The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[chooks4life]

Quote: Over here it's illegal now. You can't even get day old bread for pigs. A few years ago we used to get scraps, now nobody dares risk their business for it.

At least the homeless who frequent the dumps are getting a better feed.
Quote:
I don't know if garlic will kill it now since it's something better given frequently to obtain the best effects, but it's worth a try. I've never once had coccidiosis, and I always give garlic. I don't use vaccines or medicated feeds. For chicks I would always start them, in their very first feed and from then on, with raw freshly minced garlic. I've experimented with different ways of raising chicks and nothing compared to those raw garlic raised chicks, as babies or as adults.

 

[delisha]

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!

What great news!!

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

Stop leaving feed out for them..Fermented feed is the way to go. A squirrel family can cost you over a 100 a year to feed. They bring lice, mites, and cocci.

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.

Sorry to hear this..feed your family a few apples a day and grind the cores for the chicks. You need the apple seeds for the chicks. The trace cynide in the seeds will help the corrid work.

 

[Leahs Mom]

CAUTION: LOADED QUESTION

Disclaimer: This question is likely to cause folks to come out with STRONG opinions. I want to hear ALL SIDES of this, but I'm hoping it can be discussed in a civil manner

So..here goes:
High Power Lines and livestock...
On the property we are currently on, there is a high power line running straight through the whole length of the 2 acre pasture. The chicken house is currently very close to under those lines.

We're looking at getting a calf and some goats. The calf would be using the 2 acre pasture and grazing quite directly under and around those lines.


-Does anyone have experience grazing/raising any livestock close to or under high power lines?
-What are your experiences and observations?

Research, in my opinion, is untrustworthy as there is a HUGE financial implication in publishing anything conclusive (including homeowners in proximity losing property value and suing utility companies, medical law suit implications, etc.) Therefore, it's very hard to give credence to studies pro or con.

 

[delisha]

CAUTION: LOADED QUESTION

Disclaimer: This question is likely to cause folks to come out with STRONG opinions. I want to hear ALL SIDES of this, but I'm hoping it can be discussed in a civil manner

So..here goes:
High Power Lines and livestock...
On the property we are currently on, there is a high power line running straight through the whole length of the 2 acre pasture. The chicken house is currently very close to under those lines.

We're looking at getting a calf and some goats. The calf would be using the 2 acre pasture and grazing quite directly under and around those lines.


-Does anyone have experience grazing/raising any livestock close to or under high power lines?
-What are your experiences and observations?

Research, in my opinion, is untrustworthy as there is a HUGE financial implication in publishing anything conclusive (including homeowners in proximity losing property value and suing utility companies, medical law suit implications, etc.) Therefore, it's very hard to give credence to studies pro or con.

My first farm was close to power lines. The pig pen was located right next to it and the lines ran over the top. I never noticed or thought anything about it to be honest. When things got loud or snappy on occasion it made them nervous. That's about it.

 

[Bulldogma]

Mumsy - your photos are fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing them!

Aoxa - I changed my profile picture just to confuse you.

We are pretty excited!

Awesome! I'll have to start asking around.

CAUTION: LOADED QUESTION

-Does anyone have experience grazing/raising any livestock close to or under high power lines?
-What are your experiences and observations?

Research, in my opinion, is untrustworthy as there is a HUGE financial implication in publishing anything conclusive (including homeowners in proximity losing property value and suing utility companies, medical law suit implications, etc.) Therefore, it's very hard to give credence to studies pro or con.

I had a 25 acre farm in KS back in the early '90's and part of my horse pasture ran beneath the large power lines. I had a few qualms about it as I had heard that cancer rates go up in people that lie in close proximity to such lines, but I did it anyway. I had the benefit of having a separate pasture on the other side of the property also and I rotated fields so they were only under the lines half the time. My riding area was near the lines, but that didn't bother me. (I could hear them buzzing... that kind of bothered me though - LOL!)

 

[starlingdaly]

Stop leaving feed out for them..Fermented feed is the way to go. A squirrel family can cost you over a 100 a year to feed. They bring lice, mites, and cocci.

I don't want to start any fights, but I'm fairly sure coccidiosis is species specific. I did some research when I worked at a feed store because the owner kept telling me the chickens were going to give the kittens cocci.

By the same token, squirrels are mammals like us and we cannot catch chicken lice or mites because they are bird specific. I could be wrong, but I would assume the reverse is also true.
Squirrel lice/mites/fleas evolved for squirrel or rodent blood. I highly doubt they would survive on a chicken long enough to do anything worse than bother them with the occasional bite and itching for a couple of days.

That being said, squirrels WILL eat all your food and possibly scare the chickens.
Oh, and nothing is squirrel proof!

ETA if I am indeed wrong about any of these things it would be great if someone could point to research for me to learn from so I'm not inadvertently spreading ignorance.

 

[Mumsy]

The duck and chick pictures are sweet. Love them del.

About squirrels. I used to get them in the barn and orchard until I blocked all entrances they could fit into. Keeps wild birds out now too. I feed fermented feed now and they get only as much as they will clean up in a half hour and haven't seen a squirrel in a long time. Last year they were in the strawberries and apple trees. Husband caught them one by one in a live trap using strawberries as bait. We released them down at the beach. Lots of thick forest down there.

Every so often after hard rain I would see a cocci looking poop in grow out pens. I upped the garlic in the ferment and fresh water and Un-ACV in the water every day. So far it has been all I needed to clear it up. Keeping brooders less crowded and dry is key for me to keep it away from young chicks. And having them on fermented chick feed from day one.

My sister had a farm under high power lines. They raised replacement Jersey dairy heifers. My uncle's Holstein dairy farm was across the road. They never had problems with livestock. Cows still gave milk. Heifers still grew up for re-sale. Sister got pregnant twice while living there. One son had dyslexia but they didn't attribute it to the high power lines.

I used to get old produce at our local village grocer too. It is now illegal here.

 

[aoxa]

I don't want to start any fights, but I'm fairly sure coccidiosis is species specific. I did some research when I worked at a feed store because the owner kept telling me the chickens were going to give the kittens cocci.

By the same token, squirrels are mammals like us and we cannot catch chicken lice or mites because they are bird specific. I could be wrong, but I would assume the reverse is also true.
Squirrel lice/mites/fleas evolved for squirrel or rodent blood. I highly doubt they would survive on a chicken long enough to do anything worse than bother them with the occasional bite and itching for a couple of days.

That being said, squirrels WILL eat all your food and possibly scare the chickens.

Oh, and nothing is squirrel proof!

ETA if I am indeed wrong about any of these things it would be great if someone could point to research for me to learn from so I'm not inadvertently spreading ignorance.

I'm relatively confident you are right. Almost always they are species specific.

 

[Mumsy]

I don't want to start any fights, but I'm fairly sure coccidiosis is species specific. I did some research when I worked at a feed store because the owner kept telling me the chickens were going to give the kittens cocci.

By the same token, squirrels are mammals like us and we cannot catch chicken lice or mites because they are bird specific. I could be wrong, but I would assume the reverse is also true.
Squirrel lice/mites/fleas evolved for squirrel or rodent blood. I highly doubt they would survive on a chicken long enough to do anything worse than bother them with the occasional bite and itching for a couple of days.

That being said, squirrels WILL eat all your food and possibly scare the chickens.

Oh, and nothing is squirrel proof!

ETA if I am indeed wrong about any of these things it would be great if someone could point to research for me to learn from so I'm not inadvertently spreading ignorance.

Bugs from squirrels do not alarm me but I have seen a squirrel kill and eat a sparrow. Twice! Couldn't believe my eyes! One squirrel with a taste for bird would take a chick no problem. Also squirrels carry tape worm and can also get Rabies. I consider them vermin and don't want them around my flock. I have squirrel proofed my feed with metal garbage cans with tight fitting lids. They can chew right into Rubber maid garbage can lids. My feeling about squirrels is the same as predators. I don't make it easy for them to take up residence. My property is surrounded with forest and large fir trees. There is plenty for them to eat out there. This year they've taken the hint.

edited to add: Do a google search of Squirrels eating birds and eating eggs out of bird nests. It will give you second thoughts about welcoming them into your yard. I consider them tree rats with better PR.

 

[wlhtx]

I am definitely no expert and have done no research on this topic, but I am going to throw in my very recent observation regarding chickens and "mammal" lice.

My chickens have never had a lice problem until very recently. For various reasons we are having to undergo a coop rebuild and - in the meantime - our flock is currently cohabitating with the goats in the goat pen. Within the last week or so of them cohabitating, I've noticed a couple of the girls getting really puffed up. No sickness, no lethargy, just feathers so fluffed they looked like they had been electrocuted. Now every single one is scratching and constantly preening.

IMO, there is no doubt about it. They caught lice from the goats. That is the only thing that makes sense to me. I wouldn't have thought it possible until I sat back and watched it happen. Now I have to figure out how to de-lice 45 birds - and 4 goats...