The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Alpacas aren't big spitters like llamas unless they feel threatened. Even then you can see/hear it coming. Nope she hasn't spit at us

That's a relief! It was making me nervous being so close to her face!!

LM..







and just for fun

Thanks! You'll have to report and let us know if you observe it helping! I think that reflector mirror thing was interesting too.

Made me think of doing something like just getting 12x12" mirror tiles and setting them up here and there. Probably wouldn't be and reflective as the little ones on the cone, but may cause a bit of confusion overhead.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Lala...keep us updated! I also wonder on the worms. I haven't seen any signs in mine, but they can obviously get them somehow. Also makes me think that they probably came w/worms when you got them so trying to figure it all out may be impossible. The issue may not be at your place at all.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Any one have an update on Mumsy?

 

[AletaG]

Any one have an update on Mumsy?

Mumsy's Romantic Garden Advice <-- last seen here... apparently she's taking a tech breather, and has been properly chastised for not letting us all who follow her a lot know.

 

[Alaskan]

I am super excited, I need twelve thousand people to share my joy..


I bought a muscovy flock this summer, and one of the ducks wanted to go broody, I let her....ducklings started hatching yesterday, more are hatched today (I think ten) and there was one more pipping, she was on 14 perfectly fertile and healthy eggs (I candled them all last week).



My flock is a mix of colors...it looks like the babies are mostly chocolate (like the broody), one black, and at least one very light something (the drake is silver, the other ducks are blue and lavender).

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I am super excited, I need twelve thousand people to share my joy..


I bought a muscovy flock this summer, and one of the ducks wanted to go broody, I let her....ducklings started hatching yesterday, more are hatched today (I think ten) and there was one more pipping, she was on 14 perfectly fertile and healthy eggs (I candled them all last week).



My flock is a mix of colors...it looks like the babies are mostly chocolate (like the broody), one black, and at least one very light something (the drake is silver, the other ducks are blue and lavender).

Oh how awesome! People have been asking me about moscoyes ... wanting me to supply them. Maybe some day!

 

[lazy gardener]

Guess what????? Mrs. Murphy, whose comb had pinked up the tiniest bit this moring, and who got a dose of safeguard equine paste last night, had worms in her droppings this morning.


I saw some moving. See all the white strands in the pic? there is one long one in the upper left corner, and others on the brown dropping part. I haven't seen worms in person, so these were so thin that if they hadn't moved, I would have thought they were just strands of urate. I am glad I got to see this because now I might recognize worms in droppings - I'm sure I have seen this before. am totally grossed out and totally relieved. Have to repeat the dose in 10 days.

I brought her outside to temporarily join the flock while they were grazing, and there was absolutely no reaction from the flock to her. I've had hens separated for just a day that were viewed as strangers, so this is a relief, too. She grazed for a bit, and then went into a rosebush and closed her eyes, so I scooped her up and brought her back in. She walked into the kennel, sank down, and started to doze. She is very weak, and I don't know how long it will take her to recover. eating well, but I am thinking the worm overload is severe.


You can see she isn't looking too perky!


I am putting soapy water in the water pail this afternoon, I know you aren't supposed to worm hens who are molting but I hope the soapy method is less harsh until the older hens finish molting and I will worm everyone.


Now to figure out what causes an overload of worms? Does it have to be a weak constitution?

Please explain the soapy water? Thanks.

 

[Leahs Mom]

On the soap:
Not all soap works, but for sure the Shaklee's basic H soap can be used to deworm and should be much easier on the system than the chemical wormers. I had first read about it in Joel Salatin's books. Cattlemen use it quite frequently and I believe it is still approved for use on organic farms too.

Some basic H info: (Note under wetting agent - cutting the protective coating on insects...I believe it is the surfactants that cause that.)
http://lindholm.myshaklee.com/us/en/about_farmranch_basic_h.html

I have a bottle in my chicken first-aid stuff but have never used it yet.



Here is the info from Joel Salatin's Book on the basic H as they used it for cattle:



Quote:
Copyright Material quoted for educational purposes only.
Salad Bar Beef by Joel Salatin
Pages 164-166
Copyright 1995 by Joel Salatin












More info on surfactants:
Quote:

 

[Leahs Mom]

http://www.shaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00015

Interesting read on the stuff being used by these folks:
http://homesteadletters.com/?p=970

 

[aaggjg]

Guess what????? Mrs. Murphy, whose comb had pinked up the tiniest bit this moring, and who got a dose of safeguard equine paste last night, had worms in her droppings this morning.

Wow I would have thought those were urates too!! I have a few hens pooping mucusy white & one very watery ... She's molting .... Why aren't you supposed to worm molting hens?? Too hard on their systems?? I have been debating worming my hens as the necropsy of my recently deceased hen showed worm eggs in her feces.... I have been giving them all the natural things to deter worms cayenne, pumpkin, garlic ,wormwood, oregano, shaklee's basic H soap, DE etc etc and still the necropsy showed worms.... makes me wonder if any of these work. Or do they just keep the worm load in check?? I know there will always be worms it is a matter of keeping them under control but how do you know without doing a fecal???

What would cause a hen to poop water?? No its not hot here .... She acts totally fine... just molting ....