The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[mrsamplias]

Uh I think I have already been bitten by the want more chickens and haven't picked up my three yet.

We started with three, and now, we realize....we need more chickens....

I offered them my fermented chick starter and they flicked it and turned their backs, then one by one they started scarfing themselves! They never touched the water but have not stopped filling their crops with the FF! Three days to get here and I can't believe how active and vocal they are. Ravenous is a good word to describe them. I never offer dry feed to my birds. I will sprinkle it ontop if I'm in a hurry and the chicks starter ferment hasn't drained well enough. I think when chicks or chickens are reluctant to eat it, the vinegar content is too high. These travel weary chicks have taken to it and there is no going back now.

They are adorable.

obviously I am completely new to all this, but I've been drying out my eggshells on the counter, grinding them up pretty fine with my mortar and pestle, and mixing it into the FF with the garlic and cayenne right before I feed it. That way they can't avoid it!

I just started adding the shells to the Ff. I had just been putting the shells in their feed dish on top, or underneath their ff. I noticed that they would pick the ff out and leave the shells in their eating dish. Hopefully, mixing it into the FF in small pieces will encourage the eating of the shells.

Grab an egg and smash it up in a frying pan..egg shell and all..soft cook it..make sure the bird eats the whole thing. If you need to contain her to make sure..that is what you need to do. Feeding back the egg is one of the best thing you can do. It has the highest amount of selenium and calcium that she needs. Do this for a week. She is a pullet and sometimes it takes pullets a while to fire correctly. I personally would not give additional liquid calcium or pill form. Natural......

love the great sharing of ideas here....
Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

Delisha- regarding the pics of the foot posted....it reminds me from something I saw on the old thread where there was a gland there that became packed with dirt? Do you think it could be that or the start of bumble? Also I am curious do you think the Nustock would be more beneficial than say blue kote? I need to compare the ingredients to see if they are similar ......I just bought some for my hen first aid kit and used it on a bare spot for my lowest level hen where her sister yanked a beak full of feathers out. She didnt have a wound but I figured the blue kote would protect the bare area (that can only be seen when she bends her head) with the cold temps we have.

I believe the blue kote is for bacterial problems?

Just curious on your thoughts. When people post a problem, I think what I would do then wait for you guys with more experience share the proper treatment. I guessed right with epsom salt soak

For me its a great way to learn & I truly appreciate all the OT's knowledge

Those pictures are of classic bumblefoot, just not far along enough to have caused swelling and pain which would cause limping. BluKote has alcohol in it as well as gentian violet, an old antiseptic/anti-fungal medicine.

 

[Eggcessive]

Has anyone heard from Mumsy since Whidbey Island had that huge mudslide today? Hopefully, she is safe and far away from those houses going over the side of the hill.

 

[mlowen]

Has anyone heard from Mumsy since Whidbey Island had that huge mudslide today? Hopefully, she is safe and far away from those houses going over the side of the hill.

She was on the thread at noon, my time, which I think is 8 or 9 her time. The news article I just looked at said it happened around 4am. Power may be out. Let's all pray/send positive thoughts out for her and everyone else there.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

She is likely out with the chickens, she has been on twice since the slide. I am pretty sure she was not affected.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Dusted the entire flock. I think I got dusted more than them. Hahaha. At least I know I don't have mites on me now.

I am likely gonna be putting Elphaba down this weekend if she does not show signs of improvement. Dusted twice, but I think she has an underlying issue. I think she may be having oviduct issue. Wont know without a necropsy.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Haha, chicken math. I started with 6 and have been adding continuously since, and not stopping

Yes...more, more!

Do you have some photos you can share? I always love to see everyone's innovations. I DEFINITELY need to get an additional housing option by June. I've kept my eyes out for old horse trailers (extremely cheap), thought of hoops, considered all kinds of things.

But June is coming soon and I hope to find "just the right thing" to have it ready for some Cream Legbars to brood by then.

The current coop is bought.... the frame and leveling attached to shed is my 'concoction' with what I had here about the place. Will take pictures in the morning. Instead of the skirting I put a piece of hardware across the two by fours and set the coop on top of that. So it has a temp hardware cloth bottom. Going to fill that then can get the chickens while I make the run and skirt area around it. Then I will construct the bigger coop INSIDE the fenced area on the two by four elevation. And keep filling on ground in to bring the level up then will use little current one for additions to the flock later.
It is becoming real. Yippie!!!!!

 

[delisha]

I am sending hugs to Mumsy..please be safe

So like I've said I moved the girls from the laundry to the garage last week. The coop is secure but the run isn't secure yet. Is it ok to go ahead and move the girls outside to the new coop now? 6 weeks old. I will get the run secured this weekend. Next question do you hang your nesting boxes or leave them at ground level? Do you put food and water in the coop and in the run?

If your weather is over 60..move them. I never feed or water inside. I know many do and nothing wrong with it. I live in high humidity and do not want the added mess, rodent attraction, or humidity. Your baby's are little I might feed inside at this age since you do not have a secure run.

Delisha- regarding the pics of the foot posted....it reminds me from something I saw on the old thread where there was a gland there that became packed with dirt? Do you think it could be that or the start of bumble? Also I am curious do you think the Nustock would be more beneficial than say blue kote? I need to compare the ingredients to see if they are similar ......I just bought some for my hen first aid kit and used it on a bare spot for my lowest level hen where her sister yanked a beak full of feathers out. She didnt have a wound but I figured the blue kote would protect the bare area (that can only be seen when she bends her head) with the cold temps we have.

I believe the blue kote is for bacterial problems?

Just curious on your thoughts. When people post a problem, I think what I would do then wait for you guys with more experience share the proper treatment. I guessed right with epsom salt soak

For me its a great way to learn & I truly appreciate all the OT's knowledge

NuStock has added benefits for drawing.

Dusted the entire flock. I think I got dusted more than them. Hahaha. At least I know I don't have mites on me now.

I am likely gonna be putting Elphaba down this weekend if she does not show signs of improvement. Dusted twice, but I think she has an underlying issue. I think she may be having oviduct issue. Wont know without a necropsy.

 

[dcba flock]

Thanks for the FF tips this morning I think it was to concentrated after I added more water they have gobbled up two bowls full with a little crunchy stuff on top! Def a lot less waste!

 

[krcchickens]

I am sending hugs to Mumsy..please be safe
If your weather is over 60..move them. I never feed or water inside. I know many do and nothing wrong with it. I live in high humidity and do not want the added mess, rodent attraction, or humidity. Your baby's are little I might feed inside at this age since you do not have a secure run.
NuStock has added benefits for drawing.

I live in Colorado the weather was 60 today but will be about 30 tonight an 65 tomorrow 35 tomorrow night. I moved them. I did put a heat lamp with them. They had a heat lamp in the garage too. They should be fairly used to cooler temps we had some 0 degree nights last week and the were in the garage. It's always cold in there at night. Hopefully I didn't make a bad decision. They loved the FF.