The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote:

Really...lets see some pics. These have become my new favourite tho I doubt that I'll come across any.

 

[JeffOeuf]

Could you keep cats in with electric fence? Probably not, eh?

You certainly can. They hate them. Keep it low, and you'll need to keep the weeds out of it, but mine give the fence a very wide berth.

 

[aoxa]

You certainly can. They hate them. Keep it low, and you'll need to keep the weeds out of it, but mine give the fence a very wide berth.

Seriously? Please recommend type of electric fence you use. We have to order one for the sheep and turkeys anyway. Keep them out of our neighbour's yard and off the street. We're fencing in 2 acres.

 

[stonykill]

William is 2 ahead of me in the weasel killing. He is quite the hunter

. I took this pic of him right after his 2nd confirmed weasel kill

 

[memechick]

Good Morning ....... do any of you guys have experience with Sour Crop? I have a 24 week old Blue Cochin that did not roost with the others last night .....she was huddled in the corner by herself when I checked on them last night. I picked her up and noticed her crop was quite large and squishy. I brought her into the house in a dog crate to check her out completely. This morning the crop feels the same .... soft and squishy ..... the size of a tennis ball. I am giving her plain yogurt and ACV water and massaging the crop (although she will on peck at the yogurt a few times) ..... but wasn't sure if there was something else I should be doing? And should I keep her isolated from the others? Thanks, I'm worried about her.

 

[aoxa]

Good Morning ....... do any of you guys have experience with Sour Crop? I have a 24 week old Blue Cochin that did not roost with the others last night .....she was huddled in the corner by herself when I checked on them last night. I picked her up and noticed her crop was quite large and squishy. I brought her into the house in a dog crate to check her out completely. This morning the crop feels the same .... soft and squishy ..... the size of a tennis ball. I am giving her plain yogurt and ACV water and massaging the crop (although she will on peck at the yogurt a few times) ..... but wasn't sure if there was something else I should be doing? And should I keep her isolated from the others? Thanks, I'm worried about her.

I have had this in a RIR hen. Yoghurt (plain with probioitcs - no sugar AT ALL) and massages daily. I would not give ACV at this time. I can't see how it would help things.. if it speeds up fermentation, which is what is already going on in her crop - I just don't see it helping.

Yoghurt has the probioitcs. Just make sure it is plain and disgusting to our taste buds.

No fruits, breads or anything that has even a little bit of sugar. Yeast feeds off of sugar, and this is what she has. A yeast infection of the crop.

Don't make her vomit. They can aspirate and die.

Eggs are also a good idea.

My hen has a crop 3 times that size. It was really, really big.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good Morning ....... do any of you guys have experience with Sour Crop? I have a 24 week old Blue Cochin that did not roost with the others last night .....she was huddled in the corner by herself when I checked on them last night. I picked her up and noticed her crop was quite large and squishy. I brought her into the house in a dog crate to check her out completely. This morning the crop feels the same .... soft and squishy ..... the size of a tennis ball. I am giving her plain yogurt and ACV water and massaging the crop (although she will on peck at the yogurt a few times) ..... but wasn't sure if there was something else I should be doing? And should I keep her isolated from the others? Thanks, I'm worried about her.

I found this, http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html

 

[memechick]

Thanks Aoxa .....................did you isolate your RIR or keep her in general population? I have Molly inside with me right now .... in the coop she just sits in the corner by herself. Not roosting or hanging out with the others. I'm just wondering if I'm doing more harm than good by having her in the house.

 

[stonykill]

Thanks Aoxa .....................did you isolate your RIR or keep her in general population? I have Molly inside with me right now .... in the coop she just sits in the corner by herself. Not roosting or hanging out with the others. I'm just wondering if I'm doing more harm than good by having her in the house.

isolation is good. In a warm house....while temps are at or near zero... not good for her long term.

 

[aoxa]

Thanks Aoxa .....................did you isolate your RIR or keep her in general population? I have Molly inside with me right now .... in the coop she just sits in the corner by herself. Not roosting or hanging out with the others. I'm just wondering if I'm doing more harm than good by having her in the house.

Well that's an answer only you can provide. I left mine with the others (but it was fall and temps were not bad). Since nothing is passing, she is much more likely to get chilled outside in these temps. You can monitor her better inside. Just don't keep her in for long (a couple days). Try to keep her in the very coolest part of your house if you do. So she won't get too shocked when tossed back outside when feeling better.

You also need to monitor her poops, and that's easier to do inside. If she is pooping - it's a good sign.

Massage that crop. Top to bottom. Gently. My Ruby hasn't had any issues since with it. It took her a good week to get better. The crop was going down every day. She got yoghurt with crumble often.