The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[mrsamplias]

I actually like that they aren't starting so young. These girls were born July 19th 2012, so they are 22 weeks old. Wow they are 22 weeks? Geez! Slackers!

Ours started later than expected, and I think that it is the FF.

Cold remedy: our family always pulls out the chicken soup. Chicken legs/thighs, anything with the bones still in, one chopped onion, as many cloves of garlic as you can take, large bunch of fresh parsley, 4 fresh bay leaves, 2 stalks fresh chopped celery, 2 chopped carrots, large bunch of fresh sage, large bunch of fresh oregano, a pinch of salt (to taste) , pepper. Cook until the chicken is falling off the bones, low simmer. Pull out the chicken and debone. Add some starch (pasta, rice, barley, whatever you like), let it cook to al dente, add a pinch more salt (to taste). Voila. Delicious and healthy soup. Usually my kids miss school one day with a cold, and they're back to good health!

hope you're feeling better soon!!

 

[lalaland]

We made a huge score today. Just have to figure out how to get it home. We were given an enclosed chicken coop, 16'x 8'. It is totally enclosed on one side, the other 3 sides are covered in hardware cloth, and have exterior plywood doors that drop down and latch over the hardward cloth. It is raised on legs, about 2 ft or so, and has a solid wood floor. It was used 1 time, for a young girl to raise chickens for 4-H. It still has the feeders, waterers, 2 ceramic heat lamps, with the white bulbs, and electrical wiring! For FREE ! I can't hardly stand myself, I am so excited! Now I won't sleep forEVER trying to figure how to get it here, and what needs to be done to modify it....

Score! How wonderful, it sounds amazing. Just like christmas!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a basket with 4 or 5 dried out fart eggs in it, I think they are cool. Never thought of it but the only thing wrong I've ever seen with a duck egg is how dirty they can make them.......

Ain't that the truth. lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

We made a huge score today. Just have to figure out how to get it home. We were given an enclosed chicken coop, 16'x 8'. It is totally enclosed on one side, the other 3 sides are covered in hardware cloth, and have exterior plywood doors that drop down and latch over the hardward cloth. It is raised on legs, about 2 ft or so, and has a solid wood floor. It was used 1 time, for a young girl to raise chickens for 4-H. It still has the feeders, waterers, 2 ceramic heat lamps, with the white bulbs, and electrical wiring! For FREE ! I can't hardly stand myself, I am so excited! Now I won't sleep forEVER trying to figure how to get it here, and what needs to be done to modify it....

Congrats !!

 

[Sally8]

Anyone have any natural cold remedies? I've got a fever and my throat is sore. Come on. Help me out  

Don't make me eat garlic raw or anything though. All I need is a stomach ache to add to the symptoms 

We built a big pen today for the turkeys! Will be taking pictures tomorrow to share. I can split the sheep's area in two easily for breeding season and will house a small group of birds in either side for pure matings. By the time the snow is gone, breeding season will be almost over - so they wouldn't be any more contained then they want anyway.

Around here, my husband takes his medicinal dose of Brandy every night until he feels better. We use mustard plaster's for chest congestion and my grandmother taught us to whip up egg whites and add sugar, so it is a sweet syrupy mirangue for coughing and croup. It really works. Hot showers with steam helps with that too. Corn bags in bed help keep warm. Unfortunately, for being on a natural treatment thread, I believe in drugs when I'm sick.

I moved my turkeys yesterday so they are in a coop by them selves. The little Hamburg is still alive this morning, I'm so glad. Other than the fact they are so flighty and they lay smaller eggs, they both lay almost everyday.

It's not as cold out today. No snow or wind. The chickens came right out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Basil tea will bring down a fever, as will white willow bark, if you don't like to take aspirin.
For sore throats and coughs, always unpasteurized honey, fresh lemon juice and ginger slices (or dried) in super hot water. If you have rum, bourbon, whiskey or another fave high octane spirit, add a splash after the hot water is poured. Drink it while it is as hot as you can stand. Been pouring it down my husband for a week, around here.

If you've been pouring it down him for a week he has to be feeling better, or pretty saturated. Also white lightening with honey heated and drank will help. [I have a friend who swears by it}

 

[Miss Lydia]

Around here, my husband takes his medicinal dose of Brandy every night until he feels better. We use mustard plaster's for chest congestion and my grandmother taught us to whip up egg whites and add sugar, so it is a sweet syrupy mirangue for coughing and croup. It really works. Hot showers with steam helps with that too. Corn bags in bed help keep warm. Unfortunately, for being on a natural treatment thread, I believe in drugs when I'm sick.
I moved my turkeys yesterday so they are in a coop by them selves. The little Hamburg is still alive this morning, I'm so glad. Other than the fact they are so flighty and they lay smaller eggs, they both lay almost everyday.
It's not as cold out today. No snow or wind. The chickens came right out.

Glad to her your Hamburg is still with you, hopefully she just got a little bruised up. suppose to be in the 40's here today although it's 21 right now.

 

[Sally8]

We made a huge score today. Just have to figure out how to get it home. We were given an enclosed chicken coop, 16'x 8'. It is totally enclosed on one side, the other 3 sides are covered in hardware cloth, and have exterior plywood doors that drop down and latch over the hardward cloth. It is raised on legs, about 2 ft or so, and has a solid wood floor. It was used 1 time, for a young girl to raise chickens for 4-H. It still has the feeders, waterers, 2 ceramic heat lamps, with the white bulbs, and electrical wiring!  For FREE !  I can't hardly stand myself, I am so excited!  Now I won't sleep forEVER trying to figure how to get it here, and what needs to be done to modify it....

I'm so jealous! I've been hoping to find a big shipping crate. My son has one at his work but needs to find the time to dismantle it to bring it home. That's been months. Congratulations!
Sue

 

[aoxa]

I didn't see all these options before I went to bed. I put vicks on my feet, covered with socks and slept like a baby. I feel much better this morning and my fever is gone. Still a bit of a sore throat, so I'm going to try one of those drinks. I have TURKEY soup that my MIL has been simmering all day yesterday. Looks delicious.

 

[delisha]

• Gargle with honey and ACV
• Bananas and rice to soothe an upset stomach and curb diarrhea
• Vitamin C-containing foods like bell peppers
• Blueberries curb diarrhea and are high in natural aspirin, which may lower fevers and help with aches and pains
• Carrots, which contain beta-carotene
• Chili peppers may open sinuses, and help break up mucus in the lungs
• Cranberries may help prevent bacteria from sticking to cells lining the bladder and urinary tract
• Mustard or horseradish may helps break up mucus in air passages
• Onions contain phytochemicals purported to help the body clear bronchitis and other infections
• Black and green tea contain catechin, a phytochemical purported to have natural antibiotic and anti-diarrhea effects