stir to ferment my feed.

 

[subhanalah]

aoxa, love that the goats eat the pine needles.  we had to buy a new juicer and this 1 says it will juice pine needles--now If I lived near you, I could just buy your goat milk and not have to juice needles .  although I cannot fathom why I would want to juice pine needles

vitamin C and antioxidants. It makes a refreshing tea.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

No rush. I don't usually ship my Buckeye eggs because I am so backed up on orders for chicks - but I have shipped a few. Here are some of the chicks that hatched in Quebec. I only sent her two eggs because I was short on Mottled Houdan eggs.

Really really cute

 

[Leahs Mom]

@aoxa or whoever else may experience with this...

I have 3 chicken children that are 2 weeks old. They have no mamma so I'm brooding them with a heat plate.

I never realized how clean a mamma keeps the kids until I didn't have one. They have the ff all over them but then... I put in an egg yolk. Talk about a big mess. These kids are absolutely crusty.

Can/should I wash a chick? I imagine it will go away when they lose their fluff. They are somewhat trying to clean each other but I also don't want them picking at each other....

And if I should wash them just how in the world would I accomplish that?

 

[heartsizedfarm]

@aoxa
  or whoever else may experience with this...

I have 3 chicken children that are 2 weeks old.  They have no mamma so I'm brooding them with a heat plate.

I never realized how clean a mamma keeps the kids until I didn't have one.  They have the ff all over them but then...  I put in an egg yolk.  Talk about a big mess.  These kids are absolutely crusty.

Can/should I wash a chick?  I imagine it will go away when they lose their fluff.  They are somewhat trying to clean each other but I also don't want them picking at each other....

And if I should wash them just how in the world would I accomplish that? 

What about a wipe with those non-allergenic baby wipes?