The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

Ask and yee shall recieve

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/675898/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize

Oh, Kassaundra! May I please post that on the thing? What an amazing post! Let me know -

Guess what everyone! I'm pregnant #7 here we go... Baseball team! Hopefully this one will be a girl... I'm severely out numbered here! Yup 6 boys! I really need a vacation...

Wow!! Congratulations!

 

[starlingdaly]

Hey guys!
Got a question!
A snake invaded the coop yesterday and ate a 5 week old chick in a nesting box that was almost fully feathered (a speckled sussex) and when I found him and dispatched him to the compost, I noticed he was heavily infested with scale mites (LOTS of eggs under his scales).
My worry is that the chickens will contract these scale mites on their legs since he was in the nesting box and coop.
Is this possible? If so, I will be rubbing diluted neem oil on EVERYONE'S legs and feet tonight. It is one thing I do NOT want to have to deal with with all my chooks and their babies.

Something that surprised me was today my bf said if it had happened on the weekend and the snake didn't have mites, he probably would've eaten it!!! This coming from the guy who doesn't want to kill and eat my chickens or hunt unless we are in an intense survival situation! So either his justice senses were tingling with the snake or he may just be improving in that area of our life. I keep telling him that any BCM roosters that don't make the cut to the breeding pen will be going onto the dinner table by the end of this year so maybe he is adjusting.


Also wanted to say, the SS chick that can't walk from Vitamin D deficiency is showing signs of improvement without my assistance. Well I did put her in the hammock sling for a day last week but she really wanted to be able to move around (even if it was just with her wings and beak) so I let her down and sort of showed her the proper walking form for about five minutes while supporting her body. Several days later, she is *almost* able to stand for a few seconds at a time and is very wobbly... But... She's improving! Any chicken showing improvement gets a place in my home no matter how bad their condition.
Who knows, she may just be that house chicken I've always wanted!
Her toes are still very curled but I want to say they may be straightening out. I will wait and see because I think splinting would be more traumatic if she's able to work it out in her own.

 

[Sally8]

Unfortunately Edie & Stella also figured out they can sit on the top and fly over the fence and escape into their old run

I will need to move it or come up with a way to prevent the escape artists.

Isn't that always the way. I have several that I just can't keep in. I had someone want a couple laying hens and they would be able to free range, so guess which ones I gave away. I still have 2. I hope you are keeping dry. It is so wet here. And still raining Of course a flood watch is out. No worries here, though.

Guess what everyone! I'm pregnant #7 here we go... Baseball team! Hopefully this one will be a girl... I'm severely out numbered here! Yup 6 boys! I really need a vacation...

I have to be honest, when I first read this I wasn't sure if it meant you were hatching chicks. I read the rest of the posts so I feel confident in saying, Congratulations. We'll hope it's a girl too. My twin grand daughters can put a little boys actions to shame, just sayin'

 

[Kassaundra]

Oh, Kassaundra! May I please post that on the thing? What an amazing post! Let me know -

Wow!! Congratulations!

Sure you can use any of my posts on that thread, there are a few sprinkled through it that give things I've learned on my several observing sessions and on my attempts.

 

[loveourbirds]

Guess what everyone! I'm pregnant #7 here we go... Baseball team! Hopefully this one will be a girl... I'm severely out numbered here! Yup 6 boys! I really need a vacation...

Congratulations! i almost know how you feel. i was the only man in a house with 5 women (4 daughters and wife). i was so happy when we got a male dog, but they had him neutered.

i always said God giving me 4 daughters was his way of punishing me for how i was in high school and college.

 

[jlynnet]

Uglychickens, congrats!! I happen to be the baby of 11. Saved the best for last!! I have 3 boys so I can only imagine what 6 are like. Your grocery bill must be huge. You need chickens!

 

[loveourbirds]

Hey guys!
Got a question!
A snake invaded the coop yesterday and ate a 5 week old chick in a nesting box that was almost fully feathered (a speckled sussex) and when I found him and dispatched him to the compost, I noticed he was heavily infested with scale mites (LOTS of eggs under his scales).
My worry is that the chickens will contract these scale mites on their legs since he was in the nesting box and coop.
Is this possible? If so, I will be rubbing diluted neem oil on EVERYONE'S legs and feet tonight. It is one thing I do NOT want to have to deal with with all my chooks and their babies.

Something that surprised me was today my bf said if it had happened on the weekend and the snake didn't have mites, he probably would've eaten it!!! This coming from the guy who doesn't want to kill and eat my chickens or hunt unless we are in an intense survival situation! So either his justice senses were tingling with the snake or he may just be improving in that area of our life. I keep telling him that any BCM roosters that don't make the cut to the breeding pen will be going onto the dinner table by the end of this year so maybe he is adjusting.

Also wanted to say, the SS chick that can't walk from Vitamin D deficiency is showing signs of improvement without my assistance. Well I did put her in the hammock sling for a day last week but she really wanted to be able to move around (even if it was just with her wings and beak) so I let her down and sort of showed her the proper walking form for about five minutes while supporting her body. Several days later, she is *almost* able to stand for a few seconds at a time and is very wobbly... But... She's improving! Any chicken showing improvement gets a place in my home no matter how bad their condition.

Who knows, she may just be that house chicken I've always wanted!

Her toes are still very curled but I want to say they may be straightening out. I will wait and see because I think splinting would be more traumatic if she's able to work it out in her own.

im not sure if its the same mite or not, but i would burn the snake just in case.

 

[armorfirelady]

So I'm sitting on top of a 6ft ladder taring around vents on the hoop coop to prevent leaks & look up & see this:

Now I have far all over my hands and can't get down. Thank goodness my Mom was still here she came & got her off.
I put more plastic fencing up above the gate and metal fencing on side to hopefully prevent her escape plans.
I think I need to change her name to stink pot lol. I never knew EE had such fun personalities. I do enjoy her even tho she is a snot lol


On another note anyone ever hear of fly strike? They are talking about it on the NY thread & everyone is worried their hens will get it now. Just curious if anyone had this before & any suggestions on how to treat it?

 

[aoxa]

I'm having a really early hatch with these Barred Rocks. Today is day 18. I have 5 external pips and one hatched. Then there are the silkie eggs that aren't ready for internal pip, yet alone external pip.. What in the world.. Anyway.. Chick looks full term and is chirping up a storm. They weren't supposed to hatch until Sunday!

 

[lalaland]

what the heck is it?

unfortunately these are linked and I can't break them up. I'm trying to figure out what these chicks are, from the hatching lady that got things mixed up. there are 3, all are crested, have pink legs and some have a little grey running through the wing feathers. any ideas?