The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I wouldn't be too quick to judge...just watch and see how she is behaving. If she ends up standing around upright in corners or looking like she's not feeling well then you can probably conclude there's an issue. If she's acting normal (and you'll know since you know the behavior of your chickens pretty well) then I'd take a "wait and see" stance.

Last year I had one little girl that laid lots and lots get internal laying/egg binding (not sure exactly which to call it). She was the only bird that has ever had any issue here. Just after molt, she began the "corner standing" and it was obvious she wasn't feeling well. She would pass what looked like cooked egg white and yolk...almost like the "look" of hard boiled egg. She was only 1 year old when this began (she was a December hatch). We did finally have to put her out of her misery. I think I waited too long and would know the symptoms much better if they happened again. She was my "mystery chick" that got in by mistake when I picked up some SFH chicks to put under the broody with my 1 lone hatch that year. We're pretty she was a BA.

Her daughter is the one that is just molting now and I hope she doesn't end up w/the same issue. She's been very prolific egg layer; she's 15 months old right now and this is her first "official" molt.


As far a laying in general, I have had no eggs for weeks. The last to lay consistently is the BA mix that's just molting. Even the new pullets aren't laying so I'll probably have to wait until the days get longer again before I see any eggs.
I was not planning to do anything as of yet. I tend to do a watch & see approach like you.

Just been a strange fall/winter

 

[Lacy Blues]

Last year I had one little girl that laid lots and lots get internal laying/egg binding (not sure exactly which to call it).

It is called internal laying as the yolks will back up and drop into the abdominal cavity instead of passing through the egg canal to become an egg.

Egg binding is when the egg is formed properly and goes where it should but perhaps there wasn't enough calcium to form a nice hard shell or for whatever reason, too much calcium and the shell is rough, or the egg is just too darned big (double yolker) and gets caught up in one of the accordion like folds and cannot make it out.

Yep, I'd watch and see too. With my little hen you just couldn't tell for the longest time. She never did stand straight up but her abdomen kept getting larger and lower. Poor girl.

 

[flagirl]

probably old, but everyone needs to laugh, especially you northerners with snow
THE CHICKEN GUN

The true story of the Chicken Gun. Too funny not to share!
Sometimes it does take a rocket scientist!

Scientists at NASA built a gun specifically to launch standard 4 pound
dead chickens at the windshields of airliners, military jets and the space shuttle, all traveling at maximum velocity. The idea is to simulate the frequent incidents of collisions with airborne fowl to test the strength of the windshields.

British engineers heard about the gun and were eager to test it on the
windshields of their new high speed trains. Arrangements were made, and
a gun was sent to the British engineers.

WHEN THE GUN WAS FIRED, THE ENGINEERS STOOD SHOCKED AS THE CHICKEN
HURLED OUT OF THE BARREL, CRASHED INTO THE SHATTERPROOF SHIELD, SMASHED IT TO SMITHEREENS, BLASTED THROUGH THE CONTROL CONSOLE, SNAPPED THE ENGINEER'S BACK-REST IN TWO, AND EMBEDDED ITSELF IN THE BACK WALL OF THE CABIN, LIKE AN ARROW SHOT FROM A BOW.

THE HORRIFIED BRITS SENT NASA THE DISASTROUS RESULTS OF THE
EXPERIMENT, ALONG WITH THE DESIGNS OF THE WINDSHIELD AND BEGGED THE U.S SCIENTISTS FOR SUGGESTIONS.

NASA RESPONDED WITH A ONE-LINE MEMO -- "DEFROST THE CHICKEN."
(TRUE STORY)

 

[jtn42248]

Thanks, I needed that. Always nice to start the day off with a laugh.

 

[CherMoz]

 

[threescompany]

probably old, but everyone needs to laugh, especially you northerners with snow
THE CHICKEN GUN

The true story of the Chicken Gun. Too funny not to share!
Sometimes it does take a rocket scientist!

Scientists at NASA built a gun specifically to launch standard 4 pound
dead chickens at the windshields of airliners, military jets and the space shuttle, all traveling at maximum velocity. The idea is to simulate the frequent incidents of collisions with airborne fowl to test the strength of the windshields.

British engineers heard about the gun and were eager to test it on the
windshields of their new high speed trains. Arrangements were made, and
a gun was sent to the British engineers.

WHEN THE GUN WAS FIRED, THE ENGINEERS STOOD SHOCKED AS THE CHICKEN
HURLED OUT OF THE BARREL, CRASHED INTO THE SHATTERPROOF SHIELD, SMASHED IT TO SMITHEREENS, BLASTED THROUGH THE CONTROL CONSOLE, SNAPPED THE ENGINEER'S BACK-REST IN TWO, AND EMBEDDED ITSELF IN THE BACK WALL OF THE CABIN, LIKE AN ARROW SHOT FROM A BOW.

THE HORRIFIED BRITS SENT NASA THE DISASTROUS RESULTS OF THE
EXPERIMENT, ALONG WITH THE DESIGNS OF THE WINDSHIELD AND BEGGED THE U.S SCIENTISTS FOR SUGGESTIONS.

NASA RESPONDED WITH A ONE-LINE MEMO -- "DEFROST THE CHICKEN."
(TRUE STORY)

 

[armorfirelady]

Spending a,portion of today grinding up the version meat scraps a good friend gave me. He got a 2nd deer and out now trying to get a 3rd. The hens are going to be eating venison all winter I gave them some to taste & I'm glad I moved my fingers quick lol

I was trying to figure out what to do with the fat that doesn't go through the grinder well. I'm going to melt it down with the few meat pieces attached and make up some suet for them. They def will be well fed fat & meat wise this winter & I'm quite pleased I am able to use up all the pieces that most people just throw away.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Are there any brining experts here? I'm hoping you can give me your expert brining advice! (I already emailed @delisha and hoping she sees it and chimes in since she's the brine queen )

My daughter had a pastured turkey dinner for us (yay, I didn't have to cook!) and she brined it with the recipe on this post:

http://thebeeroness.com/2011/11/28/beer-brined-turkey

It was the best turkey, as far as tenderness, not dry, etc., that I've ever had. So I was hoping I could use it for chicken too.

Has anyone used a brine similar to this for chicken? Should I change the length of brining time? Amount of Salt, etc.?

Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[Leahs Mom]

@lalaland

You okay out there?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Are there any brining experts here? [COLOR=000]I'm hoping you can give me your expert brining advice!  [/COLOR]  (I already emailed @delisha
and hoping she sees it and chimes in since she's the brine queen   )
 
[COLOR=000]My daughter had a pastured turkey dinner for us (yay, I didn't have to cook!) and she brined it with the recipe on this post:[/COLOR]
 
[COLOR=000]http://thebeeroness.com/2011/11/28/beer-brined-turkey[/COLOR]
 
[COLOR=000]It was the best turkey, as far as tenderness, not dry, etc., that I've ever had.  So I was hoping I could use it for chicken too.[/COLOR]
 
[COLOR=000]Has anyone used a brine similar to this for chicken?  Should I change the length of brining time?  Amount of Salt, etc.?[/COLOR]
 
[COLOR=000]Thanks for any help you can give![/COLOR]

The brine should be good for chicken, too. When I'm at a proper keyboard, I'll tell you the other brine secret that will knock you over backwards. ;-)