The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

...

    You know after a hen has given me 6 or more years of egg laying, they deserve to live out there little remaining time. IMHO. 

   

Yes! I agree one hundred percent, and have 3 or 4 older girls in my flock who haven't laid for some time now. But they let me know when something's wrong - like when a young chick flies out and gets caught up somewhere, and they help the younger pullets figure out what to do. And heck, I know their personalities and enjoy them.

 

[stonykill]

Glad to hear it, I was wondering how they were doing today. Not sure what the funky duck is, but sounds good! and glad you are here, too.

one of my video's . Watch the one girl who won't keep quiet and does a head bob, neck sweep dance. That is the funky duck. Poor Boo Boo. I miss him. He was a good drake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgLFANlQ6VU

 

[stonykill]

Glad to hear they are doing better, stony!

well lets say they are improving. They are a long way from being themselves.

 

[Ashdoes]

I remember something abut the lavender from the other thread... Didn't Bee say she put lavender in the coop and a hen was having a reaction with it? Or was it a few hens? I can't remember if it was fresh lavender she had just cut, or if it was dried.

Does anyone remember what happened there? I don't know if I want to sift through the thread to find it. I have no idea how far into the gnarly bunch story it was.

Actually bee and someone else had a coughing issue. They had recently put the lavender in, and we assumed that was the problem. The lavender was removed, and as far as I remember the chickens were fine.

 

[kian]

  chickens sometimes just die for no known reason. It happens to the best of us.Hearts give out etc just like in people. No amount of good husbandry can stop this. Sometimes chickens just die 

Thank you for saying that

 

[lalaland]

loved the funky duck. they all sure seemed happy.

 

[Bulldogma]

I remember something abut the lavender from the other thread... Didn't Bee say she put lavender in the coop and a hen was having a reaction with it? Or was it a few hens? I can't remember if it was fresh lavender she had just cut, or if it was dried.
Does anyone remember what happened there? I don't know if I want to sift through the thread to find it. I have no idea how far into the gnarly bunch story it was.

OGH - yes - Bee had put lavender cuttings in the nest boxes and one of her hens had a respiratory reaction to it. The respiratory issues went away when Bee removed the lavender. That said, the cuttings still have dust and pollen whereas the oil is filtered of those things. I don't have a lot of experience with the herbal remedies... but I would guess that just like people, chickens can have different allergies. Just because one chicken wheezes may not mean they all will.

Perhaps this is where trial and error come into play for us chicken keepers?

 

[stonykill]

loved the funky duck. they all sure seemed happy.

ducks are the best. Always playful and constant entertainment.

 

[Miss Lydia]

one of my video's . Watch the one girl who won't keep quiet and does a head bob, neck sweep dance. That is the funky duck. Poor Boo Boo. I miss him. He was a good drake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgLFANlQ6VU

stony looked like your Runner was trying to get in on the funky duck moves lol

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I like the idea....IF they are recipes that the person has USED and knows works. Not just random recipes found on the web. But tried and true recipes. Anything short of that would not be helpful and if anything can do damage. I see it on all of the really popular FB chicken sites. They are always posting bad information on those sites. We do not want to be like that

I never repeat a recipe I have not tried. I make my own recipes. I have studied herbs and remedies for years so I take that knowledge and apply it to the animals and to my family. But I dont share until I have tried it for a certain amount of time to see if it works the way it should

I have lots and lots of mint on the property. Full grown chickens walk through it. 3 day old chicks walk through it. But that is the extent. They walk through it showing no interest in it what so ever.

I grow mint of all kinds. I mean essential oil. They wont eat mint, I shred it and toss it in their litter in the coop to deter mites and lice. Mint wont hurt them but the essential oil COULD burn alittle. Depending upon the chicken thats why I test it on them before applying alot to them.


Bulldogma- I am on my way to the thread, thanks