The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[starlingdaly]

Hi everyone! Really enjoying following this thread! I noticed a few people mentioned finding a larger than normal amount of dead birds, not just babies.
I wanted to add that I have experienced a high mortality rate with my chicks this year and still haven't found the cause. I should have the next bird to die necropsied. Though I hope no more die.
Good luck on the sour crop issue. That is something I haven't had to deal with yet, thankfully.
Happy Memorial Day to all!

 

[salt and pepper]

Hi everyone! Really enjoying following this thread! I noticed a few people mentioned finding a larger than normal amount of dead birds, not just babies.
I wanted to add that I have experienced a high mortality rate with my chicks this year and still haven't found the cause. I should have the next bird to die necropsied. Though I hope no more die.
Good luck on the sour crop issue. That is something I haven't had to deal with yet, thankfully.
Happy Memorial Day to all!

I find that interesting since this year has been one of my best years yet! I have done two batches so far, and NONE have died, as well as none of the adults, I'm wondering if it has to do with where you are?

 

[Quailsong]

salt and pepper, I agree. Location could be an issue. Feed brands another. Maybe something with fluctuating weather; die-off of bugs, pollen, etc. Someone should put together a poll & map, for sure.

 

[starlingdaly]

Wow, congrats, s&p! I've lost one adult, and about a third of my chicks(~12). Mostly bought chicks. I only lost one of the ones I hatched before I sold most of them and they appeared healthy on that day.
It may be my area, no idea. I live outside of Sanford, NC. Anyone in NC having issues, I wonder? (Or NOT having issues. I could rule out area that way)

 

[salt and pepper]

Thank you!! I'm really relieved, since I lost almost half of my birds last year. I'm really thinking feed does have a lot to do with it, I had one chick that was going down hill, but as soon as a I fed her a better quality, fermented feed, she perked up. Pollen could kill a bird? Mine must be immune to that one then! lol, My car becomes yellow within one day of standing still!

 

[Quailsong]

Thank you!! I'm really relieved, since I lost almost half of my birds last year. I'm really thinking feed does have a lot to do with it, I had one chick that was going down hill, but as soon as a I fed her a better quality, fermented feed, she perked up. Pollen could kill a bird? Mine must be immune to that one then! lol, My car becomes yellow within one day of standing still!

Oh no no, not saying random pollen could kill a bird. Just saying that any weird changes in weather, or bugs, or whatnot might be a sign of bigger problems. Offering suggestions, not saying the sky is falling. Just pondering if there's a common connection.

But I would def agree that better feed would help overall. Who knows, the manufacturers could be changing their recipes or whatnot. Or it's just plain random.

 

[delisha]

Sorry about your loss of chicks.

Can you post pictures of your set up for the chicks? Perhaps we can help you stop loosing them.

 

[Kassaundra]

Mealworms, I tried raising them, I gave up after two colony crashes and then very little progress, takes forever to get enough to feed out any at all, and no where near on a daily basis.

Dubias are much more bang for your buck for sure, costs me nearly nothing to feed (food scraps garden veggies especially root veggies and boiled chicken eggs) I modified a non working freezer and have that for housing my husband hooked up a red heat light w/ thermostat control. My chickens get them several times a week.

I am working on starting red wigglers, mostly finished the bed now I'm working on putting substrates in I hope to stock it soon. I have tried bsf larva we have plenty in this area but so far haven't figured out an easy hands off way of doing it. But if I do won't worry about saving them just feeding during natural season here which is about 6 months.

 

[Sally8]

So I made sure to thank my DH this morning (he served in Kuwait in 1991 clearing a major road of undetonated ordinance and bombed out vehicles on a major roadway and clearing bunkers). Of course then he corrected me and said that Memorial Day is for remembering those who lost their lives in wars and Veterans Day is for the veterans. So I slapped him upside the head and told him not to be so difficult.

Way to go, Loin!!

Sorry for your loss. Sometimes crap just happens to good chicken keepers. Don't let it get to you (said the pot to the kettle).

Woohooooo!

I would report it. If your worried about opening a can of worms, just report it anonymously. What if it is the bird flu or another virus deadly to poultry? You'd want to know about that - especially if it could affect your flock.


Have not done it yet. Everyone please weigh in with the best (and most natural) ways to cure sour crop.

I also read that but our hero's do not get the recognition they deserve. Why not appreciate some why they are still alive. My DH remembers being spit on one of the times he came home from Vietnam. He's no longer the same man. (So many mental issues)

 

[Sally8]

For 2-3 weeks I've had 2 hens on one nest. 2 days ago I heard peeping and saw the hens pecking at something. They were pecking the chick. My first hen hatched chick. The next day I found a dead chick in the nest and today I picked a hen up to check and saw a chick in the final stages of getting out of the egg. I left it for about an hour and then rechecked. The hens had pecked it's head clean off. I removed both hens off the nest and brought the remaining 4 eggs in and put them in the incubator (I have poults due to hatch tomorrow) I am just sick. I have renamed them The Twisted Sisters. Since I only have 3 BCM, they are all done brooding.

Can anyone tell me where or how I can obtain the Black Copper Marans SOP?