Arizona Chickens

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Tea tree oil is very toxic to birds. Not a good choice for a chicken. There are many better options. The coconut oil should be ok. There is a good chance that she has microscopic mites causing her problems. If it is fungal, lotrimin or one of the other anti-fungal products for athelete's foot should work.

Well, where were you when I asked for advice on this before??? Hmmm??

So what are the better options?

I have read good and bad about tea tree oil. Lots of people use it and have no problems. Technically speaking, it is toxic to anyone who doesn't use it with caution. It is a beneficial oil, but, like any other essential oil, should be used very sparingly and in the context of another oil, like coconut or olive or some other dilution.

So far so good on the pullet. Hoping she will recover. She looks awful!

I've mentioned it in the Emergency section previously; only discovered this section of BYC fairly recently. Here is a link to information on Tea Tree oil: http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=toxicologydisease&action=display&num=1159544147

You may have to register on the website to access the information, but Diana has collected an amazing list of links about poultry, and it is well worth the couple of minutes it takes to to register. I have known Diana for years.

 

[rufus]

Quote:
I am drinking this awful protein shake. It is kind of gritty, chocolate. Not very nice. I wish they would make this stuff in bacon flavor.

Rufus

When I was pregnant with the twins I had to increase my protien levels dramatically. I didn't like the shakes, so I would put a scoop of ice cream in it to give it a better texture. Low fat yogurt works well too. They actually become enjoyable.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think it was ice cream that got me in this fix in the first place. This diet is all green vegetables, egg whites, tuna fish and this protein shake.

I went to the doctor today, and I only lost one pound. The previous week I lost ten pounds. But I forgot to take my pills the night before, and that water pill can knock five or six pounds off of me overnight.

Add to that, I have to drink a gallon of water a day. Two is more preferred.

My wife and her friend went to the casino tonight. They are heading for the buffet first thing. They have had it with my diet. I have always been the family cook; my wife just never learned to cook.

The kids are all living off of the local taco shack now. Our house is pretty much a "no food zone."

On the upside, my blood sugar is running in the 70's and 80's. I feel best when it is between 120 and 140. On the down side, the insomnia is back. It comes with the low blood sugar.

I remember when my parents couldn't sleep they used to drink a glass of Mogen David or Manischewitz wine. That put them to sleep rignt away. It brought up their blood sugar and relaxed them.

Having diabetes is the pitts, but being dead is worse. Sometimes, I wish my parents had fooled around with someone with better genetics.

When I am ready to do myself in, I am going to Coldstone Creamery to do it.

Rufus

 

[Mahonri]

Suicide at Cold Stone! I love it.

We didn't get that much rain last night... but I could see that south Scottsdale and Tempe got soaked.

Got to meet Jason, one of our fellow BYCers today. Seems like a great guy... found out that he also was at my friends funeral last month.

Only got 4 eggs today. I can't wait till it gets cool and my April pullets get to laying age in 3 more months.

Rufus... I too am diabetic. I just finished a colon cleanse and a Liver/Gall Blader Detox. I'm also doing a sunrider shake w/ whey protien for breakfast, tomato juice w/ Dr. Shulzes Super Food as a snack, a green salad for lunch and then I usually don't eat much for dinner. I went up the mountain this evening. I go to 32nd and Lincoln and climb the trail there to the 2nd saddle and then up the hill to the south from there. It took me 28 minutes today. (great time... I was at the 2nd saddle in less than 25 minutes.) I'm not as good as some... there were folks running up the hill when I was going down.

I'm getting ready to worm all my birds again, just in case they have them. I'll also be doing a 2nd dusting this Saturday... I've about used both of the shakers that I got at Western Ranchman.

 

[NoSkiveez]

Quote:
When I was pregnant with the twins I had to increase my protien levels dramatically. I didn't like the shakes, so I would put a scoop of ice cream in it to give it a better texture. Low fat yogurt works well too. They actually become enjoyable.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think it was ice cream that got me in this fix in the first place. This diet is all green vegetables, egg whites, tuna fish and this protein shake.

I went to the doctor today, and I only lost one pound. The previous week I lost ten pounds. But I forgot to take my pills the night before, and that water pill can knock five or six pounds off of me overnight.

Add to that, I have to drink a gallon of water a day. Two is more preferred.

My wife and her friend went to the casino tonight. They are heading for the buffet first thing. They have had it with my diet. I have always been the family cook; my wife just never learned to cook.

The kids are all living off of the local taco shack now. Our house is pretty much a "no food zone."

On the upside, my blood sugar is running in the 70's and 80's. I feel best when it is between 120 and 140. On the down side, the insomnia is back. It comes with the low blood sugar.

I remember when my parents couldn't sleep they used to drink a glass of Mogen David or Manischewitz wine. That put them to sleep rignt away. It brought up their blood sugar and relaxed them.

Having diabetes is the pitts, but being dead is worse. Sometimes, I wish my parents had fooled around with someone with better genetics.

When I am ready to do myself in, I am going to Coldstone Creamery to do it.

Rufus

A few days ago I learned my ex boyfriend died of a heart attack. He would have been 30 or 31 when he died. He was playing football when it happened. Last time i saw him he had put on a few pounds but I didn't think much of it. It really has made me think twice about my health. I'm trying to eat better. I quit eating bread, potatoes, chips, cookies, bacon and all the other yummy things I love. I have been eating weeds with no dressing daily and trying to stick to rational meal sizes. It hasn't done much good for my waist line. I also picked up some weights and a work out dvd called Jillian Michaels 30 day shred and I am HURTING! I've done it twice. I want to be back in shape or atleast a healthier shape than I am now. I just have to be catious because I'm nursing my youngest.

 

[squeakyballs]

Am I the only one that likes to drool over the auctions?

Like this one: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=387943 I've never seen silkies this fluffy in real life! The pre-owned hatchery stock I bought are so ratty in comparison!

And this one is over, but oooo so pretty! https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=387015

I'm afraid to even ask my husband for such expensive eggs! He still hasn't stopped making fun of me for driving up to PHX to get eggs from Mahonri! It is fun to look and drool though

 

[newchickmom09]

Quote:
I do they same thing.

I recieved two shipments of silkie eggs this past spring/summer and out of 35 eggs NON hatched. I would LOVE to have some of these fluff balls but ordering eggs just didn't work for me.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
She is one of our favorite hens - Darla.

Shucks...

... but with the right seasoning, she'll be delicious.

Was it one you got from me or my eggs????

 

[gckiddhouse]

Quote:
She is one of our favorite hens - Darla.

Shucks...

... but with the right seasoning, she'll be delicious.

Was it one you got from me or my eggs????

She is the Delaware/Marans that you traded me for the blue rooster. We love her. I don't know why she started eating eggs. She must have encountered a cracked egg and thought it tasted good. She got in the box the other day while we were working in the coop and she didn't get out for a while. I went and checked on her and found her opening up the egg. I don't know if any other pullets are eating their eggs, but our EE that lays green eggs seemingly stopped laying for no reason. Hmmm. We actually have 5 or 6 pullets and hens that CAN lay, but we don't see eggs from them. They are molting, but I can't help but wonder if they are laying and the eggs are being eaten.

 

[SchizoSkittles]

You can eat the chickens that lay eggs, too? That's cool. I don't think we ever ate our chickens when we had them while I was growing up, but then again, I was under 10 years old and completely oblivious to where most of our animals "disappeared" to. I just remember some people living on the other side of the canal from us often returning one our roosters that "escaped".
What breeds are good for laying and eating? I'm planning on getting one Ameraucana, and probably two Rhode Island Reds and two Buff Orpingtons. Those are the breeds my sister has and they are the sweetest birds. Growing up I think we always had Barred Plymouth Rocks. Are any of those good eatin'? Friendliness is important, my husband is concerned about chickens being "cannibalistic" and doesn't want them eating our kids eyes.

I thought he was crazy, but now hearing about the egg eater, that's so sad! Is that common? What else do chickens do that I don't know about?

 

[gckiddhouse]

Quote:
Chickens are not dogs, plain and simple. They are much more primitive in their behavior. They function solely on instinct. So, yes, they will engage in quite disturbing behaviors. They probably won't eat your children's eyes, but they may peck at them. I got pecked in the eye ball just recently. They should wear a pair of sunglasses, and the chickens will probably peck at those, too.

Many people believe that the Buff Orpington is the very best table bird. They are also very calm and can be friendly. Our barred Rocks are even friendlier and seem heavier than the BOs, but I don't know what kind of table bird they make. You can do a search on this site and see all the conversations about it. The Rhode Island Red is a dual purpose bird, but they are typically leaner than others. Ameraucanas are pretty small. I have only used my back yard birds as soup birds. They are all going to be much leaner and older than a cornish x or other meat bird, so they won't cook up quite the same way.

Egg eating is not that common, but as Mahonri said, it is not something you can teach them not to do. And if I don't take her out of the flock, she will have others eating eggs, too. Then where will I be? Eggless!