Consolidated Kansas

[Katy]

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Yep....I knew you were joking.

I don't know if the pumpkins really do anything for worms or not, but the chickens sure enjoy them.

 

[HEChicken]

I've never been able to get my chickens to eat pumpkin. Maybe the scary faces put them off? My neighbor gives me her jack-o-lanterns every year. First year I put 'em out in the yard expecting them to go crazy over them. The pumpkins sat there until they rotted. Next year I cooked them first but the chooks still wouldn't have anything to do with them. They normally eat anything I give them - they're not picky eaters - so I've just decided to give up on pumpkins.....

 

[Katy]

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I bust them open for them....they go after the seeds first and then the flesh.

 

[tazcat70]

My chickens prefer the guts of the pumpkin. Then with those gone, they will pick at the pumpkin meat, but they always leave the skin. As for worms...who knows, I just enjoy watching 'em run around with pumpkin hanging out of their beaks.

 

[Myabcs3]

So, ByNatureFarms - thanks for the link. Very interesting read. Are you using the two steps year round? And it appears that there is no egg withdrawal period required?

Katy/Ivywoods - you guys do routine worming? Or just whenever you see an issue?

I have heard of pumpkin seeds as well...but is feeding them pumpkin seeds in the fall enough? Or is a monthly thing?

We purchased hatchery birds last spring and I never wormed them. Can't see worms in the poo, but aren't some of them small enough not be seen?

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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I was using molly's herbal wormer on the goats before we sold them all, I started using molly's herbal wormer on the chicken at the first of the year but not every week. I will be using it year around.

I don't think you can see the worms

 

[mikeksfarmer]

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I was using molly's herbal wormer on the goats before we sold them all, I started using molly's herbal wormer on the chicken at the first of the year but not every week. I will be using it year around.

I don't think you can see the worms

Some times an adult work is released and you can actually see it. Other times like in tape worms segments are released. Most often microscopic eggs or larva are released.

 

[PrisonARNP]

I am in Eastern Kansas (Leavenworth). I have a small flock of very nice BCM's but no Roo as of now. I just hatched some eggs and will be picking up a few more birds next week in Texas (hopefully). Love hearing from the Kansas folk. Thanks for trying to get a dedicated thread.

 

[mikeksfarmer]

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Welcome PrisonARNP I am just south of you some. Good folk here and lots of talk.

 

[Ivywoods]

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will they eat poison ivy. if so Can I rent a goat from you. my yard is full of poison ivy

They LOVE poison ivy. They don't seem to suffer any ill effects from it,either. We got a couple to put in where we had horses before so they would eat the weeds. Well.... we went to get 2 and ended up with 6 and before the year was over we had about 40. We are back down to about 30 right now including the kids.

They DO clean up the pasture. They eat the weeds and grass, but they don't eat the grass all the way to the ground. They leave the pasture looking beautiful, except for the small area around the barn where they congregate. We had to do some excavating there for the new barn and the grass is totally gone there.

Edited to add: The place where I used to live near Solomon was absolutely loaded with poison ivy in the woods around the river and around our pond. The deer seemed to love it. It's where I chose the name Ivywoods for our farm. In fact, when we bought the house, poison ivy was growing in the yard, up the deck and through the screen on the porch, into the house on the breezeway between the house and the garage!