The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[jsmith2952]

Hi!
I'm hoping someone can help me here. I have three hens who are about 1 1\2 years old. All three have gone through their annual molt, but one seems to be taking her dear sweet time. Not a problem really, especially since she has laid daily through it all, but we're having a problem with the other two hens picking st the new pin feathers at her neck. This has been going on now for two months and I have tried every home remedy I could find through here and the internet. Nothing seems to be working. I even attempted to put a little turtleneck on her, but she was so upset she fell into the pool trying to get it off her neck! So now she's bald AND stressed! I would prefer not to use blu-kote (I don't even think I could use it now if I wanted to as the bald spots on her neck are red and sore looking). I can quarantine her, but didn't want to if it would just cause more stress for her, as she's head hen. Any creative suggestions? And if the advice is to keep her separate, I'd love any help on how to do that/for how long, etc.

Also, her eggs have lightened over the past few months from a medium brown to a very light and often bumpy brown. They free range for most of the day and have had the same feed since they first started laying. Does the change in egg color/texture have anything to do with the molt?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[debbiegt]

How long after using DE in the run can I apply the deep litter method?s

 

[debbiegt]

...

I've been using Mollly's herbal wormer.  You dose every 3 months or so with it, in between you use a supportive herbal blend weekly.  I did the wormer for the second time, and the next day a hen dropped a cecal poop teeming with moving white hairs (worms.).

I did add a few drops of bronners to all the waterers.

Could you give more info on the supportive herbal blend? Please.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hi!
I'm hoping someone can help me here. I have three hens who are about 1 1\2 years old. All three have gone through their annual molt, but one seems to be taking her dear sweet time. Not a problem really, especially since she has laid daily through it all, but we're having a problem with the other two hens picking st the new pin feathers at her neck. This has been going on now for two months and I have tried every home remedy I could find through here and the internet. Nothing seems to be working. I even attempted to put a little turtleneck on her, but she was so upset she fell into the pool trying to get it off her neck! So now she's bald AND stressed! I would prefer not to use blu-kote (I don't even think I could use it now if I wanted to as the bald spots on her neck are red and sore looking). I can quarantine her, but didn't want to if it would just cause more stress for her, as she's head hen. Any creative suggestions? And if the advice is to keep her separate, I'd love any help on how to do that/for how long, etc.

Also, her eggs have lightened over the past few months from a medium brown to a very light and often bumpy brown. They free range for most of the day and have had the same feed since they first started laying. Does the change in egg color/texture have anything to do with the molt?

Thanks in advance for any help!

I have one hen that gets a bald spot the last 2 years. Hers starts as rooster wear and then I think the others notice the rough area and probably help things along.

Last year she had that area all summer and the feathers didn't grow back in until after molt. I think that they don't just grow back feathers randomly (like fingernails, etc.) I believe their hormones need to tell them it's time to molt and re-grow - not just because the feathers are gone or worn.

Last year she didn't molt and get new feathers until late in November when she grew in the most beautiful feathers you've ever seen....I had begun to lose hope until I saw the beautiful feathers return.

So..it may be the next time a molt comes before they grow.

This year she has the same issue - and she's not being actively pecked at or low in pecking order....just seems to be an issue for her.

I finally got one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Tail-Feat...254?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27e6c288e6

This lady sells 3 different sizes but I got the one that covers the tail feathers also because my girl had it all the way down to the base of the tail. (She looks really bad!) I got 2 and switch them out every now and then. It covers her for sunburn and keeps her from getting more pecks. I had the gal make the cloth part with CAMOUFLAGE so that it would blend in a bit better than the bright colors.

I've kept one on her all summer since it began.



This is not my hen - it is the seller's photo. Mine is just like this but with camo.

Otherwise you can just put on items that will help sooth the skin if you feel it's needed. Coconut oil is very nice for them. My girl appears pretty red (I'm guessing it still gets a lot of sun) but has not had an infection either year. My main thing is to provide sun cover and keep it from being a "peck magnet" for the other birds.

Then it's just a waiting game until they grow back.

 

[Leahs Mom]

How long after using DE in the run can I apply the deep litter method?s

I would just go ahead and use it. After the DE gets wet it kind-of deactivates the cutting properties. And I think it will just compost with everything else after a short time.

 

[Sally8]

I have one hen that gets a bald spot the last 2 years. Hers starts as rooster wear and then I think the others notice the rough area and probably help things along. Last year she had that area all summer and the feathers didn't grow back in until after molt. I think that they don't just grow back feathers randomly (like fingernails, etc.) I believe their hormones need to tell them it's time to molt and re-grow - not just because the feathers are gone or worn. Last year she didn't molt and get new feathers until late in November when she grew in the most beautiful feathers you've ever seen....I had begun to lose hope until I saw the beautiful feathers return. [COLOR=FF0000]So..it may be the next time a molt comes before they grow.[/COLOR] This year she has the same issue - and she's not being actively pecked at or low in pecking order....just seems to be an issue for her. I finally got one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Tail-Feat...254?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27e6c288e6 This lady sells 3 different sizes but I got the one that covers the tail feathers also because my girl had it all the way down to the base of the tail. (She looks really bad!) I got 2 and switch them out every now and then. It covers her for sunburn and keeps her from getting more pecks. I had the gal make the cloth part with CAMOUFLAGE so that it would blend in a bit better than the bright colors. I've kept one on her all summer since it began. This is not my hen - it is the seller's photo. Mine is just like this but with camo.

Otherwise you can just put on items that will help sooth the skin if you feel it's needed. Coconut oil is very nice for them. My girl appears pretty red (I'm guessing it still gets a lot of sun) but has not had an infection either year. My main thing is to provide sun cover and keep it from being a "peck magnet" for the other birds. Then it's just a waiting game until they grow back.

Out of curiosity, how does this apron stay on? Do they mind it?

 

[Leahs Mom]

See the elastic? It is sewed to the "body" of the apron but it freely slides through the top skinny part. You pull one side of the elastic all the way over and put it over the one wing; then pull it over the other way and put it over the other wing. Then adjust it back to center on the back. The wings are what keeps it on - kind of like right over the "shoulders" if it were a person.

She hasn't seemed to mind at all. I was concerned that it may rub her raw up there around the top of the wing or under the wing, but she has had no problem or issue. Hasn't even seemed to phase her a bit and she's been wearing it since May if I remember correctly.

 

[NanaLynn]

We have a 16 x 10 foot run and I use the DL in it with wood mulch and it is working out very well, I think I would have an easier time with it though if it was covered, plus the girls can't go too far into the run on rainy days since it is not covered.

I also use deep litter in the coop and it is pretty dry so I water it every now and then. It is breaking down well in the coop. Watering it helps with all the dust too. We use cut grass, leaves, pine shavings and dirt in the coop and all that plus the wood mulch in the run. We can get a truck load of mulch for $10 from the city here. I have found that the mulch (like someone else on here has mentioned) really works well in the run.

I have a question for all of you using the deep litter in the run, is your run covered at all from the rain? or is it open?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Mine is open.

 

[lalaland]

Quote: HI Debbiegt,
the mollys herbal wormer comes from here: http://fiascofarm.com/herbs/

I got the combo kit - comes with two separate herbal blends. One you use as a wormer, it is a powdery mix that you blend in with the feed - three days running. Then you switch to a weekly herbal supportive blend - just once a week. Go back to the wormer every two months or so. Leah's Mom told me about the stuff.
I haven't butchered or done a necropsy since I started using it, so I don't know if it is working or not. I like the ingredients - the site has lots of info.