The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

I can't see the photo :/

well. dang. I was soo excited thinking I had figured it out. Back to the drawing board.

My partner knew I was excited about Mumsy's glass large chicken waterer, so she found one for me on Etsy and gave it to me for valentine's day. I can't wait til it isn't freezing, and I can use it out in the yard. She thinks it might make a great hummingbird feeder, too - we've seen those youtube videos of multiple hummers at one giant feeder....but I think the chickens have first dibs. Anyway, the pic was of the feeder.

 

[lalaland]

I did add a jar of cayenne to the wet mash this morning. I brought the jar out with me to the coop and was dumping it in, and it was comin out in clumps, maybe pea sized or larger (ok, I don't use a lot of cayenne in my life, unlike Pigeon guy!) and the hens were coming up, grabbing those little red balls and running away with them. So not sure everyone got very much cayenee, that was not an equal distribution.

I have to drive to the cities tomorrow, and I am going to find a dollar store and see if I can grab some cheap cayenne.

 

[armorfirelady]

Nothing wrong with your scales. Chicken breeds have different scales. The back of the legs look different than the front. The larger ones are sometimes from too much corn if they are yellow in color, and called corn legs. Yours look fine. Your vents do not. What you are doing by changing feed, washing, and using Nu Stock is all you can do for now. You might want to use a tube of hemorrhoid cream to shrink tissue faster. Keep it as clean as you can.

 

Thank u. I will put some hemorrhoid cream on her tomorrow and the other hen if hers is prolapsed again. I know the other hens goes back in on its own. This one did but came back out again. If I had to guess I would say she is the one not laying daily. But since they are still young (9 months) and daylight is still not long I will leave her be for now. Her weight is good. And she does lay. I turned the DL today and the poops are all normal even where she roosts so for now she has a pass. Plus none of the hens will be bred so as long as she keeps laying she can stay.

I haven't changed their feed though. They have been on FF since August. Only change was yogurt which they have had before but they get it only every month or so. When I remember to buy it. And the fresh herbs are new. But since all the poops are good I will just keep them clean and watch for now

 

[countrygirl74]

I think people in general don't realize chickens taste things differently than people or even most other animals. However...A chicken has a very excellent sense of smell. Many studies have been done on this. If a hen scoots a bad egg out of her nest it isn't because she has some sense of knowing it's bad, she can SMELL that it's bad. When introducing chickens to FF for the first time, it is that aroma of vinegar that they often do not recognize and are reluctant at first to try. Studies have shown that chickens can also smell blood from some distance. Many of us have wittnessed them come running at processing time and it's why some cannibalism goes on in too crowded conditions.

It used to be worried in some of my old books that chickens can get botulism from rummaging in compost piles but I don't know how that would happen. Botulism grows in an oxygen free environment. If anyone has more info on botulism/compost piles, and chickens, I'd like to know.

Thanks for the info....I think maybe everyone misunderstood though; I was asking specifically about the ducks. I know people use their chickens to turn their compost all the time and there doesn't seem to be a problem but I was worried about my ducks as they have been wanting to hang out in the compost as well and from what I've heard they are extremely susceptible to mold. Any thought on ducks specifically?

 

[Mumsy]

Thanks for the info....I think maybe everyone misunderstood though; I was asking specifically about the ducks. I know people use their chickens to turn their compost all the time and there doesn't seem to be a problem but I was worried about my ducks as they have been wanting to hang out in the compost as well and from what I've heard they are extremely susceptible to mold. Any thought on ducks specifically?

Ooopps...Sorry...Nope. I don't know about ducks and mold in compost piles.

 

[Mumsy]

My partner knew I was excited about Mumsy's glass large chicken waterer, so she found one for me on Etsy and gave it to me for valentine's day. I can't wait til it isn't freezing, and I can use it out in the yard. She thinks it might make a great hummingbird feeder, too - we've seen those youtube videos of multiple hummers at one giant feeder....but I think the chickens have first dibs. Anyway, the pic was of the feeder.

Awww.....That's sweet! Nice gift.

I love my vintage glass waterers. I have one out in the BRIR grow out pen. It's up on a large block. They don't get filth in it and it looks great out there. Works well too.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think people in general don't realize chickens taste things differently than people or even most other animals. However...A chicken has a very excellent sense of smell. Many studies have been done on this. If a hen scoots a bad egg out of her nest it isn't because she has some sense of knowing it's bad, she can SMELL that it's bad. When introducing chickens to FF for the first time, it is that aroma of vinegar that they often do not recognize and are reluctant at first to try. Studies have shown that chickens can also smell blood from some distance. Many of us have wittnessed them come running at processing time and it's why some cannibalism goes on in too crowded conditions.

It used to be worried in some of my old books that chickens can get botulism from rummaging in compost piles but I don't know how that would happen. Botulism grows in an oxygen free environment. If anyone has more info on botulism/compost piles, and chickens, I'd like to know.

I had read earlier somewhere that chickens had a poor sense of smell. But Mumsy I agree with you--I can have scrambled eggs wrapped in wax paper in my jacket pocket, and all of the chickens can smell it before I get it out. I give some each day to my broody hen for extra protein.

 

[Melabella]

Hi everyone!

I have been feeding the flock a papaya I get off the markdown table when I see one make it there at the local produce market where I shop. I feed it to them once every ten days or so. I cut it in half, and feed them half one day, and the other the next. There is nothing I give them they go more nuts for. The go crazy for the seeds, which taste nothing like the fruit, they taste a bit peppery to me. When they are done with it, they even eat the skin, not a trace left.

I was just looking on a website, and discovered this article about the seeds. I tried to copy the link, but couldn't do it, so I am copy and pasting it. Worth a read, and good to know that their treat has some great benefits as well.

How to Use Papaya Seeds for Parasites

Intestinal parasites are a far more common problem than most people realize. They are also notoriously difficult to diagnose due to the wide variety of symptoms that can result from a parasitic infection.
Some, but by no means all, of these symptoms can include bloating and excessive gas, frequent diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, extreme fatigue, an increasing number of allergies and poor general immunity with a lack of energy and regular sickness.
Pumpkin seeds are a traditional treatment for getting rid of human intestinal worms, but papaya seeds have also proven to be very effective.
The seeds from papaya fruit have anti-helminthic and anti-amoebic properties, meaning they kill intestinal worms and other parasites in our digestive system.
A 2007 study of 60 Nigerian children with strong evidence of intestinal parasites showed an over 75% clearance rate of infection in just seven days. This was after receiving a 20 ml dose of papaya seed extract. The researchers said “… papaya seeds are efficacious in treating human intestinal parasites and without significant side effects.” (Effectiveness of dried Carica papaya seeds against human intestinal parasitosis).
Using Papaya Seeds As a Parasite Treatment

There are three main differences between using papaya seeds for digestive health and using them for parasites. The first is the amount used, which will be significantly more. The second is that they are taken on an empty stomach, rather than with a large meal. And the third is that they are followed with a natural laxative to make sure as many parasites as possible are expelled.
Since chewing up a tablespoon of papaya seeds first in the morning isn’t the nicest way to start the day, here is a papaya seed smoothie recipe for killing parasites I came up. It contains several other powerful anti-parasitic foods to hit the nasties from several different angles.
The papaya seed dosage is quite high so it would be strongly recommended to have some experience of taking them, preferably in the doses on the previous page, for at least a week before using the larger amount described here. Additionally, the papaya enzyme side effects and warnings are especially relevant with the seeds of papaya fruit.
Parasite Killing Papaya Seed Smoothie Recipe

• Start with a full tablespoon of fresh papaya seeds. Scoop them straight out of the fruit and place them, with a cup of real, unflavored, bio-live yogurt (not the flavored ‘fruit’ kind), or coconut water, in a good blender that is capable of chopping up the seeds.

If your blender isn’t up to the task, you could crush the seeds in a mortar and pestle first, or even on a chopping board in a thick plastic bag with a heavy jar or mallet. They don’t need to be completely ground-up, but it makes sense that crushed seeds will work better than whole ones with their outer shell.

• 
  Add to the blender half a small or a quarter of a large chopped papaya. Ideally you’d be looking for a fruit that is just turning from green to yellow, with green more predominant. Papaya like these should still contain useful levels of digestive enzymes, while having a sweetness to it for a good taste.

As to the best papayas to use, I prefer the larger and more popular Mexican and South American fruits to the smaller Hawaiian papayas that may have GMO issues. Papayas are also not considered to be a fruit with a high pesticide load so organic, while preferable, isn’t vital if you’re on a budget.

• Along with the papaya seeds, fruit and yogurt, add a quarter of a cup of raw pumpkin seeds to the blender. Pumpkin seeds are particularly good for paralyzing worms in the lower intestine and add to the effectiveness of the papaya seed actions.

• Add around a third of a medium sized pineapple. Pineapples are also rich in digestive enzymes like bromelain that can have an anti-parasitic effect and improve the intestinal environment. And of course they taste great too.

Chop it up well enough to get down into the blades of the blender, but keep the core of your pineapple when you add it to the mix. Pineapple cores are not only full of fiber, they are also the part with the most bromelain.
A decent blender should chop this up fine enough. If it doesn’t, it would still be worth chewing up any small chunks and swallowing them down. And look for something like this if you enjoy well blended smoothies. I wouldn’t be without mine.

• Desiccated coconut is another ingredient known to be good for purging parasites. Add two heaped tablespoons. If you can find fresh coconut, adding the coconut water to this papaya seed smoothie to replace the yogurt and eating as much as you can of the coconut meat straight after it would be even more effective.

• Finally, add a full tablespoon of organic virgin coconut oil. The lauric acid in coconuts is converted to the compound monolaurin in the digestive tract, which can help rid the body of protozea, ringworm and giardia parasites.

• As an optional extra, half a dozen or more fresh cloves can also be added to this smoothie. They are said to be especially good at getting rid of parasite eggs and may be even more effective mixed in with the digestive enzymes in this smoothie to break down the protective coating that cover intestinal worm’s eggs.

This will change the flavor somewhat but it’s more of an aftertaste rather than the potency you might get from having these on their own. As with the papaya seeds, the other ingredients really mask the strong flavor.
The cloves should be added at the same time as the papaya seeds so they are down near the blades and get well ground up. They are also most effective when they are fresh, organic and non-irradiated cloves like these.
Once you’ve added everything, blend up all of the ingredients on high until the consistency looks good to you. A little more yogurt or coconut water can be added if it’s too thick.
Drink the whole smoothie down in one sitting if you can. The sweetness of the papaya fruit and pineapple should overpower any bitterness from the seeds or skin. It certainly tastes better than any other parasite treatment I’ve ever tried.

Papaya Seeds Treatment Timing and Duration

The best time to drink this anti-parasite smoothie would be first thing in the morning on an empty stomach before food.
Since some parasites are believed to be paralyzed by a treatment rather than killed outright, it is also beneficial to follow it with a natural laxative to expel the worms and other nasties before they can recover.
Ayurvedic triphala powder is one of the few truly beneficial laxatives for occasional use. You can make it up at the same time as the smoothie and let it sit for a couple of hours to increase its effectiveness.
Follow the directions for the stronger dose in How to Take Triphala for Digestive Health and take it around two hours after you finish the smoothie and before eating anything else. With all of these healthy foods blended up, you’ll find it quite filling so you shouldn’t be too hungry.
For an even more powerful laxative, a natural and expeller pressed castor oil can be taken. Be aware that this stuff really works and I wouldn’t take it if I had to leave the house in the next few hours.
Some people report having intestinal pain when they take castor oil and it also shouldn’t be used by anyone with gastrointestinal disease or women who are pregnant. If you do decide to take it, the recommended dosage is a tablespoon or two (I’d start with one), around two hours after having the smoothie and before any other food.
You’ll probably want to follow it with a small glass of citrus juice (I use lemon) to get rid of the flavor in your mouth, but castor oil really does work and will clear out as much as possible. Don’t take it for more than 5 consecutive days and it’s perhaps better taken just on the first day of a treatment with the gentler triphala for the remaining days.
Without getting into too much detail, it is sometimes possible to see evidence of the papaya seeds and other ingredients working when you visit the bathroom. Many parasites though are either too small, or expelled compacted within the stool.
So don’t be too concerned about whether you see them or not. There’s a good chance this combination of ingredients is making life very difficult for your unwelcome intestinal visitors (the many comments below have some graphic proof if you’re interested).
Far more important, after the initial cleansing, is a reduction in any symptoms you’ve been experiencing and an improvement in your bowel movements. This will naturally lead to increasing energy levels and better health in general.
Be aware though that you may well experience a temporary worsening of symptoms when you first begin any kind of internal cleansing. This is commonly referred to as a healing crisis. With this papaya seed treatment you should usually feel significantly better after visiting the bathroom. Always trust what your body is telling you though and consult a knowledgeable healthcare professional if symptoms are prolonged and worsening.
Making up the smoothie three or even four mornings in a row would be a good initial treatment time. Many of us have offices to go to during the week though and triphala at the higher doses, and especially castor oil, are very effective at their jobs.
Given this, drinking the smoothie on both Saturday and Sunday morning for two weekends in a row should be just as effective. As a precaution, no laxatives should be taken for more than five days in a row (triphala is fine at the lower doses for longer term use).
It can also be a very good idea to repeat the treatment again in around two weeks time from when you finished and then again in another two weeks after that, even if you are feeling much better. The reason for this is to coincide with the breeding cycles of common parasites, such as tapeworms, hookworms and pinworms.
It is often possible for a cleanse to be effective at removing adult parasites and intestinal worms, but not before they have laid their eggs, which are said to often be even more difficult to remove. By repeating the treatment three times over a 6 week period there’s a much better chance of interrupting this breeding cycle. Some resources even recommend continuing treatments for up to 3 months to be completely sure that you have dealt with all parasites at their various life cycles.

Other Effective Parasite Products

There are a few other treatments and supporting products that can be used in conjunction with this papaya seed smoothie to greatly improve its effectiveness. Alternatively, the following can be used as a different parasite treatment if you don’t have the ingredients, equipment or time to make it.

• Black walnut, wormwood and cloves are a well known treatment for parasites popularized by Dr Hulda Clark. The strength and potency of these preparations varies considerably though, as seems to their effectiveness. I’ll be writing on using green black walnut hulls for parasites ahead.

• Oregano oil can be an effective treatment for parasites and especially the microscopic parasitic protozoa like blastocystis hominis. Enteric coated capsules of high potency oregano oil can be taken with this smoothie to make it even more powerful. The active compounds in oregano may also help to control candida overgrowth, another important health issue that is said to often go hand in hand with a parasitic infection.

• Something I use on a regular basis, even when not concerned about potential parasites, is a product called Oxy-powder. Made from oxygenated magnesium and organic germanium-132, it is very effective at keeping the colon clean and removing the compacted waste that the parasites thrive in.

Using around half a dozen Oxy-Powder capsules the night before each anti-parasite smoothie should greatly improve the papaya seeds and other ingredients effectiveness by reducing the places in the lower intestine for the worms and other nasties to hide.

• Paratrax is another powerful intestinal worm killing formula for people who are short on time. Made from diatomaceous earth, organic black walnut, wormwood and cloves and other parasite expelling herbs, it is formulated by Doctor Group at the Global Healing Center and is simple to take, convenient and very effective.

• Once you’re finished a parasite treatment course, and especially after ever taking antibiotics, it is very important to repopulate the intestinal environment with beneficial microorganisms. Latero-Flora is a new kind of pro-biotic that, unlike some other kinds, survives the stomach acids when taken and can greatly improve the balance of friendly bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.

Not only can this enhance your overall immune system, the Bacillus Laterosporus organisms in Latero-Flora actually puncture the cell membranes of some pathogenic bacteria and fungi in your gastrointestinal tract and consume them. These good bacteria don’t just passively attempt to outcompete the bad ones, they actually get to work actively removing them.
Parasite cleansing may seem like a lot of effort, but many people are amazed at just how good they feel after a successful treatment. The whole topic of parasites is such an important subject it deserves an entire website to itself. Until I have time for that, I’d recommend reading the detailed cleansing instructions at the Global Healing Center’s site as a good place to start.

* Thank you for all the helpful comments to this page. They are well worth reading but due to the sheer number of them, I’ll continue the discussion at The Surprising Health Benefits of Papaya Seeds. Please see the last comment on this page for some more useful information on parasite treatment options. *

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Photo 1 credit with thanks: The World Through Athene’s Eyes’
Photo 2 credit with thanks: Vegan Feast Catering
Photo 3 credit with thanks: Meni’s Style and A S O !
Photo 4 credit with thanks: jorgeBrazil

Related Pages


Pumpkin Seeds and Parasites - Getting Rid of Human Intestinal Worms with Pumpkin Seeds

The Surprising Health Benefits of Papaya Seeds

 

[lalaland]

wow that was really interesting! I'm going to watch for paypyas at the market. thanks for taking the time to provide all the info.

 

[aoxa]

Ooopps...Sorry...Nope. I don't know about ducks and mold in compost piles.

My ducks just didn't bother with the compost. At least as far as I could tell...

They did however play in this hole my dog dug and would swim in poopy disgusting water, so I can't imagine it hurting them if it doesn't bother the chickens...