The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[nxb161]

the minimum you want for laying hens is 16%. I often feed game bird crumbles which depending on the brand is around 20% protein. Scratch is a suppliment feed, not their main feed. It contains some protein but not enough for good egg laying if they aren't going to free range. If they can get to natural dirt in the run I would not add to expense by buying gravel/rocks.

I have never purposely purchased any feed that advertises soy. Shells go back regularly and the hens only eat it as they need it. I would say every few weeks I offer them their shells back. The girls will love all of the worms,etc you feed them back.
I think I answered it all

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Keep reading. In between all of the off topic gibber jabber there is plenty of good info on this thread.

Thank you very much, you answered everything. I still have more time to decide which food I'll go with, I think it will be based on protein and price. I'm just glad it is going from high of 20s to possible 55 this week!

 

[rrrmamma]

I have Jersey Giant roo about 1 year old. In the last few days he has been shaking his head almost all the time. I searched on other threads and mites and gape worm came up. The solutions offered were wazine and Invermectin. Since I don't want to use chemicals I was wondering if any of you have any ideas. I feed FF, do DL and free range most days. There are no other symptoms and no one else seems to have this problem. It has been very cold and his wattles look a little dark on the bottom. Could it be frostbite? I have been lurking on here quite awhile and really appreciate the ideas and advice. Just can't keep up. Thanks for any help.

 

[stonykill]

Thank you very much, you answered everything. I still have more time to decide which food I'll go with, I think it will be based on protein and price. I'm just glad it is going from high of 20s to possible 55 this week!

I'm happy it is going from a high of 19F to around 30F this week. The below zero lows are done as of last night for a little bit too!

 

[Mumsy]

I have Jersey Giant roo about 1 year old. In the last few days he has been shaking his head almost all the time. I searched on other threads and mites and gape worm came up. The solutions offered were wazine and Invermectin. Since I don't want to use chemicals I was wondering if any of you have any ideas. I feed FF, do DL and free range most days. There are no other symptoms and no one else seems to have this problem. It has been very cold and his wattles look a little dark on the bottom. Could it be frostbite? I have been lurking on here quite awhile and really appreciate the ideas and advice. Just can't keep up. Thanks for any help.

Jersey Giants have large wattles and combs. If he is dipping those wattles into water and the temp is blow 28 degrees, he certainly could be frost bitten and in pain. That would cause head shaking.

Check him thououghly for mites. If you can count five on first glance at his vent, under his wings, or neck, he is infested with many hundreds. They get into their ears and cause head shaking.
Nu Stock is the best thing I've ever used at getting rid of mites.

Gape worm is actually only common where chickens have been raised on infected soil. Too many birds in a run for instance over many years. Earth worms are the host of Gape worm. Normal worms in the lawn and compost pile are not going to have that parisite. It is usually spread in too confined pens or runs. This is my experience in my area. Others may have a better knowledge on it. It's easy to check for Gapeworm. Pull the wattles down gently and the bird will open its mouth. Gape worm is usually twisted around the birds tongue. A bad case and the chicken has trouble swallowing and breathing. You take tweezers and pull the worm out.
If your roo has frost bite, I'm not sure you can fix it. Keep him comfortable I guess.

 

[ocap]

I've seen a lot of eggs at the health food store marketed as "all vegetarian".....why would that be a "good" thing if it is not healthy for them - I'm kind of confused on that one.....
Angela

I have tried to understand.......might be reincarnation that is the reason why they prefer vegetarian.....let me know if you find a different answer.....we might not want to open that discussion on this web site...what are the rules?

 

[Bulldogma]

I have tried to understand.......might be reincarnation that is the reason why they prefer vegetarian.....let me know if you find a different answer.....we might not want to open that discussion on this web site...what are the rules?

BYC does not allow comments of a religious nature... but who know? Perhaps that could be the reason for some all-vegan folks... except then they wouldn't be eating eggs, I don't think??

 

[Leahs Mom]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eup-micro-farms-holiday-poultry-photo-contest


Please go vote for the cutest holiday picture

Mine Mine Mine!!

Actually there are so many cuter ones.

Thanks for the link. I just voted. Some really cute photos!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

Wonderful on both - the items and the husband!

 

[Arkansas81]

Hey stony, ive got a off topic question for ya...has paypal gotten any better to receive payments. How does paypal work now? Never did have any luck with it, was a pain to use. What is the method you guys use to receive payments on business deals....

 

[off-grid hen]

I think one of the reasons people think vegetarian chicken eggs is better is bc of the mad cow thing a while ago. There were quite a few reports of how livestock were fed animal products (sometimes of the same species) and in general people thought it was a bad idea. After that, labels that said "corn fed" and "vegetarian diet only" kept popping up. I don't know enough about non-veg animal feed to comment otherwise, but I remember that people discussed all livestock raised, not just cows at that time. If I could find soy-free feed locally that wasn't double the price, I would feed it. I can't afford to have it shipped to me, though. I don't go through enough feed to have it justify the expense. I keep asking at my local feed stores, and I'm hoping someday they stock it.