The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Pozees]

Salt and Pepper - it is common practice among some dog breeders to place a tray of bleach water next to the doorway into their kennels in an attempt to prevent cross-contamination. All who enter must step into the tray before entering the kennel. In your case, it might be useful to place such a tray to step in outside the neighbor's chicken run, another at the end of his driveway, and maybe even a third at the beginning of yours. Leave a few pre-mixed gallons at each location. Don't dump it on grass.

If you decide to treat his flock, you should tell him. I understand your reasoning, but at a certain point you have to be honest and tell him you are worried about contamination potential, that you have already treated your flock, and whether it's his birds, or the native soil harboring some infectious agent (most likely), if your birds are better after treatment his will be as well. I assume you would use a water soluble broad spectrum antibiotic commonly available at the local feed/supply store?

I have read several times that certain places harbor Marek's. If the soil in your locality is one of those places, and I believe such places are numerous, then the birds that are still alive have developed immunity, whether inborn or through recovery from infection, or they were vaccinated as chicks. I have also read that one can develop immunity in the flock by running a turkey or more with the chickens, but have not tried it.

 

[Pozees]

Oh - one other possibility - what about those paper booties used in hospitals? They might work as well.

 

[delisha]

Quarantine questions: I am almost finished with my coop/run. My preference/fantasy is to find 4-6 pullets (Barred Rock, Light Sussex, and Silver-laced Wayandotte) all living at the same farm, so I can bring them all home together. I know this is unrealistic. So I most likely will find one breed at one place. No quarrantine problem. BUT if I ordered a couple from two (or three) different places, I would want to/need to quarrantine, right? I only have the one coop/run. I'm in a residential neighborhood (can have up to 12 hens, but am feeling like 6 is plenty) and have spent all my money on the main coop/run so I don't have space/money for extra safe coops/runs. Advice? Thanks.

Suggestion..

Get all the birds on the same day. Make sure you get them from reputable breeders. Have them tested before you purchase them. Do a stool sample on each bird when you get them. Test for cocci and worms. (Those tests are usually reasonable).
I would feed FF, heavy with garlic and oregano. If anyone tests positive for cocci, treat the whole group. If anyone tests positive for worms, treat the whole group. This will mean you do not quarantine. Your treat the group as a whole.
Some breeders vaccine for all diseases. You can go that route.
I do not think you will have problems finding a good breeder that has all of those breeds. I know of a few that have both BR and SLW. I am not sure about the light sussex.
You can do an inquiry right here on BYC.

? what can make meat birds tough .

incorrect cooling after the processing. Chickens need to be cooled for 2-3 days before cooking. I cut that time by brining after 12 hours.

New recipie

5 lemons, halved
24 bay leaves
1 bunch rosemary
1 bunch parsley
1 bunch thyme
1 cup honey
1/2 brown sugar
2 heads garlic, halved through the equator
1/4 cup black peppercorns
2 cups kosher salt
2 gallons water
boil and cool completly

place the chickens in a large bucket or cooler covered in ice for 12 hours. Drain off the water and leave any ice, pour the brine on and make sure the chickens are completely covered. Keep them cold in the brine for 12 hours by adding ice in the cooler.
roast or grill

Just had a very weird and sad thing happen.

Our friend has a small flock with no roosters. Two of his hens went broody. As he gets only brown eggs he asked us for 3 blue and 3 white to put under them so he could tell them apart.

Sadly he came home one day this week to find both of the broodies dead in the coop but not on the eggs. No marks on them. Said they had looked pale but since they were less than a week off hatch day that didn't seem too strange. Even weirder... The blue eggs had turned brown.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Could they have caught something from our flock?

We have added new birds without them getting sick so I don't think it would be from ours. Poor things.

I'll be bringing him some chicks once they hatch.

Blue eggs can't just turn brown unless they are rotten. Or perhaps he had not checked on them in a while and those brown eggs belonged to them since they lay brown eggs. Or it could be the birds starved on the nests. If I have a broody getting pale combs I know they have been on the nest to long and I take them off to go eat and drink. Some birds refuse to get off the nest. Both dying on the same day points to predators. I have never heard of a sickness of contaminated eggs killing a hen. However I would be interested to learn more about it if it is a possibility.

I'm going to have to take care of someone Else's birds for the week... Any ideas on how to make sure my birds don't get infected with anything his have? I know they have a respiratory sickness, and something else too, I REALLY don't want my birds getting sick, anything I can do to keep the flocks separated?? Thanks!

There is no way to make sure. You risk your birds by taking care of other birds.
To help prevent it you need to use bio security measures.
Invest in a bio suit and disposable shoe covers. Leave them in a closed container in your car.
Use gloves, use hand sanitizer before, after and during. Take a shower when you get home. Do not ware the same clothing with your birds until it has be laundered.

I am still trying to power through the trinity of threads, what a lot of reading! And it doesn't help that I am copy/pasting everything that strikes me into a word file. Certainly don't want to try to have to wade through all this again to find some info that I KNOW is in there lol.

I have two 15 m. buff orpington hatchery hens, they didn't molt last fall, laid regular as clockwork even without extra light. Their feathers look AWFUL. I've checked in bright light and at night for mites and lice, no signs of either. Down is really good, even some new feather nibs, skin is all good nice and pink. They have really taken to the FF (half all flock, half oats, with a handful of BOSS), they get fresh cut field grasses, veg, a meal worm every once in a while as I cannot free range. One is still regular with her egg, the other not so much maybe two a week.

Do the feathers just get worn? They look all lacy like the barbels have worn off, but the darn things just will not drop. Anything else I should be looking for?

Thanks for any ideas.

You are not feeding enough meat proteins

Question? I have totally free range hens, one has stopped laying in house. I found the secret egg stash today when I followed her she had 19 eggs in there and I didn't realize. I am trying to keep them in coop/ run longer to force house laying but she seems to be particularly stressed and when let her out she makes a hard bee line for nesting area. If forced will she start laying on house again or wait till I do let them out later in day?

She is prepping for nesting and hatching. Get a covered tote and put the nest including some of the nesting materials, some of egg in the tote(Mark the eggs). Cut an entrance hole in the tote and place it in your coop. Put her in it. She will stay in the coop more than likely with the nest of eggs. It sounds like she is going broody.

From Mumsy: Weasels are perfect little killing machines. That doesn't make them evil. Anymore than I would think of a domestic cat as evil. They are perfect killing machines as well. Both could cause havoc in my barn if allowed access. This is key. ACCESS.[/SIZE]
Rats are the normal diet of weasels. They can access a barn or coop from an opening as small as one inch. They find a ready made highway in old rat tunnels. If you kill off rats on your property and don't deal with the tunnels.....Weasels will need a new food source and rat tunnels will give them access....To your chickens.

I have tons of chipmunks and red squirrels. They will tunnel under and into a coop/run to get to the food; making a "highway" for weasels. (I've seen them in my yard.). So...I literally have wrapped my coop/run in 1/2 inch hardware cloth. (I HAVE been accused of over-building before!

) I will only be able to "cheap range" (as opposed to free) so when I am at work or asleep I can be reasonably sure the hens will be safe.

Better to be over built than under built.

 

[redrstr29]

Hi guys, I don't know what direction this thread has gone, since I only got through the first few pages out of the MANY that there are, But I'd like to add in my few cents, First off im only 29 but have been raising chickens STEADY for about 15 years, I lived/live on a farm with my family, Let me start off by saying I order about 50 chicks EVERY YEAR IF NOT MORE, I have never had a case of "pasty but" and didn't know what it was until i signed up to BYC this year, I have never had to put sugar in their water or feed them sav a chick, I Honestly believe all these things are probablly making these chicks have wierd side effect, Through all these years Ive lost maybe 5 chicks under the age of 4 months all other losses were due to predators, I dont get it, all these illnesses I see that these chicks have?, I never even had cocci but maybe 2 times max in all my years, Ive also Never once used a heat lamp? They always just stayed in a box huddled up, and Ive never had an issue? I think all these products are honestly designed for the companies to make money, unless its just me, I use regular medicated chick feed and switch as needed to adult food, clean their water 3 times daily and bedding every other day or as needed, Never used electrolytes etc.? I also was told not to fuss too much with handling the chicks until they're about 2 weeks old... I hope someone can attest to my methods, I KNOW I cant be the only one
Thanks everyone

Aldo

 

[Pozees]

Hi guys, I don't know what direction this thread has gone, since I only got through the first few pages out of the MANY that there are, But I'd like to add in my few cents, First off im only 29 but have been raising chickens STEADY for about 15 years, I lived/live on a farm with my family, Let me start off by saying I order about 50 chicks EVERY YEAR IF NOT MORE, I have never had a case of "pasty but" and didn't know what it was until i signed up to BYC this year, I have never had to put sugar in their water or feed them sav a chick, I Honestly believe all these things are probablly making these chicks have wierd side effect, Through all these years Ive lost maybe 5 chicks under the age of 4 months all other losses were due to predators, I dont get it, all these illnesses I see that these chicks have?, I never even had cocci but maybe 2 times max in all my years, Ive also Never once used a heat lamp? They always just stayed in a box huddled up, and Ive never had an issue? I think all these products are honestly designed for the companies to make money, unless its just me, I use regular medicated chick feed and switch as needed to adult food, clean their water 3 times daily and bedding every other day or as needed, Never used electrolytes etc.? I also was told not to fuss too much with handling the chicks until they're about 2 weeks old... I hope someone can attest to my methods, I KNOW I cant be the only one
Thanks everyone

Aldo

Never used a heat lamp on day old chicks? Where are you and what time of year are you getting chicks? Here in CO it is 90 degrees + every day, nights *might* make it as cool as 60, but earlier in the year obviously much cooler. Right now I can brood without lights inside a coop, but not in March, April, and this year, part of May. Ashdoes is only a few dozen miles North of me, she can probably say the same thing although her nights are a bit cooler. I am really interested in your brooding setup if you are in a colder area and/or brooding earlier in the year. Well no, I take that back, I'm interested regardless.

 

[redrstr29]

LOL Im in Connecticut, I get them every march, if I get 50 they start off in a 4 ftx4foot card board box filled 3 inches with wood chips (no not the kind that can cause respitory issues) AND I have them indoors, I usually have the box real close the base board heater and in the sun through a window during the day, My brother owns a distrobution company so I can easily find card board boxes as they get larger, Then at night I cover up the box doing that over and under fold with a few hole poled in the sides and cover it loosely with a couple blankets and push it back near a base board heater, usually in march it kicks on an off frequently cause its still cold up here
Aldo

 

[Ashdoes]

My chicks get heat, they can go under it as they choose, but I wouldn't not heat them. It does get pretty cool here in the evenings, and I'd prefer they not mound on eachother. I've read quite a few stories about the chick dead under the group of huddled chicks. To each their own.
My little cream Legbars are feathering so fast, and they seem huge. This is our first batch of chicks on FF, so it's amazing to me how well they're doing. And, with the Eco glow I haven't had one pasty butt. My barred rock from our very first chickens had pasty butt for a week, and I hated dealing with it, this is much easier.
We have just under a week left on our first broody eggs. We went out last night to candle and one of the eggs had a hole pecked in it. We took it out and cracked it open and it was messy yellow with a little development but was mostly rotten. The rest looked to be developing, but it was our first time candling, so we're just waiting.
Also, two weeks ago I did Nu-stock on four of my hens messy butts, after clipping off poo clumps, three Cochin and the Rock. They're all now fluffy and clean back there now. The poo had clumped and gotten heavy enough that it was pulling feathers out, so I'm glad one treatment worked. Hubby had to help hold the girls and said, "ew, chicken butt" over and over.

 

[delisha]

Hi guys, I don't know what direction this thread has gone, since I only got through the first few pages out of the MANY that there are, But I'd like to add in my few cents, First off im only 29 but have been raising chickens STEADY for about 15 years, I lived/live on a farm with my family, Let me start off by saying I order about 50 chicks EVERY YEAR IF NOT MORE, I have never had a case of "pasty but" and didn't know what it was until i signed up to BYC this year, I have never had to put sugar in their water or feed them sav a chick, I Honestly believe all these things are probablly making these chicks have wierd side effect, Through all these years Ive lost maybe 5 chicks under the age of 4 months all other losses were due to predators, I dont get it, all these illnesses I see that these chicks have?, I never even had cocci but maybe 2 times max in all my years, Ive also Never once used a heat lamp? They always just stayed in a box huddled up, and Ive never had an issue? I think all these products are honestly designed for the companies to make money, unless its just me, I use regular medicated chick feed and switch as needed to adult food, clean their water 3 times daily and bedding every other day or as needed, Never used electrolytes etc.? I also was told not to fuss too much with handling the chicks until they're about 2 weeks old... I hope someone can attest to my methods, I KNOW I cant be the only one
Thanks everyone

Aldo

Aldo,

We all do things different. Just because you do it different than most does not make you wrong. Just because someone adds electrolytes to the water does not make them wrong. If you have never used it how would you know about side effects? It just makes a different way to raise chickens. As long as it is working..it is the right way and that is all that matters. Welcome to the group and all input is welcome and appreciated, especially if it is done is a positive sharing manner. Chickens have had illness since conception and that is way before the 15th century brought Illness and disease in chickens from broiler houses, so it is not new., The Internet has made sharing the information about diseases and illnesses easier. 100 years ago it simply was not shared or discussed unless you attended classes or went to bird shows, or worked in chicken houses. At home and most farms, treatments were natural, like using a sharp knife, dishwater, motor oil and garlic. When big business and chicken factory's started up in the 17th century, the diseases went out of control. Conditions made it impossible to have healthy chickens. Slowly science has made new drugs to control the diseases. Vaccines are given to most new chicks to help prevent the spread of disease. Antibiotics given so less die. That is where side effects come in. Kids with new sicknesses like Autism.
You use heat, what difference does it make what type of heat it is? There is nothing wrong with register heat and nothing wrong with another source of heat as long as the chicks thrive. 100 chicks in a small cardboard box will give off a lot of heat all on there own. A chickens body temperature is over 102.

LOL Im in Connecticut, I get them every march, if I get 50 they start off in a 4 ftx4foot card board box filled 3 inches with wood chips (no not the kind that can cause respitory issues) AND I have them indoors, I usually have the box real close the base board heater and in the sun through a window during the day, My brother owns a distrobution company so I can easily find card board boxes as they get larger, Then at night I cover up the box doing that over and under fold with a few hole poled in the sides and cover it loosely with a couple blankets and push it back near a base board heater, usually in march it kicks on an off frequently cause its still cold up here
Aldo

Its great it works for you Aldo. That is all that matters.

 

[redrstr29]

Aldo,

We all do things different. Just because you do it different than most does not make you wrong. Just because someone adds electrolytes to the water does not make them wrong. If you have never used it how would you know about side effects? It just makes a different way to raise chickens. As long as it is working..it is the right way and that is all that matters. Welcome to the group and all input is welcome and appreciated, especially if it is done is a positive sharing manner. Chickens have had illness since conception and that is way before the 15th century brought Illness and disease in chickens from broiler houses, so it is not new., The Internet has made sharing the information about diseases and illnesses easier. 100 years ago it simply was not shared or discussed unless you attended classes or went to bird shows, or worked in chicken houses. At home and most farms, treatments were natural, like using a sharp knife, dishwater, motor oil and garlic. When big business and chicken factory's started up in the 17th century, the diseases went out of control. Conditions made it impossible to have healthy chickens. Slowly science has made new drugs to control the diseases. Vaccines are given to most new chicks to help prevent the spread of disease. Antibiotics given so less die. That is where side effects come in. Kids with new sicknesses like Autism.
You use heat, what difference does it make what type of heat it is? There is nothing wrong with register heat and nothing wrong with another source of heat as long as the chicks thrive. 100 chicks in a small cardboard box will give off a lot of heat all on there own. A chickens body temperature is over 102.
Its great it works for you Aldo. That is all that matters.

Thank you sooooo much I know about side effect from reading all these posts here and listening to my friends, I didnt mean to imply anything at all about other methods, I was just sharing what I've done and wondering if anyone else has used similar methods and had such great results, I believe that you understood what I meant, I actually would use an antibiotic If it came down to it!, just I never had too

, I by no means intend to offend anyone, or judge them on their methods at all, just keeping it easy has proven well for me all these years, and just showing my point of view that maybe...in some instances keeping it simple may work also, BUT on the other hand I also raise rabbits, now I completely gave into everything I read when I first started...lol...I mean everything, lol every thing that was suggested for my pregnant does I did, though now I learned what I need to do and not to do.....As I was reading through all the earlier threads I noticed that you all are not easily offended and actually told people if they couldnt take the heat stay out of the kitchen lol ...I did laugh, I think this thread is so wonderful and has such a diverse appetite, I like seeing what everyone has to say and had to say

Aldo

 

[lalaland]

Also, two weeks ago I did Nu-stock on four of my hens messy butts, after clipping off poo clumps, three Cochin and the Rock. They're all now fluffy and clean back there now. The poo had clumped and gotten heavy enough that it was pulling feathers out, so I'm glad one treatment worked. Hubby had to help hold the girls and said, "ew, chicken butt" over and over.

thats great that cleared it up - I'll be interested to know if they keep their fluffly butts for a good period of time. I occassionally have had to clean up someone whose stuck poop gets to heavy on the feathers like that - I think once some gets caught, the next load catches, and it kind of repeats itself. havent done the nustock, just cleaned them up. let us know how long they stay clean an d fluffy! If it lasts longer than mine do, I'll add nustock to the routine next time.

update on banty chick
i finally heard back from the hatching woman and she did offer to trade for another chick. but now I've gotten attached, and the comments from some of you about your own bantams makes me think I'm going to try it. this banty doesn't really act like a chick, totally different personality.

I've resigned myself to just not knowing what some of these chicks are! mysteries are fun.

Aldo, welcome to the thread. I take it some of the chicks you raise are for meat?