The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Nice batch of turkeys. I like the truck topper as a shelter.


A lot going on in my chickens area, the turkeys are just out for the day as mine chase and harass my chickens, otherwise there would be more chickens outside.


My bantam hiding in their run because the turkeys are out.


Another view of where my bantam run is for reference.



Chickens hiding inside due to the turkeys out. Notice how the rooster is in the doorway keeping watch. You will notice another rooster out there watching too in the first photo.

 

[lazy gardener]

Temporary hawk cover: Pallet propped up on hay bales or on cinder blocks. Make a pole bean (or other climbing vine) Tee-Pee. If you can keep the birds from destroying the plants, you will get a harvest of edibles, while providing shade and cover for the flock. Plant a circle of sunflowers, or sorghum, or field corn. Set out some lawn chairs. Even something as simple as sticking some fiberglass fence posts in the ground every 5 - 10'. A hawk is not going to fly into a cluttered area. Retired A frame swing sets. I have 2, and would gladly pick up about 3 more to use in garden, run, and on the lawn to provide cover and trellis opportunities. String some fish line from one high spot in the yard to an other. Hang some CD's from it. They swing in the breeze and reflect a lot of light.

 

[Leahs Mom]

You could make low platforms using pallets or lean to with them putting two together.

I'm starting to think that having more open spaces is better for chickens as they can see the hawks coming more. As long as a hiding spot is close enough to get to they can get away, but again the good roosters are needed to give the warning.

I do like to have open space too.

I really like the idea of making platforms that are moveable to put here and there. I think if they were built with a little thought, they could double as a bench and a a place to hide under.

I also like easily moveable as my range area is always changing.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I do like to have open space too. 

I really like the idea of making platforms that are moveable to put here and there.  I think if they were built with a little thought, they could double as a bench and a a place to hide under.

I also like easily moveable as my range area is always changing.

Those would work great.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Temporary hawk cover: Pallet propped up on hay bales or on cinder blocks. Make a pole bean (or other climbing vine) Tee-Pee. If you can keep the birds from destroying the plants, you will get a harvest of edibles, while providing shade and cover for the flock. Plant a circle of sunflowers, or sorghum, or field corn. Set out some lawn chairs. Even something as simple as sticking some fiberglass fence posts in the ground every 5 - 10'. A hawk is not going to fly into a cluttered area. Retired A frame swing sets. I have 2, and would gladly pick up about 3 more to use in garden, run, and on the lawn to provide cover and trellis opportunities. String some fish line from one high spot in the yard to an other. Hang some CD's from it. They swing in the breeze and reflect a lot of light.

I've never thought of using the fence posts here and there. That's an interesting idea!


Swingsets do come in handy!!!! I have one swingset that I keep up by the house. I last used it when I got a couple of "started" cockerels. I had them in their "quarantine" in the garage but would put them out under the swingset during the say so they weren't stuck inside all the time. I had a couple of kennel extra kennel panels that I just leaned up against it for the long sides.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wanted to add that I put a lot of time and effort to develop good roosters. I manage them a bit during the first year or two, removing them from free access to the hens which seems to make most of them learn how to call hens over and how to talk to them through the fence as opposed to just mating constantly and boasting about it.

I don't put with that behavior after they reach a year old, by than they should have better manners and should take their jobs seriously. I cull any that attack hens for any reason.

I currently have two roosters with my bantam flock which has 14 hens. My large flock of 63 has 4 bantam cochin roosters and 5 large breed roosters. I have 4 extra roosters, 3 old men and one young bantam removed from the bantam flock for bad behavior. He will be in jail until I need him or until fall when I try to release him.

I find roosters to be a necessity in a free range flock.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Right now I only have 9 ladies. 1 cockerel.

Cockerel has been penned in the barn in an adjacent area where they all communicate but can't get to the ladies during the more confining winter.

I'm glad to hear that you do some penning during the first year because this is new to me to keep any of them penned away. I feel like it must be "torture" for that boy to see all those lovely ladies and not be able to get to them at will. But I think it's smart.

He gets to go out if the weather is such that the ladies will go out.

I'm thinking that until I see how he's doing with them on a consistent basis, on the days that I'm at work, I think the ladies will go out but he'll stay in until I'm home to observe. I "think" he's going to do okay, but I also don't like the ladies to feel like they have to run and hide from an over-zealous boy.

 

[GreatBreeder]

I was thinking about a mix of Easter Eggers, American Game Bantams, and ducks, but was also wondering if S & D Heritage Whites are good

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Right now I only have 9 ladies.  1 cockerel.

Cockerel has been penned in the barn in an adjacent area where they all communicate but can't get to the ladies during the more confining winter.

I'm glad to hear that you do some penning during the first year because this is new to me to keep any of them penned away.  I feel like it must be "torture" for that boy to see all those lovely ladies and not be able to get to them at will.  But I think it's smart.


He gets to go out if the weather is such that the ladies will go out. 

I'm thinking that until I see how he's doing with them on a consistent basis, on the days that I'm at work, I think the ladies will go out but he'll stay in until I'm home to observe.  I "think" he's going to do okay, but I also don't like the ladies to feel like they have to run and hide from an over-zealous boy.

Not every boy gets penned, but those that do survive it fine. So get penned and stay there for months, and others are in and out depending on their behavior with the hens. They aren't all good, but most are with some work, and some a spectacular from the start.

Some can be so hormonal their first year or so that they can't think correctly. I like to give them all a chance to improve. Vigorous roosters I can deal with, aggression is something I don't because that doesn't seem to change as they get bigger. Last year I had 3 mixed breeds that went away because they were attacking my bantam hens. They also need to be smart enough to know who the enemy is.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I was thinking about a mix of Easter Eggers, American Game Bantams, and ducks, but was also wondering if S & D Heritage Whites are good

I don't know what a S&D heritage white is, do they go by another name, or does the S&D stand for anything?