The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[4Hgirl]

Sorry to be blowing up this thread. I've been off BYC for a while now as we went on a two week work/vacation and my good barrel horse coliced on the second day we were gone then foundered three days later. The day we got back I picked him up from the hospital and have been taking care of him around the clock for a month now. Plus had to pick up a second job just to pay the vet bills. Now he is finally getting better and taking less time to care for. Thank goodness. Here's a pic from a few days ago. God was sending his well wishes to my horse and my barn

 

[aaggjg]

Justine I hope yesterday was everything & more then you wanted!!! Now to for the party!!!
Can't wait to hear all about it! May you and Susan have an amazing and happy journey through life together!!!

 

[lazy gardener]

It's so interesting to visit the topic of feeding periodically, isn't it? I always get such great ideas! The last year I've just been using the very inexpensive dog bowls (plastic) from Family Dollar, I think the biggest one is $2 maybe? I wash every night (no soap, just clean water and a sponge) and spray with Oxine, have yet to see the slightest hint of degradation. The smallest ones are $1 and very shallow, perfect size for chicks.

I mix FF in plastic bowls too, instead of a 5 gallon bucket I use 3 salad bowls, easier for me to carry. Like Justine, I feed out 2/3-3/4 every day, add dry and water - enough so that once it has absorbed the mix is pretty stiff, not soupy or under water - stir, and let sit the next 24 hours. When I pick it up to feed, it is bubbling, might not be a perfect ferment but there is definitely activity.

I like the idea of glass but I am clumsy, and getting older, just not up to carrying a lot of glass around, and can't afford to keep replacing it when I break it, which would be often. For years I would not keep a glass drinking vessel in the house, because I broke so many. Now I buy the VERY heavy ones made here in the US by Libby. I can still break them, and have, just not as often.

Jockeyba, I wanted to echo the thoughts of so many fellow pet owners in expressing my sympathy for your loss. We all know we will outlive most of our animals, but we still mourn their passing and miss their presence.

Jockeyba, I wanted to echo the thoughts of so many fellow pet owners in expressing my sympathy for your loss. We all know we will outlive most of our animals, but we still mourn their passing and miss their presence.

Quote: What an awesome looking cat. He looks like he belongs on an African safari! Is he a good hunter??? As a kid, I had a 17# cat who was an awesome hunter... he'd bring home full grown rabbits, and my Dad recently reminded me that he once took down a fox. But he was an aweful sissy around the toms in the neighborhood. He was always getting beat up. And he sometimes got lost in our own back yard. (hard to figure that one out, even though the back yard was 8 acres...)

 

[jockeyeba]

Sorry to be blowing up this thread. I've been off BYC for a while now as we went on a two week work/vacation and my good barrel horse coliced on the second day we were gone then foundered three days later. The day we got back I picked him up from the hospital and have been taking care of him around the clock for a month now. Plus had to pick up a second job just to pay the vet bills. Now he is finally getting better and taking less time to care for. Thank goodness. Here's a pic from a few days ago. God was sending his well wishes to my horse and my barn

So sorry, we've had many colic's over the years but only 1 founder.

 

[jockeyeba]

Thank you & sorry for your loss-2 weeks wasn't very long ago He seemed fine 4 days ago, suddenly he couldn't walk steady on his back legs, then he couldn't walk period, wouldn't eat or drink, then he was gone

Sounds like possibly a stroke. That's how two out of three of my coons passed. I am so sorry for your loss. Coon cats have a personality like no other feline.

Thank you, I just talked to a friend this morning that said the same thing-stroke

 

[jockeyeba]

It's so interesting to visit the topic of feeding periodically, isn't it?  I always get such great ideas!  The last year I've just been using the very inexpensive dog bowls (plastic) from Family Dollar, I think the biggest one is $2 maybe?  I wash every night (no soap, just clean water and a sponge) and spray with Oxine, have yet to see the slightest hint of degradation.  The smallest ones are $1 and very shallow, perfect size for chicks. 

I mix FF in plastic bowls too, instead of a 5 gallon bucket I use 3 salad bowls, easier for me to carry.  Like Justine, I feed out 2/3-3/4 every day, add dry and water - enough so that once it has absorbed the mix is pretty stiff, not soupy or under water - stir, and let sit the next 24 hours.  When I pick it up to feed, it is bubbling, might not be a perfect ferment but there is definitely activity.

I like the idea of glass but I am clumsy, and getting older, just not up to carrying a lot of glass around, and can't afford to keep replacing it when I break it, which would be often.  For years I would not keep a glass drinking vessel in the house, because I broke so many.  Now I buy the VERY heavy ones made here in the US by Libby.  I can still break them, and have, just not as often.

Jockeyba, I wanted to echo the thoughts of so many fellow pet owners in expressing my sympathy for your loss.  We all know we will outlive most of our animals, but we still mourn their passing and miss their presence.

Thank you

 

[Leahs Mom]

I am so excited about my newest attempt at going natural in my household. I've been ordering produce from spacegirlorgaincs.com they ship me organic produce each week for as little as $25 a box. I get to choose what I want so no surprises and no veggies going to waste that we won't eat. Now I've started ordering chicken from them too, which comes from a free range farm in my state so no wasted fuel in long distance shipping. The chicken is AMAZING! Putting a whole bird in the crock pot today. Mmmmmmm

That's wonderful! And it's good to see you again

We used plastic in the FF dishes too but let it ferment in a glass Pyrex mixing bowl. I have been hearing more and more about how the chemicals leach from plastic into our foods. It causes higher than normal estrogen levels. My gyn doc has been preaching this to me and now I jut learned my hormones are off balance. We use a lot of plastic for drinking water as FL well water is gross! The doc thinks its the plastic. Of coarse I took better care of my animals than myself.

Those are some of my same concerns. You have a good doctor if he/she is bringing that up. Many don't even know it's an issue.

And...I'm a clutz with glass too. But...so far... the pyrex and anchor glass is so thick and made for a good deal of abuse that I haven't managed to break any yet.

Whenever I wash them out I literally take them outside and toss them on the ground. Spray out with a hose. Granted...there is grass on that ground...not like throwing it on tile or rocks or packed-down dirt or anything.

 

[jockeyeba]

Jockeyba, I wanted to echo the thoughts of so many fellow pet owners in expressing my sympathy for your loss.  We all know we will outlive most of our animals, but we still mourn their passing and miss their presence.

I'm so sorry for your loss. My cat is 11ish years and every summer he slows down just a little more. Had my vet pull blood and all seems well but I know he's getting older. Can't stand to think of being your shoes. We think my guy is half Siamese half Coon. He was a stray. Weighs almost 20lbs.

Cool looking cat but who does he belong to? It's coming up as if he's mine

 

[jockeyeba]

I am so excited about my newest attempt at going natural in my household. I've been ordering produce from spacegirlorgaincs.com they ship me organic produce each week for as little as $25 a box. I get to choose what I want so no surprises and no veggies going to waste that we won't eat. Now I've started ordering chicken from them too, which comes from a free range farm in my state so no wasted fuel in long distance shipping. The chicken is AMAZING! Putting a whole bird in the crock pot today. Mmmmmmm

That's wonderful!  And it's good to see you again

We used plastic in the FF dishes too but let it ferment in a glass Pyrex mixing bowl. I have been hearing more and more about how the chemicals leach from plastic into our foods. It causes higher than normal estrogen levels. My gyn doc has been preaching this to me and now I jut learned my hormones are off balance. We use a lot of plastic for drinking water as FL well water is gross! The doc thinks its the plastic. Of coarse I took better care of my animals than myself.

Those are some of my same concerns.  You have a good doctor if he/she is bringing that up.  Many don't even know it's an issue.

And...I'm a clutz with glass too.  But...so far... the pyrex and anchor glass is so thick and made for a good deal of abuse that I haven't managed to break any yet. 

Whenever I wash them out I literally take them outside and toss them on the ground.  Spray out with a hose.  Granted...there is grass on that ground...not like throwing it on tile or rocks or packed-down dirt or anything. 

I've been trying to eliminate plastic from our household too, it's hard even some organic yogurts are in #5 plastic instead of safer #2

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

That's wonderful! And it's good to see you again

Those are some of my same concerns. You have a good doctor if he/she is bringing that up. Many don't even know it's an issue.

And...I'm a clutz with glass too. But...so far... the pyrex and anchor glass is so thick and made for a good deal of abuse that I haven't managed to break any yet.

Whenever I wash them out I literally take them outside and toss them on the ground. Spray out with a hose. Granted...there is grass on that ground...not like throwing it on tile or rocks or packed-down dirt or anything.

I was bringing this up over in the Sprouting Fodder thread ... I suggested at least using "Food Grade" plastic containers for the soaking and growing trays. I was told I was paranoid.

Other things I'm paranoid about: I use "drinking water safe" garden hoses for my birds ... in those places where I haven't plumbed in an automatic watering system using PEX pipe. I have looked into PEX pipe to see if it is "safe" as it is plastic, but don't get great answers on that. We can't use metal pipes here because our well water is very acidic and eats through metal very quickly. And I have looked but never seen a label on any commercial poultry waterer that says "food grade plastic" or "BPA free" or anything.

I wish I could get "food grade" plastic containers for the feed storage. I figure if the feed is dry it isn't as important, but it is a future upgrade.

I love the idea of the glass loaf pans for the FF trays ... but we have so many birds I haven't figured out how to manage a FF system for them yet.