The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Wry tail has every thing to do with egg laying..that is why it is a DQ.

My Orp did not have wry tail, but she did suffer from the same issues with eggs. I think it was because of her massive size.


Olive the buff Orp. I miss her. She was a great mother. Oh so fat... lol

 

[jendodd79]

So

My Orp did not have wry tail, but she did suffer from the same issues with eggs. I think it was because of her massive size. Olive the buff Orp. I miss her. She was a great mother. Oh so fat... lol

Are wry tails never able to lay a proper egg then? She's just getting started

 

[Mumsy]

My girl with the pinched tail is not a pure Orp but half. She also is fat.

Not a good picture but taken last week.

 

[aoxa]

So
Are wry tails never able to lay a proper egg then? She's just getting started

I'm not sure. Everything I read say minor cases can lay just fine, but don't breed them. I had one chick I got from a hatchery with wry tail. She was relocated to a friend who takes in any minor deformed birds that can live a comfortable life, but should not be bred.

 

[jendodd79]

No roosters

I'm not sure. Everything I read say minor cases can lay just fine, but don't breed them. I had one chick I got from a hatchery with wry tail. She was relocated to a friend who takes in any minor deformed birds that can live a comfortable life, but should not be bred. 

No roosters allowed in my neighbourhood, so no fear of that

 

[chickiemomy]

Quote: I give mine about a quarter cup of yogurt - plain (5 chicks - so in the order of 1T or so per bird) - each morning -- but I mix any supplements into it, sometimes some vinegar - then mix in enough feed to make it clumpy, or gloppy - is a good way to ensure they get the herbs I want - without wasting. Anything powdered is eaten fullly by the time the yogurt is ingested. Gives them vinegar without worrying about water containers. a sprinkling of eggshells on top, with a banana peel on the side - o yum

 

[Noncentzter]

Quote:
X2!!

(I'm back on page 616 and trying to catch up again, but had to respond to this!)

 

[Leahs Mom]

I think the fastest way to get it into your birds in healthy amounts would be to give the herbs to them fresh to pick at. They will eat what they want in an amount that they need.

There are a couple places in our area that sell freshly cut herbs all year round. I LOVE feeding them fresh.

Been sticking them into the "ball thing" with kale and other greens in the winter....I got the "ball thing" to give them something interesting to do during winter AND...they end up tearing small pieces off like they would if they were eating it growing on the plant. Sometimes, when I gave them a big piece of something in a dish, they had problems tearing off a piece small enough to eat.

Blurry photo...

You could also add herbs to yogurt. I know my hens love their yogurt when I give it to them once a month or so. I usually add some healthy granola to it but I think the herbs would be just as appetizing

I really like the idea of putting them into yogurt. Great idea!

Is there anything I can do to encourage her laying in the boxes, and is there anything I can do to help promote the thickness of the shell? I have oyster shells available and I FF

Might try some fake eggs or golf balls in the nests as a visual?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

 

[Leahs Mom]

Chickiemomy...do they eat that banana peel?