The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Probably, but I have expended my chicken budget for the month (by adding three that weren't planned on - you know chicken math!) Are they coming from Brad? I'll bet he'd have mercy on the little fellow and send a companion for him

 

[flyladyrocks]

Hello everyone!

Haven't posted in a while as things have been super crazy around here. Husband injured and home for what looks like a long haul...well pump packed it in, made me really respect running water for the week that I was packing water everywhere... Poor settlers lol

Oh well water running now, husband able to walk so he can help a bit more, all is well.

Love seeing all the chick pics

between the Incubator and my broodies we are at 38 chicks and counting plus the 14 we had shipped

So glad to hear from you Mumsy! I was a bit worried when you hadn't been on in so long.

My question... We are in the midst of a hatch and have this one little silkie that had a hard time and then was stuck to the shell. I managed to get most of the shell off his back but his wing is glued to his side with what I am assuming is unabsorbed albumen. Any ideas as to how to free it? I don't really want to soak a new chick.

 

[flyladyrocks]

No, Although I did get a Legbar pullet from Brad last weekend and then decided after much contemplation over what kind of roo to get, we want a Legbar roo too (want legbar chicks and want to see what color eggs the brown eggers offspring will lay with a legbar roo) so we are heading to racin's this weekend for a roo.

 

[Leahs Mom]

No, Although I did get a Legbar pullet from Brad last weekend and then decided after much contemplation over what kind of roo to get, we want a Legbar roo too (want legbar chicks and want to see what color eggs the brown eggers offspring will lay with a legbar roo) so we are heading to racin's this weekend for a roo.

I'll bet he could be persuaded to have mercy too

Hey - could you post a photo of the legbar you got?

 

[flyladyrocks]

I'll bet he could be persuaded to have mercy too

Hey - could you post a photo of the legbar you got?

 

[armorfirelady]

@armorfirelady
  and others that have dealt with mites:

I know you have a dirt floor w/deep litter.  What did you to do on your floor when you had the mites?  Detailed, please.  Is there a way for folks that have mites to not have to clean all the litter out of the chicken house? 

Luckily at the time I didn't have deep litter. Once spring arrives I clean it all out and just add a little shaving and keep it that way to fall. But I did remove everything upon the floor & nesting box, bagged it & threw it in the trash, then sprayed neem oil on any wood surface. It smells bad (to me at least) so a lot of ventilation is needed. I also did it first thing in the morning so it had all day to dry. Then every night for 5 nights I dusted everyone in wood ash. Then 10 days later I dusted them all again. I haven't had a problem since (knock on wood)

 

[Leahs Mom]

So you didn't put anything on the ground or the shavings? Or did you put the neem on there too?

I think you could use regular oils - like olive oil too - if the main purpose is to suffocate the eggs.

 

[armorfirelady]

So you didn't put anything on the ground or the shavings?  Or did you put the neem on there too?

I think you could use regular oils - like olive oil too - if the main purpose is to suffocate the eggs.

Not that I remember no. And I threw out all the shavings in the coop. I probably threw some wood ash in the shaving when I put new ones in. I used to keep their dust bath container in the coop and just dump it in the coop floor when I added new stuff

 

[Leahs Mom]

This is Cordelia - DD is reading Anne of Green Gables, if you are familiar you know where the name came from:

Ah ha! Somehow I missed that she was a legbar!

 

[misbhaven]

Probably, but I have expended my chicken budget for the month (by adding three that weren't planned on - you know chicken math!)

Hmm it is almost August...so you could use part of that month's budget

we are a bunch on enablers..of course i have at least 3 bantam hens that started laying in the past week seems to be contagious and I told my husband, I would trade them ,someone is bound to want some possibly mixed breed bantams..his reply you should incubate them make sure they are fertile then you would have more bantams, I have 50% Roo's those puppies are fertile..I am just not sure who is laying other than a bantam EE.I think standing out there telling them that no one is safe from the freezer here as a bantam would make a kid sized meal helped...