The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Here in Maine... Don't know if it's the same in other states, I see folks marching into Walmart in their jammies all the time. Especially the younger crowd. You have to get dressed up if you're going to Target!!!

I used to wear PJ pants everywhere as a teen. I won't lie. I do not do that now. I get dressed to go out. That's what an adult does (well SHOULD do).

 

[BlueMouse]

So, I think I need to put a light in my coop for a little extra warmth. I have a couple birds in my laying flock now acting under the weather. I'm keeping them shut up for a couple days and treating with the corrid that I'm giving the meat birds. also, giving fresh garlic and oregano in feed, 1 clove of garlic per bird. I'm hoping that if they don't have the coci in their systems they can kick this repiratory complaint without having to resort to antibiotics. With them under the weather and the temps a bit low I wanted to give them a little extra heat to get under if they liked, so they can focus their energy on getting well not staying warm. But obviously I'm concerned about fire safety. I have to do it by extension cord because there's not electric in my coop, but I have contractor style extension cords, so I'm less worried about that. I am more worried about securing it safely. I was going to use the standerard clip on typle light fixture with a 100 watt bulb, and use two wires to hang it from the ceiling about two or three feet up? I don't think they'll be tempted to roost on it that way, and they can get under it if they need the heat? I would really apppreciate some input.

 

[aoxa]

So, I think I need to put a light in my coop for a little extra warmth. I have a couple birds in my laying flock now acting under the weather. I'm keeping them shut up for a couple days and treating with the corrid that I'm giving the meat birds. also, giving fresh garlic and oregano in feed, 1 clove of garlic per bird. I'm hoping that if they don't have the coci in their systems they can kick this repiratory complaint without having to resort to antibiotics. With them under the weather and the temps a bit low I wanted to give them a little extra heat to get under if they liked, so they can focus their energy on getting well not staying warm. But obviously I'm concerned about fire safety. I have to do it by extension cord because there's not electric in my coop, but I have contractor style extension cords, so I'm less worried about that. I am more worried about securing it safely. I was going to use the standerard clip on typle light fixture with a 100 watt bulb, and use two wires to hang it from the ceiling about two or three feet up? I don't think they'll be tempted to roost on it that way, and they can get under it if they need the heat? I would really apppreciate some input.

Use a chain and the types of clips you get for dog leashes.

I secured my lamp that I was using for the meaties with an eye-hook, heavy chain and double sided dog leash type hook..


Make sure you drill the eye hook into a beam

 

[Leahs Mom]

Tractor supply has the double hooks like that. They are less expensive if you get them in a package with several of them. They have them in the horse department and also in their hardware side. I think the ones packed in multiples were in the hardware part...and cost less. I LOVE those hooks. Use them for many varied purposes.

 

[delisha]

Quote: yes you can..I do it every spring with all of my birds..they are all way too fat over the winter. Just do it slowly. weigh them first and stop feeding them. They can free range for quite while yet. I would not feed more than 1/4 cup a night.

So, I think I need to put a light in my coop for a little extra warmth. I have a couple birds in my laying flock now acting under the weather. I'm keeping them shut up for a couple days and treating with the corrid that I'm giving the meat birds. also, giving fresh garlic and oregano in feed, 1 clove of garlic per bird. I'm hoping that if they don't have the coci in their systems they can kick this repiratory complaint without having to resort to antibiotics. With them under the weather and the temps a bit low I wanted to give them a little extra heat to get under if they liked, so they can focus their energy on getting well not staying warm. But obviously I'm concerned about fire safety. I have to do it by extension cord because there's not electric in my coop, but I have contractor style extension cords, so I'm less worried about that. I am more worried about securing it safely. I was going to use the standerard clip on typle light fixture with a 100 watt bulb, and use two wires to hang it from the ceiling about two or three feet up? I don't think they'll be tempted to roost on it that way, and they can get under it if they need the heat? I would really apppreciate some input.

Please take a sample of poo into the vets office. Ask them to check for worms and cocci. No sense treating for something they do not have. You will be in a vicious cycle with them forever. The cost of a stool sample will be cheaper in the long run and will save a year of treating for this and that and not knowing what is going on. If they don't have cocci and you treat for cocci you are doing more harm than good. That stuff alters the intestines and every thing you do with garlic, oregano, and anything else is lost in the shuffle. If they have an upper respiratory issue you need to deal with that.

 

[BlueMouse]

About the float, that's a great idea which I didn't think of (why do I never think of the obvious?) of course it's complicated somewhat because I don't have a vet within half an hours drive from me here. My normal vet for the dogs is an hour. Maybe I can get my husband to take a sample by somewhere in his travels for work....

I'm sure that the broilers had coccidosis. In the necropsy their intestines were whitish, bloated, and had enlarged red veining. Aoxa tracked down that info for me, bless her. some of them (although not all) had a little bit of bloody stool. I'm not sure which came first, the respiratory or the coccidosis, but they seem to be fighting off the respiratory infection on their own now that we've treated the coccidosis. Maybe my thinking is wrong headed, but I figured they're all on the same ground, if the layers are just now starting to act sick with the wheezy respiratory, they mostly likely have the double whammy. I'd rather give amprol which is only a thiamine uptake inhibitor than tylan, which is an antibiotic. Heck. I 'd rather give NOTHING, but don't want to sit here and watch all my layers die off. You are totally right about chasing your tail though. treating without a diagnosis is typically fruitless. Of course I am starting to feel like with poultry a lot of times by the time you have a specific diagnosis your birds are dead. Which makes me feel even more strongly about breeding for healthy stock, and keeping superior husbandry practices as your first priority. Plus biosecurity, although my attempts at biosecurity don't appear to have stopped this. It's been a discouraging week.

 

[camilleathome]

Two roosters in the carrier at the door ready to butcher for thanksgiving dinner. This is the first time doing this with birds from my own flock(Other than one that had just died when we found her from a hawk attack and shes in the freezer and hasnt been eaten yet). Going to cull some roosters and eat them for thanksgiving? Any ideas on how to prepare them? Their 25 week old heritage rode island red or buckeyes. Someone mentioned you can roast them low and slow for like 6 hours over veggies with water(Wet heat) and it would be good. Others mention slow cooker. Im just nervous because I know they can sometimes be tough and stringy if not cooked right.

 

[armorfirelady]

I ow have for grey hens & I'm pretty sire I won't have a mite problem because they dusted me as well :/

My hens are not much easier to handle after dark they still have a lot of feistiness in them

Fingers crossed this gets rid of the mites........

 

[armorfirelady]

I tried 6 times to fix spelling errors in above post and BYC is not having anything to with it.

So it should read:
I now have 8 grey hens & I am pretty sure I wont have mites either after the girls dusted me with ashes

And my girls are just as feisty after dark roosting as they are during the day........fingers crossed this ends my fight

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Two roosters in the carrier at the door ready to butcher for thanksgiving dinner. This is the first time doing this with birds from my own flock(Other than one that had just died when we found her from a hawk attack and shes in the freezer and hasnt been eaten yet). Going to cull some roosters and eat them for thanksgiving? Any ideas on how to prepare them? Their 25 week old heritage rode island red or buckeyes. Someone mentioned you can roast them low and slow for like 6 hours over veggies with water(Wet heat) and it would be good. Others mention slow cooker. Im just nervous because I know they can sometimes be tough and stringy if not cooked right.

I know some on here soak their bird in a brine. I think the brine is before freezing. So far I have used my crock pot to cook our roosters. They make great BBQ sandwiches.