The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Kassaundra]

I'll be the first to say that we might be able to eat a small piece of this devil herb because we are simply not prone to reaction from it. That's why I would never recommend anyone else do the same crazy stuff. Next year I might have my usual 'spring salad' and have my mouth involved in a super-reaction! I keep a couple 'tools' on hand, just in case. I feel badly for those who suffer from reactions to anything like the nasty plants because I have seen some folks in such misery, they can hardly stand it.

One person told me that the best relief, on a temporary basis is extremely hot water. It makes the affected area itch SO badly for a second or two but then it has relief for quite a while. If someone gives that a try, I'd like to know if it actually works....

Yes I bet I have the same "tools" on hand that you do

I am never w/o them


Yes the hot water thing works. When you first do it you will think, Oh my got whose bright idea was this crap" it will itch INTENSLEY like nothing else ever. But then it will feel better when you take the hot water away,.

 

[Kassaundra]

Wondering if anyone has had any experience good / bad / or indifferent to using a thickly planted thorny vine to cover a fence for some preditor protection?

 

[misbhaven]

I have rodega (sp)roses along my dog fence and doesn't stop them one bit the produce the rose hips...I planted them thinking they would quit jumping up there .. so i wouldn't see thorns stopping a pred might actually make it worse as they could sneek up without being seen...

 

[armorfirelady]

 
Kathy also said to try keeping her at 82 degrees. 

 I hope it was just an obstruction!

thanks, she is laying on the hot water bottle, so the heat must feel good.  I'm thinking not an obstruction because she is still ill....

When my hen Sophie had something wrong with her crop Delisha suggested crating her with no food or shavings for several days. Just water. I did this twice. Then after a few days just feed her spinach. I haven't noticed her doing the "neck stretch & looks like she gagging" thing since then. She also brooded eggs after that.

Stella has not laid an egg in weeks. Not even soft eggs. Her feathers look no different. Yet she is acting like normal. In fact I can hear her in the house now complaining. (I just came in from outside) no idea what's up with her. Tho I figure its a reproductive thing. I'm just watching her for now. She is mean towards the chicks tho. Apparently she doesn't like not being the youngest anymore

Wondering if anyone has had any experience good / bad / or indifferent to using a thickly planted thorny vine to cover a fence for some preditor protection?

I planted roses around my veggie garden to try and keep bunnies out of the garden, it seems to have worked so far.

 

[armorfirelady]

I'm curious for those who had broody raised chicks. Did the moms teach them to roost? Around what age?

The chicks still pile in the nesting box at night. I don't know if its because the moms won't protect them from the others pecking at them as they roost or not. I haven't been out at roosting time. I'm wondering if I has hold block the nesting box at night to see if it will force them to roost ?

 

[Kassaundra]

I'm curious for those who had broody raised chicks. Did the moms teach them to roost? Around what age?

The chicks still pile in the nesting box at night. I don't know if its because the moms won't protect them from the others pecking at them as they roost or not. I haven't been out at roosting time. I'm wondering if I has hold block the nesting box at night to see if it will force them to roost ?

Yes the moms always taught them. I had a couple of moms who subscribed to a chick rearing method similar to the parent who teaches the child to swim by throwing them into the pool to sink or swim, they had their chicks roosting by 1.5 weeks, I have one mom who spits on her finger to "wash" her kids face when they are teens and she didn't have hers roosting until nearly grown, and then they still roosted under her wings.

 

[debbiegt]

If you decide on round-up, mix it as directed. Some people think the stronger the better but if you want to kill the roots also and not just burn the folage, use as directed.

 

[lalaland]

I'm curious for those who had broody raised chicks. Did the moms teach them to roost? Around what age?

The chicks still pile in the nesting box at night. I don't know if its because the moms won't protect them from the others pecking at them as they roost or not. I haven't been out at roosting time. I'm wondering if I has hold block the nesting box at night to see if it will force them to roost ?

yeah, my 6 chicks that are about 9 or 10 weeks old, that were raised by broodies, still pile up on a crate. They have a roost right in front of them, and no one else in the coop, and they still don't roost. They did with their moms, but then the hens were done with the babies, and pecked them until they got off the roost, now the moms are in the other coop, chicks are on their own. no roosting! guess moms really taught them to stay off.

On the other hand, the 7-8 week old chicks I brooded have been roosting for two weeks now!

I wouldn't block the nest box until you've watched what is happening at night. Or if you do, provide them a crate or something that they can be in in case they aren't allowed to roost yet by the adults. they might be really upset if you block it, they won't know what to do!

 

[lalaland]

When my hen Sophie had something wrong with her crop Delisha suggested crating her with no food or shavings for several days. Just water. I did this twice. Then after a few days just feed her spinach. I haven't noticed her doing the "neck stretch & looks like she gagging" thing since then. She also brooded eggs after that.

Stella has not laid an egg in weeks. Not even soft eggs. Her feathers look no different. Yet she is acting like normal. In fact I can hear her in the house now complaining. (I just came in from outside) no idea what's up with her. Tho I figure its a reproductive thing. I'm just watching her for now. She is mean towards the chicks tho. Apparently she doesn't like not being the youngest anymore
I planted roses around my veggie garden to try and keep bunnies out of the garden, it seems to have worked so far.

I did withhold food until her crop went down.

She is better, more alert, interested in her regular food but not so much with the yogurt/etc. I leave at 4 am tomorrow so I put her in the brooder in the big coop - turned on the brinsea brooder in case she got chilled, got her food and water set up,.....when the two sibling chicks came in the coop for the night, she saw them and started distress calling. THey called back, screeching - oh the commotion - I finally let her siblings in the brooder with her.
When I leave, I will take the sibling chicks out, but I think I will leave her in for another day.

She is still a little puffed out, but her posture has improved. I've had false hopes before, though....

 

[armorfirelady]

We'll I tried putting the babies on the roost a few minutes ago. Sophie then went and pecked 3 till they flew off the roost. Then went and crawled under Lucy's wing. The 4th decided it wasn't going to wait & see if she pecked it next & jumped down. I put the 5th back in the nesting box with the other 4. Ugh I had hoped they would be ok. Boy they are are loud when you pick them up!!! They peep non stop. I'll leave them be for now I guess. I had hoped with it being so late the big girls would be asleep enough to leave them alone. Guess not.