The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[slordaz]

these 2 aren't quite dried off yet lighter one is amerecuana cross dark on is black sexlink mom just not sure which roo is the dad

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Awww, they are cute. Unfortunately one of my shipped d'uccle died and the other is almost there too. If I can come to terms with butchering roosters I think hatching is better, the chicks are definitely stronger and calmer.

 

[slordaz]

I still haven't come to terms with it, can cull if need to but have been lucky actually sold one of the cockrels and found homes for 2 others from last year, hoping I get another one like the one I gave to my neice but roo, the breeder wants one of those, willing to trade for a black copper maran

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You are lucky. I prefer not to deal with people, so we butcher, well my husband does, but I have to make the decisions. We will see if he had some chicken dinners or if I'm stockpiling more roosters.

 

[slordaz]

my main flock rooster keeps it up will be going to freezer camp, even though he is a great flock protector. should help now all but 3 have broken broody though too so we will see

 

[jsmith2952]

@lalaland : I ended up going with the witch hazel and tea tree oil/epsom salts bath. The prolapse is better. Who knew?!

 

[slordaz]

@lalaland : I ended up going with the witch hazel and tea tree oil/epsom salts bath. The prolapse is better. Who knew?!

just be careful, we had a cornish x we stuck her butt in a bucket of warm water with tea tree and epsom salt then she thought we should always do that to her lol

 

[jsmith2952]

Another question, this one regarding culling chickens. I have 5 hens, in my suburban yard. 3 of them are now 4 years old (the other 2 are just coming into their first lay). We can't have any more hens because of by-law/room factors. Of the 4 year olds, one is an internal layer and hasn't laid in over a year, one is now laying paper thin eggs a few times a week (even with optional ground egg shells) and one is laying fine. Should we cull all 3 because of their age/laying status, or cull the two who aren't laying well and keep the third, even though she's old too? Also, if we go ahead with the culling, is there an ideal time of year to do it? Should we give them a last summer fling or cull them now to make room for new pullets?? It's such a hard decision to make an I can't find a definitive answer anywhere! :/

 

[jsmith2952]

@slordaz haha too funny. I'll make sure I keep the tea tree oil out of her line of sight!

 

[slordaz]

Another question, this one regarding culling chickens. I have 5 hens, in my suburban yard. 3 of them are now 4 years old (the other 2 are just coming into their first lay). We can't have any more hens because of by-law/room factors. Of the 4 year olds, one is an internal layer and hasn't laid in over a year, one is now laying paper thin eggs a few times a week (even with optional ground egg shells) and one is laying fine. Should we cull all 3 because of their age/laying status, or cull the two who aren't laying well and keep the third, even though she's old too? Also, if we go ahead with the culling, is there an ideal time of year to do it? Should we give them a last summer fling or cull them now to make room for new pullets?? It's such a hard decision to make an I can't find a definitive answer anywhere! :/

I would cull the 2 with laying issues personally, If your not giving artificial light to keep them laying, I\ve had hens laying 5-7 year in the old flock