Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[fuentemoon]

For humans milk thistle is often used as a seasonal liver cleanse, taken for about 2 weeks, once or twice a year. Many if not most herbal remedies work best when taken for a short term with at least the same amount of time off. So every day for 7-10 days then take 2 weeks off. At least that is what my herbalism teachers have taught.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

For humans milk thistle is often used as a seasonal liver cleanse, taken for about 2 weeks, once or twice a year. Many if not most herbal remedies work best when taken for a short term with at least the same amount of time off. So every day for 7-10 days then take 2 weeks off. At least that is what my herbalism teachers have taught.

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Thanks for sharing that. Maybe I should've given it to her a shorter time. I'll do more research on the next round.

Pretty ladies.

 

[Shadrach]

Yep, more wind and rain. Not quite as cold as yesterday thankfully. More in than out on the field. Both Mow and Sylph were willing to endure the weather for a bit of a desperate forage. Even in such a short period there are some things out there that they both feel they need. They ate quite a lot of grass, some tiny bugs that live in the compost close to where the shed was, and something else they found by the what was, the geese pond.
There is calcium and grit available in the run and I make a small pile just outside the gate where they get fed.
Knowing what I do about the constiuents of the feed I provide calcium is something the feed is lacking in. I think they're both getting extra calcium from the grass which is pretty fresh and green with all the rain we've had.
I managed to feel Sylpth's crop after she had eaten the feed I brought and before she went onto the field. I was quite surprised just how much she managed to stuff in it on the short expeditions she did between the showers.

I fried a couple of the eggs from Mow and Sylph this morning and I had a couple a few days ago. Shells are good and strong. One of them is laying eggs with an unusually thick membrane. I don't know what that means, if anything. I do know they tasted like what I think eggs should taste like.

I've also been pleased to see an overall conformity over time of everyones droppings and they look pretty good.

Tull isn't eating enough. Mow and Sylph are allowed to eat with Henry as is of course Fret. Tull isn't laying eggs. It's Tull who gets off her perch to eat when I close up so she's still hungry. Once she starts laying getting fed will be easier for her but she will of course need to eat quite a bit more. She's close to laying and I might see if I can get extra into her without the others noticing.

 

[Molpet]

I have 2 laying from different coops.
One looks like pullet eggs. Tonight a pullet from that coop was wandering around talking like she was looking for that special place...in the snow at dusk.
She finally went into the coop. Tonight it's going down to 14f so frozen egg for breakfast

 

[fuzzi]

Testing for quality at home seems easy according to a tip I have been reading. A spoonful of the fake ones, dissolves immediately in a glass of water. Pure honey dissolves much slower, often you have to stir.

Or put the jar of "honey" in the fridge. If it doesn't crystalize -- which it should do at around 50 degrees F, it isn't pure honey.

Good information to bookmark.

 

[Shadrach]

One and a half hours today. Windy and damp.

 

[BDutch]

@Shadrach Have you made up a schedule who’s attending when, for the upcoming Hollidays?
Are there enough busses to get you there, and back home again?

Last month the weather was very depressing here. Very cloudy and we had lots of rain and drizzle. Took this pic when we ha a rare moment with sunlight.

 

[Perris]

Now the days begin to lengthen again, hooray! The birds are looking great in their bright new feathers, the pullets and cockerels are jostling for position, 4 of the hens have resumed laying, and all the birds are acting like spring is around the corner. I don't mind much what the temps do (it's warmer than usual at the mo), but the lawn could really do with a dry spell. It's turning to mud in some places.

 

[Canadian Wind]

-27 C windchill this morning. Birds can remain in their coops a bit longer as I warm up from taking care of the dogs and rabbits.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Now the days begin to lengthen again, hooray! The birds are looking great in their bright new feathers, the pullets and cockerels are jostling for position, 4 of the hens have resumed laying, and all the birds are acting like spring is around the corner. I don't mind much what the temps do (it's warmer than usual at the mo), but the lawn could really do with a dry spell. It's turning to mud in some places.

We often have 1-2 hens pick up laying again directly on December solstice, after a long fall break. Nobody did it this year, but there's a definite cranky, bossy, laying vibe re-emerging.

Looking forward to more daylight.