The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Hey Del, I am starting the chelation(sp) treatment tomorrow.

it helps

It will help..even if you do not have led issues..the algie itself will work wonders..I am doing it myself just for a winter flush when they start free ranging. I really liked every thing i have been reading about it.

It will work!!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
I just gotta figure out where to get the aloe juice and chlorella(sp). I think Fred Meyer(Krogers) should have them?

 

[lalaland]

I am not familiar with oregon city, but the state of oregon has a ton of natural food coops, and they would have both for certain. you don't have to be a member to shop in the co-ops.

 

[Ashdoes]

Ok, I have a question regarding something that was said way back in the Road thread. We were told that if a hen loses back feathers from mating she was a cull, thoughts? I have a Cochin with little bare spots, I've got her in the house resting with meds on the spots, and I'm going out now to either pen up the boys or kill one. I just don't think it's her fault she has these bald spots, so why would I cull her? She lays an egg almost everyday, even through winter. So, do I take Bees advice or am I right in thinking this is my fault, and once I get rid of the problem she'll be fine?

 

[armorfirelady]

Delisha- I liked ur idea of a separate place in your coop for first aid supplies and to house a chicken. I have a plastic hinged top shoe box I keep my essentials in now. I've found if I buy one thing a month it will be well stocked and less painful on my wallet. It's a great way for newbies like me to have what they need before they need it & all in one place. As an EMT for decades I know its better to be prepared.

Bought some blue kote today since it was one item I was missing. Plus red hen had a bare spot on her neck from Sunday when one of her sisters pulled a mouth full of feathers from her when she was mad red was getting more ham treats from nana than her. There was no blood and you couldn't see it unless she bent her neck. But today after buying it I sprayed some blue kote on it since there was a blood speck where a couple feathers were pulled out. I figured it wouldn't hurt but would be a preventive and maybe deterrent from yellow doing it again. Plus a coating on bare skin would probably help with all this snow and prevent it from the cold. Tho my finger is now a pretty purple lol

It's trash week coming up so I have been cruising the streets looking for a small cabinet I could put in the new coop to hold supplies and maybe one side could be enclosed for solitary if needed.

I also found a 5# bag of flax seed. Added some to the FF. still looking for fish meal tho. I also bought a small bag of oat hay. Figured it would give the girls something to do since they have no interest in going out in the snow today. I also Put some in their treat ball as well since i am Curious to see if they eat it from there.

 

[loanwizard]

Ok, I have a question regarding something that was said way back in the Road thread. We were told that if a hen loses back feathers from mating she was a cull, thoughts? I have a Cochin with little bare spots, I've got her in the house resting with meds on the spots, and I'm going out now to either pen up the boys or kill one. I just don't think it's her fault she has these bald spots, so why would I cull her? She lays an egg almost everyday, even through winter. So, do I take Bees advice or am I right in thinking this is my fault, and once I get rid of the problem she'll be fine?

I wouldn't get rid of her.... course I wouldn't get rid of him either..... I have had nearly bald hens through the winter that did fine.... But yes, she got that way from a dude. Sex discrimination in the chicken world. Hen killed cause hubby liked it rough Sheesh!

 

[loanwizard]

Yep that's about the size of it. Production birds raised the way they are don't last long. Then they are sold as cage free eggs. I'm pretty sure I read cage free standard in Illinois is 4 square feet of cage free space in a building. It does not specify that it has to be floor space. Free range eggs is the same plus access to the outside for 1 hour a day it does not say they have to go outside just have access to it. That means If there is a run of any size on the outside of the building they are free ranged. Pasture raised is 4 feet of pasture land per bird again nothing specified about any grass growing. Pasture raised does work out the best but there are some who can get nothing to grow on the land so they put chickens out there with the rocks and stubble and say they are pasture raised. If this is all true what are our eggs called. Humanely cage free, Humanely free ranged, Humanely pasture raised.

I train my customers and fans explaining this about monthly, then share pictures of my truly free ranged birds. My birds are American birds. Live Free or Die. They do die, but their lives are lived free. And..... my family and those that buy eggs from me.... are rewarded with the healthiest possible eggs.

Reminds me of the Perdue Chicken commercials out now that say their birds are fed vegetarian feed and that somehow makes them healthier for human consumption.

Hey Perdue, my kids run barefoot around the farm, one son had his arms elbow deep in deer guts last night. They eat meat and lot's of it. I have vegetarian friends that kids play video games all day, aren't allowed out in the nasty sun and eat no meat.
Which children are healthier?

 

[loanwizard]

OK next question. When broodies hatch the eggs are on there side not up and down like in egg turners for the bater. So if I broke from tradition and build a turner that was like those hot dog cookers where the hot dogs lay on the rollers and turn to cook rubber padding of course with a time delay to turn every 6 hours.. Do you think it would work?
Just sounds more natural to me.

My turners are not time delay, they just move very slowly.

Rollers should be fine except when the chicks hatch they'll be sucked down and legs ripped out if you're not paying attention.....

 

[Ashdoes]

I wouldn't get rid of her.... course I wouldn't get rid of him either..... I have had nearly bald hens through the winter that did fine.... But yes, she got that way from a dude. Sex discrimination in the chicken world. Hen killed cause hubby liked it rough Sheesh!

I have three Roos, so at least one of them had to go.

 

[loanwizard]

I have three Roos, so at least one of them had to go.

Not really..... Using advanced applied chicken math, there is no reason to get rid of the third roo..... if you get 10 more hens

Trust me, I brought in 50 last night and the cocks came off the roosts for the festivities.....