The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I absolutely LOVE seeing broody mom photos! And love watching them care for their chicks.

 

[curious chickee]

How often do you guys add garlic to their feed?

 

[slordaz]

How often do you guys add garlic to their feed?

I add it about every 3 days when have to refill the bucket just before it runs out

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The are cochin, d'uccle, and a mix of the two breeds, here's a few of them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

The are cochin, d'uccle, and a mix of the two breeds, here's a few of them.

Did you say that you house them separately from the large breeds? And...did you get them at the hatchery or breeder?

 

[slordaz]

Think broody has nothing to do with whether they were hatchery or breeder stock after seeing my flock, was a hatchery BR that went broody first and once she hatched out everyone wanted to do it. the others are still trying to figure it out apparently they didn't notice she wasn't with the flock for 21 days. They would sit on their eggs for a day then break them apparently thinking it shouldn't take long, they are gonna have a problem brooding at this rate finally got 2 broke, but the other ones aren't laying. have one leghorn that in a couple of weeks will hatch out, don't expect them all to hatch due to she's so small and trying instead of 5 eggs to sit on 9

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Did you say that you house them separately from the large breeds?  And...did you get them at the hatchery or breeder?

They have their own coop and run but free range in the same area as the large breeds, there's about 35 feet between the shed and the barn where the bantam pen is, both flocks ignore each other mostly. I have some breeder birds and some hatchery, both go broody. I like my cochins as they can set more eggs and are very personable.

 

[Leahs Mom]

In our area, the chicks from the "hatchery" that are bantams are "mixed bantams". Wonder what the heck they are and if they would brood

 

[Leahs Mom]

PS: I wouldn't want any silkies in the "mixed bantams" so I hate to take chances...

 

[slordaz]

In our area, the chicks from the "hatchery" that are bantams are "mixed bantams". Wonder what the heck they are and if they would brood

have no clue on bantams but with my free ranging flock didn't make a difference where they came from was a hatchery BR that went broody first then they all wanted to, but they run with the roosters too got some interesting looking chicks lol will have to find the cord so can upload camera pics now they are older, they apparently don't care whose eggs they are either, the broody raising chicks looked at em kinda funny the ones that had the brown coloring at hatched but raised em fine.