The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Oh...and there are scabs on some of my kiddos...I think just from scruffing around on forest floor with all kinds of rough objects coming in contact with bare feet that are scratching constantly.

 

[Kassaundra]

Aoxa - Can you comment on the difference in how the legs looked from the one that DID have infection compared to the ones that don't? It may be helpful for folks to have a description. First, we know he was limping. How did it look?

I'm not aoxa, but I had a chicken go lame suddenly that I culled and took pics of the inside issues, leg and other. My boy did not have an "infection" as in puss on exam. There was no external difference in my guy's legs other then the lameness, even on palpation here is the thread w/ the pics. These are graphic autopsy pics just be advised.


ooops forgot the link!!!! https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/807253/graphic-autopsy-pics-any-ideas-new-leg-pics-added

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa - Can you comment on the difference in how the legs looked from the one that DID have infection compared to the ones that don't? It may be helpful for folks to have a description. First, we know he was limping. How did it look?

The leg looked normal. Maybe a little swelling on the top of his foot. Nothing hugely notable. The limping was what had me noticing. I looked under his feet for scabs and he did not have them, so I am not sure how they got infected. It was actually only one leg.

So if you see swelling and limping on a leg, might be something to consider.

 

[BlueMouse]

yeesh. I'm gone for five days and you guys go crazy on me! Lots to catch up on. Red ridge, glad to see you back. I am very much enjoying the discussion of protiens as I am getting ready to change to a winter ration in a month or so....

Those who have turkeys, is it normal for them to have some very runny poops? No messy butts, no weird colors, just, wet. Thinking I may garlic and cayenne them all just to be safe. Gave them a bunch of pumpkin guts in their dinner last night too. can't hurt. Turkeys are also pretty small, which is dissappointing. I'm thinking I may have restricted their feed too early. They get free range, and have FULL crops every night now, then get a big feed before bed. Still the biggest of them is maybe 25lbs live weight. Dissapointing but a learning experience. Feed more during the first 4-6 weeks before they go on range, then restrict after they get free range.

I'm partway through my second run of broilers. They're 3 1/3 weeks old, and although their backs are feathered their little buts and tummys are naked. We're having frost some nights now. Do you think I can put them outside? there's 25 of them to pile up and keep warm, and the one end of the tractor is sheltered. I just don't want them to freeze to death.

The fence SEEMS to have solved my fox problem, so I bought two turkens. They're in quarantine right now. 5 weeks old and black. so cute. I really really wanted a barred turken or ones with the black skin, but couldn't find any of those locally.... which is sad. I love the ones with the black skin that Kassundra has!

about POL.... my cuckoo marans is STILL not laying. she was advertized as about 12 weeks when I bought her in april. So she should be like 34 weeks now??? Not an egg in sight. I've looked everywhere I can think of where she might be sneak laying... I felt her pelvis points and they still seem very close. EE and bantam are over six months and haven't laid yet either. I'm beginning to think I will NEVER HAVE EGGS AGAIN. ok. so that's probably over dramatic. But still!

 

[rowerjen]

okay fellow natural chicken keepers, time for some absurdity. I think this might be the only thing that could top the 100K Nieman Marcus chicken coop. Those of you with an entrepreneurial bent might see a way to finally make money off of meat birds.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/17/d...diet-of-four-star-scraps.html?pagewanted=1&hp

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

okay fellow natural chicken keepers, time for some absurdity. I think this might be the only thing that could top the 100K Nieman Marcus chicken coop. Those of you with an entrepreneurial bent might see a way to finally make money off of meat birds.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/17/d...diet-of-four-star-scraps.html?pagewanted=1&hp

Oh, brother. It is still factory-farmed chicken in a can ... "On a recent afternoon at the farm, where a few hundred creatures inhabit a peaceful, 15,000-square-foot coop that would dwarf the size of most New York apartments, they clucked and ambled around pans of bread soaked in fresh milk, and white buckets full of leafy trimmings that would make a tremendous tossed salad." I wonder if anyone has thought about letting the chicken out of the can so it can scratch around in the dirt eating weeds and bugs ... and then tasting it.

Has anyone ever been in a NY apartment BIGGER than 15,000 square feet? Or a house anywhere? Cuz that word "most" really sticks out to me.

 

[armorfirelady]

Aoxa I don't know if wet ground is part of the problem. We had almost a month of rain in June but July & August were dry. Last check green was only one with the problem. I really think it was the chicken wire I had on the ground that caused it. I removed her boots this morning, cleaned up her feet & then coated them with blue kote. She had some eggs with garlic and oregano to.

Figured I share a funny pic. I have 3 nesting boxes for 8 girls. Apparently only one works :/

Lucky was in there first and I figured I would finally see what egg is hers. Then black started squeaking up a storm and kept trying to get in with Lucy. She finally succeeded .......left & Lucy still in there. I wish I could figure out what's so special about that box lol mind you black is my biggest hen & Lucy is not small either.

 

[camilleathome]

Hey guys can I have suggestions for nice cheep nesting boxes? On a budget and want to get a few things done for the coop area

 

[jlynnet]

We built ours out of left over plywood and other wood. We made a group of 6 at one time. 3 on top 3 on the bottom. I'll have to get dimensions from my husband. I might have a picture. I think each box is about 13x13 on the inside. The back is taller on the top level and the roof is angled.

 

[hotrodflash]

Hey guys can I have suggestions for nice cheep nesting boxes? On a budget and want to get a few things done for the coop area

I have seen people use cardboard boxes, a strawberry flat box would work very well, I think. And once the boxes get nasty, toss them and replace with new boxes.