The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

Thanks guys. Sump pumps are working hard but thankfully no power outages. Water around coop was about 8 inches deep but when I went out a little while ago it was down to 2 inches. The temps have cooled,to the 40s so snow isn't melting as fast. Hopefully by morning it will be dry around the coop. I'm hoping the temps drop but not enough to freeze the underground pipes that take the after to the sewer grates. I want to get as much of the water in the area of the coop pumped out.

I put planks out to try and entice the girls out so they could go to old run but it didn't happen. I even took Edie out and put her on them & while she did go to the old run the others didn't follow suit. Maybe tomorrow they will try again.

 

[lalaland]

AFL, I'm so glad you are checking in, and so sorry you have this to deal with. Its amazing what mother nature can throw at us. Keep safe!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yes @armorfirelady do keep us updated.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Brought the molting pincushion in again since it's getting cold. I think it will be a couple weeks before those feathers are totally open.


In other news...
I've been trying an experiment with brewers yeast. In the past I would occasionally put some into their feed. But I wanted to see if they would take it free-choice since I really don't like force feeding something unless there is an emergency situation that warrants it.

So I set out a little dish of the brewers yeast and the are eating it. I noticed that the younger girls seem to eat more than the others. So I'm going to leave a little dish of it out for their choice. Also planning to get some organic alfalfa meal and put that out free-choice in addition to some dry nettles. Last winter I tried the nettles around February after the long winter and they ate them then. Not interested in the summer months, of course.

My pullets are STILL not laying at 28 weeks old. They aren't even getting bright red in the combs and wattles. The last batch I had of this breed started laying around 20 weeks old. But they were that age in February. I did have the breeder tell me that sometimes these early summer chicks didn't start laying until the older ones picked up again toward the end of January or beginning of Feb. This is just really strange not to have them laying at this age.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: I'm so glad we did not get that much snow. The winds were strong here today and our power did go out tonight for a few hours. It got me thinking about a backup source of power, a generator of some sort.

Anyone have any recommendations for getting a backup generator and how to connect just the important things to it. I'm thinking it would need to power the basement power for the sump pump and of course the incubator; then the kitchen power for the fridge and freezer; followed by a small power station for the internet area and to be able to charge stuff like phones and computers.

 

[ronott1]

Brought the molting pincushion in again since it's getting cold. I think it will be a couple weeks before those feathers are totally open.


In other news...
I've been trying an experiment with brewers yeast. In the past I would occasionally put some into their feed. But I wanted to see if they would take it free-choice since I really don't like force feeding something unless there is an emergency situation that warrants it.

So I set out a little dish of the brewers yeast and the are eating it. I noticed that the younger girls seem to eat more than the others. So I'm going to leave a little dish of it out for their choice. Also planning to get some organic alfalfa meal and put that out free-choice in addition to some dry nettles. Last winter I tried the nettles around February after the long winter and they ate them then. Not interested in the summer months, of course.

My pullets are STILL not laying at 28 weeks old. They aren't even getting bright red in the combs and wattles. The last batch I had of this breed started laying around 20 weeks old. But they were that age in February. I did have the breeder tell me that sometimes these early summer chicks didn't start laying until the older ones picked up again toward the end of January or beginning of Feb. This is just really strange not to have them laying at this age.

Not starting to lay at this time of year is completely natural and frustrating.

 

[Sally8]

Armorfirelady, I think about you often. Hopefully, you are and stay safe. Say hi to your Mom for me! I haven't followed BYC very closely so I didn't read whether or not you found homes for your extra hatchlings. Just curious.

I know the answer to my question but here goes. I had a sneaky hen hatch out 3 chicks a couple of months ago. Naturally it was the prettiest one but one came up lame at bout 3 weeks. I couldn't see anything wrong but since they were all in with the older hens I figured that she got trampled. I separated them into a little pen of their own and she got better. So I put them all back (mom and chicks) Now 5 weeks later, she was limping so badly, she could hardly walk. I separated them again. The chicks are all good size but I'm thinking the outlook isn't so good for the chick. She can walk now but with a bad limp. I can't find anything wrong. It's not broken. But she can't roost. Should I cull her now? I don't think she's suffering but don't want a life of this continuing over and over again.

Leah's Mom, my hens, hatched in May have just started laying. All my older hens are not. What gives? They aren't sayin, just sayin.

Prayers for all of you in this coming storms way. Keep safe for our Thanksgiving Holiday.

 

[ronott1]

@Leahs Mom

The POL pullets not starting until the day light hours go up is very frustrating. I have eight pullets that should be laying now but aren't. I am trying to be patient but it is so hard.

It will be better for them though.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Leahs Mom

The POL pullets not starting until the day light hours go up is very frustrating. I have eight pullets that should be laying now but aren't. I am trying to be patient but it is so hard.

It will be better for them though.

I have only heard one other person say that theirs didn't lay as new pullets at this time of year. So what age are yours?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Armorfirelady, I think about you often. Hopefully, you are and stay safe. Say hi to your Mom for me! I haven't followed BYC very closely so I didn't read whether or not you found homes for your extra hatchlings. Just curious.

I know the answer to my question but here goes. I had a sneaky hen hatch out 3 chicks a couple of months ago. Naturally it was the prettiest one but one came up lame at bout 3 weeks. I couldn't see anything wrong but since they were all in with the older hens I figured that she got trampled. I separated them into a little pen of their own and she got better. So I put them all back (mom and chicks) Now 5 weeks later, she was limping so badly, she could hardly walk. I separated them again. The chicks are all good size but I'm thinking the outlook isn't so good for the chick. She can walk now but with a bad limp. I can't find anything wrong. It's not broken. But she can't roost. Should I cull her now? I don't think she's suffering but don't want a life of this continuing over and over again.

Leah's Mom, my hens, hatched in May have just started laying. All my older hens are not. What gives? They aren't sayin, just sayin.

Prayers for all of you in this coming storms way. Keep safe for our Thanksgiving Holiday.

Could be a need for extra B vitamins or vitamin E. Those can be very common causes.

For the "Bs", you might try giving her some liver chopped into tiny pieces and/or some brewers yeast.

Or if you want to go the synthetic route, try some children's poly vi sol (no added iron) or some of the vitamins from TSC (I think it's Nutridrench for poultry) added to the waterer. If that's what the problem is, it would be worth trying!