The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
Just chickens. I add the wild bird seed is all. They get raisins for a treat and sometimes mealworms

 

[Bulldogma]

He's not much of a write. Very point in emails. When he talks he talks fast. Maybe I can speak with him in person about it again and write an article on his advice.

That would be fantastic!!

Would u be willing to share the recipe or a link where I could find it? I would like to add it to my chicken binder in case it is need. Thanks
Thanks for all your input everyone on what you feed ur hens. Tomorrow when I am on a computer I will be copying & pasting the info. I think next time I go to the feed store I will see what they have. I'd like to get them off the layer when they finish up what I have left.

Does anyone use the calf manna?

My plan for spring/summer is to feed them in the evenings so they forage more. And when spring finally arrives I am looking forward to planting all those seeds I have

Aoxa if you could get more info from your friend that would be great.

X's 2 on the recipe!
And I do use Calf Manna - just a small percentage mixed in my FF. I have a couple breeds that do better with higher protein.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Well, I gotta put a hold on the FF. I have 2 of 3 Silkies with sour crop. I am still gonna do wet feed so less waste and once sour crop is cleared they will have ACV in the water.

 

[Kacey's Krazee's]

I have been feeding my girls a feed called Eggmaker pellets, and it has a protein level of 20%. It is made by Wendlands. I have to drive quite a long way to get it. Almost a 100 mile round trip. I buy quite a large number of bags when we go, so not to have to make the trip as often. I have not been having to use as much, doing the FF. I mix it with scratch grains, add whole oats, and dehydrated Alfafa meal. The girls are loving it. They mob me when I go in to feed them. I leave some pellets out for them to eat if needed, so they aren't starving when they mob me, they just really enjoy the feed. I have been looking at them, and complimenting them on how beautiful they are looking. Everyone now has a full body of feathers, fluffy butts, and not a bit of pecked feathers. I have had oodles of issues with that in the past. I have 2 Cochins, and the Partridge Cochin, Patty, has always looked awful. Not just bad, but really really bad. I complimented them one time to many I guess. Yesterday, when we came home from work, I looked out at the chickens, and one was running and had something in her mouth, others were running after her.... I was thinking maybe someone laid a soft egg, and they were playing chase with it. I went out about an hour later to feed them, and noticed them pecking on one of the Buff Orpingtons, All of them, and she had a huge hole pecked on her back, just above the tail. I grabbed her out, and had my first chance at using my homemade Bee's Ointment. I stuck her then into a cat carrier for her safety. I finished up feeding everyone, and transfered the Orp into a larger cat carrier, fed /watered her, and lights out. Today, I went out, and again, fed everone. As I was watching the flock again, I realized they were after one of the Easter Eggers, doing the same thing on her. They had plucked her back in the same place, and it was red and raw, and was about to be made into raw meat like the Orp. So, I grabbed her out. Applied ointment on her too. Now, I really don't have room for 2 birds to be in isolation. So, had the bright idea of putting them together, thinking that they wouldn't peck on each other, especially both having that awful smelling ointment. But, the Egger didn't read the script, and started on the Orp. Again. So, have to figure something out. DH is away for the weekend....
I'm thinking that maybe I am not putting enough of the pellets into their FF, so I beefed it up this evening, and hoping I see the end of this behavior. It's more than one of the girls doing it. I have seen some damaged combs, and it appears my GL Wyandotte is being pecked on the neck, chest area too.
They are just little A$$es!

I have a question/concern. I have 20 chicks, straight run, that we picked up from Ideal. They are 4 wks old as of yesterday. I have been watching the chest bumping and the like between them all. All in good fun. This evening, while feeding everyone, I spent time watching them, and saw 2 of the White Rock chicks, I think they both are roos, fighting each other. Grabbing each others little combs, and ripping new feathers from each others heads.
Really fighting. Nothing looks like they are playing. The noise they are making is sending the other chicks into a corner, far away from them. Isn't this a bit young for this type of fighting? I have never seen it so soon. I have plans on eating the roosters, so I need them to grow more, so culling them isn't an option at this time. Plus, with the feather/flesh eating going on in the laying coop, I don't have room to have 2 grow out coops. Do you think they will contine this fighting? Has any one ever had this happen at this young?

Sorry, looks like I wrote a book... again.....

Kacey

 

[zinia8]

DAKIN SOLUTION
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://...793434&usg=AFQjCNH9ZNREfQCRyGqCmVTW3sD37nTaoQ

 

[PeepsCA]

Sorry, when I changed my text color, it covered up the links... if you hover over both places the text says this recipe they are still clickable.. but here are the links, without using the fancy link option in the text editor:

The one I use:
http://www.virginia.edu/uvaprint/HSC/pdf/09024.pdf

The other one, that has a little more info about storage and shelf life:
http://woundconsultant.com/files/DakinsRecipe.pdf

 

[Mumsy]

It's been many many years since I've had that kind of behavior in my flock. They were hatchery birds and my runs and pens were too small for the number of birds I was keeping at the time.

I have never had four week old cockerel chicks fight like that. I have no idea why that would happen except maybe it's in the strain. You don't have the room to make more runs? This is a tough one. The only thing I can think of is your birds need room to free range and they may need meat in their diet. As in red raw meat.

How big is your property?

Sorry you are dealing with this. It must be very hard to wittness. I'm sure you will get more ideas from others soon to help you figure it out.

 

[mrsamplias]

I'll use this for chick starter in a smaller batch. The label says it's a good Turkey and duck feed.

Our feed store just asked me if I wanted any turkeys. I had called about ordering some chicks. I'm trying to decide if we want to try turkeys. Do they eat the same feed as chicks?

Pictures of moving day


Dylan moving the chicks out

so heartwarming!

 

[Sally8]

Our feed store just asked me if I wanted any turkeys. I had called about ordering some chicks. I'm trying to decide if we want to try turkeys. Do they eat the same feed as chicks?
so heartwarming!

Mine have always. They were hatched together. Seem to be doing fine. I am researching to see if I should add something to their diet There are warnings out there about not raising chicks and turkeys together because of Blackfoot Disease. I called the ag departmour local county offices and was told it was rare in our area. So, I left them together. As they approached 6 - 8 mo. The hen tried to stomp my chickens that were dusting them selves. So, only recently, I separated them. They are a lot of fun. Much different than chickens..

 

[mrsamplias]

Mine have always. They were hatched together. Seem to be doing fine. I am researching to see if I should add something to their diet There are warnings out there about not raising chicks and turkeys together because of Blackfoot Disease. I called the ag departmour local county offices and was told it was rare in our area. So, I left them together. As they approached 6 - 8 mo. The hen tried to stomp my chickens that were dusting them selves. So, only recently, I separated them. They are a lot of fun. Much different than chickens..

thanks for your info! I have been following the Turkeys for 2013 thread, trying to see if it is something that we might be able to try...