The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Kassaundra]

Hi peeps! I'm new to natural chicken keeping. I've had birds for about 18 months and I've had more than my share of illness due to unknowingly purchasing sick birds. In fact, I'm thinking about starting over, but either way, I'm implementing strict quarantines from now on!
I have a shelf of chicken meds (that haven't solved anything) and I'm thinking that there must be a better way. I hope I came to the right place.

I'd like to know everyone's top three tips for healthier birds.

Fermented / sprouted feed

Enough space / ventilation

Culling for health

 

[LindaB220]

Fermented / sprouted feed

Enough space / ventilation

Culling for health

Got it in one.

 

[gevshiba]

@gevshiba

I really don't remember anything natural for gapeworm.

My chicken health book says
Even at that the book doesn't sound very optimistic.


However - if I had that problem I would contact 2 different people and ask if they have any ideas or products that they would recommend:

1. Susan Burek http://www.moonlightmileherbs.com/poultryherbcart2014.html She has bee really good to get back in email especially if you mark it "emergency" in the subject line. http://www.moonlightmileherbs.com/emailpage.html http://www.moonlightmileherbs.com/emailpage.html [email protected]


2. Molly from Fiasco farm may also have ideas. http://mollysherbals.com/ She is also very good to return inquiries and is very helpful. Her expertise is more on the goat end but she also has poultry. [email protected] http://fiascofarm.com/herbs/contact.htm

Thanks Leahs Mom, I'll pass this on. While she'd like to go natural, at this point, she just wants to save the birds, if she can. She started them on Ivermectin today.

 

[onmelissa]

Culling is the tough one for me. I have 2 sick birds in the garage that I have to put down. I'm praying that no one else gets sick...it seems as though they have different symptoms, but both are respiratory.
I also have an older bird that seems ill and hasn't laid in over a month now. I guess her days are numbered as well.
I don't know how to actually do the deed humanely, but I know it needs to be done.

 

[Kassaundra]

Culling is the tough one for me. I have 2 sick birds in the garage that I have to put down. I'm praying that no one else gets sick...it seems as though they have different symptoms, but both are respiratory.
I also have an older bird that seems ill and hasn't laid in over a month now. I guess her days are numbered as well.
I don't know how to actually do the deed humanely, but I know it needs to be done.

Humane for the bird is quick. Either broomstick (breaking neck) or slicing thoat, or chopping head off, or bullet / pellet to head.

 

[Kassaundra]

It isn't easy, but each time it gets less intolerable.

 

[misbhaven]

we have a stump for culling/killing with 2 heavy nails forming a v, we put the bird in a feed sack for a few minutes calms them then hubby does the deed quickly with an ax. Never easy but we have done meat birds also.
I had a very healthy bird die the other day no reason not hot, no mold etc, she wasn't pale, nothing wrong, but someone has been eating the old fiberboard siding on my garage I think she may have been the one she always hung out by there..or squished by 2 meat hens found her in the am out by where they usually sleep.. even weirder the biggest Cornish x hen has to be 15 lbs started roosting in that hens spot right between the white rock boys not on the bottom either roost either.

And before people tell me I need to reside my garage I am aware , but wood isn't free .

 

[lalaland]

AFL, when you waited the 5 days to return your hen to the flock , were her droppings normal by then?

this morning the pullets crop was so empty I couldn't find it. Couldn't find the gritty stuff that was still there yesterday. Her droppings are the right color and have white urates, but they are watery.

SHe has been eating yogurt, coconut oil, mashed hardboiled egg. I haven't been giving her spinach but have given her wild sorrel, clover, and dandelion greens. THis morning I added a little finely grated carrot.

She is alert, looks good, wants out, - so this will be the third day she has been in the kennel. Prior to that, in one day and out the next.

What would tell me she is ready to return to the flock?

 

[lalaland]

Culling is the tough one for me. I have 2 sick birds in the garage that I have to put down. I'm praying that no one else gets sick...it seems as though they have different symptoms, but both are respiratory.
I also have an older bird that seems ill and hasn't laid in over a month now. I guess her days are numbered as well.
I don't know how to actually do the deed humanely, but I know it needs to be done.

It is hard but you can feel good that you are ending their misery.

I watched a bunch of you tube videos to help prepare.
It goes fast and you will feel relief when you are done.


My tips would be: if you are using a knife, have it sharpened first - even what seems sharp won't be.

I found it easiest to take a plastic milk or water jug, cut off the bottom leaving as much of the jug as possible, and cut off at the neck to make it wide enough for the head to go through. Bungee the milk jug to a fence post, pole, so it is a good height for you to reach. There will be blood where you do this, so it should be somewhere you can hose off if it bothers you.

Pop the hen into the jug. THey become very calm and relaxed. Hold the hen's head, pulling down, angle the knife between the feathers so the edge is at the skin and not on feathers, - this would be on the side of the neck, NOT the back, and slice hard. I find it easiest to take the head off. THe hen will be gone in seconds.

I still dread doing it, but Kassaundra is right, it gets a little easier each time.

 

[armorfirelady]

AFL, when you waited the 5 days to return your hen to the flock , were her droppings normal by then?

this morning the pullets crop was so empty I couldn't find it. Couldn't find the gritty stuff that was still there yesterday. Her droppings are the right color and have white urates, but they are watery.

SHe has been eating yogurt, coconut oil, mashed hardboiled egg. I haven't been giving her spinach but have given her wild sorrel, clover, and dandelion greens. THis morning I added a little finely grated carrot.

She is alert, looks good, wants out, - so this will be the third day she has been in the kennel. Prior to that, in one day and out the next.

What would tell me she is ready to return to the flock?

When Sophies crop was empty is when I let her out. I really didn't look at her feces per se. I would think that if you believe she has an empty crop & is eating well then you could let her out.