The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Your "funny" for the day. Copied from an email I got:


Quote:

 

[heartsizedfarm]

So, I've read a lot of opinions in the last day and a half, and I thought I'd ask the au natural crowd.

What foods, in what order, do you use to heal sour crop?

I've already got the 24-hour fresh water fast, and after that I'm going to start with a little gelled coconut oil.

What should I feed after that?

Any other miracle cures?

 

Never tried it but I read somewhere of someone feeding a few live maggots, on the understanding that the maggots would eat the junk in the crop while hanging out there.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Your "funny" for the day. Copied from an email I got:

The one for Edgar Allen Poe was disappointing. I'd have said,

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A chicken blew across a road, to find
My beautiful Annabel Lee!

Never tried it but I read somewhere of someone feeding a few live maggots, on the understanding that the maggots would eat the junk in the crop while hanging out there.

Hmm. Doesn't seem to me a maggot would live long enough in there to do much.

 

[aoxa]

Your "funny" for the day. Copied from an email I got:

 

[armorfirelady]

So, I've read a lot of opinions in the last day and a half, and I thought I'd ask the au natural crowd.

What foods, in what order, do you use to heal sour crop?

I've already got the 24-hour fresh water fast, and after that I'm going to start with a little gelled coconut oil.

What should I feed after that?

Any other miracle cures?

When I had a hen with a problem I kept her in solitaire with no access to anything except water (including no DL in the area) for several days. After that I fed her spinach leaves only for a few days. Delisha had recommended the spinach & said they were good in aiding digestion. She is doing well now & I try & give her spinach leaves every week as a prevention

 

[Leahs Mom]

Prefacing this by saying that I don't mean to be "contrary" or whatever... so this is just my thoughts and you can take them or leave them for whatever they're worth

I question the use of the spinach because of the oxalic acid content which is also a calcium blocker. I'm still not sure why spinach was recommended.

Often chickens won't eat raw spinach unless they have nothing else available and they're very hungry. There are times when they will take it in moderation, but it's usually not something they would eat raw if they had other choices.

 

[armorfirelady]

Prefacing this by saying that I don't mean to be "contrary" or whatever... so this is just my thoughts and you can take them or leave them for whatever they're worth

I question the use of the spinach because of the oxalic acid content which is also a calcium blocker. I'm still not sure why spinach was recommended.

Often chickens won't eat raw spinach unless they have nothing else available and they're very hungry. There are times when they will take it in moderation, but it's usually not something they would eat raw if they had other choices.

None taken. The hens don't eat a ton of it but thy do eat it. Even with all the green clover, grass, etc now they will eat the spinach. I give a hand full for all 8 hens.
I have never had a problem with eggs when feeding it. Sophies eggs were rock solid

 

[dirkfour4]

I am here! I was not on the old thread.   I so far have been all natural. (10 months) My chickens have not had any problems that I am aware of from being natural. They get out to range everyday, and dust bathe everywhere, sometimes in the fire pit by choice. They do not eat much if any of their layer feed as they are much more interested in ranging. I have been concerned that they will not get the nutrition they need preferring to range all day. Any opinions on that?  I have not been giving them any ACV either...is that something I need to start?

my understanding if you keep plenty of oyster shell avail for calicium, meal worms for protein plenty of clean water...they will free range and get what they need. anybody else?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Mine are clover junkies. They've picked it all out of the run, so my daughter picks it and feeds it to them through the wire. In the yard, they'll come up and eat out of her hand, which is pretty cool if you ask me. We had a backyard pick-nick last night, and while we were eating on our blanket, the flock was wandering around us picking cover and ants. They have even gotten used to my 2 year old, and only run away when he's actively chasing them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I've noticed my chickens pick out the clover leaves first too.

Isn't it fun to be outside with your kids and chickens wandering around? Makes me think of a simpler time.