The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

@aoxa

I'm about ready to move these kids to the chicken house. They've been in a large cardboard box because the chicken house wasn't ready. I'm going to put the heat plate out w/them but was wondering if you have yours right in the wood chips. I don't have a lot of chips in their box.

I'm thinking of putting the box right in there and cutting out one side of it so it looks like home but they can get out of it if they want. Then cutting down the sides of the box a bit every day until it's gone.

They don't use the heat much except to go under at night at this point and it's likely hotter in the chicken house than inside the house right now.

 

[aoxa]

justine, glad you are keeping your barred rocks - they are gorgeous.
how are the goats?

The goats are great They have their electric fence all set up, so they aren't half as annoying now lol

@aoxa

I'm about ready to move these kids to the chicken house. They've been in a large cardboard box because the chicken house wasn't ready. I'm going to put the heat plate out w/them but was wondering if you have yours right in the wood chips. I don't have a lot of chips in their box.

I'm thinking of putting the box right in there and cutting out one side of it so it looks like home but they can get out of it if they want. Then cutting down the sides of the box a bit every day until it's gone.

They don't use the heat much except to go under at night at this point and it's likely hotter in the chicken house than inside the house right now.

How old are they? I stop using heat at 4 weeks this time of year. In a month, I'll stop at 3 weeks.

 

[ki4got]

Lala - I'm thinking that your issue is the dark at night since the kids are used to having light 24 hours a day. That makes a lot of sense.

my chicks complain loudly when the light goes off, their first few nights but they settle right down and go to sleep. I don't use heat lamps, but heat emitters. ceramic heating element that screws into a light socket. then I have lights on a timer for their daytime.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Babies are 3.5 weeks but they haven't been outside at nights yet.

Very frustrating that my chicken house dynamics weren't ready for them when they came but it was kind-of a surprise to get them when I did.

I was having all kinds of issues with needing to separate different adults and some were using the chick side of the chicken shed. I hate having these kiddos inside. Very frustrating to me but I think I'm putting them out come h_ll or high water either today or tomorrow.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Oh...and they really haven't used the heat since week one. Except that they do go part way under at night with most of the body sticking out. I think more for the feeling of security than for the heat.

So I think I could put them out with no heat with no problem but thought I'd leave the heat plate the first couple nights for familiarity.

 

[subhanalah]

Oh...and they really haven't used the heat since week one.  Except that they do go part way under at night with most of the body sticking out.  I think more for the feeling of security than for the heat.

So I think I could put them out with no heat with no problem but thought I'd leave the heat plate the first couple nights for familiarity.

I'm not really sure where you are located, but I've been putting 3.5week old chick's outside without heat for about a month? I'm in Oklahoma though so it's pretty hot out here.

 

[aoxa]

I'm not really sure where you are located, but I've been putting 3.5week old chick's outside without heat for about a month? I'm in Oklahoma though so it's pretty hot out here.

I can't imagine. We're still getting frost lol.

Our high hasn't really passed 25 C yet (77F) and I sweat like crazy at that.

No complaints though. We have AC this year. The heat is wonderful right now. It's not too bad.

Also, we made an outdoor bathtub. I could soak all day watching the flock. Got the idea from The Farmstead. I don't think ours is as fancy though, and we run a house from our shower to the tub - but it is beautiful all the same when you are in it. Redneck hottub I guess you could say lol

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I can't imagine. We're still getting frost lol.

Our high hasn't really passed 25 C yet (77F) and I sweat like crazy at that. 

No complaints though. We have AC this year. The heat is wonderful right now. It's not too bad.

Also, we made an outdoor bathtub. I could soak all day watching the flock. Got the idea from The Farmstead. I don't think ours is as fancy though, and we run a house from our shower to the tub - but it is beautiful all the same when you are in it. Redneck hottub I guess you could say lol

My husband made an outdoor shower just by running a hose from the outside faucet along to a tree across the lawn and hanging it from the bird feeder hook and attaching a shower head. All day the hose heats up from the sun so at the end of the day the first one in has a nice hot shower but the second one in has a nice COLD shower! We usually turn the tap on full and then race each other for it. Keeps us young!

 

[aoxa]

My husband made an outdoor shower just by running a hose from the outside faucet along to a tree across the lawn and hanging it from the bird feeder hook and attaching a shower head. All day the hose heats up from the sun so at the end of the day the first one in has a nice hot shower but the second one in has a nice COLD shower! We usually turn the tap on full and then race each other for it. Keeps us young!

I have always been a bath kind of girl. I like to soak. I find it very relaxing. We stayed at a camp once and they had a nice outdoor shower. Either is beautiful, and I think it's a wonderful thing

 

[flagirl]

for us in the south, this is a redneck pool No relation to these guys!