The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[BlueMouse]

Boys.. would be stressed with more than one of them

I don't know. I have two boys and my daughter causes more stress than the two of them. However my eldest son will make me gray by the time I'm 40. He's the child that would think it was a fun idea to ride a tricycle off the roof into a wading pool....

I need help, I had 19 chickens, 8 weeks and 19 weeks, I was an idiot, I'll deal with that later. I should not have left them to free range while I was gone, such an idiot.

Someone's dog came and just started killing them while we were gone, we came home while he was finishing them off, he was killing them, just to kill them.

10 are dead, some died just while we were looking for the others. A few are fine, thank God. They somehow flew away and hid.

I have an injured 8 week old polish now, I think she's in shock. I had six 8 week olds- Now I am down to this one and one is perfectly fine, she she got away.

The 19 week olds- I guess 6 of those are dead. everything is a blur, trying to remain focused here thru the tears, never thought I'd cry over a chicken, but here I am.

Okay what do I do with the injured, I know that dog bites are bad for anything, know I heard that before.

I have the one 8 week old polish in shock and 4 of the older hens with dog bites. What do I do?

Right now they are drying off, on top of all this it was raining.

Please help!

-Lynn

this is so aweful. My heart goes out to you. It's horrid to lose birds. I hope that they catch that dog and put it down quickly.

A lot of people have trouble squeezing the Nustock out of the tube since the sulfur in it turns to concrete. Many have said they just emptied it into small jar and stirred it well or added some oil to it and it thinned a bit. Vaseline would work since that is the base of neosporin.

it also helps to sort of knead the tube before you apply, although I may give up and stick the stuff in a jar. I just apply a even coat covering whatever wound. the blue kote works great as well, it's kind of like the nuskin that you can use on human cuts, it seals the area and sterilizes everything. I think as far as promoting healing thought hte nustock works better. for the larger wounds you may find it works better to apply the nustock in an even layer directly to a large gauze square, plop that down over the wound and hold in place with vetwrap. Frequently how I've treated more serious flesh wounds that I wanted to apply ointment to on humans and dogs. It's less painful for the patient and ensures good contact of ointment to wound.

 

[jmarie]

After the first thick application of nu stock I wait at least 3 days, and usually wait until the yellow is gone. One of chickens somehow scraped the back of her head under the coop basically down to the skull. I re-applied about once a weak and she is finally growing some feathers back. The other chickens also will stay away from the smell and taste of the nu stock so it helps to prevent others from pecking the sores.

 

[countrygirl74]

Question for you guys. I have noticed a ton of flues this year. I don't know if it's because I am outside more now that I have chickens or if it's the chickens causing it. I'm an Arizona native living in Missouri. Ugh, the humidity just kills me. I rarely went outside the last two summers we have lived here because of it. So, is there something I can feed the chickens that will cut down on flies liking their poop?
Also, I know I saw a natural mosquito repellent on here. Does anyone have a link to that recipe? Mosquitoes find me entirely too tasty.

That's why I am still in AZ - can't STAND humidity!! Especially on days like today (105 in Northern AZ!!!!) - the swamp cooler is struggling...

We have a lot of flies here this year too. On the AZ thread, people in Phoenix said the flies were extra bad this year too. I just put out some of the sticky fly paper strips - seems to have helped some. I am also going to try to spray LAB again soon and see if that deters them at all???

I noticed it's the moisture that attracts them more - they are more numerous where the ducks are than the chickens.

 

[NanaLynn]

I applied the Nu Stock on all the wounds. I should have come back for the answer to my questions before I used the tube. Learned my lesson about kneading it and shaking it first hand, I did get it applied though.

My Blue Splash Cochin, Gizmo seized and died just a few minutes ago. She had just a small wound, but never wanted to eat or drink.

It's nice to see the stories of hens that have come back from pretty bad wounds that you guys have posted.

I did get my BO, Big Mama to finally swallow some water and wet food. Not much, but it's a start.

The BR, Google with the missing skin is still eating and drinking some.

The other BR, Oreo seems very alert and normal except for the wound.

The four in the coop seem to be living in fear, they are keeping themselves in the coop. All of the unhurt survivors were the ones lower in the pecking order, I think they are not sure what to do now. I've gone out and made sure that they eat and drink, I had to pull two down from the roost to come and eat and drink in the run. They ate a lot and drank a lot, I guess I'll have to do this for them for the next few days. Until they get used to this new flock. It probably will help getting the sick ones in there too, we'll see who makes it through tonight.

 

[countrygirl74]

Lynn - I'd like to join everyone else in saying how sorry I am for your loss. All our girls are named as well and it would be a tough thing to go through. As others have said, give yourself time and pour yourself into your special ones that are still here with you.

Hello all!
I stumbled across this thread and was very interested.
I'm very new to chickens, just started my very first flock, what is natural chicken raising? What does it entail?
I think I have been raising mine pretty naturally, but am always open to suggestions and ideas from those that much more experienced than myself.

Welcome!!! I think mainly it's all about staying away from medications and helping the chickens to live as naturally as possible from their everyday existence to preventing/treating illness and injury. This can include what you feed them (or let them feed themselves), their living conditions, using natural methods to treat things like mites, etc.

Just hang around here with us and you'll learn lots!! I love this thread and have learned tons!!!

 

[Alibabe]

The four in the coop seem to be living in fear, they are keeping themselves in the coop. All of the unhurt survivors were the ones lower in the pecking order, I think they are not sure what to do now. I've gone out and made sure that they eat and drink, I had to pull two down from the roost to come and eat and drink in the run. They ate a lot and drank a lot, I guess I'll have to do this for them for the next few days. Until they get used to this new flock. It probably will help getting the sick ones in there too, we'll see who makes it through tonight.

so sorry for you loss, I have lost chickens to a fox and it is devastating. My survivor is very weary of coming off her roost and has taught my new girls to 'look before they leap' off the roost and to come out of the coop. We also find that when we go to lock up at night we have to start saying goodnight before we get to the coop otherwise she goes nuts, I presume from fear so we always start staying good night when we are at least 2 meters away from the coop.

I hope you don't lose any more.

 

[delisha]

Del:

How many heat lamps for 70 chicks?

My eco glows can't handle that many birds. 30 meat kings, and 40 layers. I can raise them together right? I have no other option right now.

I told Susan to pick up one heat lamp today. I have a spare that I am using with an energy efficient light in the bottom brooder (dark down there) If necessary I can move it to the meat kings.

Note that it is not that cold out this time of year, so I can't see it being a huge deal.. though we went from 99F one day to a cold 50 the next. What is wrong with the world?! I am at my desk wearing a jacket!

In this weather one will work quite well.
I raise mine together. They are chickens too and will be better if you treat them just like a normal chicken. Let them out to run..Yes..they will take an extra week before butcher..your pocket book will thank you..They have a food focus so they make wonderful bug hunters.

I have a dilemma with my recent FF batch. It seems to have grown a dry mold over the top. Worried it would hurt my chickens, I put another lug of ACV in it, as well as some garlic, well, the mold hasn't reformed. Is it safe to feed the birds? It's a big batch, so that why I don't want to throw it away

Now it's just a reddish tint with some foam on top ( looks normal to me ) But I don't want to make my birds sick, which would cost me more money in the end than just throwing this out. Anything I can do?

That is normal in this heat...make sure you cover the top with water..specially in the summer.

I actually found a feed store in the next city with Nu Stock. I didn't know that we had any feed stores around here. It;s the same difference away as TSC, who does not have it.

Application procedures? I know where a glove. How much and how often do I apply. I have vet wrap but should I leave that off until it is time for them (hopefully) to go back in the coop with others. They'll be together but separate if it all works out this weekend.

Also, My one that has lost a lot of skin on her side, I imagine I should cover as well with Nu Stock? Wrap it since it is a bigger area, just skin and feathers missing. She does have a couple deep punctures around it but not too deep.

I see flesh and fat on them, but nothing deep enough to any organs.

Shake the tube..squeeze it top to bottom to mix it well..(with the cap on)
Make sure you add electrolytes to the water for aiding in stress.
I would put a thick coat of NuStock on and put them back in the coop. I do not think I would separate them. They will like the comfort of a friend and the comfort of familiarity of their bed. The ones that are wounded and can't roost will snuggle on the ground. You might put a crate inside and give them an option of using it. I doubt anyone will pick on anyone..they are in shock. If they start picking..they are recovering and that is good news.
As far as re-applying. I would examine them daily. Feel for heat on the wounds or redness you missed. Comfry wraps for any heat spots. I would not wrap anything for now. They will not be doing much running around. The wrap is to keep dry and clean. Your girl who can't stand on her own might be the only one you should consider wrapping.

Hello all!
I stumbled across this thread and was very interested.
I'm very new to chickens, just started my very first flock, what is natural chicken raising? What does it entail?
I think I have been raising mine pretty naturally, but am always open to suggestions and ideas from those that much more experienced than myself.

Welcome!!! I think mainly it's all about staying away from medications and helping the chickens to live as naturally as possible from their everyday existence to preventing/treating illness and injury. This can include what you feed them (or let them feed themselves), their living conditions, using natural methods to treat things like mites, etc.

Just hang around here with us and you'll learn lots!! I love this thread and have learned tons!!!
Welcome to the thread..
Natural chicken raising is a choice to try to raise birds with out drugs, and chemicals. Using natural herbs, fresh food, fresh air, sunshine, fresh water, exercise.

 

[lalaland]

The four in the coop seem to be living in fear, they are keeping themselves in the coop. All of the unhurt survivors were the ones lower in the pecking order, I think they are not sure what to do now. I've gone out and made sure that they eat and drink, I had to pull two down from the roost to come and eat and drink in the run. They ate a lot and drank a lot, I guess I'll have to do this for them for the next few days. Until they get used to this new flock. It probably will help getting the sick ones in there too, we'll see who makes it through tonight.

After a hawk attack, my hens wouldn't come out of the coop for days. I just moved some food and water in there for them since I wasn't home during the day and realized they weren't coming out for food or water on their own. I then started coaxing them out when I got home from work with treats, they would come out, eat the treats, be nervous, and head back to the coop. They did return to normal, I remember thinking it was taking a really long time for that to happen.

It will help everyone once the injured hens are back in the coop. Hang in there, this is very tough going.

 

[aoxa]

I don't know. I have two boys and my daughter causes more stress than the two of them. However my eldest son will make me gray by the time I'm 40. He's the child that would think it was a fun idea to ride a tricycle off the roof into a wading pool....
this is so aweful. My heart goes out to you. It's horrid to lose birds. I hope that they catch that dog and put it down quickly.
it also helps to sort of knead the tube before you apply, although I may give up and stick the stuff in a jar. I just apply a even coat covering whatever wound. the blue kote works great as well, it's kind of like the nuskin that you can use on human cuts, it seals the area and sterilizes everything. I think as far as promoting healing thought hte nustock works better. for the larger wounds you may find it works better to apply the nustock in an even layer directly to a large gauze square, plop that down over the wound and hold in place with vetwrap. Frequently how I've treated more serious flesh wounds that I wanted to apply ointment to on humans and dogs. It's less painful for the patient and ensures good contact of ointment to wound.

Is your daughter older?

Boys are easier teenagers (from people I've heard from), but boys are so high strung as kids..

I have twin nephews and a single nephew. I can not watch all three at once without refusing to have kids for another year

 

[aoxa]

In this weather one will work quite well.
I raise mine together. They are chickens too and will be better if you treat them just like a normal chicken. Let them out to run..Yes..they will take an extra week before butcher..your pocket book will thank you..They have a food focus so they make wonderful bug hunters.
That is normal in this heat...make sure you cover the top with water..specially in the summer.
Shake the tube..squeeze it top to bottom to mix it well..(with the cap on)
Make sure you add electrolytes to the water for aiding in stress.
I would put a thick coat of NuStock on and put them back in the coop. I do not think I would separate them. They will like the comfort of a friend and the comfort of familiarity of their bed. The ones that are wounded and can't roost will snuggle on the ground. You might put a crate inside and give them an option of using it. I doubt anyone will pick on anyone..they are in shock. If they start picking..they are recovering and that is good news.
As far as re-applying. I would examine them daily. Feel for heat on the wounds or redness you missed. Comfry wraps for any heat spots. I would not wrap anything for now. They will not be doing much running around. The wrap is to keep dry and clean. Your girl who can't stand on her own might be the only one you should consider wrapping.
Welcome to the thread..
Natural chicken raising is a choice to try to raise birds with out drugs, and chemicals. Using natural herbs, fresh food, fresh air, sunshine, fresh water, exercise.

Okay got 20 more than I was going to. Total is 90 birds. One heat lamp and one eco glow.

They seem to be crowded around the lamp but okay. It's not in a corner so they can't smother one another.

We plan to let them out at 2 weeks to free range full time. Boy they took to the FF easily. Right away. Same with the Pennies!