The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

I blew up the pictures of the chicken feet and looked pretty good at them. I would probably put new stock on all of them. One bird looks like the feet and legs are fine. Good work on looking and observing your chickens. I would say that it could be early leg mite infestation. Spray your coops sleeping area (perch, bedding)with neem oil when the birds are out for the day.

 

[Mumsy]

When I see "wood ash" for dust bathing, is that literally ash from our fireplace? Can I add DE to it?

Wood ash from the fireplace is free. It works very well. DE costs $. Mixing the two is something I would not even dream of. I wouldn't want to breath that mixture. Even wearing a mask. Yes DE is natural and becoming more widely available but it really seems like an unnecessary additive and expense. Try plain old wood ash. Check for vermin once a week. I like to rub the wood ash right into my chickens feathers. From head to bum. Leaving no quarter undusted. At least once a month. Regardless if they use the dust bath.

 

[delisha]

I've been swayed. U-ACV in waters, un-medicated chick feed that will be fermented, deep litter (which I was planning anyway). Anything else? Instead of using shavings,for DLM, I was thinking of using http://www.lucernefarms.com/feeds_GOLD.shtml. I read about a few people having super success with it (https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/683176/experiment-with-bedding). My chicks are slated to arrive Feb 7th. When should I start fermenting? I can't tell you all how valuable everyone has been!

Two days before arrival will be fine. They will be very hungry.

 

[midnightroo]

I blew up the pictures of the chicken feet and looked pretty good at them. I would probably put new stock on all of them. One bird looks like the feet and legs are fine. Good work on looking and observing your chickens. I would say that is early leg mite infestation. Spray your coops sleeping area (perch, bedding)with neem oil when the birds are out for the day.

Is this comment for me? If so, thank you!
They are in a Snap lock coop so would I still need to spray the plastic with neem oil? I can do something with the bar though, that is wood. I don't do DL since there isn't enough room. The bedding gets changed about every three days at least depending on the amount of time they spend outside.

Thanks again

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm fermenting un-medicated all grain chick feed for my seven chicks. I add wild bird seed, dried flake Oregano, and powdered Pumpkin seed to it every other day when I add to my bucket.

My deep litter recipe is pine shavings, local grass hay, yard leaves, and saphgum peat moss. I fork it every day after my flock is turned out each morning. My barn and pens are small and my birds free range all day.
I use hard wood ash mixed with the peat moss in their dust bath. No mites or lice on my birds since switching to wood ash to dust instead of using poison. These are all things I learned here three months ago. My chicks and adult birds are thriving as a result. No sickness. No bugs. Well formed normal poo. Fertility, eggs, lush feathers, and bright eyes. What more could we ask for?
edited to add; Start your bucket a day or two before they arrive.

I so appreciate your posts

It is AMAZING how much my birds LOVE the peat moss in the dust bath box. I have used all kinds of variations as a base including mixtures of sand, bagged dirt (when it was to frozen outside to dig), fresh dirt from the garden and peat moss. So far, in their little bird brains, peat moss wins every time though they do love just plain old garden dirt.

Last time I rejuvinated the box with peat moss and a little wood ash and they all waited in line to get in.

Of course, mamma hen chased them all outside so she and kids could get in as soon as she knew it was there

 

[delisha]

Quote: If it is plastic I would think your bedding needs to be sprayed.Plastic just needs to be wiped down. I would just spray a little on a rag and wipe. They probably came with mites so it might not be in your coop. Plastic should not harbor mites. Bedding will.

 

[Melabella]

http://beekman1802.com/joshs-lazy-scrambled-eggs/#.UPx1BSwIX5c.facebook


So I am for anything that "infuses" butter into something! Check out this totally different take on scrambling eggs. I am willing to totally give it a try! Tried some other recipies of theirs, and it's been spot on~

For any fans of Amazing Race,, you'll love their website, and the farm is not to far from me... real close to you stoney!

MB

 

[Mumsy]

You're wonderful! Thank you! Is that a 'shake" of oregano, and powdered pumpkin seed? Any particular 'wild bird seed'? Anything in that area I should avoid? Does it do something special for them? I just asked about the wood ash above, is that from my fireplace? Sorry for such the silly questions..

I add Oregano until I can see flecks of green in the mash and smell it. I add a 1/4 cup of powdered pumpkin seed to the ferment buckets every three days. Pumpkin, Garlic, and Cayenne are natural worm preventatives. Oregano has health benefits similar to a natural antibiotic. When Un-ACV, FF, Oregano, Pumpkin Seed, Garlic oil, Cayenne, (added to adult FF), free range, sunshine, and fresh air are combined...In my experience medications are not needed. If a chicken should get sick and stay sick while on my system, I will cull. Period. I will not keep a sick bird in my flock.
There is often talk about what to do with a chicken that has a respiratory illness. aka runny nose, sneezing, and such. One of my Grey Silkies exhibited these symptoms for three weeks. I did nothing special for him. Kept him on the same diet. Same pen. With his pen mate. He recovered on his own with no other further escalating symptoms. His pen mate did not catch the same symptoms nor did any other bird in my barn. I'm glad. I would have hated to have had to cull him at only five months old. He is now thriving again. None the worse for his illness.
And....There is no such thing as a silly question. There are however plenty of silly answers out there. Hopefully my explanations are helpful.

 

[Dave Young]

Nice Job!!

 

[midnightroo]

If it is plastic I would think your bedding needs to be sprayed.Plastic just needs to be wiped down. I would just spray a little on a rag and wipe. They probably came with mites so it might not be in your coop. Plastic should not harbor mites. Bedding will.

Thank you! I will get the Neem tomorrow, change the bedding, clean the drop pan and spray the bedding that I replace it with. Then put Nu Stock on their legs. I really appreciate the help! I have been wondering now for a few weeks, but all the photos on the Internet show some very ugly cases of it and I guess his is still in the early stages. I also wasn't sure because I think I read somewhere that their feet could get red from hormones.

Thanks again and thank you everyone for the information and photos in this thread. I have enjoyed reading it so much and it puts me at ease knowing I can have a question answered and not just look on the Internet or in a book.