The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Eggcessive]

I saw where Mumsy checked in on the Heritage RIR thread, and she is fine. Great to hear. Hope those chicks don't wear you out today!

 

[gevshiba]

I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can help me with This is about turkeys, but I think the same natural care can be applied. Plus, I'd like to add some chicks! My turkey poults are coming the end of next week. I wanted to get some chicks to help teach them to eat and drink, but the hatchery doesn't have any available. Do you think it would be ok to pick some up from a feed store, or could they introduce something into the poults? I've decided to start brooding them in a large water trough in the house. I think they'll out grow the trough pretty fast. I'll be moving them to the neighbor's barn. We'll build a brooder pen for them in a stall. Do you think they can move out after a week or two? I'm in North Texas. Temps should be in the 70's, but who knows? I want to feed non GMO/soy free feed. I'll need to feed chick starter. I can add eggs, meat, bugs. My dogs are raw fed and I make them a veggie mush. It also has canned mackerel and quinoa. Everything is pureed almost to liquid and frozen because dogs can't break down the cell wall of vegetables. Do you think I can add some of this for the turkeys? I plan to feed FF, so could mix a little in. Thanks for any opinions!

 

[BlueMouse]

NuStock has added benefits for drawing.

so I should epsom salt every other day, apply NuStock, and vet wrap? Would a drawing salve like Ichthammol be a better choice? Should I try to remove the scab or just leave it be for now?

I was actually planning on getting my chicken first aid kit set up this weekend, this whole bumblefoot thing just makes me do it a little sooner. Reading this thread has given me some really good ideas about stuff I need to have on hand just in case. so far my list includes: Nustock, a black drawing salve, vet wrap, and blue-Kote. Can anyone else think of anything in addition to that?

as a secondary concern, my poor hen has a lot of broken off feathers on her back, I'm assuming from the over abundant affections of Mr. Bennet

. For now I'm leaving it, but I was considering one of those aprons if she starts getting a bare spot. opinions? We're getting a second pullet (from the same source, supposedly an Ameracauna, but I suspect likely an EE) tomorrow, so I'm seriously hoping that having someone else to "share the love" will solve the problem... (regardless I'm super duper excited! My chickens are multiplying!

)

 

[aoxa]

More wonderful baby pictures!

Axoa thank you for the video on the duck candling. I showed my daughter and she thought it was so neat. Very interesting link about the raw milk too. A wealth of information.

Glad you enjoyed it

Since I don't have chicks or ducklings just yet to brag about... Here's Henry - 1 day shy of 10 weeks old. He's growing by the second! Reminds me... Time for a pee break.. He can't go more than 4 hours in his kennel at night without a break to pee.

 

[BlueMouse]

Glad you enjoyed it

Since I don't have chicks or ducklings just yet to brag about... Here's Henry - 1 day shy of 10 weeks old. He's growing by the second! Reminds me... Time for a pee break.. He can't go more than 4 hours in his kennel at night without a break to pee.

This is quite possibly the most ridiculously adorable dog I have ever seen in my entire life. What a face!

 

[delisha]

Quote: Ichthammol is an ingrediant in NuStock I believe. Either or will work great. I only suggest wrapping because if that foot is infected he can spread that bacteria all over the coop and the extra cushion will make it easier to put weight on. It does not look infected yet, but that can change in a day. Sometimes just soaking in hot epsom salt is all that is needed. You caught it early and it should not be an issue with your quick treatment.

Quote: OMG I showed this to DH and he said this is the cutest dog he has ever seen. What is Henrys breed?

 

[aoxa]

This is quite possibly the most ridiculously adorable dog I have ever seen in my entire life. What a face!

Ichthammol is an ingrediant in NuStock I believe. Either or will work great. I only suggest wrapping because if that foot is infected he can spread that bacteria all over the coop and the extra cushion will make it easier to put weight on. It does not look infected yet, but that can change in a day. Sometimes just soaking in hot epsom salt is all that is needed. You caught it early and it should not be an issue with your quick treatment.
OMG I showed this to DH and he said this is the cutest dog he has ever seen. What is Henrys breed?

You guys aren't the only ones who have said that. I think he is the cutest puppy hands down, but I'm biased. I took him out on Saturday last week and I couldn't even catch a break! They were all over him. Everyone

He is a Bernese Mountain Dog. They are working dogs, and were used in Switzerland to pull milk carts.

 

[zinia8]

Aoxa
Henry is handsome. Love the eyebrows and the little bit of pink on his nose.
Mountain dog is one of the breeds on my dream dog list. Love big dogs i use to have an very large rottie that was a sweetheart.

 

[CoopChick719]

Thank you everyone for the well wishes. I don't have much spare time that is the honest truth! Those shipped chicks are knocking my socks off! Ron told me I'm the furthest destination for shipping for him yet. We were both pretty nervous. Knowing that chicks shipped to my island take an extra hold over day in Seattle is nerve wracking. They are now working on their third dish full of FF! *Yikes!*

And now it's getting even crazier in my house! I just put my Fogle eggs in lock down yesterday. One just hatched and four or five more are pipped! Holy Carp!! I just officially ran out of brooder space!

I turn my entire flock out into the orchard each morning if the weather is decent. I pull up a chair and watch or I get busy in the garden. They all follow me around, wander off, then find me again. It's wonderful. Ummmmm....I really need to do some laundry and dishes today. Hah!

Holy Moly Mumsy can you say chick explosion?!

Glad the shipped chicks arrived safely. Who has time for laundry & dishes when Chicken TV is on? Enjoy your flock & hatchlings! Very glad to hear you weren't affected by the mudslide!

The whole time I am reading the foot soak thing I am thinking "I wish someone would do that for me!"

As far as cleaning the house when you feel like it? I love that philosophy!! I NEVER feel like it!

Mumsy - those chicks are beautiful!

LOL fishermans wife! I'm with you on the house cleaning thing! My husband & daughter came into the kitchen while I was refilling the FF bucket and said, "Ooh what are you making...wait...is that for the chickens?" "Where's our dinner?"

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.

Sorry to hear about Elphaba, TPT! Will be thinking of you.

Since I don't have chicks or ducklings just yet to brag about... Here's Henry - 1 day shy of 10 weeks old. He's growing by the second! Reminds me... Time for a pee break.. He can't go more than 4 hours in his kennel at night without a break to pee.

So freakin' cute!!

My daughter is in love with Henry! She asks, "Where does he live?" I said "Oh, only about 6 hours North of us." She saw his pic, turned to her father and said "Daddy, can we get a Berner?" BTW She's 18, getting ready to graduate High School & head off the college in the Fall. DH said, "Jess, you can have any dog you want...when you move out & have your own house."

 

[jendodd79]

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.

Sorry to hear that . I was following your posts since you got her on the EE thread