The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
This post has some really great photos of poop boards w/pdz: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/12510#post_11001275

 

[RedRidge]

Haha! A chicken cam, lol!

We have a game cam which has come in very handy in the chicken coop on more than one occasion.
At one point last year I developed an egg breaker...
I wanted to know who it was, so I bungeed the game cam right next to the nesting boxes and figured it out immediately.
Handy little devices... and not just for deer hunting...

 

[Shan30]

Brandislee,

I also wanted to mention that you should
monitor your dogs bowel movements. If he/she is not deficating or it is just liquid. There may be a blockage. If he/she is keeping water down and doing "business" as usual, probably not.

There are a ton of causes for what you are describing. Some very serious, cancer, bloat, blockage, some are nothing to worry about.

If your pup isn't better by Friday I would definitely go to the vet. If it becomes lethargic I would go right away. Some vets will send you a bill rather than making you pay right away if you can't. Never hurts to ask.

Hopefully everything returns to normal soon.

Good luck! Been there

 

[Shan30]

Holy Cow!

That's all I gotta say.... although keep the knife and if attacked, go for the nose.... I read that somewhere.... Bet you were angry, terrified, enraged, all at once.... a typical woman....

Hahaha! Don't forget completely baffled! It's actually the very first I have felt that though...

 

[beccasev]

becc..

welcome to the group..your chick looks like an EE. I see tiny wisps of a beard I think..cute chicks.
As they mature, they will venture out farther, find the best places to find food in the wood, they will think of the woods as safety as they mature. Right now the coop is the safest and they will stay pretty close.
I have a worm bed, compost pile, dirt pile, and I plant spinach, kale, oregano, lavender, lemon balm, mint, cilantro, and many more I can't remember at the edge of the woods on the path. It keeps them busy and pretty close. They usually do not go beyond 2 acres. When the neighbor plants her best flowers I can find them over at her house.

Thanks delisha! I see the wisps in the pics, but I never see it in person. Maybe I can grab her and look closely.I appreciate your insight on free-ranging. This is the first time I've had chicks and wasn't sure what to expect.

 

[Kassaundra]

Shan30, glad you are okay that would be terrifying!!!!!!!!!

 

[Star Flock]

We have a game cam which has come in very handy in the chicken coop on more than one occasion.
At one point last year I developed an egg breaker...
I wanted to know who it was, so I bungeed the game cam right next to the nesting boxes and figured it out immediately.
Handy little devices... and not just for deer hunting...

Haha! I thought we were joking, but sounds like it really came in handy. That's awesome!

This post has some really great photos of poop boards w/pdz: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/12510#post_11001275

Thanks for the link! So PDZ is all natural? Can you put it in their bedding or is it not good for them to possibly eat? I'm really wanting all natural, non-toxic stuff, and am thinking about doing some research on herbs 'n such for chickens.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I really don't know much about pdz. I know folks use it, but I don't put anything in the coop except for dirt and wood chips and grass clippings in the nests. A little ash in the dust bath.

 

[Shan30]

Shan30, glad you are okay that would be terrifying!!!!!!!!! 

Thank you, it really was but I kept thinking I wished I had my camera

 

[TexasLisa]

BEARS!!!

This morning as always my husband opened the pop door at 5 am. I get up at 5:45 and the girls are just starting to come out.

6am they were all out milling around. 6:45 I got out of the shower and looked out the window to see no chickens and lots of feathers. Ran out and one bird came flying out of the brush clearly terrified. Carried her inside and saw another running around the yard.(outside the run). Went to go pick her up, dog went balistic, turned around to face 2 black bears. About 20 feet from me, I was about 30 feet from the coop and 60 from the house.

I raised my arms(yeah right I'm going to look huge with my spindly arms over my 5'2" self), yelled like heck and they did nothing but drool. Needless to say I ran for the coop, slammed my way in and tried to breathe. Waited 15 minutes and they just stared and moved a bit closer.

So I stepped onto the porch of the coop armed with a dull knife and a garbage can lid, threw everything in reach at them. Surprised myself by hitting them a few times but they still did not move.

I ended up waiting them out. Once I could see them through the opposite end of the building I ran to the house, loaded 2 buckshots and a slug and called my husband.

They never came back. Me and my FIL put the fences back up and repaired where we could. Hoping all missing birds will come back but guessing a few met their fate. The others won't let me near them

going to have to wait until they are roosting to check everyone out.

A couple things are resulting from this. Firstly, bear hunting tonight (yes they are in season and tags have been bought) these are 3 yr old cubs whose mom used to visit. I hate to kill anything but you killed my livestock and would have had me too. Secondly, we are building gun safes in each of the outbuildings and will be storing loaded shot guns in each. Turns out this is legal even without safes.

Other than removing the threat, there is nothing I can do. Bears can not be stopped by fencing or even walls. If they had decided to come in the coop they would have. I have never felt that kind of adrenaline, these guys were so close I could smell them.

Something has changed with the bears here. They don't run like they used to. I'm wondering whether they are just running out of food and hungrier or if they have gotten used to us.

Sorry for the super long story! Had to share.

What a way to start the day! Glad you are okay!

Lisa