The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[JanetMarie]

Thought I would comment on limited, responsible antibiotic use. The USDA organic standard prohibits withholding antibiotics to any animal that is ill in order to keep that animal organic. Which I believe is the most humane way. (I would take antibiotics myself if I had to). Being that I use preventative measures to keep my birds healthy, I have used antibiotics one time in ten years of chicken keeping. The hen would have died without it. (The hen's vent was injured by a clumsy rooster with too long of spurs, just to let everyone know it was not something contagious). I also did research on the withhold time, and doubled it to make sure I would not have any contamination in the eggs. If the antibiotic withhold was lifetime, then she would have just been a pet. FYI: Since January 1, 2017 OTC antibiotics can no longer be purchased at the farm store, and only available from a veterinarian.

If you use antibiotics always give avian specific probiotic afterwards (non-GMO Avi-Culture is what I use).

I use preventative methods to keep disease away, such as no crowding ever in the birds' lives. Plenty of chemical free pasture to forage, clean water (but everyone loves to drink from the pond), poop is cleaned daily from the poop trays. Ammonia is never able to build up their houses. Organic home-made food, never store purchased or medicated chick feed, chicks go outside as soon as possible. Avi-Culture in the chicks' water, and occasionally in grown birds' water. No excessive roosters that stress hens, but only keep roosters that are good to the hens.

I've wormed one time, when I saw worms in a chick's poo. Everyone was wormed, and I won't repeat unless I see a problem again.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Could I have my Cornish hens be with other fowl like ducks, quail, turkey etc.?

 

[Molpet]

Could I have my Cornish hens be with other fowl like ducks, quail, turkey etc.?

not sure about the others but watch out for the turkeys
I have my birds together, but plan on moving the turkeys out... They killed one of my cockerels that they were raised with and slept together, they were best buddies ... I THOUGHT
they go after any bird that acts different also... broodies, meat cx.... Right now I have the 8' x 24' coop divided so the chickens can get in half and the turkeys can't.. the chickens can go where they want and they all are out in the yard together... I blocked off the area they cornered the cockerel in the yard.. it was a 16' x 20+' pen .. I think they were trying to mate because they tore up the back of the head and broke his back stepping on him.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Sounds horrible. I guess I will only keep ducks with my Cornish. I was thinking maybe I could get an Ameri-Flower or two, but I'm not sure how readily available and costly they are

 

[lazy gardener]

Hello, I'm new to this forum. I'm interested in starting a mixed flock, and was wondering if I could have a mix of ornamental and egg laying chickens. BTW, I will isolate them in tiny cages. LOL. Also how many Hens per rooster

While the common statement is 1 roo/10 hens, my roo easily covers 24 hens with good fertility. Unless there is a compelling reason for you to need 2 roos (a specific breeding program) I strongly suggest that you only have one roo in a back yard flock. And only then, if you are able to train the roo, and only if you have an exit plan for any subsequent roos.

I just checked it out, so it said UP and ACV, what is UP? Also it mentioned adding UP/ACV to all their water, not sure about it.

Unpasteurized, and apple cider vinegar. If you use fermented feed, please don't put any vinegar in their water. They get plenty of acid in their FF. You can read more about FF in the FAQ article at the bottom of my signature.

Sounds horrible. I guess I will only keep ducks with my Cornish. I was thinking maybe I could get an Ameri-Flower or two, but I'm not sure how readily available and costly they are

If you end up with a drake, I'd not allow him to mingle with chickens. Their breeding systems are not compatible, and a drake can easily kill a female chicken. For what purpose do you want the cornish? If for laying, there are other breeds that you might prefer. Check out Henderson's chicken breeds chart.

Recommended spacing for the back yard chicken flock: 4 s.f./bird in the coop, and 10 s.f./bird in the run. Run your spacing tighter than that, and eventually, you will be likely to have problems with aggression, other behavioral problems and disease.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Thank you very much! You are right about the Cornish. I'm looking for a layer, but the Dark Cornish appealed to me so I wanted 1-2 for show. Wondering about a more ornamental layer, but not as fancy as a Polish or Showgirl.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Actually, I think I will go against the Cornish and replace them with a few American Game Bantams

 

[GreatBreeder]

But when I was asking about roosters I was wondering how many hens I needed to keep a rooster happy, but I'm not sure if that is even a thing

 

[Molpet]

But when I was asking about roosters I was wondering how many hens I needed to keep a rooster happy, but I'm not sure if that is even a thing

it is a thing.. not enough hens and they will get over mated .. at least 6 but 10 is better

 

[GreatBreeder]

Thanks! Anything for a good layer? Was thinking about S&D Heritage White