How to raise a flock using only natural ways

[greyhorsewoman]

I've had a mixed free range flock for several years and never had any illnesses. I don't worm my birds, I don't do any prevention for mites etc, just feed and water and shovel poo. My birds get all in one crumbles, water, and all our kitchen scraps, but I don't as a rule make special treats for them, just whatever we don't eat. I throw out onions, garlic, and raw potato peels, even green ones, they just don't eat what they don't like and I've never had an egg taste funny. I don't worry about toxic weeds. I also give their shells back to them, I don't crush or bake them, just give them the halves and have not had egg eater problems. I don't want birds I have to coddle! That said, I will spend an hour simply watching them dust bathe, scratch in the horse poo and in general live their chicken lives. You can't stay stressed after watching a roo call his hens to see the bugs he just found, and he's so proud of himeslf!

Ditto​

 

[PunkinPeep]

Since i've stopped using medicated starter and started exposing my chicks to soil and adult feces early on, i've had no cocci problems at my house. You can read my blatherings about that at the link in my sig line, if you want to.

I've only had chickens for a couple of years, but by instinct, i don't worm my chickens, and i haven't had any problems. I think chickens are made to mostly take care of themselves.

Recently, i did have a lice problem, and i made some dust baths which i added poultry dust to. Looking back, i think the d.e., wood ash, and sand probably would've done the trick without the poultry dust.

 

[Beekissed]

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I heard if you give garlic or onions, chicken meat and eggs smell and taste funny.

Nah...onions and garlic smell and taste are caused by their large amount of sulfur...which is what egg yolks already have plenty of. I've not noticed any variance in flavor with garlic usage but I do get a more clarified and less sulfur flavor in my eggs when I use ACV in the water on a regular basis.

I used all natural methods but there really is no dosing or set amount of what and when to use for preventative care. You just use your judgement on that, really.

Don't start your chicks out on medication, put them on the soil as quickly as possible, free range all you can, get breeds known for hardiness and weather tolerance, cull for hardiness and good health.

I've never dewormed a chicken in my life...neither did my mother nor grandmother. Not necessary, really, if a flock is handled correctly. I've never seen worms in their stool and its most likely they would eat them if they saw them before I did, so who would know?

Garlic is not only good for the immune system, but it does interrupt the cycle of worms and renders them infertile. Pumpkin seeds contain a chemical that paralyzes worms so that they detach and are moved out of the intestines naturally. Walnut hulls are best if green, one can dry them and grind them up to add to feed. You can also use soap in the water...the soap dissolves the natural oils on the worm's skin and allows the gastric acid kill the worms.

I have given my chickens garlic just as a good tonic but most of the deworming methods I just listed are ones I use with my sheep and dogs.

I've never had any illnesses in my flocks. Encourage good immune systems, breed for health and hardiness, give good foods, fresh water and provide good shade in summer, plenty of ventilation, and shelter for winter. Using the deep litter method is easy and will keep your birds warmer in the winter while cultivating a good layer of normal flora and fauna in the coop. Also, deep litter can provide more protein for your flock.

Its best not to heat your coop, nor provide artificial lighting to force egg laying during winter months when the birds need a rest and need their nutrition for staying warm and regrowing the feathers they lost in moult.

Most of all...just have fun, don't get stressed out over the little things and just use common sense.

 

[dawg53]

Keep in mind where store bought eggs come from...hens in commercial poultry houses; their feet never touch dirt....worming, delousing etc...are non existant because within 6 months the layers are on their way to become catfood,dogfood, mcnuggets etc...

 

[schellie69]

Thank you for everyone's advice and help, I am just trying to figure out how to have the most natural flock. I also know that sometimes you have to use chemical de-wormers and other meds to help the flock. Just trying to learn as much as I can. thanks again for all the help.

 

[churchx3]

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I heard if you give garlic or onions, chicken meat and eggs smell and taste funny.

That why only give it to them once in a while. lol

I give my girls a concoction once a week of scrambled or boiled eggs, fresh garlic minced very fine, plain yogurt, 2 tbls of molasses. It has never affected the taste of their eggs and this is a real treat for them. I also keep ACV in their water (no metal waterers) and keep DE in the coop and run which I replenish weekly. I have had my chickens for 6 months now and have never had any sign of worms or illness.

 

[churchx3]

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Also, if you go on the Fiasco Farms web site she has tons of info on caring for your animals and also sells "natural" wormers should the need arise.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

Like your daughter, I cannot eat store bought chicken eggs or store bought chicken. So I raise my own. Have not had a problem with my own chickens or eggs. I do know that it doesn't have anything to do with the flu shot. Because neigher my sister (Who can only eat egg white and no chicken) or I can have flu shots. We are allergic to commercial eggs, period. Actually my whole family is. Watch your daughter for allergies to chicken as she grows and antibiotics and wheat.

I have found that I am now having problems with chemicals. Scents, perfumes, cleaning supplies, even bleach, etc. For me I think it started with what the eggs were washed with. If I wash my eggs, it is with water or ACV. Same for the chicken that we eat.

A chicken Allergy can be very serious and is life threatening in my family. If your daughter was in my family, I would do as follows. My chickens would be and are free of any commercial medicine. It is never used, not ever. I raise my own chickens and hatch my own eggs, there is less chance of bringing in any problems. I would never treat my chickens with medicines of any type. If they start getting sick, they are given an increased amount of ACV in their water. They make it or they don't. You will find that this is only for the 1st year or when you bring in outside chickens. After that, you should not have any problems. I haven't.

That being said, I do use medicated chick starter for the 1st 4 weeks, as that is all I can get and what they put in the feed isn't an antibiotic at any rate. I figure that by the time they start laying or we harvest the birds the feed they were started on is long gone. I have not had a problem so far doing this. Though, I may start them on Gamebird Feed that is unmedicated, now that I have found that. I am talking about my chicks, not chicks coming from somewhere else. THey would get medicated chick feed.

Wheat: I am also allergic to wheat. So I make up scratch using Oats instead of wheat to supplement my chickens with, I give them around 33-50% scratch along with their feed. Some will say that it isn't necessary to decrease the wheat that they eat, but then they aren't dealing with my life. It's what I do. So far, its working.

Oh, almost forgot. DE, I sprinkle it in the nests boxes, I sprinkle it on the floor of the coops and on the Birds from time to time. I sprinkle it in their feed, but not very often. I sprinkle it in dust bath boxes also. For the quail, I use a lot in their dust bath box because they don't get to go anywhere.

Good luck, food allergies are a big problem that is getting bigger.

 

[hallerlake]

Rosemary! I've never heard that. I've got plenty of that.


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[hallerlake]

Deleted. I should have read ahead.