Ribh's D'Coopage

[CrazyChookChookLady]

So adorable! And the egg basket is just beautiful as well! It’s so nice to have functional and beautiful things around. Thanks for sharing it with us.

As for the Selenium, do be very careful with it. It is necessary and deficiencies are bad, but overdosing with it is very easy and lethal. We live in a notoriously selenium poor environment, so much so that until last year (when it became unavailable due to new regulations) we would give the sheep an injectable supplement of it a month prior to lambing as it prevents common leg deformities. Wrestling and giving sub-cutaneous injections to 150 wiggly, woolly 100 lb beasties in the rain is unpleasant, and challenging. If unsure if the shot got in, we never make a second attempt, because even a 1/2 dose more is fatal, and it’s better to have to splint the Lambs than to lose both the ewe and lamb. Orally it is probably less drastic, but it is something to use with caution.

Yes I agree that 100% with Kris. It is necessary, but it's one of those few supplements where less is more.

 

[Ribh]

I think the keel bone estimate when used as a guide to a hens health can be very misleading. I would expect meat birds to carry that sort of weight, but not fit and active chickens.

Mmmm...now I am more worried. They have lost weight, I'm sure, though I don't have scales so I can't do a scientific check. I would expect birds that eat the way this lot do to weigh a little more ~ especially the bigger birds. I've lost 3 over a few months so maybe I'm just a bit paranoid.

 

[Ribh]

So adorable! And the egg basket is just beautiful as well! It’s so nice to have functional and beautiful things around. Thanks for sharing it with us.

As for the Selenium, do be very careful with it. It is necessary and deficiencies are bad, but overdosing with it is very easy and lethal. We live in a notoriously selenium poor environment, so much so that until last year (when it became unavailable due to new regulations) we would give the sheep an injectable supplement of it a month prior to lambing as it prevents common leg deformities. Wrestling and giving sub-cutaneous injections to 150 wiggly, woolly 100 lb beasties in the rain is unpleasant, and challenging. If unsure if the shot got in, we never make a second attempt, because even a 1/2 dose more is fatal, and it’s better to have to splint the Lambs than to lose both the ewe and lamb. Orally it is probably less drastic, but it is something to use with caution.

Thanks Kris. Yes. My produce guy was very particular about pointing that out & wrote down very clear instructions so as not to overdose but I will be very cautious.

 

[Ribh]

Yes I agree that 100% with Kris. It is necessary, but it's one of those few supplements where less is more.

Thanks for the warning, CCCL. I will be careful.

 

[Ribh]

Rather you than me.

Ah, well. It is preferable to a lot of things we have to do on the mainland & she doesn't come home with us.

 

[Ribh]

Where is Doctor Doolittle when you need him?

Indeed, where is he when we need him?

 

[Shadrach]

Mmmm...now I am more worried. They have lost weight, I'm sure, though I don't have scales so I can't do a scientific check. I would expect birds that eat the way this lot do to weigh a little more ~ especially the bigger birds. I've lost 3 over a few months so maybe I'm just a bit paranoid.

I used to weight the chickens here. It would I worked out take me at least two years of weighing before I had a reasonable indication of what each fowl weighed in any particular season. I probably do have more than two years of records but I don't make use of them.
According to the keel bone test from American and UK sites most of the chickens here are underweight. Going by other members of the chicken clubs fowl, they are about right for free range fowl. I think, given they eat say 60% less of the supplied commercial feed they carry less fat. Of course the treats one gives can easily add to that in fat content.

 

[Ribh]

I used to weight the chickens here. It would I worked out take me at least two years of weighing before I had a reasonable indication of what each fowl weighed in any particular season. I probably do have more than two years of records but I don't make use of them.
According to the keel bone test from American and UK sites most of the chickens here are underweight. Going by other members of the chicken clubs fowl, they are about right for free range fowl. I think, given they eat say 60% less of the supplied commercial feed they carry less fat. Of course the treats one gives can easily add to that in fat content.

I had to stop free ranging. Our place is impossible to fence & there are too many roaming dogs around. I do have 3 escape artists but they tend to hang round the perimeter of the run & I usually spot they're out fairly quickly & these days they aren't difficult to catch. We need more usable land... The perennial cry of the land hungry!

 

[Shadrach]

I had to stop free ranging. Our place is impossible to fence & there are too many roaming dogs around. I do have 3 escape artists but they tend to hang round the perimeter of the run & I usually spot they're out fairly quickly & these days they aren't difficult to catch. We need more usable land... The perennial cry of the land hungry!

How much land are you on?
Despite there being 12.5 acres here the chickens use about 4 normally; an acre a tribe in effect.
With regard to flock safety, well things are better than they were here.

 

[Ribh]

I swear my chickens are mad.
They told me:
We're bored.
The sun's out there.
we're cramped.
This run is too small...
It's a beautiful day so I let them into the big run early. Now most of them are cramped into this tiny space under the prefab & those that can't fit, like my boofer Lavender, & Lottie, who get trampled, are pressed up against the wire on the outside.