The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

This is a wonderful thread frequented by some fantastic and knowledgeable people! Let's all work together to try to keep it this way.

I'm a little concerned that some of the current discussions are getting a bit heated. Perhaps that's just the way I'm reading them... but I want to remind everyone that the purpose of this thread is to share information. There is a fine line between discussing and arguing, and a fine line between an opinion and a fact. I know that some may have very defined views and opinions on certain subjects, and that is fine... but I would like to ask that words be chosen carefully. If you have an opinion, remember that it is your personal opinion and like a shoe, it may not fit another person. Let's try to avoid being judgmental of the opinions of others. If you want to share a fact, please share a source where interested parties may learn more about said fact. (Leah's Mom sets a good example here.)

Also keep in mind that written words may be read and taken differently than the writer intended. Without vocal inflection it can be hard to tell the mood behind the words. Misunderstandings will happen - don't dwell on these misunderstandings. Keep the thread moving forward.

We are not here to judge one another or to push our personal opinions on each other. We are here to share good chicken keeping information/husbandry skills and to learn. The beauty in a thread like this is that everyone has the ability to take and use the information that applies best to their personal needs and disregard what won't work for their situation. And that's pretty darn cool!

Moving right along...

I'm a little late for the country shout out, but here is a few for next week possibly

It was so hot out today. All the birds spent a great deal of the hot part of the day in the barn or in the woods. The barn.. Oh it's amazing guys.. The insulation keeps it SO cool. I am in love. I can sit in there and cool off.. So awesome.

Adorable pictures (I have stolen a few

)! I'm so happy to hear all the news about your new barn, and I'm so excited for you!!!

I went to a bird get together two weeks ago, and came home with stress cocci. I am not a happy camper. Some of the birds that I sold also have cocci now. There are several others who have birds with upper respiratory issues. I noticed my birds acting off about 10 days of being home. I took in a poop sample and they had cocci. Now I am afraid to go to the next bird show. It is not the usual cocci. There was no blood in stools, no smell, the birds ate well and for the most part acted normal. The only thing I noticed is closed eyes more often. Like they had dust in them and they were irritated. I was thinking I brought home worms. Nope...cocci

So sorry you're having to deal with this! So frustrating when you take such great measures to avoid illnesses in your own flock!
HUGS!

I see BDM's new

is up!

I recognize many of the stars

LOL! And yes - those duckling and chick pictures just had to be shared!

 

[Alibabe]

What color legs does the first chicken have? If they are a pinkish white the chicken probably is a cuckoo marans--if yellow then a barred rock.

Her legs are yellow ish, not dark. Down the front of her leg and feet is a slightly dirty dark line which makes me think marans is in her somewhere, but the rest of her looks barred rock.

She is beautiful no matter what but I was just curious to know as I was told she was a cross barred hybrid but somebody else suggested she may have marans in her.

Some more photos of her below

 

[salt and pepper]

I'm doing my best to catch up to this thread. Found out my move date is pushed back a bit so now I've a bit more time.

Leah's Mom, I can understand where you're talking about excess garlic. Especially concerning humans. There are cases of some humans having a sensitivity to garlic (whether blood type or whatnot) which can cause or aggrivate anemia. Ironic since garlic in lower doses is often touted as a great way to cure anemia.

I have anemia issues & eat anywhere from 1-4 cloves a day of fresh garlic. That seems the 'average' dose for most people. So I'm okay with that. I know my anemia is due to other things (ie, gluten) so not too worried.

For a chicken, I'd give them some selection with some mixed in foods (I have to sometimes consider a chicken's pickyness is much like a toddler's when it comes to fav foods) but anything in high dose (esp spices) I like to leave as a 'garnish' - it's for them to take or leave.

saltandpepper, another thing I hadn't considered till late last night. Going with an Occam's Razor rule here: You said the farmer's pen is just rank with 'sickness'. It's very possible the chickens just have an over abundance of poopy DL & the ammonia is burning their eyes/respiratory systems. That in itself can kill chickens, which would make sense that they're not all popping away dead, but some of the weaker ones aren't able to stand it.

If you do anything, you could rake out all the poopy litter & put in fresh bedding. I don't think your friend would mind someone cleaning a coop! You can tell him that the compost needs a while to cook & that the bedding should be refreshed every X days for X chickens + weather considerations. Or heck, make him rake it & hold him accountable.

Just assuming though - that it's as simple as that and we were all over-thinking it. (again, we don't have pics so can't make a diagnosis guess).

???? I never said it rank with sickness???? It just smells like chickens, lol. I do plan on cleaning the pen though, just as a favor. Oh, and the birds that have died were from predators, and something I can't even figure out, he said they collapsed and went lame, not sure what went wrong... His birds don't have lice or mites, so that's not where mine got it. Maybe his birds had mareks ( mine do )

 

[uglychickens]

And - to that point:  It would be very interesting to me to hear from everyone who wants to contribute.  Please be as specific as you can:

As Preventative:
1.  What additives do you feed?  (Cayenne, Oregano, Garlic, ACV, Other)
2.  What form are they in?  (Fresh, Dried, Oil, Prepared Tea, etc.)
3.  How is it given?  (Mixed into feed, free-feed in a separate container, etc.)
4.  How much is given?  (Need to be as detailed as possible.  If you put 30 garlic cloves in the feed, how much feed is that (by measure)?  How many birds are eating from it?
5.  How often is this given?  (Daily, weekly, monthly, etc.)
6.  Results?  How do you believe this has affected your flock?  Do you have anything to compare to?  Have you raised without using these items?  If so, what is your observation of the difference between the two methods?



As Treatment:
1.  List the illness or symptoms you treated.
2.  Specific items used.
3.  Answer all the questions above.
4.  How long was the duration of the treatment?
5.  What were the results?


PLEASE TRY TO BE SHORT AND CONCISE.  (Otherwise, folks may

)

I had a bird that had BAD diahria gave the flock as a whole 1 tablespoon of garlic mixed in with fermented grains for 1 evenings meal next day the whole flock was better and the sick girl looked better then she ever did!
( when sick, lethargic, falling asleep on feet, not eating) ( next day, tail up, running around eating like a champ)

 

[Quailsong]

???? I never said it rank with sickness???? It just smells like chickens, lol. I do plan on cleaning the pen though, just as a favor. Oh, and the birds that have died were from predators, and something I can't even figure out, he said they collapsed and went lame, not sure what went wrong... His birds don't have lice or mites, so that's not where mine got it. Maybe his birds had mareks ( mine do )

Ack! My bad, I read someone elses' post that asked if it smelled like infection. I grazed over the other where you said the whole place stunk & that cemented in my mind. So sorry! Not trying to confront, just offering ideas. Although I don't always present them well, I do try my best to speak from the heart.

 

[loanwizard]

Quote: This is so easy for me.

I give day old chicks some ACV in their water. I heat with a heat lamp in the brooder. Anything quarantined/ separated/caged birds get fresh feed and water as needed.

My treatment is cold and simple. Caged if I think they can recover. If not, their head is removed from their body with the nearest broomstick type implement available.

I love my birds and love watching them. However, it is a cold harsh world and there is healthy life and death. Death comes quickly to those whom fall ill.

I can count on 1 hand.... mayyyybbeee 2 hands the ones I have had to separate head from shoulders.

 

[Mumsy]

And - to that point: It would be very interesting to me to hear from everyone who wants to contribute. Please be as specific as you can:

As Preventative:
1. What additives do you feed? (Cayenne, Oregano, Garlic, ACV, Other)

All of these plus Black Oil Sunflower seeds, ground pumpkin, Calendula petals, Greek yogurt, and fresh Kale, Collards, Chinese Cabbage in season from the garden. ACV-with mother a Tablespoon in a gallon of water in each water pan.

2. What form are they in? (Fresh, Dried, Oil, Prepared Tea, etc.)

Alfalfa cubes, Cayenne, Oregano, Garlic, dried. (Fresh peppers, Oregano, Garlic, and Calendula petals in season from the garden). Greek yogurt every other day. Fresh garden produce every day free choice. Raw meat twice a week. Free range all day.

3. How is it given? (Mixed into feed, free-feed in a separate container, etc.)

It is all mixed into the fermented Turkey/Gamebird grower. Every day except for the Greek yogurt which is stirred in every other day. Garden produce offered free every day. Raw meat offered free choice twice or more a week when available.


4. How much is given? (Need to be as detailed as possible. If you put 30 garlic cloves in the feed, how much feed is that (by measure)? How many birds are eating from it?

At this time I am feeding about sixty birds which includes twenty one HRIR, eighteen Silkies, five turkey poults, grow out pens of pullets, and laying flock. I go through three to four gallons of fermented mash a day. Sometimes more. Some show Silkie pens get dry with the supplemental dried herbs mixed in.
I make my ferment much like I cook. I don't measure. I add until it looks right and smells right.

In a three gallon bucket, maybe a gallon and a half of the Grower crumble or pellet. One to two heaping Tablespoons each of Cayenne, Garlic, and dried Oregano. Three or four Alfalfa cubes. One full cup of the yogurt. All the petals from a full Calendula blossom. A hanful of the BOSS, and maybe one whole crushed garlic bulb. Maybe five or six stems of fresh Oregano leaves removed from stems and minced. Depends what I have.

5. How often is this given? (Daily, weekly, monthly, etc.)

Twice daily. 6 am and 5pm. All they can eat in fifteen minutes.


6. Results? How do you believe this has affected your flock? Do you have anything to compare to? Have you raised without using these items? If so, what is your observation of the difference between the two methods?

My entire flock are thriving in good health. Except for a few odd ball causes of death and decline in three birds, there is no evidence of malnutrition or disease. They are in good flesh. Parasite free inside and outside. Active, fertile, good hatch rate. Good tasting meat. Daily eggs from the layers. I know they are parasite free because I do fully detailed necropsy on dead ones and those I butcher for the table. I handle and observe my birds frequently and know when to give more feed or less.

Edited to add: Before this I fed dry All Purpose crumble free choice 24/7. Plain water. I lost birds frequently to every disease and worm and parasite known. I stopped raising chickens for twenty years. My property and barn became clean again. I started new using above recipe.


As Treatment:
1. List the illness or symptoms you treated.

MItes and anemia caused from mites on one cock bird.


2. Specific items used.

NuStock, dusting with wood ash, and my recipe listed above for fermented feed.


3. Answer all the questions above.

4. How long was the duration of the treatment?

Three weeks until fully healthy and new feather growth.


5. What were the results?

That cock fully recovered and went from near death to having 100% fertility with my layers within eight weeks of treatment which I no longer think of as treatment. It is how I raise all of my sixty birds including turkeys. Except for NuStock which is on the shelf. I have not used it in eight months. That was the last time I had a chicken that needed it.


I do not raise feral chickens. I am highly interested in preventing problems long before they need to be addressed. I have been raising my flock on this regime for exactly eight months. I see absolutely no reason to change anything at this time. It is working very well.


Edited to add: It's been a YEAR not eight months since I started feeding this way. (I'm old and forgetful)

PLEASE TRY TO BE SHORT AND CONCISE. (Otherwise, folks may

)

 

[salt and pepper]

Ack! My bad, I read someone elses' post that asked if it smelled like infection. I grazed over the other where you said the whole place stunk & that cemented in my mind. So sorry! Not trying to confront, just offering ideas. Although I don't always present them well, I do try my best to speak from the heart.

Haha, It's ok, I've learned to never take something online offensively, as it is too easy to misunderstand something that is typed ( especially on a thread that get more than 100 posts a day!!! )

 

[Quailsong]

Haha, It's ok, I've learned to never take something online offensively, as it is too easy to misunderstand something that is typed ( especially on a thread that get more than 100 posts a day!!! )

Thank you kindly. I fear I get too lost in these posts, play catch-up long past the topic is done & drag over drop. I will be more careful of that in the future. I'm just a noob with a bit of xp in this thread, though I try to help, sometimes often I get in the way. *smile*

I truly hope everything turns out well with your and the farmer's flock. Best of luck!

 

[salt and pepper]

Thank you kindly. I fear I get too lost in these posts, play catch-up long past the topic is done & drag over drop. I will be more careful of that in the future. I'm just a noob with a bit of xp in this thread, though I try to help, sometimes often I get in the way. *smile*

I truly hope everything turns out well with your and the farmer's flock. Best of luck!

Haha, I've done that before, and you have been very helpful, so thank you! I have given up keeping up with this thread, and often get confused

It just moves soooooo quickly! And thanks again!