The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[fowlmouthgirls]

Chickens don't get colds.

I though they could get respiratory infections, which can be considered a "cold". "Cold" to me is a generic term for any kind of coughing, feverish, icky crud....

 

[wlhtx]

My set up is undisputedly different than most. We live out in the middle of a large piece of property owned by my husband's family. Our closest neighbors are my in-laws and their house is right at a mile away from ours. Our dogs just do not roam. 1 is very old and just doesn't have the spunk anymore to roam far, the other is a breed that is very territorial driven. He just instinctively knows where to stay. Chickens, even with all the property, in all honesty stay within 1-2, maybe 3 acres of the pen they get closed into at night (where the nest boxes are). There are wooded areas, but they mostly stay out in the open within direct eyesight of our kitchen window. We are very active outside, and between us and the dogs we - so far - haven't had a terrible predator issue. I was having a coon issue at night, but now the dogs sleep out and that has been eliminated.

Again, please don't think I am trying to criticize you or anyone for trying to minimize your risk. I just - personally - don't find some of it very practical. For example, do I see the benefits of putting tons of garlic and fresh herbs in their food, nest boxes, etc on a regular basis? Sure! Am I going to do it? Realistically, probably not.

The chicken cold comment was a tiny but sarcastic. The meaning behind the comment was really just in regards to germs in particular.

 

[Shan30]

Good discussions on what people feel is natural and not natural everyone!!

Isn't that kind of the beauty of this group? We all draw our own lines on what we feel is natural or not. I have not taken every suggestion ever presented here but I am grateful for every bit of information either way.

I won't be looking for new birds for a while anyways. Need to wait for results, cull, disinfect and wait. Test other flocks... Etc. not even sure how we will dispose of so many birds.

I suspect that the grow out pen is not infected as the younger birds are always hit harder and they are fine. Hopefully we can keep the 18 Blue/Black Amerecaunas and 6 Black Silkies. Of course half are roosters. Also have 3 white chanteclers in the brooder with 6 guineas. Pretty sure at least 2 chanteclers are roosters.

So if I have to wait until next spring for some new Silver Laced Polish oh well.

Also trying to decide which dark egg layer to go with. Leaning towards Welsummers as I understand that they are more productive layers than the Marans. Has anyone tried both?

 

[wlhtx]

Isn't that kind of the beauty of this group? We all draw our own lines on what we feel is natural or not. I have not taken every suggestion ever presented here but I am grateful for every bit of information either way.

x2

BTW, if I come across argumentative, my apologies. I'm a lawyer by day (rather than the full time farmer I would like to be). Sounding argumentative is just an occupational hazard...

 

[aoxa]

Remember 6 weeks ago we were shoveling snow? I wanna shovel snow..this heat is disgusting.

I miss spring, and very early summer

I though they could get respiratory infections, which can be considered a "cold". "Cold" to me is a generic term for any kind of coughing, feverish, icky crud....

Respiratory infections in chickens (as well as cats and dogs) are chronic. They will have them again, and even when not symptomatic, they will infect new birds brought on to your property.

 

[aoxa]

x2

BTW, if I come across argumentative, my apologies. I'm a lawyer by day (rather than the full time farmer I would like to be). Sounding argumentative is just an occupational hazard...

I'm not trying to sound critical either. If adding birds like you are is working for you, all the more to you.

I have become very protective since the fire. I used to add adults without quarantine as well. Most that ever came from it was parasites (leg mites, mites and lice). However, now I am scared. Especially after the vet told us he had to exterminate an entire hatchery in the area.. as well as a record # of farms

 

[camilleathome]

Don't you dare lol

You are really close to a very heavily infected area.

Are we? that really sucks . By the way do you know a John marsh? I was told that I absolutely need to go meet this fellow hes not far from us

 

[aoxa]

Are we? that really sucks . By the way do you know a John marsh? I was told that I absolutely need to go meet this fellow hes not far from us

Nope, never heard of him.

 

[camilleathome]

Nope, never heard of him.

Alan not John sorry XD

 

[midnightroo]

Can I rant?

Vegans often (not all)  really bother me. Why do they try to force their beliefs down our throats? I just don't get it. It's not like we are stuffing hamburgers in their mouth. 

What makes them feel we are inadequate to them?

Often their arguments relate to factory farming, which I don't agree to in the first place.. How in the world is properly raised meat a bad thing?

How is letting a cow get old and die of old age a good thing?

Boggles my mind!

Sometimes I just don't know what to say. It just aggravates me.

Lol you all made me laugh this afternoon. Thanks I really needed that. Oh, and vegans are very firm believers they are right and everyone else is wrong. It is hard being vegan because all the meat eaters want you to eat meat and hound you about it. Some even sneak meat into the foods they cook for vegans, like they won't taste it. Just walk away or eat meat in front of them, you won't win with most.

Camilla, go for you to stand your ground and your horses or beautiful!

Delisha, not sure if I want snow, but I would take spring and fall weather.

I took photos yesterday, hopefully I can post them tonight.