The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[flyladyrocks]

This looks like the thread for me! I don't use chemicals for my chicken, and try to use natural remedies where possible.

Some things I've been doing:
- spraying garlic water around the coop to keep the mites at bay (works a treat)
- throwing the ashes from the fire place in so they have an extra ingredient for dust baths
- dipping legs in vegetable/olive oil against leg mite
- putting a tiny bit of vinegar in their water to keep bacteria at bay

Anyone tried these? Got another perspective on them?

I don't cull and just let nature take its course. Most live to a good old age (most are over three years old, and one is nine!).

 

[Purpletie3]

Newbie to outdoor coop keeping and this thread...Would it help to plant garlic and chives around the coop?

 

[Lacy Blues]

Update on Mom's chickens.....

We got off schedule by one night but tonight was the third time we put the Vetrycin (spelling) and Vaseline on all 18 birds legs. Most have scales that have fallen off in chunks, others are sloughing off. The Vetrycin you all recommended is doing the trick on the redness I am seeing where the scales have come off the legs are looking much better very little to no redness.
There is one rooster I am still having a problem with. His thick scales look like they have curled up almost like someone is sucking the moisture out of them. It's a very different pattern then with all the other birds. Anyway his legs where the scales have separated have a very clear red line going all the way up his legs. Mites are a nasty business =( . Right now I believe continued use of the Vetrycin is a good idea. I'm thinking that maybe his legs are more tender perhaps and that's why they look so red. I don't think it's infection and he doesn't act sick at all. Believe me from the size of this bird if he had infection this bad you would know it. The odor that was coming from all the birds legs is gone which I am very glad of because it concerned me I was looking at more then mites like a fungus as well.

I've a new question though, when I do decide to stop using the Vaseline on their legs I would like to treat them at least once a month with something more natural. Remember these birds are more then 10 years old some are working towards 16. I would not have chosen vaseline if the mites hadn't been so severe and more then 2 years worth of damage to the birds. I'm thinking something along the lines of coconut oil? Or maybe you have something you would recommend that is better? Any kind of herbal spray or soak that will improve the health of their legs while preventing mite infestation again?

thank you all so much for all the suggestions and help it has really been a life saver and we have not lost the life of any of the 18 chickens which I find to be a miracle =)

Depending on what breed he is... can you tell? Some breeds have white legs and others yellow and sometimes you can see a red line running up the leg. It's completely normal and nothing to worry about. Can you tell what breed he is?

I know we are trying to be natural here, but as you were already using flea bath (I think)? Try bathing them in dawn every 3 days and getting them completely dry afterwards. Or you can put some dawn with water in your hands and rub on them then rinse off. Blue Dawn only. It kills fleas, lice, ticks etc.... It's what they use on marine life in oil spills as well. Very safe and effective. It was recommended to me by my vet for 2 week old kittens we found in our basement covered in fleas and lice. Every 3 days for 2 weeks. By the time they were old enough for their 1st shots they were flea and lice free.

The reason they use it is because it strips oils completely.

If the chicks have feathers, it will strip their feathers of the oils. That's not to say that they won't get oils back into their feathers but just something to consider. I personally, would never use Dawn dish soap on anything, but I know you're frustrated and tired so if you choose to do this, remember, they will get oils back and they will be molting out those feathers anyway.

Newbie to outdoor coop keeping and this thread...Would it help to plant garlic and chives around the coop?

Your chickens will eat the garlic and you won't have any plants left... but yes, you can plant it but I'm not sure it will be around long enough to help, unless "around the coop" is a place where your birds do not have access.

 

[Treegod]

For the garlic water I put a clove in water in sprayer, leave it for little while and then spray inside, especially around the nests and perches. I must remember to take a clove with tomorrow.

I have a question: I've used cooking oil straight from the bottle to cure leg mite, but would anyone recommend used cooking oil? I have a few bottles and jars of it and was wondering about ways to dispose of it.

 

[Purpletie3]

For the garlic water I put a clove in water in sprayer, leave it for little while and then spray inside, especially around the nests and perches. I must remember to take a clove with tomorrow.

I have a question: I've used cooking oil straight from the bottle to cure leg mite, but would anyone recommend used cooking oil? I have a few bottles and jars of it and was wondering about ways to dispose of it.

Will the garlic water help keep the flies down?

 

[flyladyrocks]

Will the garlic water help keep the flies down?

 

[slordaz]

For the garlic water I put a clove in water in sprayer, leave it for little while and then spray inside, especially around the nests and perches. I must remember to take a clove with tomorrow.

I have a question: I've used cooking oil straight from the bottle to cure leg mite, but would anyone recommend used cooking oil? I have a few bottles and jars of it and was wondering about ways to dispose of it.

only carrier oils I use are olive and coconut oil at this point as they are pretty stable, not sure what kind of cooking oil you are talking about



try planting actual mint plants around area, they attract good bugs that will eat the bad bugs, according to the summit I did and so far aren't getting any of the bad bugs but garden was just planted

sorry coffee ran out so prepare for typonese lol

 

[Purpletie3]

Thanks...I just so happen to have about 100 spreading mint plants in my field!

 

[slordaz]

mint also makes a good wash with anti bacterial/astringent properties,as long as you don't make it very strong , guess chickens like it as tea too seems how we were weeding today and they figured out how to get the sun tea outta the container lol.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I have no idea - good question!

These are on my wish list - good predator bugs that eat the bad ones: https://www.spalding-labs.com/products/default.aspx

I used to get some of those little predatory flies years ago when I had horses in addition to chickens.

It didn't seem to make much difference at all.

Maybe because I had chickens that would catch and eat them?