calling any one from missouri

[mkeawsh]

another lazy afternoon on the farm..
CUTE! Thank you for sharing.

 

[Sylviaanne]

Is Heartland Hatchery still in area ?

Alan is still there and plans on taking some chicks to Nixa on Feb. 14. I don't know if he will be at other places before then but you can look up Heartland Hatchery and see if you can find his phone number on it. He doesn't answer emails and sometimes takes a long time to get back to you by phone but you can always keep trying.

 

[EdenCamp]

Thanks Edencamp and no problem. Thanks for the information. I'm quite a bit north of I70 up in Macon county, so I'm wondering if the schedule would be the same. I'm wanting to keep my flock as 'natural' as possible without going completely organic with them while keeping them healthy at the same time.

We have to take one of our cats in to the vets next month for rabies/leukemia booster so I'm going to ask him about a schedule for our area and what he would recommend. I'm hoping its the Valbazen. He takes care of sheep and goats so I'm hoping he is chicken wise also.

Here's the thing - vets can only advocate the use of products tested for poultry use - off lable usage, while commonly utilized perhaps in other countries, they cannot. Since the $ isn't there for the small amount of product a bird requires and the testing is expensive...... You'll hear a lot of natural folks advocating ACV, Pumpkin and DE - they don't worm, they may have some benefit to reduce rate of infestation. DE is useless internally tho there is evidence that dusting can help reduce parasites in the soil - but there are other cheaper and more effective products for that too.... Honestly, I was one of the never or worm unless I see them people until I had birds tested and found out my seeing them or not was no way to go. MU vets says all birds have worms - period. Can spend the $ and have a stool sample tested if it makes you feel better but frankly the $ is better spent just doing it.

 

[microchick]

Makes sense Edencamp. We follow the same assumption with our dogs. They hunt for themselves at times and help keep the rabbit population down for us around the house. One of them always shows up with one sort of parasite infestation or another, so we just assume all 5 are infected and give them Inverheart plus once a month during the warm weather months.

I'm just wondering if there is a different schedule for the northern part of the state then there is for the Ozark region.

Not questioning the need to treat, just wondering if the treatment schedule is the same.

 

[msy8ix]

Another great site for heirloom seeds is seed savers exchange as a museum professional I know that is used among a lot of historical sites and they also have an online exchange much like byc so that you can keep in touch with fellow gardeners who also might be growing the same plant that you are, and they provide the family growing history from the family that provided the heritage seed or plant......

 

[potagergirl]

I have read on seed savers a bit but not enough to really know about the site. It's also been a while.
I'll hop over in a bit and give it a real good read. thank you =)

 

[EdenCamp]

Makes sense Edencamp. We follow the same assumption with our dogs. They hunt for themselves at times and help keep the rabbit population down for us around the house. One of them always shows up with one sort of parasite infestation or another, so we just assume all 5 are infected and give them Inverheart plus once a month during the warm weather months.

I'm just wondering if there is a different schedule for the northern part of the state then there is for the Ozark region.

Not questioning the need to treat, just wondering if the treatment schedule is the same.

MU vet said North of I70 winters get cold enough to kill off some of the parasite levels so less frequent worming is called for. South of that like I am, I'm going to try to treat my birds at least twice a year with 2 wormings a month apart, back to back, and possibly a third. Up North I'd suggest at least a fall molt worming (2x's month apart) to help get them through the winter and if possible again when the heat of summer starts. Reason being is a wet rainy spring boosts parasite levels.

 

[microchick]

Interesting. So I'm beginning to wonder if the same rule of thumb goes for chickens the way it does for sheep. With sheep, rotational grazing helps keep down the parasite load as most parasites we've been told by an Extension Rep like to occupy the first two inches (next to the ground) of growth on grasses. The shorter the grass the higher the perspective parasite load. If a person is using a chicken tractor that might promote more frequent repositioning of the tractor if that also applies to chickens grazing. Possibly even with free range birds, larger areas for them to range with taller grass may offer them less chance of parasite infestation.

 

[ocap]

Daily chicken tractor moving might eliminate parasites but I run out of energy and leave them in place longer than I should.

 

[potagergirl]

That's the beauty of a chicken tractor. Move it once or twice then put the chickens back in the pen.


Not a good day for Mr. Blue today. Apparently while we were gone the roosters singled him out not letting him eat. His comb and waddle are all dark and dry as well. Poor fellow feels like he's lost 5 lbs. =(.
Glad I went out first thing this morning to check on all of the chickies. I found him huddled in a corner of the hen house. He didn't complain at all when I picked him up. He's the most docile of all my Cochin. I have him isolated now with fresh vitamin water and his own feed. He really isn't drinking or eating on his own though I've been using a syringe. He's at least holding his head up now and tries to move when I pick him up. That's more then it was when I found him. I'm making mash with yogurt, rice, and beef stock which I will put some vitamins in as well. I hope by days end he will be up moving around.
Darn I hate to see him like this. We were gone a week to Florida and I am glad we didn't stay longer I might have come home to a dead bird. I'm not sure how I am going to discuss this with the person I left to take care of them. No I don't think I will, I think I will get a 4H'er hired next time I have to leave.
There is a good side, hubby knows I'm upset he's out remodeling another building for a chicken house so we can separate the roosters. The White crested black polish are just hard on both my Cochin roosters. The splash can and will take care of himself but Mr. Blue he just won't.


Did I miss any chicken news in Missouri while I was gone?