The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

I was going to post a picture of my home made feeder but then I remembered I had the IPad and it' isn't even my IPad. Guess the pictures will have to wait until I get home.
When I first joined BYC, I talked about my dogs. They are large herding dogs but they live inside too and I know that without a doubt, they would kill my chickens if given a chance. I was admonished because I was told that dogs belong outside. This morning at 5:30am I scraped my "Teddy" off the road. I had just let him out 15 min before while I fed the chickens. This year I have lost 2 cats and 1 dog to the road. Funny thing is, all my animals are inside animals. (The dogs go in and out). I will miss him so much. What else is ironic is that 8 years ago today we had a house fire and I lost a very old cat inside. I'm done now.
Done with whining, not with animals.

Sally - I'm so sorry for your loss!

 

[WillowChick]

I am very sorry for your loss

I lost a pet to the road as well, I know how horrible it can be. We have 2 indoor cats because we have seen firsthand the damage outdoor animals can get from other animals and cars.

I hope your sadness goes away soon and all that are left are the happy memories.

Willow

 

[Sally8]

Thank you all for your words of comfort. It means a lot to me.

I look forward to pictures of the insides of chickens. Without going back, someone Said that once they are dead, you can do anything. My ex husband and I used to process deer every fall and I loved looking through what was left. The spinal column is amazing and lungs were not what I expected. I had a chicken that I had to kill for being egg bound. That was before I even knew what egg bound was. I really wish I would have looked her over. If it ever happens again, I will. Her underside had become black, from peritonitis , I'm assuming. Hopefully, never again.

When I was at feed store recently, a woman was in there talking about her birds having black spots on their combs, she said they were black kind of on white, but didn't look raised up. After I went home and boiled my hands, I looked it up. Fighting vs fowl pox. Is it something that we should be concerned about. The man behind the counter told her it was ok, in a few weeks the spots should disappear. Has anyone had this? Is it common? Thanks. Sue

 

[lalaland]

oh Sally, I'm so sorry. that is never easy -

 

[aoxa]

Thank you all for your words of comfort. It means a lot to me.
I look forward to pictures of the insides of chickens. Without going back, someone Said that once they are dead, you can do anything. My ex husband and I used to process deer every fall and I loved looking through what was left. The spinal column is amazing and lungs were not what I expected. I had a chicken that I had to kill for being egg bound. That was before I even knew what egg bound was. I really wish I would have looked her over. If it ever happens again, I will. Her underside had become black, from peritonitis , I'm assuming. Hopefully, never again.
When I was at feed store recently, a woman was in there talking about her birds having black spots on their combs, she said they were black kind of on white, but didn't look raised up. After I went home and boiled my hands, I looked it up. Fighting vs fowl pox. Is it something that we should be concerned about. The man behind the counter told her it was ok, in a few weeks the spots should disappear. Has anyone had this? Is it common? Thanks. Sue

Fowl pox usually comes from biting insects, and once they recover from it, they are immune. Kind of like chicken pox. If it ever happened to you, kill any suffering and wait any other out that look okay. Nustock would help.

Never had it. Hope to never have it.

Wet pox is really scary, and has the same symptoms as CRD, only much worse - as the throat will close with leisons and they will suffocate. Usually it starts with dry I believe..

) and wound contamination and causes lesions on the comb, wattles, and beak. Birds affected by this form usually recover within a few weeks. The second form is spread by inhalation of the virus and causes a diphtheritic membrane to form in the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and sometimes the trachea. The prognosis for this form is poor

Good choice on boiling your hands.

 

[delisha]

I do not want to make anyone panic, but, it is a good idea to have a different set of clothing and shoes when going to the feed store. It is also a good part of bio security. Every birds disease walks in the door at one time or another.

 

[delisha]

Not one person has a guess on what is wrong with the last few pictures of my chicken? I will not be offended. It is all for learning.

 

[galefrances]

Sally, I am so very sorry to hear about your Teddy. That is so tragic. I lost my rescue Saint just a short time ago to cancer. Tuck was just 6 yrs old. My DH and I are still adjusting. It's okay to whine and cry and whine some more.

Delish.......awesome pics.

 

[Crafty-Duck]

I do not want to make anyone panic, but, it is a good idea to have a different set of clothing and shoes when going to the feed store. It is also a good part of bio security. Every birds disease walks in the door at one time or another.

Ahhh I never thought about the feed store!!!

 

[hotrodflash]

On the subject of bio security, I was looking on my state thread and saw where someone posted and they live less than 10 miles from me. Then they stated that their flock has infectious coryza and that they were incubating their eggs because it doesn't carry through the eggs. They stated that their flock was "closed". I am so glad that I didn't contact them. My mutts are healthy and I want them to stay that way, so I will not be making the mistake of getting chicks or chickens from close to me. They are probably doing the right thing by keeping a closed flock but I do not want to take any chances. Just brought bio security home to me.