The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

The "older kiddos" are not 15 weeks old. They have been running with the adults now for a couple of weeks.

Next group is 10 weeks old and they're still separate but housed together since hatch. I think it will be a couple more weeks before I let them range with the others due to size and sky predator issues.

In a couple weeks I'll also be taking 2 of the sfh roos for processing so that will leave 3 pullets and 1 cockerel in that age group (the current 15 week olds).

In the 10 wk old Buckeyes, I'm pretty sure 3 of them are cockerels; one is pending. So that's at least 3 out of 6 in that group. It's really hard for me to be definite on the buckeyes due to the comb type and I haven't had them before so I'm new to them. They will have a LOT more meat on them than the SFH, however, if I need to process males for meat. They have a much different body even from about 2 weeks old.

 

[Molpet]

The "older kiddos" are not 15 weeks old. They have been running with the adults now for a couple of weeks.

Next group is 10 weeks old and they're still separate but housed together since hatch. I think it will be a couple more weeks before I let them range with the others due to size and sky predator issues.

In a couple weeks I'll also be taking 2 of the sfh roos for processing so that will leave 3 pullets and 1 cockerel in that age group (the current 15 week olds).

In the 10 wk old Buckeyes, I'm pretty sure 3 of them are cockerels; one is pending. So that's at least 3 out of 6 in that group. It's really hard for me to be definite on the buckeyes due to the comb type and I haven't had them before so I'm new to them. They will have a LOT more meat on them than the SFH, however, if I need to process males for meat. They have a much different body even from about 2 weeks old.

where do you go for processing?
I have a couple BBB turkeys that are like dogs and I do not think I can do them myself....Why do the meat birds have to be so sweet and follow me around and sit at my feet

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Molpet

I agree. It IS hard when they're your birds that you know. I've processed other folks birds but not my own so far.

There is a family-owned chicken processor that is about 15 miles from us. They are Mennonite I believe. They process on specific days all throughout the season until just after Thanksgiving. They have a really nice facility and folks from all over the area take their birds there for processing.

Last year I think it was about $2.50 a bird; more for turkeys.

The first time I took some little cockerels, I cried all the way home! I'll probably cry again I don't like to take birds somewhere else to be processed. I want to know that they're killed in a humane manner and I HATED leaving that to someone else knowing they were probably terrified being away from home. Besides that, when I was growing up our animals were our friends - not our food. So it's new to me to have to kill anything.

When I went to pick up the processed birds, there were about 8 ladies still working at the processing table and I stood at the door to observe how they were processing. They didn't know I was there...then all of a sudden, they all broke out singing "Faith of Our Fathers". Since I was in a state of feeling so bad about taking them in the first place, hearing them singing that hymn was very comforting to me. It was like a little gift that they didn't know they gave.


Anyhow, you might google in your area for "chicken processing" or "Chicken Butcher" and see what you find. I heard about them from one of the local farms where I purchase milk, but when I googled, I also found them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I just cleared the little chicken woods of poison ivy.

I'm so relieved! I haven't been able to pick up one of the chickens if needed since the beginning of the season unless I'm covered from head to toe and wash excessively afterwards. And, unfortunately, the 15 week olds are already covered in poison ivy oils.


I decided to put an "organic" spray (child and pet safe) on the leaves last night and try to dig as many of the roots out as possible today. I think I found most of it. Now trying to kill any leftover roots by salting them.

We shall see how long it takes before I see any new sprouts....

But I'm so happy that's done before I let the little Buckeyes run free. Maybe they can avoid becoming covered in PI oil.

 

[JanetMarie]

Does anyone know if curcumin is non-toxic to chickens? It's from turmeric, so I believe it would be okay. Or is there another natural pain reliever/anti-inflammatory for chickens that works well?

My young rooster, who has one wing clipped, still jumped the fence and beat up my old rooster. Thanks

 

[Leahs Mom]

@JanetMarie

I don't know about the curcumin so I can't comment.

Are you trying to treat wounds? Or are you just trying to relieve pain.

 

[MargaretYakoda]

I always wanted chickens because they are a great way to organically control apple maggots. We have apple trees, but the maggot problem was bad, and I had zero success with sticky traps.
Now, three years after our first chicks arrived, the apples are nearly 100% free of maggots. Because chickens LOVE digging around for apple maggots!
Synergistic organic apple/chicken growing is FUN!

 

[lazy gardener]

Thank you so much for sharing this, Margaret!!! I planted a mini orchard last summer. I'm using the Back to Eden approach. I have daffodils and garlic planted at the base of every tree, and hoping that the chickens, though confined to a pen will help manage insects. i may set my tractor up in the orchard. While it won't be as convenient as letting them free range, I can no longer free range because of the hawk infestation we have here now. The only insect damage I've seen so far this year was aphids which caused some leaf damage early on. They were completely controlled by a single blasting of water from the hose.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@MargaretYakoda

Yes! Thank you so much for posting that. We're in the process of having 2 goat boys clearing the understory of an overgrown wooded area. We were considering planting fruit trees there again but
In the past my husband has tried everything and the apples just never did well. We use an organic approach so we won't spray with conventional pesticides.

Peaches and pears seem to do well but still lots of pests that the chickens would probably take care of.


So...help my ignorance.
Does the flying insect lay their eggs in the blossoms? If so, how can the chickens keep that from happening?

ETA my chickens will have free range of that whole area.

 

[Molpet]

@MargaretYakoda

Yes! Thank you so much for posting that. We're in the process of having 2 goat boys clearing the understory of an overgrown wooded area. We were considering planting fruit trees there again but
In the past my husband has tried everything and the apples just never did well. We use an organic approach so we won't spray with conventional pesticides.

Peaches and pears seem to do well but still lots of pests that the chickens would probably take care of.


So...help my ignorance.
Does the flying insect lay their eggs in the blossoms? If so, how can the chickens keep that from happening?

ETA my chickens will have free range of that whole area.

Life Cycle

The apple maggot overwinters as pupae in the soil. Adult flies emerge in late spring and begin to lay eggs just under the apple skin. The eggs hatch, and the larvae begin to tunnel through the fruit. When mature, the maggot leaves through a small opening made in the side of the fruit and enters the soil. One or two generations per year.
http://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/tree-pests/apple-maggot-control/