The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[pigeonguy]

Thanks pigeonguy- yes, I was being humorous. But also, no color on the eggs. Now I know that the poo and egg exit the same opening. But considering that chickens will poo every 7 minutes (read that somewhere), and lay an egg >1x per 24 hours, it only stands to reason that the intestinal opening would be more accessible. The egg, when being laid, closes off the poo opening. They just both exit the same vent hole is all.

Anyhoo...to be more graphic.
4 LF hens.
DH holds hen upside down. Me, wearing rubber gloves, has bottle of said color ready. We move to the door, to have better light. Now, while hen is being held upside down, I sort through feathers to access vent. Check vent for issues. Hen is opening and closing her vent during the process, as she doesn't know what's going on. I, like you, assumed ..(drop liquid in vent, end of story). So, I hold tiny plastic bottle up over her vent and drop in 3 or 4 large drops of food color. Hen opens and closes vent, because liquid is cold..apparently.
Toss hen back in coop, grab another, repeat procedure.
Wait for eggs to be laid...2 the next day...2 the day after. None have color streak.

1} Now, maybe I didn't put enough in (?)

2} Maybe, being chickens poo all the time, it did go in the wrong one.

3} I don't know.


BTW, we haven't culled any hens yet, so I have n hands on verification of vent opening on a non combative hen.

ps;

Hence, that is why I am asking in here. It is all a learning process for me. I am new to chickens.

Are you going to try it the way delisha described and let us know the results.

 

[pigeonguy]

It was my brother who necropsy'd his chicken and was asking about that. I believe the consensus was that it was the beginning of an ova issue - that if it had continued, the liquid may have become more infected looking.... someone correct me if I'm not remembering right... His was a 3 year old hen that was failing, he culled it to end it's suffering after it had not eaten for a while, and had general malaise for some longer period of time. No parasites were evident. He didn't think to take pictures, but his description was very similar to yours - all the liquid, clear liquid inside. Also there was some thought that the excessive liquid, would have stressed some of the organs - heart I think someone noted???

All chickens do not have round or tape worms.

 

[pigeonguy]

I'm also curious if you've noticed anything different, during the process or after.

Sorry you lost your SFH. It's bad enough when you're home and I always worry about everyone when I'm gone. Hopefully, warmer weather starts next week as the weatherman promised. Feel better!

Pigeonguy - you must know by now that if you want graphic details, you've come to the right thread! lol

I know. Great info here.

 

[pigeonguy]

Ok..this will work

get a syringe. mix 1/8 oz of olive oil and 4 drops of red food color. Remove the needle from the syringe and extract the oil and food color mixture. Cover the outside of the syringe with oil.(for safe insertion)
Insert the syringe into the vent all the way and deposit the oil.
In two days you should have some streaks on eggs.

Thanks

 

[Leahs Mom]

I do agree with delisha on the roo thing

Wait...what...you think black is a roo?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Does anyone know anything about Cedar Creek Hatchery?

http://cedarcreekhatchery.com/main.sc

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Are you going to try it the way delisha described and let us know the results.

Oh definitely yes...I will. I have to rope the DH into helping me though. If not tomorrow, then next weekend. Sometimes, I get lucky and he is not too wiped out after work. It out to be an interesting experiment!

Plus, I need to find out who has shell gland problems.

 

[chickiemomy]

Susan asked me to ask you guys a question...

Fresh local fruits & veggies (not certified organic)
or Organic grocery store fruit & veggies (not local)

I would ensure the local foods were at least grown here and not from GM seeds.

We do not have certified organic GMO free fruits and veggies at the farmers market which puts us in a pickle.

my vote is local!
personal preference -- sometimes local are organic, or nearly so, but they haven't been able to certify as organic for whatever reason. Prefer to support the local farmers, as opposed to the big 'guys'. And you can ask the local's their practices - as in - maybe they use a little inorganic fertilizer, but no pesticides...

 

[pigeonguy]

Wait...what...you think black is a roo?

(spoken softly) yes. (regular now) I am by no means really good at sexing but when I look at the younger pictures 6 & 7 weeks they say roo to me the one at 14 weeks just don't know. I t kind of says both hen and roo so I have to go back to the younger ones and say roo. If he lays an egg tho That would be a good indication I was wrong.

More interested in breed tho. As a chick definitely not a BCMs or IMO not SFH. Reasons BCMs baby chicks don't look like that. SFHs from what I see in your photos don't have slate on there legs he does at the top but not the bottom. That is another reason for not BCMs they have slate legs and feet except for bottom.
Why I think BCMs X SFH. Black with green sheen partially slate legs good traits of BCMs (no copper in the hackles can happen) White speckling yellow feet traits of SFH.

Take a look at this pic you posted of them at 5 weeks old. The first chick is him the second is the pic of your known roo the third is a hen see her tail feathers at that age and the lack there of on the other 2. Not all the time but I think most of the time that says roo.
Now in this pic He is standing like your known roo in the pic above see how the back has that lazy male hunch to it ( I an male I can say that you females can not)

(Again spoken softly) yes (again regular) I would be more than happy to be wrong keep us posted. Maybe you could post the same pics on the what gender is this and see what others think. You know just for sh8ts & giggles.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I vote for local..ask some questions and purchase from some one who does it right or/and is willing to trade eggs or chickens.