The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

i would like to what the best thing to use for deworming chickens naturally

depends on your set up. Many things you can feed them to keep your levels balanced. But, It does start with good management. A healthy environment, fresh air, good food, exercise, and fresh water.

Garlic, pumpkin and the seeds, cucumbers, and the seeds, apple cores, UPACV
I am sure many others know many other things to add to this little list.

 

[delisha]

I live in Wisconsin, we have deep freeze here. I have a raised coop. It is a good 4 inches off the ground with breather vent (hard wire) for air flow. Most birds freeze from humidity. I have never lost a bird to freeze. I hope I never do. Just because some one you know lost a bird to freeze does not mean raised coops do not work, it works great for me.

 

[aoxa]

I do not know what a sex link is. I doubt highly it is one since I bred this bird.

It's a boy Delisha.

Sex links are those red hens you get for laying.




My hens


Red sex link rooster.

But after saying that, your boy does not look like a red sex link. He looks like he carries dominant white. Lots of those birds end up with the yellowish hackles. I definitely think it's a boy.

 

[aoxa]

Best way to cull a chick?

We are new at this, and I really don't want to do it, but it looks like our little chick isn't going to get any better. Once I find a friend for the one I have left, or find a home for it, we will be culling.

Thanks.

I've read varying opinions, and chicks are the hardest for me. Very sharp scissors to take head off. That would be the quickest method. Make sure you have proper scissors depending on age of the bird. A day old will be easily culled with scissors.

I'm sorry it's come to that

 

[Bulldogma]

This is a duplicate post on purpose - just in case someone gets the email version or reads the old post but doesn't see the edited posted I made above. Sorry for the duplicate, but I think it's important. I'm going to try to do a little more research but, like I said in the edited post, "better safe than sorry".
*********************************
Edited Post:
After I ran this heater for a little bit - even at a lower setting with the dimmer - the fumes were pretty strong. I decided to turn it off and quit using it in the hen house until I can find out more information regarding silicon fumes and bird's health. The fumes made me think of the teflon coated light bulbs causing death of the flock: http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/i...t_bulbs_toxic_to_chickens_the_full_story.html
http://www.birdtricks.com/blog/non-stick-cookware-kills-another-parrot/
I tried to look into it a bit and found this: http://www.debralynndadd.com/_blog/greenlivingqa/post/Offgassing_From_Silicone_Bakeware/
Then there are tons of items that say the fumes are completely harmless (but that's what they said about the teflon coating fumes too...)
So at least for now, better safe than sorry. I turned it off and won't be using it.

I'm with you - better safe than sorry... but I am sorry that the thing didn't work out!

Is anyone doing Gluten Free chickens? We are doing that. I mix our own feed. We've noticed a huge difference going from expensive store-bought "all natural" eggs to our own clucks laying.

You know - I really should look into GF chicken feed ingredients... seeing as how I have celiac and all - LOL. So far I haven't had any issues with the eggs... but get so much of a crumb of wheat product into me and... 'nuff said!

I use flax seed, fish meal for the calcium, I have found an all natural layer protein from my local coop that is GF-no wheat/rye/barley, crushed corn and table scraps-veggies and fruit. The ratios are not specific. I mean when I mix it I use a 50lb bag of the layer crumbles with 50lbs of crushed corn and about 5 lbs of fish meal, 10 lbs of flax seed, and roughly 25lbs at least of alfalfa which is GF. We add apple cider vinegar to their water too. So far so good! Myself and 2 of our 3 daughters are pretty sensitive to gluten and so far we haven't had any issues. When we were buying them from the store we starting getting sick regardless of the brand. That's when we read that gluten can be transferred to the eggs. So we got chickens and so far we have felt great! What do you think?

Very cool - - and by the way... Welcome to the thread!!

Best way to cull a chick?
We are new at this, and I really don't want to do it, but it looks like our little chick isn't going to get any better. Once I find a friend for the one I have left, or find a home for it, we will be culling.
Thanks.

So sorry about the chick.

Good for you for not making it suffer any longer than necessary. So hard when you know they just won't have any quality of life.

 

[camilleathome]

Just thought id let you all know aoxa and i are already talking chickens for her next breeding season and what chicks Im ordering for when we move in XD. Im also looking at places for hay as I need some for our possible new horse(Our landlords old horse she was advised was going to be put down if he wasnt moved as he doesent get along well with the herd as he bonds to one mare and does not want to share plus he has sway back so cant wear a saddle).

 

[aoxa]

I'm with you - better safe than sorry... but I am sorry that the thing didn't work out!
You know - I really should look into GF chicken feed ingredients... seeing as how I have celiac and all - LOL. So far I haven't had any issues with the eggs... but get so much of a crumb of wheat product into me and... 'nuff said!
Very cool - - and by the way... Welcome to the thread!!
So sorry about the chick.

Good for you for not making it suffer any longer than necessary. So hard when you know they just won't have any quality of life.

My fiance is not Celiac, but she is gluten free. I am reduced Gluten, but still consume some. I'm considering even going less. My whole house is gluten free, but I will eat gluten when I go to a restaurant.

I have IBS, and am very sensitive to some food that I still can not identify. It never seems to be the same thing. I need to figure it out, because it really.. well 'nuff said on my end too LOL.

 

[Bulldogma]

Just thought id let you all know aoxa and i are already talking chickens for her next breeding season and what chicks Im ordering for when we move in XD. Im also looking at places for hay as I need some for our possible new horse(Our landlords old horse she was advised was going to be put down if he wasnt moved as he doesent get along well with the herd as he bonds to one mare and does not want to share plus he has sway back so cant wear a saddle).

You'll also need a goat or another horse for this guy - - horses are herd animals and need to have other herd members. I had success using a goat for a lonely horse once.

 

[aoxa]

Just thought id let you all know aoxa and i are already talking chickens for her next breeding season and what chicks Im ordering for when we move in XD. Im also looking at places for hay as I need some for our possible new horse(Our landlords old horse she was advised was going to be put down if he wasnt moved as he doesent get along well with the herd as he bonds to one mare and does not want to share plus he has sway back so cant wear a saddle).

Camille,

I have a friend really close to my house that sells organic hay. I'm not sure his price, as he give us a discount ($2 a bale), but I can ask for you. The stuff is beautiful.

 

[camilleathome]

You'll also need a goat or another horse for this guy - - horses are herd animals and need to have other herd members. I had success using a goat for a lonely horse once.

Oh yes deffinetly. Im looking for a second horse or someone to board a horse at the barn right now. I found a GORGEOUS draft cross but hes 1500 which would take me a bit to come up with but god do I want him!