Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[bnjrob]

With people using hen saddles would it smart getting a color that matches the hens feather color? I can imagine if I get a white saddle for my BA's that would freak them out.

I would. They will peck at anything so they may end up tearing up a saddle with someone trying to peck at "spots" on it. Heck, here lately I've got cockerels trying to eat the buttons off my shirt for some reason. Can't trust those little suckers.

 

[3riverschick]

I have been researching this the last week. Apparently charcoal is in wide use around the world for this purpose but not so much in America. I have a bunch of articles like this, but this one is a real good synopsis. Basically, the charcoal has an absorbent surface 2,000 times the size of the grain. It does nothing nutritionally for the bird but absorbs toxins.
Best,
Karen
What is Coccidiosis in Chickens? Keep Chicken Diseases down on Homesteads
http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/coccidiosis-in-chickens.html
Charcoal for treating Coccidiosis
http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/charcoal-for-treating-coccidiosis.html
Poultry (and all birds) HAPPY TUMMY

Charcoal boosts poultry profits
http://www.finefettlefeed.com/poultry.asp
http://www.finefettlefeed.com/product/1/Happy-Tummy.html
A few questions on the subject like how often to feed it. Opinions seem divided. Happy Tummy and others say to feed daily. But CountryFarm and others say to feed only a few days a week. Countryfarm has a point about not feeding it dry. First time I have seen that mentioned. Then there is the question of which kind of charcoal to use. Some use a grain-based charcoal, like charred corn on the cob. Others use wood charcoal. I haven't found sufficient info on the best form to feed as far as particle size goes. Charcoal pieces or powder?
Onward and upward,
Karen

 

[Vamvakas]

I'm thinking about starting turkeys again but in the past when I raised Turkeys when they turn about 2-3 months old for some reason most always die idk way... Should they be kept separate from chickens? Or should they be caged up without touching the ground soil? Heard rumors to do both of these but what do you suggest doing when having chickens and wanting to introduce turkeys again

 

[3riverschick]

Common Sense in the Poultry Yard: A Story of Failures and Successes By J. P. Haig 1885 , page 123 http://tinyurl.com/lv9q2xj Parched or charred corn is. however, a very different matter. One of the best tonics for fowls, especially if they show a slight tendency either to constipation or diarrhoea, is charred corn. We have a large kettle,"which we bought for old iron because it was cracked, in which we occasionally parch corn for our chickens. The kettle was roughly "set" in brickwork by our man, and the chimney is simply two lengths of old stove pipe, the whole being out of doors. A wooden cover keeps rain and snow out of the pot. A Are of brush soon heats the kettle so that it will char corn. Haifa bushel is then poured in and constantly stirred until it is quite dark—partially burned, in fact. The chickens eat it greedily, and we feel certain that it does them good. Of course we feed but small quantities of it. Occasionally, however, we find chickens that will not touch it. In that case moisten it and roll it in "feed."
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Commercial Poultry, Volume 16 , No. 12 , Dec, 1907 Page 32 http://tinyurl.com/mpkyob5 " Charcoal is a heath promoter for the fowls. I you will put some extra ears of corn in a hot oven and let them burn quite black and feed whenthegrain gets cold enough you will perhaps be astonished to see how greedily the poultry will partake of the charred corn/ Give such a feed every 2 weeks. We do not mean that the fowls should have to depend on the charred grain for the meal, but an opportunity to eat what they want from the cob.". This exact article is also quoted in: American Poultry Advocate - Volume 31 1922 - Page 492 ====================
American Poultry Journal, Volume 45 no. 3 , March 1914 Page 463 , http://tinyurl.com/k6elx3c "Charred corn is excellent to feed to hens to increase their laying capacity. Char the corn on the cob throughly, taking care tnot to reduce any part of it to ashes.".
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999 Questions and Answers: A Guide to Success with Poultry,written and ... By Frank Heck 1903 , page 53 http://tinyurl.com/l6nfbkc Question—Is charred corn of any special value as a food? Answer—An occasional feed, say once a week, is very beneficial. Take shelled corn and burn it till well charred on the outside.
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The Poultry Monthly - Volume 15 1893 page 312 http://tinyurl.com/lz4rvng Both old and young chickens and fowls should be supplied with charcoal. It is an excellent tonic, and it is also of a fattening nature. Turkey raisers claim that they grow the best carcasses by its use, while those who raise broilers know that successful work cannot be done without the use of this article in the feed. For old fowls the best charcoal that can be used is charred corn on cob.
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The Poultry Herald Manual: A Guide to Successful Poultry Keeping 1898 - Page 134 http://tinyurl.com/kbcoubw CHARCOAL and salt
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Poultry Herald - Volumes 12-15 - June 1902 - Page 136 http://tinyurl.com/kkajxzl Charred corn or wheat will show its value in brighter combs and a more healthy appearance.

 

[ocap]

I have been researching this the last week. Apparently charcoal is in wide use around the world for this purpose but not so much in America. I have a bunch of articles like this, but this one is a real good synopsis. Basically, the charcoal has an absorbent surface 2,000 times the size of the grain. It does nothing nutritionally for the bird but absorbs toxins.
Best,
Karen
What is Coccidiosis in Chickens? Keep Chicken Diseases down on Homesteads
http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/coccidiosis-in-chickens.html
Charcoal for treating Coccidiosis
http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/charcoal-for-treating-coccidiosis.html
Poultry (and all birds) HAPPY TUMMY

Charcoal boosts poultry profits
http://www.finefettlefeed.com/poultry.asp
http://www.finefettlefeed.com/product/1/Happy-Tummy.html
A few questions on the subject like how often to feed it. Opinions seem divided. Happy Tummy and others say to feed daily. But CountryFarm and others say to feed only a few days a week. Countryfarm has a point about not feeding it dry. First time I have seen that mentioned. Then there is the question of which kind of charcoal to use. Some use a grain-based charcoal, like charred corn on the cob. Others use wood charcoal. I haven't found sufficient info on the best form to feed as far as particle size goes. Charcoal pieces or powder?
Onward and upward,
Karen

I seem to recall charcoal being used in a survival setting as a medication when a strange type of food had the wrong effect on the digestive tract.. You might check out the U.S. Navy survival publications.

 

[hellbender]

I seem to recall charcoal being used in a survival setting as a medication when a strange type of food had the wrong effect on the digestive tract.. You might check out the U.S. Navy survival publications.

Like many (most) rural farms, I have a quasi-legal burn pile about 300 yards from the chicken houses. The birds pick and choose what they want and they hit it frequently. I don't burn any petroleum based material, only waste wood and cellulose based material...etc.

 

[ocap]

Like many (most) rural farms, I have a quasi-legal burn pile about 300 yards from the chicken houses. The birds pick and chose what they want and they hit it frequently. I don't burn any petroleum based material, only waste wood...etc.

I have the same .....just can't find it under the snow....I will be looking for my snow shoes when daylight happens...wind is blowing too hard for attempting anything with the shovel

 

[brahmabreeder]

Thank you for the link!

He likely did not make it because he was too far gone.

Treat the rest of your flock using the information I sent you via PM. You may need to use medicated feed in the future since it seems like there is a bad strain at your place now. Wild birds may have brought it in. Medicated feed will not stop cocci now though so they need to be treated.

Once it is at your place it is nearly impossible to be "clean" enough, So be prepared to treat as soon as you see symptoms. If one gets as sick as this one, give him only corid water and no food or yogurt until ready to eat on his own. It is very important to get the medicine in as fast as possible.

The feed I plan on getting I don't believe is medicated. My plan was to add a preventative dose of corid to their feed. I'll go treat everyone else today.

On page 25 of this pdf article on chicken diseases you are going to see almost a perfect match to your pics above except they have opened a part of the bowel to show content: http://www.vdl.umn.edu/prod/groups/cvm/@pub/@cvm/@vdl/documents/asset/cvm_asset_350829.pdf

A type of coccidia called Eimeria tenella

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eimeria_tenella

Thanks! It does look like that. The only problem with chicken diseases is there will be like one thing separating two different diseases.

Never....ever...have I seen a chicken with that much enlarged, green bowel tissue and also green the green in other areas~did you happen to burst the bile sac? And what, pray tell, was that stuff in his crop?

What were the symptoms again? Got any pics of heart, lungs, and gizzard?

The stuff in his crop was the mash thing I was making him eat! It was feed, yogurt, Corid water, and egg. As far as the bile sac thing is concerned I'll go with no. The only thing I 'removed' at that point were his livers. Then I saw all of the green crap.
Symptoms:
-not moving a lot. He would stand but less in the end.
-there were sores on the bottom of his feet
-quit eating and drinking in the last few days
-towards the end he would almost use his wings to help him walk
-I did notice his wings were drooped but not badly and he would put them back up somewhat
-his head feathers were ruffled
-skinny
-just didn't seem like his normal talkative self
I wish I had pictures of more but towards the end I was struggling to figure out where to go next and I hit something I shouldn't of

.

 

[hellbender]

I have the same .....just can't find it under the snow....I will be looking for my snow shoes when daylight happens...wind is blowing too hard for attempting anything with the shovel

Warm and raining here...for now. More snow is on the way.

 

[brahmabreeder]

I'm thinking about starting turkeys again but in the past when I raised Turkeys when they turn about 2-3 months old for some reason most always die idk way... Should they be kept separate from chickens? Or should they be caged up without touching the ground soil? Heard rumors to do both of these but what do you suggest doing when having chickens and wanting to introduce turkeys again

Yes, they need to be separated from chickens. Black head took out half of my dad's turkeys last year.