The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

You know me, I have another question that I've wanted to ask since I first joined BYC. I have read where people that have raised and owned chickens claim that they have never had certain diseases or other problem. What I was reading was that the chickens were being culled at the first sign of anything. Is that right? The disease/problem was never allowed to grow. I know there are certain breeds that are unable to tolerate excessive heat or cold. Did I read that right or are there some of you that truly never have any problems? My first year, I lost several chickens. Egg Binding, Excessive heat, 2 - I have no clues and Mites, mites, mites. I blamed it on the straw sitting under a wild bird's nest.

jockeyeba. Your pics are beautiful!

So far I haven't had any illness but I haven't had chickens for very long!! Not even long enough to cull!

I LOVE antique stuff and collect it all. Like you I just can't bring myself to use any of it on the chickens!!

Quote:
You shouldn't use the galvanized, but you can use stainless steel. The acid level is high in ff and in acv and it does leach the metals into the food or water. You can also use glazed ceramic BUT BE SURE IT IS LEAD-FREE. The older crocks - including crock pots still being made new - had lead in the glaze. If you have old ceramic, don't use it for food and be sure the new stuff you buy specifically states "Lead Free". I feed my ff from a ceramic dog bowl - purchased new and lead free. It fits right into my heated (plastic) dog bowl.

Part of my "Natural Chicken Keeping" is that I'm all about using glass or stainless steel (or lead-free ceramic) for everything that I feed from. I've been using the plastic buckets with the cup waterers (which are also plastic) but I'm in process working on something to use them on that will either be glass or ceramic. I'll let y'all know what happens on those experiments 'cuz I think I'm going to come up with something good!

Quote: AGAIN...LOVE THOSE! Only problem is that the old pottery has lead in the glazes and shouldn't be used for any food purpose. Bummer, huh? But those could easily be made with a new, lead-free crock if you get innovative!

 

[Leahs Mom]

BD...I was wondering about egg-bound too. Only a guess of course. How is the appetite and is she drinking?

 

[aoxa]

BD...I was wondering about egg-bound too. Only a guess of course. How is the appetite and is she drinking?

If she is egg bound she will strain to poop.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

What have you all done to my chicks? They are like a shark feeding frenzy when I put their cup of FF in the brooder. I am going to be feeding them in the morning and evening this amount until they are consuming it in one feeding. The big kids are still apprehensive about the FF, but I am sure that will change once the dry food is gone in a couple of days. Then they will have to eat the FF. Hahahaha

 

[stonykill]

not chicken related but a short video of a good friend who raises game hens totally free, living in tree's like many of my sumatra's. Here he is 4 miles frommy house pullingChevy Chase out of a ditch. If Chevy was going to the Berkshires or Vermont he had to drive right past the house.

Terry and I have always been friends, but we got closer afer he spent hours looking for me the day my daughter died. Then unfortunately 3 months later I was at his daughters funeral.

 

[delisha]

I would assume egg bound also

Might be a good idea to insert olive oil in her vent after the bath if that has not worked.

The warm water usually helps. it at least helps them to relax.

 

[delisha]

not chicken related but a short video of a good friend who raises game hens totally free, living in tree's like many of my sumatra's. Here he is 4 miles frommy house pullingChevy Chase out of a ditch. If Chevy was going to the Berkshires or Vermont he had to drive right past the house.

Terry and I have always been friends, but we got closer afer he spent hours looking for me the day my daughter died. Then unfortunately 3 months later I was at his daughters funeral.

Sorry for your loss..I have shared the same experience.

 

[delisha]

LM,
We are due for some updated chick pics

Aoxa, hows your incubator doing? any pips?

 

[delisha]

It had been so long since I have incubated chicks with something that plugs in unless they were meaties.
These chicks sure do not eat much. I am terrified they are going to drop dead. My meaties ate 10 times the food these lil fellas are eating.
I have put out scrambles eggs, chickens, spinach, sprouts. They hardly eat. I am so used to vacuum cleaners.

 

[Melabella]

not chicken related but a short video of a good friend who raises game hens totally free, living in tree's like many of my sumatra's. Here he is 4 miles frommy house pullingChevy Chase out of a ditch. If Chevy was going to the Berkshires or Vermont he had to drive right past the house.

Terry and I have always been friends, but we got closer afer he spent hours looking for me the day my daughter died. Then unfortunately 3 months later I was at his daughters funeral.

Sorry for your loss..I have shared the same experience.

I am heartbroken to read this. Blessings to you both, I send you love and everything peaceful through this post.

xo Carmela