The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

BTW....If I were a roo/cockerel in a pen right in the barn with all the females just out of reach I think I'd be one frustrated boy!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They are stuck inside for a few months. Usually it's nearing winter when they go into it and the winter over in it. If I had a way to make a run I would but at the moment it's not doable. I do have a outdoor bachelor run set up for a pair where all the birds can interact through the fence. You could house them further away but may need to pen them closer when you want to add them back in and let them spend some time separated but within the flock to reintegrate them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Anyone else on housing the roos?

 

[Leahs Mom]

And...now another couple of questions. RE goats and chickens.

I know that chickens will scratch through cow manure and spread it out. Will they do that with goat manure too? Is it safe for them to be in goat manure?


Also - @oldhenlikesdogs
You mentioned that in one of your situations you raked the spent hay/berries from the goat pens. Is there a special rake you used that has small enough tines to capture the berries?

 

[islandgirl82]

Currently using my starter coop which has become an isolation coop and temporary fencing for a new to me rooster who came here just to recover from either a bobcat or domestic dog attack and found himself as a stray but is now here to stay. Working on integrating him into my flock. The current set up is that he can see the girls when they're in their run and they keep him company, answer to his tidbitting and nestle down beside the fence while they're out in the yard. He seems content with that. He only gets restless first thing in the morning before I've let the girls out so he can see them. Once he can, he settles right down.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

And...now another couple of questions. RE goats and chickens. I know that chickens will scratch through cow manure and spread it out. Will they do that with goat manure too? Is it safe for them to be in goat manure? Also - @oldhenlikesdogs You mentioned that in one of your situations you raked the spent hay/berries from the goat pens. Is there a special rake you used that has small enough tines to capture the berries?

I used just a regular plastic rake and just kept at it, than used a fork to remove the big stuff than a shovel for the berries. My chickens scratch around the goat droppings all the time, they integrate them into the bedding. The berries eventually disappear so they must break them up, or at least they dry and fall apart.

 

[Turk Raphael]

Indeed there is.... Me and Paul....I guess I'm in "good company".



Yay!!!!

Hey - try going to your local grocery stores to the BAKERY or the area that sells seafood...like crab salads, etc. Both those depts often have the plastic buckets in 3, 2, 1 gallon. And often just give them away if you're there when they have them.

That's how I get all mine so far.

We got/get great numbers of mostly 5 gallon buckets from KingFish restaurants...We get some 4s once in a while. All are heavy duty and have a lid. These are already washed out well or require very little cleaning.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Turk Raphael
Hey! Haven't seen you in awhile....good to see you

 

[16 paws]

Currently using my starter coop which has become an isolation coop and temporary fencing for a new to me rooster who came here just to recover from either a bobcat or domestic dog attack and found himself as a stray but is now here to stay. Working on integrating him into my flock. The current set up is that he can see the girls when they're in their run and they keep him company, answer to his tidbitting and nestle down beside the fence while they're out in the yard. He seems content with that. He only gets restless first thing in the morning before I've let the girls out so he can see them. Once he can, he settles right down.

Good to hear. Sounds like he is happy.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Got up this morning and went out to get some wood chips and found that husband had put some yew on top of one of the wood chip piles. We had been cutting it down and were going to burn it but I didn't realize he put it on the wood chips.

I ended up hauling all the yew (4 pickup loads) back up to the front burn pile and burning all morning.

Won't be able to use those wood chips now as there are needles in it from the yew, unfortunately. Very frustrating as it was a nice pile that was cured. I had planned on moving some up to the goat pen which is why I went out in the first place.

But at least the yew we cut has been burned.

I guess I'll end up spreading it on the back part of the pasture that is overly dry, sandy soil That may help retain some water out there.



Worn out!