The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[CoopChick719]

Has anyone used the Vet RX?  It's basically essential oils and I got some to put in my first aid kit.  Just wondering if anyone has ever used it?

Yes used vetrx on my last sick girl, Maran when she started coughing rubbed it into her comb ears nares I think it helped.

 

[Scott H]

I was going to see how they roosted last night but I was too late. .. the door opened and they were out under the Cedar trees. Oprah is shivering a little. I fed then some warm FF with BOSS added. Anything else I can do. .. maybe throw some scratch out so they move around more. She's got no neck feathers.

 

[armorfirelady]

I take it you keep feed and water inside? this is the third day in a row I've had to shoo the girls out of the coop. Once they get outside, they are totally fine.

here they are under the front end of the coop. You can see the haybales in the back - to be replaced next winter by scavanged storm windows so it is more light.

supposed to get 8 more inches today. Not sure what I will do about tomorrow - leave for work at 4:30 am and by the time it gets light out hours later, there will be snow on the chicken ramp and no one will go out. Do I accept the inevitable and put feed and water in the coop? Or do I let them be? Monday of this week they were still inside the coop at 2 pm because there was snow on the ramp and all around.....

Their water is inside because I had already ran the extension cord. But I feed them outside in the rubber bowls. I think once I fed inside on the same shelf the water is because the temps were in the single digits and the wind chill made it lower. The girls refused to budge from the coop. I can't really blame them. But I still only feed once a day in the afternoon.

I find when they get hungry enough they come out for food esp if I set it at the end of their covered walkway. They might not stay out but the want to eat.

My work schedule changes so I don't always get to shovel in the morning. But I still see tracks from one brave soul who ventured out. Probably Stella looking for food

I was going to see how they roosted last night but I was too late. .. the door opened and they were out under the Cedar trees. Oprah is shivering a little. I fed then some warm FF with BOSS added. Anything else I can do. .. maybe throw some scratch out so they move around more. She's got no neck feathers.

Lucy was cold to but she stayed in the coop more often when the temps were low. Eventually they grow back in. I want to say it was less than 2 weeks before I noticed her neck feathers were back in.
I am sure she is plenty warm at night. My smallest girls always get between the bigger girls and hunker right down. I like to check feet & under their feathers and they are always toasty warm.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
supposed to get hit again this weekend...

 

[Scott H]

I've thought about using a piece of heat tape on the bottom side of their roost when it get really cold. Have to research the temp those heat tapes reach but I wouldn't think much above freezing. I would just use it when temps dropped below zero which it does now and then. We have seen minus 30's before.
I believe this would be the safest, most cost effective way to keep them warm in extreme temps.

 

[Leahs Mom]

My 2 BR's look like yours...the BR's seem to get hit the most here w/the molt. One of them had a completely bare bottom with no fluff whatsoever. Both of them sit around looking miserable.

I was concerned about night temps on those bottoms especially, but neither of them seem worse for the wear. They were in the teens in that condition and sometimes one of them would roost by herself away from the others and still is okay.

They really do get acclimated to the cold without adding heat. Ask Aoxa about her temperatures!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Interesting use of the canning funnel! I like

PS: I think it's a canning funnel? If not, that would be a great use for one

 

[Leahs Mom]

Naturewise feed recall FYI

Quote: .

 

[Scott H]

Her pin feathers are getting quite long. .. maybe they'll open soon.
I fed them some turkey and then threw some rolled oats around.. there is almost always some 3 grain scratch to peck at in the yard plus free choice pellets. They seem to be doing fine. .. they get no sun until the afternoons

 

[lalaland]

Interesting use of the canning funnel! I like

PS: I think it's a canning funnel? If not, that would be a great use for one

It would be a great use for a canning funnel, but it isn't one....this is a puppy feeding bowl, stainless steel. It was only 5 bucks, and I figured it was big enough to create more "space" around it, and the bump in the middle would keep the feed close to the edge. Its working so far.