The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[jendodd79]

Ok, back from Hawaii. No way I am gonna go through all 978 posts. It would take me days(very slow reader). If there is anything major I missed, please let me know approx day and time and I will try and find it. Otherwise I am jumping back in from here.

Had to start one of my FF buckets over, it got a little tooooo fermented. Smelled like cider. And now that I am back all the adult birds will go back on FF. Pretty sure my GSL laid her first egg yesterday or today. Dark brown and a little smaller than my BR's egg. Just confirmed with my chicken sitter that he collected all eggs yesterday, so she did lay her first today. So I am back up to 6 layers. And both my teen EE's squatted for me today, several times, so maybe some colored eggs soon.

There has been great discussion about butchering flock the last few days!

I can't wait for my EE eggs, no squatting yet for me!

 

[jendodd79]

That picture makes me wish I had ordered a few! How BEAUTIFUL!!

It's never too late!

 

[Bulldogma]

Ok, back from Hawaii. No way I am gonna go through all 978 posts. It would take me days(very slow reader). If there is anything major I missed, please let me know approx day and time and I will try and find it. Otherwise I am jumping back in from here.

Had to start one of my FF buckets over, it got a little tooooo fermented. Smelled like cider. And now that I am back all the adult birds will go back on FF. Pretty sure my GSL laid her first egg yesterday or today. Dark brown and a little smaller than my BR's egg. Just confirmed with my chicken sitter that he collected all eggs yesterday, so she did lay her first today. So I am back up to 6 layers. And both my teen EE's squatted for me today, several times, so maybe some colored eggs soon.

Welcome back!

What did you miss?? A detailed conversation about culling, a bunch of information on electric fences, loanwizard in a loincloth, Stony went off topic and some cruddy weather throughout much of the continental US. Aside from that, not much...

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I think I caught the fence stuff. I was able to go through about 5 pages while on vacation. And flock culling, yup I am going to be doing that here depending on WHY it is needed.

 

[delisha]

How was hawaii?
Go to any chicken shows?
Learn any new chicken keeping secrets?

 

[delisha]

Quote: x2..congrats on egg 2

 

[pcappy2]

Ugh, the pics of those scaly mite legs are terrible. I keep checking there legs cuz I don't know what mites look like. I'm guess those are advanced cases of mites?

 

[lalaland]

yes, those are very advanced cases. I would disagree that the last pic with the bumble looking thing poking out sideways is mites - you can see the other leg in the pic, which has smooth legs with all the scales laying down smoothly. Usually, it starts at the ankle area, and you will see the edges of scales lifting up. progresses up the leg and down into the toes. You will notice the chicken kind of grooming or messing with the leg. The excretement of the mites starts to build up under the scales, that is what lifts the scales. And it hardens, and gets on the toes, etc. it is gross.

and jockeyba, I would have posted pics, but with this chromebook I'll be danged if I can figure out how!

 

[ocap]

We have our Rangers in a 40x40 Premier netting and it has never taken us over 1/2 hour to catch between 100-150 birds. We corner them in the fence corners or run them into one of the shelters. Just have to be quick of hand. The kids are always trying to outdo me but they haven't beaten the old man yet... When it is a competition it goes faster. Us guys chase and grab, Carla loads em into the trailer or crates.

WOW, I knew I was slow but your team is amazing.

 

[delisha]

yes, those are very advanced cases. I would disagree that the last pic with the bumble looking thing poking out sideways is mites - you can see the other leg in the pic, which has smooth legs with all the scales laying down smoothly. Usually, it starts at the ankle area, and you will see the edges of scales lifting up. progresses up the leg and down into the toes. You will notice the chicken kind of grooming or messing with the leg. The excretement of the mites starts to build up under the scales, that is what lifts the scales. And it hardens, and gets on the toes, etc. it is gross.

and jockeyba, I would have posted pics, but with this chromebook I'll be danged if I can figure out how!

those are all leg mites..that bump is an infection pocket from neglecting the mites. The scales get lifted and they walk in who knows what. Mite infection untreated in the worse cases can necropsy the legs completly while the bird is still alive. Chickens do not complain. They can be in severe pain and contine to eat and drink and survive until the day you find them dead. That is why knowing your birds and culling is essential. They simply do not complain.