The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[MargaretYakoda]

Even Rudy's group I turned the light out at 2 weeks then outside in the garage w/ temps in the 40's overnight they did fine w/o heat at almost 3 weeks old no heat, just the buckets..

My chicks here are just over one week old, and the temps last night were about 55 or so. The daytime temp today was 64, and it's down to 59 now. The chicks are running around having a grand old time in their "nursery yard" eating more FF and chest bumping each other. They've been out all day and not only have I not seen them bunching up together, I haven't seen them going under the wool hen either. I've been out running errands, however so I may have missed that.

I was worried last night, and went out to check on them a couple of times. I stuck my fingers inside the wool hen and found it was toasty warm in there. I touched the feet of a couple of chicks and everyone I touched was quite warm. So I quit worrying.

@Kassaundra how did you come up with this idea? Because it's freakin' brilliant!

 

[MargaretYakoda]

@Kassaundra

Are you using a heat lamp in the brooder?

I just got the heat plate and I was trying to figure out how to combine something similar with the heat plate.

I was thinking if I'd started these chicks under the wool hen sooner, I'd have added in a rice bag warmed up in the microwave to warm up the hen for the babies. But I'd have to be sure it wasn't too hot.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Okay...I'm about ready to process the whole flock and just start over.

Someone out there talk me out of it.... @Kassaundra @aoxa @RedRidge @delisha @armorfirelady @lalaland @ whoever has something to say to keep me from taking a knife out there right now (okay...a little dramatic but you get the idea...)

I'm extremely frustrated with all the fighting at roosting time. THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOST SPACE... space for probably 6-8 more birds on roost than I have. But they fight. They attack each other and knock each other off. I HATE IT. I was out there tonight and ready to just .. well... do something I'd regret.

IS THERE REALLY ANY HOPE TO CHANGE THIS? Or do I just need to start a new flock with breeds that have a better personality? Or is it always going to be this way not matter what...the nature of the beast?


I guess if I'm not out there at roost time what I don't see won't make me crazy. But I can't stand what I'm seeing when I'm out there.

 

[aoxa]

Okay...I'm about ready to process the whole flock and just start over.

Someone out there talk me out of it.... @Kassaundra @aoxa @RedRidge @delisha @armorfirelady @lalaland @ whoever has something to say to keep me from taking a knife out there right now (okay...a little dramatic but you get the idea...)

I'm extremely frustrated with all the fighting at roosting time. THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOST SPACE... space for probably 6-8 more birds on roost than I have. But they fight. They attack each other and knock each other off. I HATE IT. I was out there tonight and ready to just .. well... do something I'd regret.

IS THERE REALLY ANY HOPE TO CHANGE THIS? Or do I just need to start a new flock with breeds that have a better personality? Or is it always going to be this way not matter what...the nature of the beast?


I guess if I'm not out there at roost time what I don't see won't make me crazy. But I can't stand what I'm seeing when I'm out there.

Just don't go out there at roosting time if it bugs you. No matter what, they will do this. It used to bug me when I first started, but they don't seem to do it as much with so many roosters. The kids don't sleep up there yet, and are around 12 weeks. They hide out in a corner, or on the nest box roosts.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Okay...I'm about ready to process the whole flock and just start over.

Someone out there talk me out of it.... @Kassaundra @aoxa @RedRidge @delisha @armorfirelady @lalaland @ whoever has something to say to keep me from taking a knife out there right now (okay...a little dramatic but you get the idea...)

I'm extremely frustrated with all the fighting at roosting time. THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOST SPACE... space for probably 6-8 more birds on roost than I have. But they fight. They attack each other and knock each other off. I HATE IT. I was out there tonight and ready to just .. well... do something I'd regret. IS THERE REALLY ANY HOPE TO CHANGE THIS? Or do I just need to start a new flock with breeds that have a better personality? Or is it always going to be this way not matter what...the nature of the beast? I guess if I'm not out there at roost time what I don't see won't make me crazy. But I can't stand what I'm seeing when I'm out there.

Yeah just don't look. I tuck them all in at dusk but I have no idea what they do at roosting time because I have to get dinner ready. There are probably issues, but, hello, they are chicken issues, not really anything I can solve for them. That movie Mean Girls was certainly inspired by chickens! Maybe they enjoy all that social stratification squabbling? At any rate, they will certainly prefer status roost squabbling over death, can pretty well guarantee that.

 

[Leahs Mom]

At any rate, they will certainly prefer status roost squabbling over death, can pretty well guarantee that.

Well...when you put it THAT WAY....

 

[Leahs Mom]

But seriously...is there any breed that is any more amicable at roost time or is it common to all chickendom?

 

[armorfirelady]

Ok @Leahs Mom I think I asked you this before but..........do you think I could dry out beet greens, kale, etc? I dry my herbs by tying them in a bunch and putting in a paper bag with holes in it and hanging them up to dry. It works out very well.......well till someone asks why I have bags hanging around my house

Do you think they lose nutritional value? I froze them last year to feed out to the hens over the winter. But it takes up a lot of space & I thought drying them then storing in canning jars would be more feasible.

My plan is to find an old small dresser & make a dehydrator out of it so I can do more outside with the sun and store in canning jars

Lucy is still going strong being broody. I sure wish I knew someone close by who had fertilized eggs so I could have a couple for her to hatch out & return the chicks after a couple weeks

And my post,would not be complete without a Stella picture for the day

I was planting my veggie plants today I got from a local auction. I was feeding Edie worms as I dug them up but apparently Stella heard Edie talking to me & ran over. I swear if I didn't have gloves on she would of eaten my finger lol. Needless to stay she stalked me the rest of the evening & it amazed me how long she can stretch her neck between the openings in the fence

 

[Leahs Mom]

See....those barred rocks from the hatcheries are ruthless. Nothing left of AFL but a glove.

 

[lalaland]

The Broody Sumatra and one of her adoptees. She is such a good mother hen! We notice it is so much easier to raise them like this than in a box with a light. And even my daughter said the chicks seem so much happier being raised naturally!

I'm also noticing the broody raised chicks are definitely happier and quieter, not so much frantic cheeping!

Okay...I'm about ready to process the whole flock and just start over.

Someone out there talk me out of it.... @Kassaundra @aoxa @RedRidge @delisha @armorfirelady @lalaland @ whoever has something to say to keep me from taking a knife out there right now (okay...a little dramatic but you get the idea...)

I'm extremely frustrated with all the fighting at roosting time. THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOST SPACE... space for probably 6-8 more birds on roost than I have. But they fight. They attack each other and knock each other off. I HATE IT. I was out there tonight and ready to just .. well... do something I'd regret.

IS THERE REALLY ANY HOPE TO CHANGE THIS? Or do I just need to start a new flock with breeds that have a better personality? Or is it always going to be this way not matter what...the nature of the beast?


I guess if I'm not out there at roost time what I don't see won't make me crazy. But I can't stand what I'm seeing when I'm out there.

it is crazy making, isn't it? I agree with everyone, just avoid the coop when they are settling in. I think they go thru periods where they are adjusting pecking order or something, and all heck breaks loose. Right now, my year olds are migrating from their half of the coop to the front where the main flock is. There is some serious hollering going on, but they seem fne with it. As long as there isn't blood being drawn, try not to worry. Even people have little spats now and then with each other, although not usually as obvious as the chickens.

Try checking in on them after dark when they have settled in. You will probably hear those contented purrs and little clucks that tell you all is right with their world