The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[fishermans wife]

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.

I think I now believe in love at first sight!!

 

[countrygirl74]

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.

Soooo cute!!!!! I love him!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Countrygirl & Kassaundra -
The video and info on making the LABs has got me thinking! I have used a bacterial spray on items such as pet urine on carpets and other items to consume the "bad stuff" and neutralize the smells, etc. I purchase this in spray bottles from a local store and the stuff is GREAT.

I honestly don't know what specific bacteria strains are used in the product as that is their "trade secret" and isn't listed on the MSDS so I'm not sure if it is a LAB strain or something else.

So one of the things I'm wondering is if you could actually use something like whey from raw cheese made w/mesophillic LAB culture to spray on the chicken house litter and achieve the same results as using the LABs you make? This is of interest to me as I am a "cheesemaker" (and instructor) so I often have plenty of whey around...and this is from RAW milk so it has even more benefits.

What is your thought on that? Do you think I could spray whey into the chicken litter to jump-start LAB proliferation without any negative effects?

Just thinking it through, it seems like it would be another good use for the whey that never occurred to me to try until you 2 told us about using your home made LABs in the litter.


OH...and just in case anyone is interested, here is an example of a bacterial spray like I'm referring to above. I HAVE NOT USED THIS PARTICULAR BRAND but may try some someday!

http://www.antiickypoo.com/anti-icky-poo-1-gallon
http://www.treatsforchickens.com/products/Anti-Icky-Poo.html

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I have been slowly adding to my Hen first aid kit. I have epsom salt, nustock, bag balm, hemmorroid cream, blue kote, baby wipes, green witch hazel & gauze wrap. I was looking at a bottle of spray that is antibiotic (name escapes me blue bottle/liquid) but it was $20 for like 6 oz. so I passed for now.
I tend to browse the horse/chicken isle looking at everything they have and thats usually how I find something I have heard someone from here use.

I passed on the poly sol vitamins but I will pick some up next trip. They were super cheap and they had a lot with so many chicks for sale

 

[aoxa]

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.

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!

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?"

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

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."

You sound like my parents! lol

Soooo cute!!!!! I love him!!

I think I now believe in love at first sight!!

You guys all share my feelings of him

We may just breed him. I don't want to make any hasty decisions neutering him and regret it. Since he is from champion lines. Grandfather on his dad's side was a champion. Might just get a female down the road. I signed a 2 year no breeding clause. After he gets his hips and elbows checked I am in the clear

 

[lalaland]

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

x a zillion!

 

[BlueMouse]

Berners are great dogs. My parents had a berner/newffie mix for many years. We still miss her terribly

They have a fabulous temperment. I love all those big working dogs. And you can't beat them with kids either! My parent's mix was 13 when I had my kids, and she was like "Look, it's a baby, and it's chewing on my ears/feet/tail, isn't it AWESOME mom?" You're really blessed to have such a lovely pup!

 

[aoxa]

Berners are great dogs. My parents had a berner/newffie mix for many years. We still miss her terribly

They have a fabulous temperment. I love all those big working dogs. And you can't beat them with kids either! My parent's mix was 13 when I had my kids, and she was like "Look, it's a baby, and it's chewing on my ears/feet/tail, isn't it AWESOME mom?" You're really blessed to have such a lovely pup!

I'm very happy to hear how old your dog was when you had kids. Unfortunately they don't have a long life expectancy, but knock on wood, this breeder has really healthy and sound dogs and has had them up to 12 years old.

Newfs have a life expectancy of 10 as well, so your mix was very long lived!!

We were trying to decide between the two - newfs and berner. We chose Bernese Mountain Dog based solely on the fact that they drool less! We love both breeds.

 

[jlynnet]

Yes Henry is adorable!
We too have had a chicken explosion! My DH and I decided to bid on a mixed assortment from Greenfire Farm in Florida. I picked them up yesterday. I think we have 3 Cream Legbar pullets, 3 Tolbunt Polish and not so sure on the others. We need to wait until they feather out. We need an intervention! And more coops!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yes Henry is adorable!
We too have had a chicken explosion! My DH and I decided to bid on a mixed assortment from Greenfire Farm in Florida. I picked them up yesterday. I think we have 3 Cream Legbar pullets, 3 Tolbunt Polish and not so sure on the others. We need to wait until they feather out. We need an intervention! And more coops!

Interesting! When you bid on a mixed assortment, do they not tell you what's in it after they pack it?