The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I wonder if some animal fat - read "lard" - would be helpful added to the diet on these dry skinned kiddos...

One of the guys that showed chickens for years told us that he would top dress his feed with lard to keep the skin and feathers in healthy condition. I have been doing that ever since he told us that - or making little lard cakes (like suet cakes) with seed to let them peck at.

That is what I would try if they were mine. Go to a local butcher shop if you can and buy some of the lard they render there in the shop. Melt and drizzle some on the feed for a week or 2 and see how that affects it.

 

[hotrodflash]

I wonder if some animal fat - read "lard" - would be helpful added to the diet on these dry skinned kiddos...

One of the guys that showed chickens for years told us that he would top dress his feed with lard to keep the skin and feathers in healthy condition. I have been doing that ever since he told us that - or making little lard cakes (like suet cakes) with seed to let them peck at.

That is what I would try if they were mine. Go to a local butcher shop if you can and buy some of the lard they render there in the shop. Melt and drizzle some on the feed for a week or 2 and see how that affects it.

There are no "local butcher shops" in my area. I have bacon drippings that I can use. I wonder if I rub a little coconut oil on their exposed skin would help, Thoughts?

 

[Sally8]

This may just be the breed I go with for dark eggs then. Not many could say a whole lot about BCMs, so Welsummers are winning

They are starting to show BCM but there is so much controversy. I'm only in for the egg color.

Guess what is happening at my house tonight. I have the flu bug. Feel like crap! Oh, that's not it. I have Silkie's hatching!!!! I know nothing about them. I see a beak and hear peeping. I'm trying not to watch So excited! So excited, So excited.

 

[aoxa]

Maybe dry skin is a better term.

That's all normal for naked necks. It does look sunburnt, but that is how they look.



She would look a whole lot drier if I used a flash. If you zoom in it looks dry as well. Wrinkly little things! Most think they are ugly, but I don't

 

[aoxa]

Can't find any here anyway! Either breed.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
You can still get rendered lard often fresh from the butcher department in a local grocery. If not, they do sell cans of lard still. I just like to get it from the local butcher if it's available because they usually butcher local animals and its fresher and sometimes raised more healthy. But if you don't have that, getting lard in general will do.

I think the coconut oil would be fine. But remember that everything will stick to it. Dust in the coop, etc., May make them itchy and irritated (not from the oil but from the dusty stuff).

 

[aoxa]

I wonder if some animal fat - read "lard" - would be helpful added to the diet on these dry skinned kiddos...

One of the guys that showed chickens for years told us that he would top dress his feed with lard to keep the skin and feathers in healthy condition. I have been doing that ever since he told us that - or making little lard cakes (like suet cakes) with seed to let them peck at.

That is what I would try if they were mine. Go to a local butcher shop if you can and buy some of the lard they render there in the shop. Melt and drizzle some on the feed for a week or 2 and see how that affects it.

Or coconut oil. That would do the same thing. I use it for my own dry skin - and it works wonders!

 

[aoxa]

You can still get rendered lard often fresh from the butcher department in a local grocery. If not, they do sell cans of lard still. I just like to get it from the local butcher if it's available because they usually butcher local animals and its fresher and sometimes raised more healthy. But if you don't have that, getting lard in general will do.

I think the coconut oil would be fine. But remember that everything will stick to it. Dust in the coop, etc., May make them itchy and irritated (not from the oil but from the dusty stuff).

No it will soak in the skin. Doesn't stay wet for long. Melts right on contact with warm skin.

 

[maggiemo]

I have four wellies, (all from that rescued flock from the guy's bedroom), and have had them for about 10 months. They are almost 2 years old.
Pros: good consistent layers of very dark brown eggs. even temperment. docile. cautious.
cons: so docile they don't object to feather picking. won't stand up for themselves at the feed stations. last to come out of the coop in the morning. last to try new foods. not great at foraging. I wouldn't call them skittish because they are slow, and stand back from just about everything .

I don't think I choose to get more, although I am loving the dark dark eggs.

Wow. That is not like mine. Where did you get yours from? I wonder if that makes difference? One thing I forgot to say about my Welsummers is that I almost never see them eating food from the feeder. When I was reading Bee's OT thread she would talk about birds being able to freerange almost exclusivly. I had barred rocks and americanas, then I got my Welsummers. After having them about a month I understood what Bee meant about 'finding their own food.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: How long have you had them? I was hoping someone had that experience!