The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Mumsy, what gorgeous pictures. I can't wait to raise a family here, and hope my children will be as much into the birds as we are.

Love the last picture

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I was going to check this out to see if or what anyone might think about worming. I have had chickens now for over 6 years and have never wormed them. They do free range. I have never seen anything or even thought that they might have them. But because I went to the Emergency/medical post to ask about an older hen - she is 4 - with a dirty bottom I have been in an overload of information on worming and that I need to worm them twice a year. I have had a few die over the years but just thought that is was a "natural death type thing. Heat mostly for the older birds. I am at a moment where to tell you the truth I just don't know what to do. I have 40 birds. My husband has cancer and my grand children consume these eggs like crazy. So not really wanting to put into the birds that may be harmful. Any help from some of you would be great. So to worm or not to worm that is the question. Thank you so much.

I've got a girl with a messy bottom but I'm pretty sure it's because she refuses to roost. She likes to bed down in the deep litter to sleep and ends up pooping on herself all night. Ugh. BUT, she's my best layer and she lays perfectly clean eggs so I let her continue to sleep in the deep litter. I have a feeling she likes the warmth.

You might want to put some unpasteurized apple cider vinegar in their water - in plastic waterer only - and see if that helps. You may also want to look into fermented feed as that changes the consistency of their poop. While neither will get rid of worms, the vinegar and fermented feed seems to make the environment of their gut less hospitable to them. Good Luck!

 

[Bulldogma]

Wonderful pictures, Mumsy!! And so neat your youngest wants Johnny chicks.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

My son(16) is starting to show real interest in chickens. After I got my wife her Silkies at the beginning of Dec for an early Christmas present, my son asked if he could name the two chicks hatched by my broody(if you mane them, they are yours on our little farm). I told him he could. Well after a week one chick got taken by a small hawk, then the next week momma got taken by a large hawk. So now the remaining orphan chick is in the brooder with my wife's Silkies. The other day my son asks if he can show his rooster(yes I know it is a rooster, sexable by barring gene). I told him no because he is a barnyard mix(Orp/Rock). So I think in the spring I may have to buy him a show chicken for his birthday.

 

[aoxa]

My son(16) is starting to show real interest in chickens. After I got my wife her Silkies at the beginning of Dec for an early Christmas present, my son asked if he could name the two chicks hatched by my broody(if you mane them, they are yours on our little farm). I told him he could. Well after a week one chick got taken by a small hawk, then the next week momma got taken by a large hawk. So now the remaining orphan chick is in the brooder with my wife's Silkies. The other day my son asks if he can show his rooster(yes I know it is a rooster, sexable by barring gene). I told him no because he is a barnyard mix(Orp/Rock). So I think in the spring I may have to buy him a show chicken for his birthday.

That's so wonderful to hear!

I'd be pleased as punch to hear my teenager say that. They are so hard to get through to sometimes.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I will share now a few precious images of my family and garden. This is where I raised four children and nearly 200 chickens and ducks over 26 years.

Thank you so much for those photos. The one w/your daughters in the garden is amazing! And such a cool place.

what breed?

Waiting to hear back from her right now. She hatches a variety so I need to find out what's available...she has some hatching today, nyd and the day after.

 

[cnj-tx50]

I have just started using the ACV in the water. Never heard of fermented feed. What is that? She does tend to get into the nest boxes to sleep at night.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have just started using the ACV in the water. Never heard of fermented feed. What is that? She does tend to get into the nest boxes to sleep at night.

Here's a quick read on the fermented feed. There is also a large thread here on byc but this link is a good summary:
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I have just started using the ACV in the water. Never heard of fermented feed. What is that? She does tend to get into the nest boxes to sleep at night.

Here's a link that will explain fermented feed. You'll find many benefits to fermenting the feed and it's really very easy once you start it.

http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

Edit: Didn't see that Leahs Mom had recommended the very same link. Great minds and all that . . . ^_^

 

[Mumsy]

Thank you so much for those photos. The one w/your daughters in the garden is amazing! And such a cool place.

I'm happy to share them here. It is a testament to how friendly and welcoming this thread is. I would not share pictures so private unless I thought they would be enjoyed. I do enjoy when you all share pictures of your coops, private places, and flocks. It is like getting postcards from around the country from dear pen pals. Do people still have pen pals? Well...This thread is special like that.