The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

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.

I created a little steam room for a bantam who was egg bound. I will help once with egg binding, if it happens again in the same year, it is going to happen again and I will cull.

So far so good on the bantam> She's laying normally now. The Orp had trouble with all that fat. The bantam had just started laying.

Stony & Delisha, I can't even imagine the anguish of losing a child. I don't even have children yet, but it's something that would devastate me to no end. I'm so sorry to hear what you've both been through.

 

[aoxa]

LM,
We are due for some updated chick pics

Aoxa, hows your incubator doing? any pips?

My incubator needed a water pump to fill the tray back up. I rushed them into my old incubator on day 20 when the humidity was so low it wasn't registering. So far 5/7 have hatched. 2 left. Today is day 21. One of the two is pipped.

And uh... A barred rock got to a silkie hen. I have some barred rock x silkies

That poor hen. It's going to be a funny looking cross. I'll post pictures once they dry off.

 

[Leahs Mom]

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.

My babies (with broody mom) really went for the scrambled eggs. I had them out the first few days.

Something I'm observing...
Due to the food I feed I supplement protein for the babies. I take out a little ground meat (venison is what I have right now) for them and drop it in very tiny pieces. When I come into the hen house w/meat...before I even reveal it...the momma knows I have it and JUMPS STRAIGHT UP. She calls the kids to the meat with MUCH MORE FERVOR THAN SHE DOES WITH ANY OTHER FEED... almost totally URGENT.... GET THIS NOW.

I think this is another indication that my theory on protein from MEAT SOURCES (worms, bugs, snakes, mice, etc) is right....

 

[stonykill]

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

xo Carmela

thank you..but that was not the intent. I thought it was really cool he pulled Chevy Chase out of the ditch and that Chevy is funny just being Chevy

 

[Noncentzter]

I gave up...I was clear back on page 150 (posts from over two weeks ago) and decided to just start from here! LOL!!

 

[aoxa]

I gave up...I was clear back on page 150 (posts from over two weeks ago) and decided to just start from here! LOL!!

That's a long ways back!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I gave up...I was clear back on page 150 (posts from over two weeks ago) and decided to just start from here! LOL!!

Yep...you live your life and...

all these posts just creep up on you.

Just start from here....maybe you can read the others over a period of time so you don't miss anything if you get a chance!

 

[armorfirelady]

I think this is another indication that my theory on protein from MEAT SOURCES (worms, bugs, snakes, mice, etc) is right....

My hens love any meat.....bacon, sausage, beef, chicken, turkey......the other day I gave them left over lasagna and in an hour there was no trace I even fed it to them.

Meal worms are def their chicken crack......I only give them once a week or so but every time they hear me come outside they come running to see if I have more. Heck they surround me if I go in the run and try to peck my hands looking for them lol

I figure if they dont need or want the extra protein they wouldnt eat it

 

[aoxa]

My hens love any meat.....bacon, sausage, beef, chicken, turkey......the other day I gave them left over lasagna and in an hour there was no trace I even fed it to them.

Meal worms are def their chicken crack......I only give them once a week or so but every time they hear me come outside they come running to see if I have more. Heck they surround me if I go in the run and try to peck my hands looking for them lol

I figure if they dont need or want the extra protein they wouldnt eat it

Proof that chickens are not vegetarian.

We have a bucket with all leftover scraps in it. Bones and all from dinner. Probably why my chickens love me so much, even though I never handle them.

I'm always stepping on someone.

 

[camilleathome]

My hens love any meat.....bacon, sausage, beef, chicken, turkey......the other day I gave them left over lasagna and in an hour there was no trace I even fed it to them.

Meal worms are def their chicken crack......I only give them once a week or so but every time they hear me come outside they come running to see if I have more. Heck they surround me if I go in the run and try to peck my hands looking for them lol

I figure if they dont need or want the extra protein they wouldnt eat it

We actually breed superworms and mealworms for our lizards so cant wait to see how my chicks react to that when their big enough to eat them! I also always have healthy greens for the bearded dragons and the blue tongue skink.