The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

Well I put some drawing salve on her feet. She walks right up to me since I started the treatment a month or so ago. You would think she would stay the farthest from me
Tomorrow will put some more on her and wrap just her feet. If I sit on the ground once I get her she is usually pretty calm so I can do her feet one handed. And wrapping her in a towel helps as well.

Oh and I broke reds broodiness.......I pulled her out of the nesting box last night after dark & put her on the roost. She looked around confused for a few minutes but stayed put. She never returned to the box today. I will see if she does once Lucy & Edie lay their eggs today

 

[Kassaundra]

Those of you using antibiotics in such a way as they may get on you need to be very aware of what "family" the antibiotic is in, especially if you have an antibiotic allergy.

 

[delisha]

Quote: You need that video of them following you. I bet Susan would like to do it.

Those of you using antibiotics in such a way as they may get on you need to be very aware of what "family" the antibiotic is in, especially if you have an antibiotic allergy.

OK..I need more information..
I hate antibiotics but would like more information on them. I did just use bacitracin on an infection.

 

[Doodle777]

Hi All!
I'm still giving Doodle warm Epsom salt soaks every night. I have been switching between bag balm and coconut oil too. The redness hasn't gone away, it basically looks the same.
No other symptoms though, so that's good.
I am feeding him a local organic feed. Does anyone have any suggestions on a really great organic feed?
Thank you in advance!

 

[smccuen]

I have a question - hope this is an okay place for it.
I have three "production red" hens. They are now about 22 weeks old and have been laying for about 7 weeks. I don't know which lay which eggs - the birds appear identical. One laid for a week before the next began and that one laid a couple of weeks before the third began to lay. Ever since the third began to lay I have found two good eggs daily. Twice a week I find three good eggs. The third egg is a paler color than the others - sometimes light pink, almost white while the other two eggs are brown. About twice a week there are only two brown eggs. And about three times a week I get a very thin-shelled pale egg.
I am guessing that the third hen, the late comer, is the irregular producer with the great variability in her eggs. Is that reasonable to assume? Will it straighten out eventually into three normal eggs? They all eat the same thing - layer feed mixed with cracked corn and grit and oyster shell. They get mealworms and raisin treats. They are let out to graze in the grass/clover/strawberries/weeds daily for anywhere from one to four hours. They have full access to fresh water at all times.
The odd egg is usually also in an odd place - in the grass, out in the sand run, beneath the roost in the coop And the funny egg seems to come at funny times - like this morning I got an egg for the first time before 0800 and it was a thin-shelled white balloon. But when the third egg is normal it's generally in the nest box where the others are laid. All three normal eggs are normal inside and out just different in color.
Is this just a transitional phase as the hen matures? Is there any reason to think that it's not just the one hen who's making goofy eggs? Will it stay wonky like this? They all look healthy and behave normally. Just curious. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I have a question - hope this is an okay place for it.
I have three "production red" hens. They are now about 22 weeks old and have been laying for about 7 weeks. I don't know which lay which eggs - the birds appear identical. One laid for a week before the next began and that one laid a couple of weeks before the third began to lay. Ever since the third began to lay I have found two good eggs daily. Twice a week I find three good eggs. The third egg is a paler color than the others - sometimes light pink, almost white while the other two eggs are brown. About twice a week there are only two brown eggs. And about three times a week I get a very thin-shelled pale egg.
I am guessing that the third hen, the late comer, is the irregular producer with the great variability in her eggs. Is that reasonable to assume? Will it straighten out eventually into three normal eggs? They all eat the same thing - layer feed mixed with cracked corn and grit and oyster shell. They get mealworms and raisin treats. They are let out to graze in the grass/clover/strawberries/weeds daily for anywhere from one to four hours. They have full access to fresh water at all times.
The odd egg is usually also in an odd place - in the grass, out in the sand run, beneath the roost in the coop And the funny egg seems to come at funny times - like this morning I got an egg for the first time before 0800 and it was a thin-shelled white balloon. But when the third egg is normal it's generally in the nest box where the others are laid. All three normal eggs are normal inside and out just different in color.
Is this just a transitional phase as the hen matures? Is there any reason to think that it's not just the one hen who's making goofy eggs? Will it stay wonky like this? They all look healthy and behave normally. Just curious. Thanks for your feedback.

I think I have seen it recommend to use food coloring and a squirting device to squirt different colors up the vent. Then you can know which hen is laying which egg. It is possible that your reds were crossed with a white egg laying breed, causing the lighter egg.

 

[smccuen]

Quote:


Well - let's just say I'm not THAT curious.

 

[MEMama3]

Well - let's just say I'm not THAT curious.

Lol!

 

[lalaland]

lol, that was funny!

Sometimes it takes a little time for the reproductive systems to settle down, so you can get these kind of funny eggs. Most of the time, they taper off and stop happening. If they continue, which isn't likely, you might have a hen with egg laying issues. nothing to do about it, just keep your fingers crossed. much like a young girl starting her menses, things aren't regular for awhile!

if you are offering oyster shell, and feeding layer, I would say there isn't a lack of calcium - plus the greens they are eating when they are free ranging are usually calcium rich too.

 

[lalaland]

Quote:
the quote reply thing is really mesed up! Leahsmom, you are definitely a hard worker -I can't imagine adding the time to transport the coons before work to my morning. its the hour and a half commute, I think, that makes me really relectant. I've also heard relocated animals don't have a great survival rate (probably better survival rate than sss, though) . I might have to resort to trapping and moving, but feel pretty confident that there is a huge supply of coons out here. The real problem is I am feeding them by letting them have access to the chicken feed bins. I have to fix that, and then they won't be around I found a way they are getting into the run, and I finally dug out the fence tester, so hope to have a working electric fence before dusk!