The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Sally8]

I'm thinking you can pickup bacteria from opening the incubator, the door knob going into the bathroom. Camplyobactor is nasty. My sister and her 1 year old son became very ill with it from the dog pooping in the yard and even though they clean up after, it was there. I recently learned that the hand sanitizers that we all use has to be 65% or greater to work. I checked all of ours at the funeral home and they were 62%. Not good. We need to pick our battles. I should wash my hands much more than I do.

 

[Melabella]

Washing hands after poultry is important. I never wash before.. unless I was going from a quarantine pen to my own birds..

I've said it before and I'll say it again: If you have a disgusting dog that loves chicken poo - and most do - don't let them lick your hands or face. I came down with Camplyobacter from doing just that when I started. Hospital for a week and incredible pain. I had a severe case of it though. My bowels had stopped moving altogether for 2 weeks and I was getting ulcers.

Just a tip

Lord,, sorry you had to go through that. What are the onset symptoms? yuc

 

[Leahs Mom]

I got my Welsummers April 2012. Mine forage like crazy. They almost never are in the run where I free feed. I feed fermented food in the morning and the Welsummer walk by and go to the compost pile. They come back when the crowds is gone and see if they are interested in anything left. I work at a farm and one day I litterally brought a truck load of kale home to my chickens. Everyone went crazy except the Welsummers. They walked right by to the compost pile to look for bugs and whatever else they eat there.
The Welsummer hen who I gave chicks to on Friday throws the food out of he feeder and shows them how to scratch and eat. It is super cute.
I wonder if it just has to do with how chicks are raised? A friend was over today to see the chicks and she commented how these 4 day old chicks are already being chickens by scratching and pecking in the ground. It's just because thier momma showed them that is how to do it.
I ordered 4 more Welsummer to get in late summer because I really want to have a good rotation of these birds. I hope the second round is as good as these girls.

Thanks again for the review.

Just wanted to jump in and say

to all! I have been lurking for a while and have been enjoying all I am learning! Thanks!


Leahs Mom, I got bit by the dark egg bug. I have ordered for the end of April, 2 black copper marans, 1 cuckoo marans, 2 barnevelders and 1 welsummer (all pullets). But I am like you in that I am really wanting the Cream Legbar!!! But that will be much later on!!!

Where are you getting them from? You'll have to let us know how you like the various breeds after you've had them for awhile.

 

[Leahs Mom]

So sounds like those of you w/experience are saying this is a normal stage. Since they seem to be acting healthy in other respects sounds like things are okay.

Was wondering animallover.. is there anything there that looks irritated at all or just the lack of feathers?

ok Leahs mom sent me here
ok so i have 3 baby chicks (2 weeks and few days) and they have bald bellys where the bone is any one know why????( there moveing around eatting good has clean water and has corn bedding)


(pic was tooken saturday)

 

[kian]

I have 4 week old chicks right now, and at least one of them has the nekid keel bone (I think it's the keel? Trying to get chicken anatomy correct). It's also on my white chick, so maybe it's just more noticable on that color

 

[jendodd79]

Hi everyone!

I'm back from my trip to Bremerton, without hotel wifi! (The horror! Lol). I'm not sure that I can catch up on 72 pages that I missed - any pivotal moments over the last week?

 

[Sally8]

My Silkie egg is progressing very slowly. The anticipation is killing me.



Yesterday, I had a very funny looking egg. It looks like it's made out of fabric. This doesn't show very well. I'll try again later

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hi everyone!

(The horror! Lol).

 

[delisha]

My Silkie egg is progressing very slowly. The anticipation is killing me.



Yesterday, I had a very funny looking egg. It looks like it's made out of fabric. This doesn't show very well. I'll try again later

I have one pullet that is laying like that. I think she is eating way to many oyster shells. I figure it will work out eventually. She has only been laying for a week. She is pretty young and I was shocked to see her lay at all. I am actually going to try to hatch that egg...lol

 

[Sally8]

The Silkie is out! But I'm not sure if it pecked a hole in another egg while stumbling around like a drunken sailer or if I canT see the internal pip. Anyway, very excited.