The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Bulldogma, thanks for the link to the herbal remedies. I'll check it out!

aoxa, I didn't notice if there were symptoms before I put them on the hay. It wasn't until they woke up and got active that I sat down and started watching them. I just can't believe his eye would have that much swelling that fast if it were the hay. They were only on it an hour or so and they were outside of the coop. It was just too hot that day to leave them inside.

I kept them away from the other birds but had them out in the open, warm air today. They had grass under their feet and were in light shade. I figure fresh air and sunlight can't be bad for them. They look about the same this evening... but at least they're no worse!

My sister offered me some medicated feed... any chance it would be helpful?

No medicated feed won't do a thing for it.

If it was respiratory in nature, you have already exposed your flock them being out in the open. Do not integrate yet, but watch your existing flock closely.

Use some coconut oil in the eye. That is natural, and has awesome healing powers.

Aoxa - awesome pictures as usual. The alpaca is adorable! Will you be selling her wool?


At the risk of your neighbor wondering about his rather weird new American neighbor, I'd love to see some pictures of his flock if you get a chance to take some! I'm absolutely in love with the breed - I have 17 Skånsk Blommehöns from 5 different bloodlines as of today. LOL! (My goal is to have one... a few... a LOT of every color.)

With alpacas it's called Fibre - but we think we will get it spun and use it ourselves. I'm not sure how much it will cost us to have it processed, or how much we get out of it in terms of knitting materials, but I'm interested in it

 

[SallyinIndiana]

May I present - Gunnar's Last Chick (I totally need a better name - LOL!)

I like Crockett if it is a boy and Curie if its a girl. Both are famous for being persistent among other things.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

What are the good ways to cull a chick? One just hatched that has its insides hanging out and a bad leg. I might have considered trying to fix a leg but not the insides on the outside.

 

[loveourbirds]

What are the good ways to cull a chick? One just hatched that has its insides hanging out and a bad leg. I might have considered trying to fix a leg but not the insides on the outside.

this is going to sound cruel, but the last thing you want is for it not to die. I separate the head from the body, do it in one smooth action.

if you leave the chick in the incubator it may reabsorb its insides.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: So off with the head, it sounds so well French revolution. I will try to talk DH into doing the deed first. If that does not work I will have to work up the nerve.
The insides that are hanging out are as large as its head, and the bad leg keeps scratching them causing blood to get every where. I can't provide the care this chick needs to survive.

 

[loveourbirds]

So off with the head, it sounds so well French revolution. I will try to talk DH into doing the deed first. If that does not work I will have to work up the nerve.
The insides that are hanging out are as large as its head, and the bad leg keeps scratching them causing blood to get every where. I can't provide the care this chick needs to survive.

yes. "off with its head" , if its your first time you will probably want to cry, I almost did. just remember your doing the right thing. if its bleeding its probably not going to make it.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Hi everyone. I just have to jump in to ask y'all a quick question my youngest members of the flock are now ~10wks old. (Ducks) I had such water problems in my open roofed, dirt floor pen that I totally stopped giving water in the pen about 1.5 wks ago. Now the ducks are locked up for the night without water and I'm a bit worried about my decision as its 80'F even tho the sun is down. Am I doing the wrong thing? At what temperatures would you provide water at night if you do not regularly? Thanks.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
yes I was sad when I watched as it hatched, one of the few I got to see coming out of the shell. DH took care of it thankfully ~ he thought it would be similar to killing a mouse. I warned him that off with the head method would be messy, so he did it outside. I'm very thankful for that as I did not watch it or hear it. I did say goodbye but no tears though. DH said I'm on my own if it happens again. I guess he decided it is not like killing a mouse even if they are close in size.

 

[loveourbirds]

ok ill admit it, I am a 250 lb man, and I cried the first time I had to do it. I still don't like to do it.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

ok ill admit it, I am a 250 lb man, and I cried the first time I had to do it. I still don't like to do it.

You are not alone, as my DH was clearly upset by the whole matter once he did it. I know I would be crying if I had been the one to actually cull the poor thing. Instead I got to say an emotionally safe goodbye and leave the dirty work to DH.