The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TeaChick]

Thanks!!! =D

 

[lalaland]

Tonight it was so windy and snowy and apparently scary that none of my girls would come out from under the coop to go inside to roost! I tried luring them out with noodles and calling them, but only two of the eight would venture out. I picked up those two and put them inside, then spent a while calling to the others and shining the flashlight on the noodles, to no avail.

I ended up crawling on my elbows and toes all the way to the back under the coop (didn't really want to army crawl in the who-know-what mess under the coop), grabbing a chicken, and holding her snug against me while I backed out. They were surprisingly cooperative for that! One decided she'd walk along with me while I carried another, and the last one decided she didn't want to be alone under the coop and so she came out on her own as well. So I only had to make four trips under the coop. Then I came in and washed my jeans, coat, and gloves!

Good grief, chickens!!

been there done that! helps to keep the underneath of the coop with hay or straw, at least psychologically it feels better to be crawling on it even if it is full of poop!

If mine was closer to the ground, I would do what Sue (Leahsmom) did and block it off, but mine is a good 3" off the ground and it is valuable run space, plus shelter from stuff.

 

[mlowen]

From my Mother Earth News email info:

Is Roundup the Cause of 'Gluten Intolerance'?

A compelling new peer-reviewed report from two U.S. scientists argues that increased use of Monsanto’s glyphosate herbicide (trade name Roundup) could be the cause of the epidemic of symptoms labeled as “gluten intolerance.”

I haven't read the article yet.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Mel - I've been reading on roundup and it's effects for quite awhile and I've thought that a lot of the "new" ailments are related to gmo and roundup (glyphosate) use. The gm makes the plants be able to handle more of the glyphosate than normal plants can take.

Could you post some of the information from the email? Also - how can we subscribe to it for ourselves?

 

[Leahs Mom]

The March issue of Acres Magazine is focused on poultry this issue. But they also have an article on Maremma. So thought I'd let y'all know.

I subscribe to Acres but you can usually get them at Tractor Supply or other farm stores on the shelf.

 

[CoopChick719]

Tonight it was so windy and snowy and apparently scary that none of my girls would come out from under the coop to go inside to roost! I tried luring them out with noodles and calling them, but only two of the eight would venture out. I picked up those two and put them inside, then spent a while calling to the others and shining the flashlight on the noodles, to no avail.

I ended up crawling on my elbows and toes all the way to the back under the coop (didn't really want to army crawl in the who-know-what mess under the coop), grabbing a chicken, and holding her snug against me while I backed out. They were surprisingly cooperative for that! One decided she'd walk along with me while I carried another, and the last one decided she didn't want to be alone under the coop and so she came out on her own as well. So I only had to make four trips under the coop. Then I came in and washed my jeans, coat, and gloves!

Good grief, chickens!!

My coop has space under it too but I would never be able to crawl under it. If mine go under the coop, I use a rake to gently push them towards a helper waiting on the other side of the coop.

That's what I'd do if I hadn't had the logs. I've often thought that I wish y'all were close enough to come and take some of the excess logs I have to use them with your birds rather than us just burning them!

I wish we were too! I love those logs! I found an old punky log at my dad's and asked if I could have it. He said that's dead & probably full of bugs, you don't want that! I said it will be perfect in the chicken pen.

 

[Jewelwing]

From my Mother Earth News email info:

Is Roundup the Cause of 'Gluten Intolerance'?

A compelling new peer-reviewed report from two U.S. scientists argues that increased use of Monsanto’s glyphosate herbicide (trade name Roundup) could be the cause of the epidemic of symptoms labeled as “gluten intolerance.”

I haven't read the article yet.

Here's a link to the actual study:

http://sustainablepulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Glyphosate_II_Samsel-Seneff.pdf

 

[aaggjg]

So my Frizzle bantam, Popcorn, was molting .... She lost feathers on her back and I saw new shafts coming in. She is a very NEUROTIC hen. I constantly see her preening those feathers and I noticed they didnt seem to be making much regrowth progress and she has more naked patches. I started to think she is so neurotic that she was plucking out the new feathers. Well today I saw my Alpha hen chase her... Her hatch mother the NERVE!!! I am wondering if the molt made her a target to be picked on and what should I do to help her grow back her feathers??? I am not sure how much bullying is going on .... this was never a problem before her molt. Oh chicken dynamics are so complicated!!

Any suggestions???

 

[lazy gardener]

I'd suggest that you put a saddle on her.

 

[armorfirelady]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...llions-gallons-water-normally-flow-Falls.html

You know its cold in Buffalo when the Falls freeze........