The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[CoopChick719]

OH... T&J...
I know there are several folks here that do ferment the chick starter. I hope they'll chime in and let you know how it's working for them!

Hi T&J,

I've been feeding chick starter FF to my 8 chicks since Day 1. They gobbled it right down. I couldn't believe how quickly they feathered out. They are now 9 weeks old. I usually feed in the am & pm but lately they haven't cleaned the bowl so I'll leave it down. If it's still there the next day, I'll dump it on the floor...then it's like something new! I scoop straight from the FF container into their dish (Goodwill heavy casserole dish--no more spilled feed when someone decides to step on the edge of the bowl). If the FF is too wet, I'll add dry feed until it's a good consistency. I also free feed dry starter so they have always have something. I do the same for my older girls but feed them in the run--no dish--they won't eat it unless I dump it on the ground. Silly chickens!

 

[CoopChick719]

Congrats!!! I have no objections to seeing a lot of baby pics. I love this one. She looks like she has them lined up for a head count & to go over the rules before the field trip

And you always have the one kid (upper left) wandering away when your going over the rules!

Very cute little fuzzy butts!!

 

[CoopChick719]

Thank you, but my husband is a woman

Wonderful photo! Congrats on 9 years together!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Blue Comb Disease: http://animal-health.library4farmin...ND-PARASITES-AFFECTING-poultry/Blue-Comb.html



A couple of things I thought were interesting is that it mostly mentions pullets, and the recommendation to reduce grains in the diet. If the grains are not sprouted or fermented, they actually chelate minerals from the body... I have some references and more information on that but not enough time this morning.


Quote:
I'm guessing this isn't Blue Comb Disease that your kiddo had...

 

[RedRidge]

Blue Comb Disease: http://animal-health.library4farmin...ND-PARASITES-AFFECTING-poultry/Blue-Comb.html



A couple of things I thought were interesting is that it mostly mentions pullets, and the recommendation to reduce grains in the diet. If the grains are not sprouted or fermented, they actually chelate minerals from the body... I have some references and more information on that but not enough time this morning.


Quote:

I'm guessing this isn't Blue Comb Disease that your kiddo had...

None the less... being the feed ration fruitcake that I am... I find this very interesting (especially given the SFH and Rhodebars I'm hatching).
Thanks for the info and link Leah's Mom...
I had never heard of Blue Comb... will investigate more...
As my grandpa liked to say, "Knowledge is Power"

 

[OohLaLa]

Beautiful babies!! I did the coop crawl last week and probably be doing it again this week to candle 10 eggs under my co-sitting Sizzles who are under the nesting boxes. One of the Red Stars hopped up on my back & wandered up to my shoulder while I was under the boxes. She was just scoping out the situation.

awwwwww beautiful

 

[OohLaLa]

And you always have the one kid (upper left) wandering away when your going over the rules!

Very cute little fuzzy butts!!

too cute. Can't you just hear someone in Line saying Mamma Joey is not paying attention again. (tattle tattle).

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Thanks! I wasn't too sure if I had the right product, I have some that's been fermenting for a few days and I did put a saucer in but they didn't bother with it, I think that was before they were really hungry right after hatch. Today is day 1.5 so maybe they'll be ready for it!

 

[salt and pepper]

Does any one know of a natural pest preventive, OTHER then DE???

 

[RedRidge]

Does any one know of a natural pest preventive, OTHER then DE???

If you are talking "large" pests... I recommend Italian Maremma (couldn't live without mine).

If you're talking "bug" pests...
I've used Neem oil... can't say that it worked as well as advertised though. Did nothing for the Japanese beatles that attacked my roses in force last year.
Something new I'm trying this year is "Surround"... I had a terrible problem with potato and squash bugs in the garden last year and a friend told me he had starting using this and it worked wonderfully.
I have a bag coming and will let you know in a few months how it works.