The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[stonykill]

I asked a question... would love your thoughts on the post above yours.... Thanks!

MB

the post above moine is on show cages. I don't and never will show. Was that the post you wanted input on...or another?

 

[aoxa]

I don't know what you are asking

Quote: One page ago.

Really need some input. I can't really shoot these little tiny birds. What kind of measures could I take to get rid of them?

 

[stonykill]

One page ago.

Really need some input. I can't really shoot these little tiny birds. What kind of measures could I take to get rid of them?

I have blue jays and starlings that eat with the chickens. But not nearly the numbers you are talking about. Crows and ravens as well eat with the chickens. Doesn't seem to bother the chickens and they ultimately just chase them away.
Try a scare crow and a radio tuned to a talk station. I once had an owl problem and that worked in that case.

Now to deter my darn hawk. I have a young roo to butcher this morning that the freaking hawk killed. Everyone not in a covered run is still inside. They are not happy.....

 

[aoxa]

I have blue jays and starlings that eat with the chickens. But not nearly the numbers you are talking about. Crows and ravens as well eat with the chickens. Doesn't seem to bother the chickens and they ultimately just chase them away.
Try a scare crow and a radio tuned to a talk station. I once had an owl problem and that worked in that case.

Now to deter my darn hawk. I have a young roo to butcher this morning that the freaking hawk killed. Everyone not in a covered run is still inside. They are not happy.....

I've seen the things roosting on the same roost with my chickens. It's so strange.

Crows are good to deter hawks. But starlings are ticking me off lol.

I'll do the radio thing, because I do have a radio going, but it's not talk radio. Think a owl statue would work in place of a scare crow?

Also, sorry to hear about yet another loss.. The hawks are very hungry right now. Desperate.

We have a high population of bald eagles, but they haven't bothered my birds any.

 

[stonykill]

I've seen the things roosting on the same roost with my chickens. It's so strange.

Crows are good to deter hawks. But starlings are ticking me off lol.

I'll do the radio thing, because I do have a radio going, but it's not talk radio. Think a owl statue would work in place of a scare crow?

Also, sorry to hear about yet another loss.. The hawks are very hungry right now. Desperate.

We have a high population of bald eagles, but they haven't bothered my birds any.

I never tried the owl thing as I have been told by local ot's and have read (on the net...for what that is worth) that it can atrack owls. Not what I want to do. We also are getting a good number of bald eagles. So far so good with the chickens and eagles.

 

[delisha]

I have a question! Since this is a natural chicken thread, any Natural ideas for curing sour crop? Also does anybody know if too much bread causes sour crop in chickens? Thanks, and hope to get a reply soon!

Bread is one of the bigest reasons chickens get sour crop...It is hard to digest and sets in the crop for a long time. It can block proper digestion and bacteria grows. If you dry your bread out into hard hard pieces that works out much better. Some feed moldy breds and that causes bacteria.

If you have sour crop..seperate them and hold food, offer clean water only. Observe the bird the next day and offer scrambled eggs and Oregano, if the crop has reduced. It is a waiting game to get that crop down and get Oregano in them to combate that infection. Eggs gives them food and nutriants they need to combate it too. But it has to be a ballence. Not to much food, tons of water and Oregano.

 

[aoxa]

I never tried the owl thing as I have been told by local ot's and have read (on the net...for what that is worth) that it can atrack owls. Not what I want to do. We also are getting a good number of bald eagles. So far so good with the chickens and eagles.

Oh really? Interesting. Okay I'll avoid that. I would have to dig the statue out of the snow from my parents house anyway, so I'll skip that step

They had it there to deter blue herons who were eating their coy fish. The only thing that helped was the food source for the bird depleted and it left.

If they weren't crapping all over everything I could handle feeding them. But they are making a mess.

My in-laws think it's the cold. They are avid bird watchers. I'll fill up the bird feeder far away from the barn to entice them elsewhere.

 

[Melabella]

Stoney, This post has my question....

Originally Posted by Melabella

Morning everyone....

So in constantly assessing Duke and trying to learn here, read what qualities a good roo is about, I am always watching. I imagine the most important thing a roo can do for his flock is of course, keeping watch and protection. In this respect, Duke seems to be quite proficient, he is always on the lookout. On another front, I have noticed as Duke climbs aboard his ladies, he is using biting their necks seemingly to help in him getting them to submit, and also for balance. I notice a few times that some feathers come along with it, and a few of the girls have started this bare spot thing to the right of their combs, starting down their necks. One of my BA's Dahlia has really been getting a horrible bares spot, that in this weather, has been very cracked and red, and dry. I have been worried that blood would come, and then we'd have a real problem.
Here is not the greatest picture but it's the best I could do holding her and the camera at the same time.

I was able to get her away from Duke yesterday, and cleaned it up a bit, then covered the entire area with some NuStock.


I really tried to massage it on to the bare, dry cracked skin. I now noticed smaller similar spots starting on two other girls.

Question being, do all roosters do this kind of stuff when mounting hens. I remember discussion on the GB thread about a roo that does damage to his hens being a cullable offense. I have learned a lot since discovering that I had a missexed roo from my hatchery order, and now see a lot of the good points to having a roo, but in trying to figure out if Duke is indeed one I want to have around, if this keeps happening, should it be something I don't want to have around the girls?

Any thoughts are appreciated...off for another cup of joe...
MB

this thread is just hard to keep up with ....all the randomness to it. Example this morning. 6 pages to go through. Starts out chickens.... turns...I don't know...... bored..... off topic.... stop reading.... skim.... see if I see a question....nope....ok..... look for my name...... ugggg. It will e the same way tonight. 6 to 10 pages of randomness. About 5 real chicken related posts will be there...the rest will be random ramblings. So I skim and look to see if any one asks me anything.
Maybe it's a guy thing... I don't know.

I asked a question... would love your thoughts on the post above yours.... Thanks!

MB

 

[delisha]

Melabella,

Roos have been ripping out the feathers of hens for a long time. As your cockerel gets a bit older, the bald paches will be reduced. Nothing unnaural for a young bird o get a good grip. He is assuring his seed is pased and the hens submit.
I have a few hens wih a bald patch. My cockerel is quite young and enthusasic. All normal

 

[aoxa]

Melabella,

Roos have been ripping out the feathers of hens for a long time. As your cockerel gets a bit older, the bald paches will be reduced. Nothing unnaural for a young bird o get a good grip. He is assuring his seed is pased and the hens submit.
I have a few hens wih a bald patch. My cockerel is quite young and enthusasic. All normal

The favourites of the boys show it more than the casual girls.

My RIR had this as well. WE talked about getting her a baseball cap. All in good fun though.