Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[oshun55555]

These are hatchery birds, so I will just feel them and see when they are fat enough, they are 3 months old and still a little scrawny on the meat side, but they have a nice big frame right now.

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Brahma's are a heavy meat producing breed.
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This should be a good age, depending on where you got them from. Standard-bred Brahmas should make a good weight by that time, while hatchery birds are a different matter. Many hatchery Brahmas are smaller than they should be, so I can't tell you what to expect from them.
Mitch

 

[Quirky]

Scott, those birds are just lovely. Thank you for sharing.

 

[vmdanielsen]

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Bob,
I am new to chickens. I have had horses for most of my life. Common practice is to deworm regularly. As wormer is poison I do not worm my horses (as I practice pasture rotation, closed herd etc.) as often as recommended. Most species will develop a resistance to internal parasites. My thought is, to have a composite stool sample( taking small amounts of fecal matter from some birds) and have it checked for internal parasites. While this can get costly(this is why I suggest a composite and not testing every bird) I prefer not to put poison into an animal I eat or and animal I eat the product of. Many people worm all their animals regularly and even recommend it. In the horse world there is a controversy over worming, and my vet recommends testing first because the bad bugs are becoming resistant to the various meds that are being used. You asked "what do I have to lose?". If you have never wormed before you may have a robust flock that have developed a resistance to internal parasites. You would be wasting your money by worming, if you don't need it. If however, you have a heavy infestation, indeed worming might be the best thing!
ginny

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
Bob,
I am new to chickens. I have had horses for most of my life. Common practice is to deworm regularly. As wormer is poison I do not worm my horses (as I practice pasture rotation, closed herd etc.) as often as recommended. Most species will develop a resistance to internal parasites. My thought is, to have a composite stool sample( taking small amounts of fecal matter from some birds) and have it checked for internal parasites. While this can get costly(this is why I suggest a composite and not testing every bird) I prefer not to put poison into an animal I eat or and animal I eat the product of. Many people worm all their animals regularly and even recommend it. In the horse world there is a controversy over worming, and my vet recommends testing first because the bad bugs are becoming resistant to the various meds that are being used. You asked "what do I have to lose?". If you have never wormed before you may have a robust flock that have developed a resistance to internal parasites. You would be wasting your money by worming, if you don't need it. If however, you have a heavy infestation, indeed worming might be the best thing!
ginny

I haven't wormed any of my birds here for over 30 years. I think that resistance and environment make it successful here. I think each location in the US has it's own challenges and what works here may not work somewhere else. I find that true with almost all the parts of our hobby....each geographic area has it's own challenges. I am blessed here in Sonoma County. Luther Burbank called Sonoma "God's chosen land"..or maybe it was chosen spot....something like that.

Walt

 

[centrarchid]

Walt,

I bet I could send you some of my birds and they would get hammered by the same worms or parasites that your birds likely have very little trouble with. You have gone the, long and slow, but proper route of developing a locally adapted landrace or two in your flocks. Sending your birds to me would likewise challenge your birds on my place.

Jim

I breed parasites and efforting to not be so good at it.

 

[Robert Blosl]

Diatomaceous Earth

I ordered some of this stuff today. Has anyone used it and how to you feed it to your birds. I was going to give them some wet pellets and sprinkle some of this on it. I hear it does well and also good for lice. Has anyone heard what happen to Front Line Spray. I can not order it any where and a local Vet told me they can not order it any more. bob

Walt I have not given my birds any meds or shots in 22 years. My mentor Mr. E W Reese did not do it as well. He has very vigours birds for over 30 years. bob

 

[kathyinmo]

I use DE, Bob. I buy it in 50 pound bags. In my feed I add a 2 - 3 pound coffee can full of it per bag and mix it in. I also use it in my bedding. It has a drying effect (it is the main ingredient in "stall dry") as well as wards off mites and lice. I sprinkle it in favorite dust bath areas, too. I use a mesh flour sifter-strainer to sprinkle it around.

 

[Pathfinders]

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Crikey! I just checked First State Vet and they don't have it listed. Will give Peter a call later today and find out what the story is.

 

[silkieluver_07]

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Crikey! I just checked First State Vet and they don't have it listed. Will give Peter a call later today and find out what the story is.

I heard it was causing infertility and/or cancer. Thates why they took it off the shelves.

 

[Pathfinders]

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Crikey! I just checked First State Vet and they don't have it listed. Will give Peter a call later today and find out what the story is.

I heard it was causing infertility and/or cancer. Thates why they took it off the shelves.

In what species?