The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TeaChick]

Hey, ki4got, mind giving me a chicken genetics assessment?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hey, ki4got, mind giving me a chicken genetics assessment?

Take a look here...Ki wrote a mind-bending article on genetics!

 

[TeaChick]

Molting (again).

TC, you were talking about your girl acting off and the strange poo.

I have a little girl turning one at the end of this month. She is my mystery chick but we think a BA. She is very petite and a great egg layer ever since she started.

She began to act "off" a couple weeks ago and I noticed that when she was pooing it was very loose and watery looking from afar when she would go. I had been feeding more oats (sprouted) than I ever do and they have the reputation for causing some digestive issues so I was watching her closely and a little worried.

Yesterday morning when I went out in the morning in the dark before they had left the roost, the whole floor was full of her black feathers. Molting.

So I'm hoping that was what I was observing...her going into a molt.

Just sharing that as it is similar to the description TC gave EXCEPT - she hasn't ever been sick before (which you said yours was) and no yellow poo (at least that I have seen).


WHAT A TERRIBLE TIME TO MOLT for all my "late molters". Temps below 0 F. It's bad enough to have to be out there in bare feet in those temps let alone half naked.

Oh, I'm glad she's molting and not sick!!!

Yeah, I agree it can't be pleasant to walk around half naked in temps like that. lol

BTW, my hen seems to be feeling better. I don't do as good a sick chicken infirmary as one posted recently, but the yogurt and eggs and extra TLC seem to have helped.

 

[TeaChick]

Okay so I have been crazy busy at work and sick for the last week ....I thought I would give you all an update on Pia my Silkie ... well she seems FINE now. That was very strange so I am still watching her .... BUT because nothing can ever be perfect in my world Nugget's eye seems to be swollen again. So I am stumped as to the cause of the swelling..... Delish I know you thought she might have an eye worm but the vet ruled that out .... but it is weird that it is the same eye swollen again .... any other ideas what could be causing this???

I'm glad Pia is doing better!!!

My hen has been acting funny, but seems to be getting better. It all seems to have been nothing in particular and no one else got it and IDK what I did that helped her or if it wasn't anything that I did and she would have taken the same course had I done nothing at all.
Anyway, all that to ask this: If you have the time, would you mind much posting a basic description of Pia's symptoms?

 

[TeaChick]

You know, about three weeks ago one of the sulmtaler pullets started laying. She laid 4 or 5 eggs over the course of a week, but when this cold snap hit and the hens refused to leave the coop, she.....stopped. No eggs. I've never had a pullet stop laying like that, but there is a lot of commotion in the coop with everyone inside. I know some hens like peace and quiet and a hidey hole to lay in. ....

Maybe you could find a less traveled area of your coop and put something there that would help her feel more hidden.
Or, what about hanging a curtain in front of her favorite nesting box. Maybe put or leave an egg in there and put her in there when you hang the curtain, so she knows it's still there?

 

[TeaChick]

You may also note that some of the items listed say that they need to have enzymes added to help with digestion. Sprouting, soaking, or fermenting releases the digestive enzymes in the seeds so that they are more useable by our bodies.

This goes for people eating them too!

Historical research seems to indicate that people from almost all cultures that used seeds as food at any level either soaked, sprouted or soured (fermented) grains before using them for ingestion. Research now shows that this releases enzymes and reduces anti-nutrient properties so that they are more bio-available to us. When not soaked, fermented or sprouted, many of the nutrients pass right through the body AND also strip our system of vital nutrients as well. A double-negative..thus the term "anti-nutrient" as they actually rob the body of nutrients as well.

Thank you for sharing this!!!
I quoted it to keep spreading it; I know some people (yes, I'm one of them) often just skim, so....

 

[TeaChick]

Take a look here...Ki wrote a mind-bending article on genetics!

Ooo, thank you!

iinnppuutt....

 

[TeaChick]

Take a look here...Ki wrote a mind-bending article on genetics!

Oh, wow! You weren't kidding when you said "mind-bending"!!!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Quote:

 

[delisha]

Okay so I have been crazy busy at work and sick for the last week ....I thought I would give you all an update on Pia my Silkie ... well she seems FINE now. That was very strange so I am still watching her .... BUT because nothing can ever be perfect in my world Nugget's eye seems to be swollen again. So I am stumped as to the cause of the swelling..... Delish I know you thought she might have an eye worm but the vet ruled that out .... but it is weird that it is the same eye swollen again .... any other ideas what could be causing this???

Great news about Pia

Vets have little knowledge about chickens..I have had them for 35 years and I still know very little..


http://www.thepoultrysite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=818


1 cc of Ivomec injectable, mixed with 4 parts mineral oil.
Apply 3 drops of this diluted solution to the very top of the bird’s head (close to the eye, but not in the eye).
Do this twice, five days apart.
Also, treated all the birds with an antibiotic in their water for 8 days.

Quote: You worry too much..enjoy your birds and let them sort it out..pecking orders change all the time..I know you are worried about broody's and chicks..however you have no idea if that chicken is ever going to go broody. Chickens do there own thing....some will never go broody and some never stop..some go broody once and never do it again. Relax and enjoy..

Quote: x2