The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[islafarm]

Sorry to hear of your loss . . .

 

[SherrieC]

Does anyone have experience/opinion as to how long to separate a bully from new pullets?

I've a hen in "jail" since Sunday afternoon. She's out of sight of the rest of the flock ("flock"--the other 5 birds!) She is not the top of the pecking order, in fact, she's the bottom and has been the more aggressive against the new young pullets I have. There have been no actual attacks as far as I know (at work all day, week days) but she intimidates them into staying on the roosts most of the time. I thought I'd haul her off for a while to see if I could shake things up and see if the other two hens were as "mean." I think they mostly ignore each other.

The pullets are still staying far away from the hens, but seem to be eating/drinking OK. Looking healthy. I let the hens out everyday when I get home until dark and the pullets make full use of the whole coop/run, then. I also have the hens out most of the weekend days. The pullets are 12 weeks, the hens are a little over 2 years.

I think if I was to seperate a chicken again I'd keep a friend with it. I have only did this twice with one chicken who was aggressive and top of pecking order but on her own she got really depressed and stopped eating etc the first time I separated her, her buddy snuck in with her and wouldn't leave so I left them together and no problems. The last time I did it she was on her own and the change was so dramatic. I then put her back with the others and got her eating again but her buddy went broody and she went down hill and died. I don't know what the underlying cause of her death was as she looked in good condition but I doubt I'd do it again, the pecking order never changed she would just be more aggressive going back in to make sure she stayed on top.

 

[SherrieC]

On another note, does anyone know of any good natural chicken-keeping books? There's lots of info here but I like having a hard copy so I can access info if the power's out or computer's broken.

I recently bought one of Paul Healys books, he is from Tasmania in Australia. He is writing a series of book over this year and next. The first one which I have is on feeding them, the second due soon is on broodies and chicks and then there's 2 more I think. He uses sustainable organic and biodynamic principles and raises heritage poultry.

His website seems to be down atm paulhealy.net his son was in hospital, he might be the IT guy so that's probably why but you can access his associations website here: http://www.spkat.org.au

I started feeding his worming mashes, after I started to see tapeworm segments in one of their poos and I haven't seen anything since so it might be working. You can find recipe online but it's a bit stronger in the book.

 

[SherrieC]

Oh and my chickens all came back into laying after I started the mashes.

 

[SherrieC]

@lalaland

Yes...the whole thing of doing it with less work is very appealing!  And it makes it seem attainable for someone that works a regular job away.  I finally watched (really listened while I was doing other stuff) and there were some interesting ideas for thought that could be brought down to the small holding if you thought about it.

I really like the idea of the hazelnuts.  For a couple reasons. 
1.  Food for people that is a perennial...little work for a (non-legume...yay!) protein food that can feed you or your animals.  I've been trying to figure out some nut trees that I could plant for just that purpose. 

2. I really know nothing about hazel nuts, but when I looked them up, they look like they'd be manageable as a hedge-row sized plant rather than a full size tree.  I like that idea.  And I had just been thinking about figuring out what nut trees I could plant last week so this was timely for me.  For folks with a relatively small area to work with, it seems like hazel nuts could work really well - and perhaps be pruned into a nice hedgerow if they wanted it more "landscaped" looking.  Not sure if that's okay as I haven't read enough about them yet to see if they could be trimmed like that.

Anyhow...lots of goof "food for thought".

I've been wanting to grow hazelnuts for a while now, they're wind pollinated and you need a few different varieties so they can pollinate each other. From my reading when the hazelnuts are ready they drop to the ground, would the chickens then just eat them all?

 

[islafarm]

I recently bought one of Paul Healys books, he is from Tasmania in Australia. He is writing a series of book over this year and next. The first one which I have is on feeding them, the second due soon is on broodies and chicks and then there's 2 more I think. He uses sustainable organic and biodynamic principles and raises heritage poultry.

His website seems to be down atm paulhealy.net his son was in hospital, he might be the IT guy so that's probably why but you can access his associations website here: http://www.spkat.org.au

I started feeding his worming mashes, after I started to see tapeworm segments in one of their poos and I haven't seen anything since so it might be working. You can find recipe online but it's a bit stronger in the book.

Thanks SherrieC!

haven't heard of Paul Healy before and like the sound of the worming mashes (google search led to several versions). Do you always use carrot in the mash? Do you think raw versus pasteurized milk would make a difference, after all heating it would effectively pasteurize it. Are you using the purple garlic? I can't get that here

Thanks in advance for any tips, and for suggesting this - I like it even without the 'worming' part

I use chili and turmeric in their feed already and am wondering about whether to use straight garlic in their water, or make a fermented garlic extract to add to their water - so this information is timely, especially as this would be the 'right' weekend to do it

 

[COChix]

not a good night at all.  Got home, let the chicken out - the raspberry patch offers great protection, the squash leaves running out of the garden do too .  Was changing in the house, heard a ruckus.  It was so bad I went running out barefoot and in my underwear.   Chickens hysterical and everywhere.   Got everyone together, counted, came up short.  Found feathers.......more tail feathers.....followed the trail but lost the trail - no more feathers.  No blood, but ....probably a dog.

THis chicken, grace, was a hefty girl, seems too big for a fox.  maybe a dog but usually a dog just kills and sticks around to kill more.  So sounds like a fox.  

Spent an hour in the woods, looking but no luck. 

Oh darn Lala, that sucks sorry for your loss.

 

[mlowen]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150724081943.htm

Article on crowing order among roosters.

 

[SherrieC]

I just use what ever organic garlic I can get hold of, he pretty much used an entire bulb. In his book it says 2 for 10 chickens, I just used a bulb incase it was a mistake. I was already giving them fresh chilli but he also adds (off the top of my head) 1 tablespoon of paprika, cayenne, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and 6 cloves. The carrot is meant to have something in it that does something to worms so it has to be in the worming mash, he adds Apple as well.

I'm hesitant about putting things in their water now after noticing the ACV causes mold. If I do add anything to their water I just give it to them in a bowl of water,

I guess time will tell if his worming mashes work. But I like the idea of doing it naturally. When you think of all those organic egg producers etc they can't use worming medications.

With the milk, raw milk is meant to have properties that protect against worms. I also watched some documentary once where this farmer swore to feeding his chickens buttermilk each morning to keep them healthy.

I haven't found a source of raw milk yet so I just use organic milk that's non homogenised.

 

[COChix]

I just use what ever organic garlic I can get hold of, he pretty much used an entire bulb. In his book it says 2 for 10 chickens, I just used a bulb incase it was a mistake. I was already giving them fresh chilli but he also adds (off the top of my head) 1 tablespoon of paprika, cayenne, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and 6 cloves. The carrot is meant to have something in it that does something to worms so it has to be in the worming mash, he adds Apple as well.

I'm hesitant about putting things in their water now after noticing the ACV causes mold. If I do add anything to their water I just give it to them in a bowl of water,

I guess time will tell if his worming mashes work. But I like the idea of doing it naturally. When you think of all those organic egg producers etc they can't use worming medications.

With the milk, raw milk is meant to have properties that protect against worms. I also watched some documentary once where this farmer swore to feeding his chickens buttermilk each morning to keep them healthy.

I haven't found a source of raw milk yet so I just use organic milk that's non homogenised.

Sherrie thanks for posting this info, I have no heard of that gentleman either, but will be researching him and the mashes. Thanks again, of course I have a preference for trying everything the natural way first.