The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Pozees]

YES! I was so surprised and brought the first smile to my sad sack face when I saw it! I need to look at a couple bottoms today and find out who did the deed.

I agree. I'm going to send a letter today and use a gentle tone. Explaining the symptoms and outcome of my necropsy with her pullet and then suggesting my findings to her. I will ask her more than anything if she thinks lead poisoning could be a reason. She is a very nice lady and I will approach her with this just like I would want to be approached. No accusations and drama but as a breeder to breeder discussion. I would want to know.

Perfect.

My Fogle eggs arrived a day later than yours, going in the incubator today. What a terrific packaging job he does!

Noticed last night one of my white CD Silkies appears to have developed crossed beak, which seems like something I would have noticed earlier if it was always that way. The lower beak is suddenly cocking out to the right (her right) of the upper beak. Still eating and drinking normally, good weight, but will have to watch, and if it is in fact a hen at least she can serve her purpose as a broody if she maintains condition - I hope. Kind of bummed out right now, but for the moment she/he appears to be fine otherwise. It is the gold-based one, not the silver-based.

 

[Bulldogma]

I think I am going to do the same with an email. I know for a fact she knows she has losses as she pointed out in the brooder box when I got my replacement chicks, she said she would likely loose 1/3 of them. So I think she may not know that it could be lead causing these issues. She is a very sweet old lady with more knowledge about chickens than I could ever dream about having. I really hope she considers the findings and pursues some action. I would hate to see her name tainted on something like this.

But with this info, I will not be breeding these birds that have survived thus far. I don't want to risk the passing on of it, so they will just live out their lives as pets in the layer flock.

Wish I knew how to find someone who would help her either rid her coop of lead or set up something else for her to keep her chickens in. It's hard when it's someone who likely lives on a fixed income. Sadly, chances are all of her birds are affected at this point. I wonder how long it takes to get lead out of the lines when chicks are hatched with some contamination from the hen? Could it be bred out?

 

[aoxa]

While anybody would be dismayed to learn they might have a lead issue, I believe she will be very thankful for the information! You are such a kind person - I know the news of the possibility will be OK coming from you.

I can't wait to see the Catdance chicks you hatch! I just know you will enjoy them so much! (We all will, as I know you will post plenty of photos when your babies hatch!) And looking forward to hearing about the Johnny eggs under the broody!

Aoxa - great pictures as usual!! You should definitely get the wether - LOL! You know - you can train them just like dogs. They are very smart critters! Of course they're not much help against coyotes, neighborhood dogs and the like, but they are so much fun.

Thanks for backing me up. Need 3!

I've been addicted to watching goat videos. Gosh they are hilarious. I can't wait! One of their does is going into labour any day and we are going out to visit them when they are born to pick our second female and will probably pick out our wether at that time.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
I think we need to wait and see if she responds to our emails first, then see about correcting the problem. I can help physically but not $$. I only live 3 miles away from her.

 

[Mumsy]

I think I am going to do the same with an email. I know for a fact she knows she has losses as she pointed out in the brooder box when I got my replacement chicks, she said she would likely loose 1/3 of them. So I think she may not know that it could be lead causing these issues. She is a very sweet old lady with more knowledge about chickens than I could ever dream about having. I really hope she considers the findings and pursues some action. I would hate to see her name tainted on something like this.

But with this info, I will not be breeding these birds that have survived thus far. I don't want to risk the passing on of it, so they will just live out their lives as pets in the layer flock.

You and I are on the same page with this.

Hey! I have a question. I kept that carcass outside in a bucket in a locked pen over night so it is still fresh. Do you think I could use a home lead test kit on it? How would I do that? Just talking about it with my husband and he said go forth with trying. I'm just not sure what part I should test. The liver? The gizzard? The flesh? All of them?

I'm not sure how I feel about using the surviving roo. Would the semen be so full of lead it would taint the eggs? I just don't know the answer to any of this. I am of a thought to breed him to one of my barn yard hens and mark the eggs for hatching. The lead source is not originating on my property. I can't fathom the roo being so full of lead he would poison his offspring. I think otherwise he would be dead or infertile. My curious mind wants to know the answers but my ethical sense doesn't want to experiment with live animals....All though there is that incident with the kerosene. Seriously...I wish I knew more about lead poisoning and it's effects on breeding.

 

[Bulldogma]

You and I are on the same page with this.

Hey! I have a question. I kept that carcass outside in a bucket in a locked pen over night so it is still fresh. Do you think I could use a home lead test kit on it? How would I do that? Just talking about it with my husband and he said go forth with trying. I'm just not sure what part I should test. The liver? The gizzard? The flesh? All of them?

I'm not sure how I feel about using the surviving roo. Would the semen be so full of lead it would taint the eggs? I just don't know the answer to any of this. I am of a thought to breed him to one of my barn yard hens and mark the eggs for hatching. The lead source is not originating on my property. I can't fathom the roo being so full of lead he would poison his offspring. I think otherwise he would be dead or infertile. My curious mind wants to know the answers but my ethical sense doesn't want to experiment with live animals....All though there is that incident with the kerosene. Seriously...I wish I knew more about lead poisoning and it's effects on breeding.

I think it would be worth a try to use the lead test kit on the gizzard and or liver/kidneys.

I don't know what to tell you about the roo. I do know that over time when there is no more exposure, lead levels do drop - but I don't know to what extent and if it would be enough to make his semen safe. I believe that the lead poisoning passed through the egg is from the hen as the vast majority of the material in the egg is created by her body. My *guess* would be that a male with high lead would pose little risk to the offspring... unless the lead were affecting his semen at a genetic level.

The following is about increased lead levels in human males:
"A man's exposure to lead in the workplace can affect his ability to have healthy children. Lead is one of the few things which can affect pregnancy by causing changes in dad’s sperm. Damaged sperm may affect the baby’s growth and cause possible health problems in the baby. Immediate effects can include miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and low birth weight."

I have no idea if there would be similar issues in poultry.

 

[countrygirl74]

YES! I was so surprised and brought the first smile to my sad sack face when I saw it! I need to look at a couple bottoms today and find out who did the deed.

I agree. I'm going to send a letter today and use a gentle tone. Explaining the symptoms and outcome of my necropsy with her pullet and then suggesting my findings to her. I will ask her more than anything if she thinks lead poisoning could be a reason. She is a very nice lady and I will approach her with this just like I would want to be approached. No accusations and drama but as a breeder to breeder discussion. I would want to know.

How old is your silkie Mumsy? I am patiently (not) waiting for my first egg...

 

[countrygirl74]

OK - somebody give me the low-down on the uses of lactobacillus inoculant. That video and this information would make a good thing for that place!

Here are the uses:
1. Foliar spray on plants (only at certain times, I think you're not supposed to spray it when plant starts flowering or growing fruit, etc.)
2. Kills e.coli and salmonella
3. Pour as a drench into your soil - replenishes nutrients, rebuilds good bacteria in the soil
4. Add to chicken's (or any animal) water - repopulates digestive system with good bacteria, helps them absorb more nutrients from their feed
5. Spray on livestock bedding (chickens, ducks, pigs, whatever!) - it breaks down the manure with beneficial microbes, thereby breaking down the ammonia
*This is what I use it for the most as my ducks' deep litter was smelling like ammonia - sprayed down their entire run of deep litter - no more ammonia
If your run is uncovered like mine and it's already wet anyway - from rain or snow, go ahead and saturate it more so that it can soak through into the ground beneath.
6. Spray or pour into your compost if it needs a little help (if it's smelling, etc.)
7. Use in aquaponics system
8. Use in your own personal septic system - pour down your sink or toilet

 

[Bulldogma]

Here are the uses:
1. Foliar spray on plants (only at certain times, I think you're not supposed to spray it when plant starts flowering or growing fruit, etc.)
2. Kills e.coli and salmonella
3. Pour as a drench into your soil - replenishes nutrients, rebuilds good bacteria in the soil
4. Add to chicken's (or any animal) water - repopulates digestive system with good bacteria, helps them absorb more nutrients from their feed
5. Spray on livestock bedding (chickens, ducks, pigs, whatever!) - it breaks down the manure with beneficial microbes, thereby breaking down the ammonia
*This is what I use it for the most as my ducks' deep litter was smelling like ammonia - sprayed down their entire run of deep litter - no more ammonia
If your run is uncovered like mine and it's already wet anyway - from rain or snow, go ahead and saturate it more so that it can soak through into the ground beneath.
6. Spray or pour into your compost if it needs a little help (if it's smelling, etc.)
7. Use in aquaponics system
8. Use in your own personal septic system - pour down your sink or toilet

Thank you!!

 

[aaggjg]

How old is your silkie Mumsy? I am patiently (not) waiting for my first egg...

My silkies at the very earliest started laying at 6 months old .... A few at 8 and one holdout who is 10 months old. She is getting very chatty so I'm assuming it won't be long. They all more or less went broody after 2 ish weeks of laying.