Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[galanie]

Ugh, flea beetles have been my worst enemy the last few years, and can (have) destroy entire beds of sprouted seedlings in a day or two. One year they did their best to completely de-leaf a willow tree. They are terrible and indiscriminate little beasts. I seem unable to anticipate their appearance, which I swear is earlier each year - what have you found works best against them?

I promise to go back to chickens only after this. But I've had wonderful success using beneficial nematodes to rid the garden of flea beetles. It's a lot less convenient than sevin or permethrin as you usually have to mail order them but they work very well w/out using poison for that.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I don't think I ever thanked Fred and Dragonlady for the invaluable advise/opinions on worming and everyone else who had input with my dilemma. Well, I found my way Fred! I spoke with my Equestrian Vet. of 25 years and he took fecal samples for me. We collected samples from a 3 year old Cock who has been in the breeder pen for 6 mos., a variety of free-ranging pullets/hens, and a variety of free-ranging 10 week olders. I had decided if there was a heavy infestation that I would use chemical wormers, either ivermectin or valbazen. My vet confirmed that both products are used frequently on people and in his opinion are relatively safe, all things considered. Anyways, all of the chickens had such a low to zero parasite load and only roundworms so he did not recommend worming. I am going to do fecal samples every 6 mos. and worm or not worm based on that. Thanks again!

You're very welcome. Roundworms are quite easy to rid. The guts of a raw cucurbit (squash, pumpkin, or half dozen cucumbers) whizzed in a blender, raw, and the soup mixture blended into their mash. If you can be sure that the birds devour the raw seeds and guts from a halved pumpkin or squash tossed into the run, that's fine too. Feed them this for three days straight.

The bottom line for me is that the better wormers are so powerful that it sets the bird back a bit. Additionally, most of the chemical wormers require egg eating withdrawal for weeks. If I can keep the worm load down by just using cucurbits? That's great. I've yet to ever use the chemicals on the birds and have yet to see a worm load that caused issues. Folks gotta do what they gotta do, and I don't judge anybody, but if I can avoid the harsh wormers, I will continue on.

 

[Fred's Hens]

My anti bug routines are in a pecking order. This is true for the gardens (certified organic) as well.

1. Prevention through best practices
2. More prevention through better practices
3. Natural products such as ashes, lime dust and the like.
4. Pyrethrum.
5. Permethrin compounds.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I promise to go back to chickens only after this. But I've had wonderful success using beneficial nematodes to rid the garden of flea beetles. It's a lot less convenient than sevin or permethrin as you usually have to mail order them but they work very well w/out using poison for that.

I could be wrong, but neem oil is the essence there and neem oil is readily available and is a very powerful insecticide. Use wisely.

 

[Sally8]

You're very welcome.  Roundworms are quite easy to rid.  The guts of a raw cucurbit (squash, pumpkin, or half dozen cucumbers) whizzed in a blender, raw, and the soup mixture blended into their mash.  If you can be sure that the birds devour the raw seeds and guts from a halved pumpkin or squash tossed into the run, that's fine too.  Feed them this for three days straight.

The bottom line for me is that the better wormers are so powerful that it sets the bird back a bit.  Additionally, most of the chemical wormers require egg eating withdrawal for weeks.  If I can keep the worm load down by just using cucurbits?  That's great.  I've yet to ever use the chemicals on the birds and have yet to see a worm load that caused issues.  Folks gotta do what they gotta do, and I don't judge anybody, but if I can avoid the harsh wormers, I will continue on.

Do you have to be careful on how many seed's you give them? Not necessarily the amount but for the number of days.I had bought adult hens last year and they came with roundworms. All in their poop, wasn't hard to see. I used Wazine and we are good but had to give up eggs for a period.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Do you have to be careful on how many seed's you give them? Not necessarily the amount but for the number of days.I had bought adult hens last year and they came with roundworms. All in their poop, wasn't hard to see. I used Wazine and we are good but had to give up eggs for a period.

No, they could eat pumpkin/squash/cucumbers for weeks on end. It's just garden produce. They'd likely grow weary of it at some point.

 

[Ullie]

I agree! That is the biggest misconception about these breeds ever and it causes a lot of people to make a mistake in getting one and then a further mistake in not making an effort to train them in basic behavior. Most people are telling the inexperienced that they need to not have much to do with the pups so they won't bond with the family.

That only applies when these LGD are going to be living strictly out on pasture with a flock or herd of animals...and even then they need basic understanding that "their" humans are not to be jumped upon, they are to be obeyed when told to "leave it" and to come when called.

Most people nowadays getting into LGD have small acreage on which these dogs are guarding a few goats, sheep or fowl. In that setting, it is very important that these dogs understand basic obedience, knowledge of human alpha and also basic training on birds and baby livestock. Maybe one out of 10 dogs of these breeds will have such good instincts and genetics as to not need much training on these concepts but it's rare. Fortunately, though these breeds can be independent, they are also very intelligent and can learn quickly.

just an added thought......some people don't realize that smart dogs learn fast and that they can be training their dogs without knowing it, simply by reinforcing or tolerating undesireable or bad behaviour

 

[KnobbyOaks]

just an added thought......some people don't realize that smart dogs learn fast and that they can be training their dogs without knowing it, simply by reinforcing or tolerating undesireable or bad behaviour

 

[Ridgerunner]

just an added thought......some people don't realize that smart dogs learn fast and that they can be training their dogs without knowing it, simply by reinforcing or tolerating undesireable or bad behaviour

And it takes the cooperation of every human in contact with those dogs. Family members as well as visitors. Dogs are conditional learners. If different people send different signals they can become confused. They may behave differently with different family members. If visitors encourage bad behavior, they may behave well with you but not well with visitors.

If you want a well-trained dog, it takes commitment and consistency from everyone.

 

[al6517]

Quote:


Well said........... but far from the norm, and it's a shame there are so many untrained dogs pet's and working dog's alike.