The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[salt and pepper]

To me it looks like dried poop. I have a couple hens who always have messy butts & feathers that look like this. I am now trying to trim their fluffy butt feathers shorter to see if it helps.

Thanks. Other than that, I don't know why they aren't laying as much, their combs are a little paler in the hottest part of the day, but always regain their color... Maybe they're just out of their prime..

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Mine normally average 3 a day out of 4 hens. But then they started moulting (not a ton of feathers but they look disheveled and their tummy's are/were bare) and between the temps in the high 80's, high humidity and all the rain they have been off on their laying as well. I don't worry about it since I know they are healthy. Now I get a few days of only 1 or 2. The rest of the days I get 3 and once a week all 4 lay one.

I am sure yours are fine. Every one needs a break now & then to recharge

**edited to add- I keep track of how many eggs are laid every day, week, month. When I tally them up for the month its always close to the previous month's total. That tells me there that all is well.

Perhaps if you kept track you would see if usually averages out to be the same?

 

[salt and pepper]

Mine normally average 3 a day out of 4 hens. But then they started moulting (not a ton of feathers but they look disheveled and their tummy's are/were bare) and between the temps in the high 80's, high humidity and all the rain they have been off on their laying as well. I don't worry about it since I know they are healthy. Now I get a few days of only 1 or 2. The rest of the days I get 3 and once a week all 4 lay one.

I am sure yours are fine. Every one needs a break now & then to recharge

**edited to add- I keep track of how many eggs are laid every day, week, month. When I tally them up for the month its always close to the previous month's total. That tells me there that all is well.

Perhaps if you kept track you would see if usually averages out to be the same?

Thank you so much!! This makes me feel a lot better. I also figured out the yucky feathers weren't mites, as only the oldest had them, the younger birds ( in the same pen ) were perfectly clean. I'll start to keep a record of eggs laid. Thanks again!

 

[Kassaundra]

Her red boots look sporting, soon all the hens will want some.

I was wondering about the color of the poultice! lol I've never even seen colorless iodine.

 

[armorfirelady]

Her red boots look sporting, soon all the hens will want some.

I was wondering about the color of the poultice! lol I've never even seen colorless iodine.

And they held up well in torrential rain & mud

The colorless iodine was all they had. I was ok with it since I didn't want orange fingers

 

[Leahs Mom]

We are pretty excited!

Asked one of the local small stores (where we shop regularly and are recognized) that sells organic produce about getting old produce for chicken feed. They're now saving ALL their "throw-aways" for us every week. And most of the stuff is in really good condition and quite edible. Just not pretty enough to sell on the shelf.

As much as they can eat goes to the chickens and compost; the stuff in really good condition I'm dehydrating to put away for the winter. Lots of apples, zucchinis, bananas, pears so far. A lettuce every once in awhile.

And they are planning to do it throughout the whole winter for us!

I encourage everyone to ask you local stores...you never know how they'll respond!

 

[ajlynco]

we've got a problem with squirrels in the feeder. any suggestions for getting rid of em?

 

[armorfirelady]

We are pretty excited!  e

Asked one of the local small stores (where we shop regularly and are recognized) that sells organic produce about getting old produce for chicken feed.  They're now saving ALL their "throw-aways" for us every week.  And most of the stuff is in really good condition and quite edible.  Just not pretty enough to sell on the shelf.

As much as they can eat goes to the chickens and compost; the stuff in really good condition I'm dehydrating to put away for the winter.  Lots of apples, zucchinis, bananas, pears so far.  A lettuce every once in awhile. 

And they are planning to do it throughout the whole winter for us!

I encourage everyone to ask you local stores...you never know how they'll respond! 

That's awesome Leah

we've got a problem with squirrels in the feeder. any suggestions for getting rid of em?

I could loan you my dogs........squirrels around here don't dare come on the property because my dogs will ok ill them if they do

 

[starlingdaly]

We are pretty excited!  e

Asked one of the local small stores (where we shop regularly and are recognized) that sells organic produce about getting old produce for chicken feed.  They're now saving ALL their "throw-aways" for us every week.  And most of the stuff is in really good condition and quite edible.  Just not pretty enough to sell on the shelf.

As much as they can eat goes to the chickens and compost; the stuff in really good condition I'm dehydrating to put away for the winter.  Lots of apples, zucchinis, bananas, pears so far.  A lettuce every once in awhile. 

And they are planning to do it throughout the whole winter for us!

I encourage everyone to ask you local stores...you never know how they'll respond! 

Congrats!!!! I was doing this last year but got out of the habit. Must start doing it again! It was wonderful in the winter! Just throw a bunch of veggie pieces in the blender to break them down to manageable size and put a load of it in the pen plus a whole head of lettuce hanging from the run to beat boredom on miserable days.

 

[jlynnet]

My youngest babies have coccidiosis. After all of the chicks I've had, this is a first! I'm treating with corid. I hate that I have to use something so strong, but I've already lost one. I have an Orpington that started showing signs tonight. I sure hope I'm not too late. This really bums me out.