The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[maggiemo]

Leah's Remember a while back we all watched a video very similar but by applying pressure the core popped out intact. \
Sorry about all the questions. This is one of those things that I'm hoping if I know details, I won't ever have to do it.

I was thinking the same thing about applying pressure/squeezing it. When I was watching the video I wanted them to squeeze it so badly!!

Great job Leahsmom. Just steller. thanks so much.

 

[aaggjg]

I found this interesting website about THE CONTROL OF INTERNAL PARASITES IN RUMINANTS .... It discusses the lifecycle, when to, how to, natural wormers etc etc.. Interestingly they make a pumpkin seed extraction...... I know most us of feed them the raw seeds and believe this is the best way... So it was interesting to seeing this method.... They of course do not say how to administer this extract!

Pumpkin seed dewormer24

• - Shell and grind up the pumpkin seeds (or buy them at a grocery store).
• - Mix 500 g of the seeds with three litres of water.
• - Simmer (do not boil), while stirring, for 30 minutes.
• - Let cool 30 minutes.
• - Filter through a cloth, squeezing to remove as much juice as possible.
• - Reduce over low heat to 150-200 ml.
• - Make sure to remove oily scum.
• - Refrigerate.

Here is the website with some very good natural worming information :

http://eap.mcgill.ca/agrobio/ab370-04e.htm

 

[OohLaLa]

Proud Mama...My babies came out in to their new run for some sun. Not only did they take right to it but they found an ant and a worm to split (it only took them took them a minute to suck it down like a noodle.

 

[aoxa]

Anybody have any experience and comments on either Delawares or Partridge Rocks? Never had them and was wondering if either one would be a good or bad addition to my flock? Thanks!

I had one Delaware, and I would have them again for sure.

Very similar to barred rocks in temperament, egg output and body size. The eggs are also very similar in colour and shape. So if you have a barred rock and enjoy them, you would enjoy a Delaware!

 

[aoxa]

I found this interesting website about THE CONTROL OF INTERNAL PARASITES IN RUMINANTS .... It discusses the lifecycle, when to, how to, natural wormers etc etc.. Interestingly they make a pumpkin seed extraction...... I know most us of feed them the raw seeds and believe this is the best way... So it was interesting to seeing this method.... They of course do not say how to administer this extract!

Pumpkin seed dewormer24

• - Shell and grind up the pumpkin seeds (or buy them at a grocery store).
• - Mix 500 g of the seeds with three litres of water.
• - Simmer (do not boil), while stirring, for 30 minutes.
• - Let cool 30 minutes.
• - Filter through a cloth, squeezing to remove as much juice as possible.
• - Reduce over low heat to 150-200 ml.
• - Make sure to remove oily scum.
• - Refrigerate.

Here is the website with some very good natural worming information :

http://eap.mcgill.ca/agrobio/ab370-04e.htm

http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/chicken_keeping/worming/437/verm-x_herbal_pellets_for_chickens_250g/

Here is a natural wormer called Verm-X. Might be worth a shot?

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Things that happen when trying to secure a safe spot for my chickens coming Wednesday instead of today. Fell on the corner of shipping box I put extra straw in while attempting to screw tighter the shed trim I want to attach the safety run surrounding the coop.

Corner of wooden shipping crate won: DSCF0003-1_zps1c5449dc.jpg.html
DSCF0004_zps71e3b224.jpg.html

The coop and corner of shed I was tightening up: DSCF0015_zps6e59f200.jpg.html

 

[Leahs Mom]

Leah's Mom - Do you think that it would have healed on it's own without opening it up? (Yours) 2nd question - was it better to scoop out the infection by breaking it up? Remember a while back we all watched a video very similar but by applying pressure the core popped out intact. Do you think it matters? Do they always heal? or do they ever get a bad infection and die? I do like the punch as opposed digging it out. Too much chance of infection.
Sorry about all the questions. This is one of those things that I'm hoping if I know details, I won't ever have to do it.

-I think this might have healed if I wanted to continue w/the Tricide Neo 2x/day and rebandaging every time. I had already been doing the epsom salt soaks for almost a whole month and just didn't have the time to continue. If I had lots of time and the Tricide Neo earlier, I think it would work. However.... Think of yourself having a boil/cyst. If you just get the core out it can heal quickly. Honestly, that's probably more comfortable in the long-run for the bird to get the core out and let it start healing. If it had been like that video we watched a long time ago with the chunky core of thick infection, you'd definitely want to get that out and let the healing begin.

-Scooping...I did NOT scoop like the video showed. For me, I'd decide when I got in there depending on what I found. I would be more likely to see if it would come out in a core chunk like that first video. It would be very nice if it would! It seemed from these new videos that they were getting a lot of very wet, gooey stuff rather than a chunky, thick core. So...I'd just play it by ear and see what I found when I got in there.

-Do they heal or do they ever die? YES, THEY DIE. This is a staff infection and it can get into the bones in the feet and leg. Kerry (whose video I just posted) had a friend who lost one because the infection had advanced into the bone. But...I think my hen's left foot would have healed on it's own. I think her immune system was fighting it. I think the right foot needed intervention, however. And I don't think that every scab on the foot has a deep infection under it. I think you have to evaluate on a case by case basis.

-I actually bought several of the punches and put them in my chicken first aid kit. Hopefully I never have to use them but if I do I don't want to wait to have them arrive.



I think I know what may have caused this foot problem. Just at the end of Fall we cleaned up an area of the property that had overgrown woods and folks had put a lot of items in that area including old fencing, some barbed wire, old metal pieces, etc. We got all the large things out and the obvious things and thought it was all clean. I turned the kiddos out to run there a couple times before the snow came.

This spring when I went out and began raking around in that area I found a couple boards that had nails in them buried just below the ground level. Also found some metal pieces and other sharp objects. We raked all that out and had a crew working out there this weekend again that found a few more items like that.

It's likely that she injured her feet digging around out there in early December. I'm surprised none of the others had any signs of injury since they had all been out there.

Today her comb is cherry red, she has gained a good amount of weight compared with when we brought her in, and is out there digging around with the rest of them. She lays an egge almost every day.

Here's what those feet look like today (I brought her in and took the photos)


Left Foot that was healing without the surgery. Note the new pink skin.



Right surgery foot.You can see it's healing and pink around the edges. The scab that is left there isn't over infection, just scab and is shrinking day by day. I only left it covered about 5 days after the surgery then quit putting salve/antibiotic and bandage on it. Probably would be better than this if I had kept it covered longer.


This is milady today just after I took the foot photos.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I found this interesting website about THE CONTROL OF INTERNAL PARASITES IN RUMINANTS .... It discusses the lifecycle, when to, how to, natural wormers etc etc.. Interestingly they make a pumpkin seed extraction...... I know most us of feed them the raw seeds and believe this is the best way... So it was interesting to seeing this method.... They of course do not say how to administer this extract!

Pumpkin seed dewormer24

• - Shell and grind up the pumpkin seeds (or buy them at a grocery store).
• - Mix 500 g of the seeds with three litres of water.
• - Simmer (do not boil), while stirring, for 30 minutes.
• - Let cool 30 minutes.
• - Filter through a cloth, squeezing to remove as much juice as possible.
• - Reduce over low heat to 150-200 ml.
• - Make sure to remove oily scum.
• - Refrigerate.

Here is the website with some very good natural worming information :

http://eap.mcgill.ca/agrobio/ab370-04e.htm

Thanks! I just ground some pumpkin seeds this afternoon that I was going to put in their feed tomorrow just because I have them. I want to take a look at that website and see what else they have.

 

[lalaland]

that looks pretty painful, good thing it missed the eye.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Things that happen when trying to secure a safe spot for my chickens coming Wednesday instead of today. Fell on the corner of shipping box I put extra straw in while attempting to screw tighter the shed trim I want to attach the safety run surrounding the coop.

Corner of wooden shipping crate won: DSCF0003-1_zps1c5449dc.jpg.html
DSCF0004_zps71e3b224.jpg.html

The coop and corner of shed I was tightening up: DSCF0015_zps6e59f200.jpg.html

Bummer!!! and OUCH!