The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lindz8504]

Yesterday we processed 9 roosters in the snow. Anyway, when we eviscerated one we were never able to find his heart. We did find 3 little pieces of tissue that resembled organ tissue but they were only about the size of a nickel combined. It was so bizarre! This was my first time processing but I am very familiar with anatomy and I am not sure what was going on! Any idea? And unfortunately I didn't get any pictures.

 

[marktoo]

Yesterday we processed 9 roosters in the snow. Anyway, when we eviscerated one we were never able to find his heart. We did find 3 little pieces of tissue that resembled organ tissue but they were only about the size of a nickel combined. It was so bizarre! This was my first time processing but I am very familiar with anatomy and I am not sure what was going on! Any idea? And unfortunately I didn't get any pictures.

Bummer one of my favorite parts. Did you at least get an extra gizzard or liver?

 

[delisha]

Just found this on one of my hens. Is this poultry lice? How can I treat them.

I am not sure..to be honest..could be lice.. mites..it is some kind of pest.
If you have a fire place, the wood ash is great for a dust bath. The ash kills and smothers the lice..you need to repeat in 10 days or until they are gone and check every few days..sometime they have eggs and those will hatch so you need to catch those..I would use a cloth and wipe Neem Oil on all surfaces the chickens sleep on to convince the bugs to leave. You can add citrus peeling and natural herbs to help keep bugs out.

Many will recommend different things. This is a natural site and the first line in this is we promote chemical free treatment. Many times chemical treatment is necessary is the pests have taken over the coop. Prevention is the first step in bug control.
Prevention:
Dust bathing area
Clean nesting area with herbs to deter pests (garlic, dill, lavender, mint...etc)
Checking fowl often for pests

Yesterday we processed 9 roosters in the snow. Anyway, when we eviscerated one we were never able to find his heart. We did find 3 little pieces of tissue that resembled organ tissue but they were only about the size of a nickel combined. It was so bizarre! This was my first time processing but I am very familiar with anatomy and I am not sure what was going on! Any idea? And unfortunately I didn't get any pictures.

It might have been lost in the intestines..sometimes hearts can be pretty small or get confused with the Pancreas and is tossed out with the intestines.

 

[Scott H]

We have a SLW, Juanita, who is a year old this month. She has never layed an egg. The other two Wyandottes we have started laying at 6 months...Oprah finished her molt, is looking beautiful again and layed our first egg yesterday in quite some time. Tina is molting now so not laying.....Juanita has not molted yet. What's the deal with Juanita? Is there a chance she will start laying or is she barren for life? And no, we will not eat her. :-D

 

[lindz8504]

Bummer one of my favorite parts. Did you at least get an extra gizzard or liver?

No we didn't! LOL

It might have been lost in the intestines..sometimes hearts can be pretty small or get confused with the Pancreas and is tossed out with the intestines.

We went through everything! This was my first time processing, so she was showing me everything that I needed to be watching for! The only thing was those 3 little pieces that were actually in the bottom of the sink after we washed him out. It was so wierd!!

 

[Scott H]

Stupid live trap....lives up to half it's name.

 

[delisha]

We have a SLW, Juanita, who is a year old this month. She has never layed an egg. The other two Wyandottes we have started laying at 6 months...Oprah finished her molt, is looking beautiful again and layed our first egg yesterday in quite some time. Tina is molting now so not laying.....Juanita has not molted yet. What's the deal with Juanita? Is there a chance she will start laying or is she barren for life? And no, we will not eat her. :-D

Some chickens are sterile. Just like people.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Stupid live trap....lives up to half it's name.

Is yours a hav-a-hart or a different brand? I had that same problem with the "off-brands" but the hav-a-hart has been pretty consistent.

You might try bending the little trip thingie that makes the panel that they step on raise up a bit higher than it is. You can also try putting the top part that "latches" on top of the trap "just barely holding" onto the metal thing (AKA "Thingie 2") that it catches on so that it is more sensitive.

How's that for "technical language" and advice?

 

[Leahs Mom]

I've never seen one of these in the stores, but they have what they call an "easy set" that looks interesting. I wonder if it works better or worse? Looks pretty sweet.

http://www.havahart.com/store/live-animal-traps/b10851020#desc

 

[Scott H]

It's just real old, LM, and needs to be lubricated OFTEN to work correctly....
I got some Z- Traps coming next week. Got some cage trap wary coons right now. But I bet I catch that one in the picture tonite......;-)