The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[bluebirdnanny]

Cause that's the rule! Pick one grey hair and two replace it. Lol.

 

[livelifebyluck]

Update on featherpicking:    Adding more floor space to the coop, and a flock block, and meat to their diet, and spritzing the feather picked areas with a vinegar/water solution seems to have done the trick.  I don't think I am seeing any more feather eating off the back.

Question about garlic, garlic powder, and worms:  that one poop with worms surprised me.  I'm adding garlic to the water, and this weekend will do a 3 day push of a grated carrot, garlic, and buttermilk mixture.  I grow my own garlic, but don't have enough as I've read I need one clove per hen 3 days running.  I can go buy garlic, although it goes against the grain, or garlic powder.  Conventional wisdom says the powder works too, but.. my instinct is that it would lack the vitality of fresh garlic.  Does anyone have experience using garlic for working?  As I've said, I've never had a worming problem before.

Also, I still don't know whether one poop with worms means I have an overload of worms?  

sorry, I know this isn't nearly as exciting as new chicks!

and BDM, what about pics of your trailer coop in progress? 

Hey Lalaland I'm pretty new to chickens and not sure how much I can offer but for worms you can try Apple Cider Vinegar...or DE Diatomaceous Earth if your looking a more natural way of ridding them of worms. Again this is all personal opinion I know that everyone has their own ways.

 

[delisha]

Quote: ACV does not get rid of worms. It helps keep the gut flora inhospitable and they simply do not like it.
Garlic does work for worm removal..I caution everyone here. If you have an overload of worms sometimes other means are necessary. Seeing one worm is an indication of worms and nothing more. They all have worms. If your birds are under weight and lethargic it suggests an over load. I personally would worm them. You have been messing around with this long enough. After you worm them put them on a natural regiment and spray the ground they are on and clean out that coop.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Swedish Flower Hens.

And I see you're from KS - I used to live in Manhattan and then in Alma. People always looked at me strangely when I said I had lived in the part of KS with hills!

Sorry, I just found your post. I just moved from Manhattan to SC back in 08. Did you go to K-State there?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

These are the eggs I did today. Fresh eggs out of the henhouse from within the last 3 days, refrigerated.

Brought water to a boil, ladled in 2 dozen eggs, by the time I was done, the water had cooled, let come back up to a soft boil for 15 minutes, transfered pot to sink, dumped hot water added cold water for a bit, then transferred to bowl with water and ice.

Peeled the first egg.... Ate it because it would have been embarrassing to put out.

Tasted good.

20-24 turned out pretty darn good. Secret was the ice water.... I kinda pshawed it but it was definitely colder than tap which is what I have used for the last 40 years. If an egg wasn't peeling I dipped it in the ice water and got that skin wet..... worked well.

Colored the whites with cold water, ACV and food coloring.... didn't use enough of the ACV and coloring at first (What can I say, I am a cheapskate), and had to add more.

Made the deviled part and got really angry.... added more and more of the white stuff, mixed it and the flavor was way off.... realized I was using mayo instead of Miracle Whip.... a sandwich just isn't a sandwich without the tangy zip of miracle whip salad dressing.... and neither are deviled eggs... Was nasty, but Carla added some sugar and they got eaten.... wouldn't be surprised if the dogs have gas tonight.....

Happy Easter everyone!

I love deviled eggs. I am so picky about them having Miracle Whip that I will ask what is in them. If they say Mayo, i won't eat them. But Miracle Whip ones get downed like no tomorrow, usually around 12 halves is good.

 

[aoxa]

I love deviled eggs. I am so picky about them having Miracle Whip that I will ask what is in them. If they say Mayo, i won't eat them. But Miracle Whip ones get downed like no tomorrow, usually around 12 halves is good.

I wish I could make home made mayo with that tangy zip!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
Or at least own stock in the company, right

 

[krcchickens]

Nice job!!  I wouldn't put more than the 3 chickens in there tho. I to bought a pre-made coop that was suppose to hold 3-5 hens......well maybe if they were silkies lol
I cant see what the surface of the run is now but if there is grass in there I would let them dig thru that until its just dirt then slowly add some shavings, straw, grass, clippings, leaves....whatever you find the cheapest or in your yard.....and you will have some great deep litter by fall.  I'm sure they will be excited by the larger run when you get it up.  

You could temporarily use some plastic fencing and posts to enclose a larger run area when your home.  I even let mine out to roam the yard when I am home. They are good about staying in my yard & some people have trained them to come when you need to lock them up again. Also its cheaper feed wise if they roam the yard for awhile. My girls will actually bypass the food to go roam in the yard .........its a treat for them that Ican only do when I am home. Except for the one who flies over the fence on her own lol. 

Just feed them well (ever think of fermenting feed? Super easy, less feed and better for them) and let them be chickens and they will be great.
Also if you have access to wood ash put some in a container for them and watch them bath away.    

The best part of chickens is a comfy chair, a cold drink & watching some chicken tv   

I am just a newbie (got my hens in August) but there are a lot of OT's on here with a wealth of knowledge & lots of knowledge so questions are always welcomed

Like ash from your fire place?

 

[aoxa]

Like ash from your fire place?

Yes ash from your wood burning fire. Just make sure you aren't burning any treated wood.

They love it.

 

[moomoodiddy]

hey yall can i join i have been searching for a thread like this since i joined, i live on a farm so most everything we do is trying to be natural and recycle and live the way God intended us to live