The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TipihlowLadies]

The only thing that worked for my dogs was heart worm pills. But it is expensive. On a different subject does anyone use a Little Giant Incubator my wife got one given to her with egg turner.

 

[TipihlowLadies]

With how heavy the males get, I don't know if it would be possible to raise a meatie male to breeding age, and if I did.. They may have issues reproducing because of the sheer size. Even free ranged boys fed very little were HUGE.

don't try the meat boys for breeding they can breed but I spent weeks healing wounds on my hens the roo's weight is to much for the skin and they get bad rips at the thigh you can see all internal organs. I'm crossing with bufforpington. The Cornish x boys I kept to breed with are 18 to 20 pounds at breeding age bigger than my turkeys.

 

[aoxa]

don't try the meat boys for breeding they can breed but I spent weeks healing wounds on my hens the roo's weight is to much for the skin and they get bad rips at the thigh you can see all internal organs. I'm crossing with bufforpington. The Cornish x boys I kept to breed with are 18 to 20 pounds at breeding age bigger than my turkeys.

WOW. Yep.. going to stick with heritage rooster to breed the girls.

 

[JennyRed]

I had a worse problem with fleas while using frontline. I told my vet it didn't work 2 yrs ago. They said it was infestation and the eggs hatch so break the cycle keep using. I said what do you think I have been doing------ I used it regularly. So this year I have not bought any. I have used vinegar spray on my dogs before they go out and if they were out long they got sprayed again- mostly for that dog sweat smell. The cats I spray a cloth and rub then like a wipe bath. So far this year has been very well. I will watch for the mad rush of fleas wanting in for the winter.

I shampoo my carpet with a vinegar solution also, so far so good.

My cats don't take to baths but a brush and flea comb they like. You can get a lot with the flea comb just be sure to drop them in soapy water to hold them down while you comb.

I will use a drop of peppermint oil in the dogs spray but not the cats. Not all cats can tolerate it. But I will put a few drops in the vinegar solution when I clean the carpet. The cats stay out of the room until it drys.

I think you found the problem - the mice.

 

[fallenangel79]

I had a worse problem with fleas while using frontline. I told my vet it didn't work 2 yrs ago. They said it was infestation and the eggs hatch so break the cycle keep using. I said what do you think I have been doing------ I used it regularly. So this year I have not bought any. I have used vinegar spray on my dogs before they go out and if they were out long they got sprayed again- mostly for that dog sweat smell. The cats I spray a cloth and rub then like a wipe bath. So far this year has been very well. I will watch for the mad rush of fleas wanting in for the winter.

I shampoo my carpet with a vinegar solution also, so far so good.

My cats don't take to baths but a brush and flea comb they like. You can get a lot with the flea comb just be sure to drop them in soapy water to hold them down while you comb.

I will use a drop of peppermint oil in the dogs spray but not the cats. Not all cats can tolerate it. But I will put a few drops in the vinegar solution when I clean the carpet. The cats stay out of the room until it drys.

I think you found the problem - the mice.

so Juts spray vinegar on them?

 

[JennyRed]

The dogs I use a spray bottle with 3/4 water and 1/4 ACV add on drop of peppermint oil. Spray bottle I use is 14 ounce bottle. ( I also use this to spray on my hair after shampoo or when dry for tangles or stop friz.) this bottle is marked hair. I spray my dogs back, tail, all leg under leg pits and where tail meets body. Do not spray in eyes or personals will burn badly. Use fine mist on nozzle.

Cats I use another bottle just water and ACV. I do not spray on the cats I spray cloth. This bottle marked kitchen vinegar because I use there too, along with any other thing I need to spray.

 

[nicole63021]

Citrus and eucalyptus oils help deter fleas, but won't kill them unless you use A LOT! Neem oil may also be an option, but not sure with your parrot. Not a huge fan of drugs, but my dogs both get Trifexis (an oral heartworm/flea preventative) as they have some allergies and I've not found a topical that works well. For cats you can look into Comfortis or Capstar, if I had to pick one, it would be Comfortis. The mice are definitely a big factor, especially as the weather cools and the fleas look for a stable place to winter and lay eggs for the spring. Not sure if DE would help or not, have never tried. Best of luck, fleas are pesky little beasts.

 

[AletaG]

Chickens go threw moult..it is natural. They are suppose to do that. If you force them out of a natural moult you add stress on a tiny little body that needs the slow time to recover for winter. Moult makes them stop laying..or at least slow down. They are chickens and are suppose to do chicken things, including a moult. The commercial hatchery's force them to keep laying and force a moult to stop for those eggs. It is a business and the money is not made if a bird is not laying. A bird is not laying if it is moulting. They replace the birds after two laying cycles. After they are done, you can get those birds in the plastic containers at the store sometimes and more than likely they are sold as feed to pigs.

I do not like the idea of giving the birds drugs or additives in a feed for mites, or anything else for that matter.. unless you have mites and do not know how to get rid of them.

Was very annoyed yesterday to pay 24$ for 40lb of whole barley. They only carried the Organic. Sheesh. I just want to sprout it for fodder, so 40lb will last a really long time. BUT. I only pay .20/lb for rolled barley. Doesn't make any sense.
I totally see your logic. I think my friend is more interested in the anti-mite effects than the shortened moult times. She hates using Pyrethrin but hasn't had much luck controlling them with DE. She has a sensitivity to sulfur, so spreading that powder sounds like a bad idea. I've seen her barn, and it seems very clean. She uses deep sand, and cleans the poop out every day. Still has issues with mites. Which is why I'm going to see if I can plant her some hanging 6" wide planters of marigold, and see if "free feeding" will help at all. My understanding is just having the plants around can help. Obviously, I've tried convincing her to free range (won't, it's a high dollar breeding business, and she's had thefts. I hate thieves.) and am working on her doing FF... the probiotic and increased nutrient availability from it might help, too.

Actually in Great Britain it is illegal to feed any meat, cooked or raw, because of the risk of salmonella.

Sometimes laws are not logical. It's what happens when the lawmakers are far removed from the process they are trying to regulate. It works both ways. Sometimes the law is wrong. Sometimes just because something IS legal, doesn't mean it's right. And I tend to not to put weight on most things done "on the continent" or the Island. The only time I'm interested is when our USDA won't allow treatments used for years successfully 'over there'. Or when our lawmakers are so enraptured with anything Euro that they can't use logic and are trying to do whatever-it-is over here.

Camille and I processed 25 chickens this weekend.
Camille took killing pictures. I shared below under a spoiler because they are graphic.

Yeah. Some things are just made to eat other creatures. The only thing that makes my chikies more excited than FF is any kind of meat. Bugs like meal worms are right about on par with FF.

so Juts spray vinegar on them?

I think it's at least a daily thing. Going out, coming in. I've had pretty good luck rubbing a tsp of DE on the back of my dog about once a week. But mice, well, that's how the plague spread, via rodents with fleas. Get rid of the mice, betcha you won't have as much trouble.

 

[Sally8]

On a different subject does anyone use a Little Giant Incubator my wife got one given to her with egg turner.

I have 2. I've always had good luck with them especially going with dry hatches. This year wasn't as good but I bought eggs and had them shipped to me. I believe Rochester, NY post offices like to shake the packages before they come on down to me. My advice, buy a couple Silkie hens and let them do the hatching. What little incubators they are. 100% hatches every time! Only kidding. I like the Little Giants for what I need. I've never hatched expensive eggs.

The dogs I use a spray bottle with 3/4 water and 1/4 ACV add on drop of peppermint oil. Spray bottle I use is 14 ounce bottle. ( I also use this to spray on my hair after shampoo or when dry for tangles or stop friz.) this bottle is marked hair. I spray my dogs back, tail, all leg under leg pits and where tail meets body. Do not spray in eyes or personals will burn badly. Use fine mist on nozzle.

Cats I use another bottle just water and ACV. I do not spray on the cats I spray cloth. This bottle marked kitchen vinegar because I use there too, along with any other thing I need to spray.

I just can't believe that people are asking questions of which I actually have experience. I also use ACV and water, half and half and spray my dogs. I have to vacuum like a crazy woman because fleas this year and last have been horrible. I've always used Frontline Plus for both cats and dogs and feel I'm wasting my money. There is a pill called Comfortis that works really well with my Aussie. I give my Cocker Spaniel baths as she is 15 and doesn't see or hear well any more. I worry that these chemicals might be too much for her. I was also told to use Eucalyptus, but we didn't have much luck. The house smelled nice though.

I am having a flea infestation of my cat. Which I have never had in all the time i have had cats. I don't know if it's the time of year, our new location, or what, but it's bad. and the normal flea treatment is not helping (which I hate using anyway because it cannot be good for the animals) I think that Aoxa had posted product that she uses on her animals in their water? I can't find the name of it, but wanted to try it. My poor cat has lost a bunch of hair off his back from the fleas. I feel like a terrible person and a worse pet owner right now

.

I'm curious also??

On Wednesday I have to have 2 of my older cats put down. At the same time, can you believe it? One has cancer and is ill, the other is very old and is wetting all over the house. I believe in giving my pets the very best life I can but when their quality of life isn't what it should be, then it's time to let go.

 

[delisha]

Quote:

Here is the video.

I don't believe you have to be registered on FB to see it.

They were nice looking birds. I did keep two Delisha, and they were smaller girls. I know they don't breed true, but will they make a good cross with a BR? So they don't grow as fast as store bought chicks. How long did it take you to get them to grow fast enough for early processing?
I kept boys on occasion. They were good for only a few months of breeding. Once they hit 15 lbs it was hard on the hens. You needed to keep nails trimmed and filed and any of the spurs removed. The hens are good for two egg laying seasons at least..nice sized eggs too. Choosing the rock is a good idea. They will make good meat birds and should process the same amount of time. You will have a good meat bird you no longer need to purchase. I no longer have a pure strain of meaties. I butchered out my last few girls. I have two cross breeds left and I am not sure if I am going to breed those for meaties anymore. I need to butcher out a few crosses to the Orps and see how they are.

The only thing that worked for my dogs was heart worm pills. But it is expensive. On a different subject does anyone use a Little Giant Incubator my wife got one given to her with egg turner.

I use the little giant only for hatching..not incubating. They do not have the capabilities of holding temps well and incubating eggs you need good temps. You need to invest in a good hydrometer since the guides on the little giant are not accurate. The extra ones they send are not either.

Quote: The mites live and thrive in sand..one of there favorite places to live.