The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Eggcessive]

Armorfirelady, Last fall when I changed from ladder roosts to all one level roosts with poop board underneath, every one went nuts at bedtime, too. They were fine the next day. I thought I really hated change, LOL! They love their equal opportunity roosts now, even the month old chicks.

 

[delisha]

On flax seed...

Now this is just MY thing...no one else in the world may agree and, who knows, I may change my mind sometime in the future. But for now, based on the info I have...

One of the reasons I like to avoid some items is the higher level of phyto-estrogens/isoflovones/genistein (in legumes, flax, etc.) and xeno-estrogens (not sure I spelled that correctly but they are the "synthetic" estrogens that are found in plastics - including vinyl siding - and other chemical items in our environment that we are exposed to daily in much higher levels than at any other time in history.)

Since we are so over-exposed to estrogens at this time in history due to so many synthetics that we live with and don't even realize, I try to minimize my - and my animals - exposure to more estrogens.

Soy, legumes in general-including clover, flax...all are high in phyto-estrogens.

Studies have shown that one of the reasons we have so many more "female issues" and male reproductive issues at this time in history than in prior times is estrogen-overload. Not only reproductive issues, but the hormone balance in general can be in a state of havoc also.

It also affects the reproductive health in our animals as well as their meat, eggs, and milk have higher levels of the hormones which we then ingest. This even includes "supressing" the immune system, endocrine issues...and it goes on and on.

Legume hay (soy, alfalfa, clover, etc.) also has this potential so when I get hay, I specify GRASS HAY rather than legume hay.

Here are a few things that may be interesting to skim through:

This one mentions the affects on animals. This particular list is referring to the isoflovones, genistein (mostly in soy) but other sources as well:

http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-ale...pdHkiO2k6NDtzOjE1OiJlc3Ryb2dlbml6YXRpb24iO30=


General estrogen article
http://www.westonaprice.org/womens-...pdHkiO2k6NDtzOjE1OiJlc3Ryb2dlbml6YXRpb24iO30=

Effects on men:
http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-ale...pdHkiO2k6NDtzOjE1OiJlc3Ryb2dlbml6YXRpb24iO30=


Endocrine disruption and man-made chemicals:
http://www.westonaprice.org/environ...pdHkiO2k6NDtzOjE1OiJlc3Ryb2dlbml6YXRpb24iO30=


It goes on and on.......

Here is a whole list of articles regarding estrogens - both plant and synthetic. You can choose which title interests you:

http://www.westonaprice.org/search/search?q=estrogen

Thank you for an interesting read, and answering my question. You are a great reader and Teacher and it is wonderful you share so much information. Based on what you posted I am not worried for myself personally. I am close to Organic and I do not worry about the amount of estrogen I am exposing to my birds. I am so glad you posted your findings, it will give people something to think about in what they feed an how they feed, and amounts fed. I love the benefits of flax seed and clovers.

Wow mom! What an eye opener and I just planted clover/chicory mix in the field behind the house where I wanted to let them free range in the future! Guess I will have to overseed a different area with something else for them and let the deer have the other area.

I always plant clover, kale, spinach, and this year I added rye. The chickens will love the clover and it is high in nutrients.

So I decided tonight was the night to move the girls into their new digs. They have been roosting for a couple hours, its almost completely dark out & the auto pop door was closed. So 2x2 I carried them into their new coop & put them on the new roost. All 4 hopped down and proceeded to put up a stink and tapping at the glass door and the wooden pop door to be let out

. About 5 minutes later one hopped up on the tree limb roost & the other 3 followed suit. They are still talking & moving but I hope they settle down. I'm going to back out in a little while & check again. Temps are in the 40s with a breeze & of course they roost on the tree limb by end that's not covered

. But in their doll house coop that's the roost they picked to. Maybe they like to watch outside as they go to sleep?

Fingers crossed they settle down ok. The new roosts are higher then the old ones but they flew up easily to it. Plus instead of 4 hens on a 24 inch 2x4 they have an 8 ft 2x4 and a 5 ft tree branch to spread out on. With new additions in a couple months I wanted to make sure there was ample roosting space. Sigh ........I think all the new space confuses them.

Should be interesting to see if they out in fenced area in the morning now that they don't have to wait for me to open the door...........
Fingers crossed !!!

Oh they were happier earlier when I showed them the compost pile

Nice compost pile

Ok, I'm going to completely disagree with the information stated above about naturally growing, healthy plants somehow being synthetic or unhealthy. Do we have an abundance if estrogens? Absolutely! Is our over exposure to estrogens related to plant material? Absolutely NOT! Should we be aware of providing a wide variety of plants to our chickens? Absolutely. Should we eliminate chemically processed foods in our lives and for our chickens? Yes.
My background is in science (chemistry and environmental science). With that said I can tell you that any organization (science/industry/pro-chemical agricilture or natural/organic) can release a scientific study and its data which was geared towards the result it wanted to get out anyway. So you must be very careful what sources of information you deem valid.
If you are buying organic heirloom/non-genetically motified seeds or plants you are fine to feed those to your chickens or family. If you buy seeds or plants that have pesticide coatings, hybrid you are eating poison.
The information above is an attempt to confuse the average Joe into not using healthy food by stating "chemical components" which are NATURALLY inside of natural Earth grown/GOD made and relating them to the synthetic/man made product with the same chemical make up. Unfortunately when we as humans discover a chemical name which is in a

Wonderful information and input

Would some of you hard core incubators comment on if you wash your eggs before incubating.

Not me..I want the protection of the bloom. I personally feel you have less blood rings. No scientific fact..just my opinion

 

[pigeonguy]

Thanks this is why I ask.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444529/experiment-washed-vs-unwashed

 

[jlynnet]

Very interesting Pigeonguy. In a couple of years, my son will need a science fair project and I will kep this in mind!

 

[Leahs Mom]

And...I would let my birds on that clover field without hesitation!!!

 

[Arkansas81]

WOW! I keep forgetting how this thread goes fast...just caught up. Trying to get all the new pens made and keep track of my bator 'eggs'-set my last 12 tonight..so the last week of April is going to be busy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of wonderful info as usual!! You are a true treasure!!

 

[delisha]

I agree with all of the wonderful information. Tons of reading tonight..my brain is full.

 

[amberr]

So question about DL, how does that work if you want to compost? Do you wait til one of the twice a year clean outs to compost or can you clean it out more often to compost with it?

 

[jlynnet]

I'm on day 22 of my incubator eggs and nothing. When should I give up on them? I never had temperature or humidity problems. On Friday one of the kids bumped the table the bator sits on and moved everything a bit. Candling was difficult because they're so dark. I could see a darker area and that was about it.

 

[nova022]

I would give them two or three more days. I don't remember the title of the thread but a lady posted about being disappointed that her eggs did not hatch on day twenty one but then got very busy and did not turn the bator off and lo and behold a few days later she heard some peeps. It is not unsual for eggs to take a little longer. Don't give up just yet.