The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I personally would probably be looking at more docile breeds @TheGreatPapyrus, and possibly bantams. Silkies and cochins come to mind for such a small area. Larger more vigorous breeds might be too much.

 

[Eckielady]

Hey guys. I have another question for you. I have two silkies sitting on eggs. One had a polish somehow poop on her head and now her eye looks a little infected. I've been trying to clean it with a wash rag but is there anything else I can put on it? Poor thing. 21 days sitting on babies and now this?!

 

[GreatBreeder]

I'm getting an Orpington and Cochin, and I decided to put the coop in front of a brick outline square that has my magnolia. I will use chicken wire to create a path to behind the bushes where there are lots of bugs and my loquat tree which I think they will love. Coop is 8' by 8'

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm getting an Orpington and Cochin, and I decided to put the coop in front of a brick outline square that has my magnolia. I will use chicken wire to create a path to behind the bushes where there are lots of bugs and my loquat tree which I think they will love. Coop is 8' by 8'

That should be great pair.

 

[h2oratt]

Hey guys. I have another question for you. I have two silkies sitting on eggs. One had a polish somehow poop on her head and now her eye looks a little infected. I've been trying to clean it with a wash rag but is there anything else I can put on it? Poor thing. 21 days sitting on babies and now this?!

Go get this. Totally natural.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/vetericyn-eye-wash-4-fl-oz

 

[Eckielady]

Go get this. Totally natural.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/vetericyn-eye-wash-4-fl-oz

Oh shoot, I wish I had seen this earlier. I'll grab some tomorrow.

It's been an exciting morning of hatching chicks around here. Found the first one super cold and lifeless. Shoved her in my cleavage and ran her inside where my mom took over. She's now back with mama and doing awesome. Amazing morning. Just found chick number 2 doing well so we'll just see how the day progresses. First time mamas.

 

[Eckielady]

Well, I desperately need help. So I was finally able to get a closer look at the girls and they are covered in tiny little black bugs. I feel horrible and am not sure what to do. I checked on them a lot while they were sitting on eggs but with the big poofs of hair on top (and they would look down and start cackling when I peeked) I just missed it. Last night I just followed my gut and grabbed them out to give them an ash bath. I figured it was best to do it before babies came. Today we have 4 babies, and two mamas still covered in bugs. The one with the bad eye has TWO bad eyes and my heart breaks for her. Newborn babies, full of bugs and ones vision is impaired. Now babies will have these little bugs to. My plan was to let them be for a day or so because they're stressed and when they bring babies out try to get everyone bathed again? Maybe put nustock on the faces of the 2 mamas? I thought I could make an ash/peat moss bath and set the babies in? Please help!!!

 

[Eckielady]

And because they're so cute-

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Well, I desperately need help. So I was finally able to get a closer look at the girls and they are covered in tiny little black bugs. I feel horrible and am not sure what to do. I checked on them a lot while they were sitting on eggs but with the big poofs of hair on top (and they would look down and start cackling when I peeked) I just missed it. Last night I just followed my gut and grabbed them out to give them an ash bath. I figured it was best to do it before babies came. Today we have 4 babies, and two mamas still covered in bugs. The one with the bad eye has TWO bad eyes and my heart breaks for her. Newborn babies, full of bugs and ones vision is impaired. Now babies will have these little bugs to. My plan was to let them be for a day or so because they're stressed and when they bring babies out try to get everyone bathed again? Maybe put nustock on the faces of the 2 mamas? I thought I could make an ash/peat moss bath and set the babies in? Please help!!!

Silkies are notorious for getting overrun with external parasites while being broody. I've had it happen a few times for me when I had some silkies. I would routinely dust them before a hatch. I have had chicks with mites because of it. I would dust them too with a pyrethrin based poultry dust. They all lived through it and were much better off without the mites, and lice which can drain chicks quickly.

Silkies are the only breed I ever had external parasites on routinely while broody.

 

[Eckielady]

Silkies are notorious for getting overrun with external parasites while being broody. I've had it happen a few times for me when I had some silkies. I would routinely dust them before a hatch. I have had chicks with mites because of it. I would dust them too with a pyrethrin based poultry dust. They all lived through it and were much better off without the mites, and lice which can drain chicks quickly.

Silkies are the only breed I ever had external parasites on routinely while broody.

So should I hold off for a day or two until they bring the chicks out and the eggs are done hatching or grab the chicks now? How do I get them off the face?