The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Myself also

Not a whole lot anyone can do when you have injured chicks..I was not sure if I was going to cull her. I just find her behavior odd. It is almost like wry neck, or has some of the symptoms of it. I did post about it originally. She just looks up at you odd, and her nerves seem to twitch at odd times. It is all in her neck. Just odd.

We have a foot of snow already..it is suppose to snow for the next three days. They closed all the schools and we have no traffic at all on our road. It is so quiet. I worry about the birds at times like these. I could not open my door to get out to feed tonight. I had to dig my way out. Than I had to dig my way into the coops...tomorrow morning is going to be a challenge. I do not know how to start the snow blower..not strong enough arm power. Ugh..

 

[aoxa]

Some pictures of Margaret and her frost bitten feet.


This is her worst one. See the scab there? That's where the healthy tissue ends and the mummy foot begins.


Looking at me with her beautiful eyes.


Her other foot. This one I worked on as soon as it was swollen. The other one was not as bad in the beginning, but got worse (swollen and sore) after a couple days. This foot has lost all of the scales/skin and is all healthy underneath except that one toe at the knuckle.


Her bad foot again. She will have one toe.. That's about it. There has been worse though.


Here she is trying to balance and walk.


Her kennel. Her sleeping spot is at the back right corner. She will come up to eat and drink no problem.

 

[Leahs Mom]

It's amazing to me that she is able to heal as well as she is. Wow...

 

[Leahs Mom]

I know you said you used coconut oil. Did you put anything else on the foot? Antibiotic? Anything?

 

[aoxa]

I know you said you used coconut oil. Did you put anything else on the foot? Antibiotic? Anything?

I used Blue Kote in the beginning as well. That's it. I wrapped with gauze and then vet wrap. I think this is what helped keep infection out. She is doing great.

I'll be posting more on her. I'm looking forward to the toes falling off so they are less in her way.

 

[Ashdoes]

I have seen this page before.. I can't recall where, but their set up is really nice. Can't say anything more than that

Oh and their barred cochins aren't even close to type. If you want some nice cochins, I would look elsewhere. 

Actually none of their cochins are up to type.. 

But their Silver Pencilled Plymouth Rocks look nice.

I agree about the Cochins. I have Cochins from just an average backyard breeder, and they are turning into beautiful, fluffy things. The Cochins at that farm have no fluff to them at all. It looks like this farm just got hatchery stock to breed.
ETA~I've actually been thinking the woman I got my Cochins from has really great stock, something I didn't expect way out here. Lucky me.

 

[aoxa]

I agree about the Cochins. I have Cochins from just an average backyard breeder, and they are turning into beautiful, fluffy things. The Cochins at that farm have no fluff to them at all. It looks like this farm just got hatchery stock to breed.
ETA~I've actually been thinking the woman I got my Cochins from has really great stock, something I didn't expect way out here. Lucky me.

They shouldn't have these hard tail feathers like the images show. They should be like round balls of cuteness. I can't wait to get some bantam cochins. The standard ones ate me out of house and home!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I am thinking they probably have hatchery stock and then were breeding too.

I think I got that link from someone on the old "Rocking Chair" thread.

After I figure out what sex the 8 week old kiddos are I'd like to get a few cream legbars and maybe a marens or 2. But for me, the marens would just be for variety in the egg carton. However - I'd rather start out with good stock than get hatchery birds. That way if I want to continue with them I can breed something for myself that I know have some level of quality.

 

[armorfirelady]

Leah I looked quick in my Poultry Press for ads for breeders in Indiana but I will look better tomorrow. There are some beautiful pictures of birds that win in the shows in Indiana tho.

Mumsy on the front page is pics of 2 beautiful white silkies. They are so fluffy lol. I thought of you and ur new silkies

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I am thinking they probably have hatchery stock and then were breeding too.

I think I got that link from someone on the old "Rocking Chair" thread.

After I figure out what sex the 8 week old kiddos are I'd like to get a few cream legbars and maybe a marens or 2. But for me, the marens would just be for variety in the egg carton. However - I'd rather start out with good stock than get hatchery birds. That way if I want to continue with them I can breed something for myself that I know have some level of quality.

Get Marans from a breeder that breeds for 6 or darker. Most hatchery quality Marans are 5 or less, not much darker than a Red Sex-link egg.