The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
my doc recommended waiting for me based on several factors.

But there are rumors that the uninsured population is going to be forced to decrease in our USA. Not sure it will help our health care prices or not.

 

[iwanaplae2]

I've done a quick search and am not able to verify that GMO pumpkins are on the market. There are a lot of things they are working on "in testing", but don't sell yet. I did find one article (from 2011) that suggested that though GMO pumpkins might be able to produce more consumer-friendly pumpkins in terms of rich color and sturdy green stems, etc., they weren't in the works yet.

I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone here. And I don't want to get into a political discussion. This is just my opinion...
But the government has been lying to us for decades, not to mention controlling what we hear in the media. So I'm sorry but I believe GMO products have been on our markets for longer than any if us knew anything about it. Kind of goes along with don't believe everything you read on the internet. Who's to accurately say if pumpkins aren't included in that... I'm just sayin'

 

[iwanaplae2]

So, I'm sure this was covered in earlier posts, but with so many pages it's hard to find what I'm looking for. Somebody was taking about using wood ash for our girls. I have a wood stove I use daily this time of year. Is this what you are talking about? And, how do I use it? I'm doing what i call a "modified" deep liter method. Modified because I'm only allowing the litter to build up to my comfort level. Sort of a play it by ear if you will. Do I speed it in the coop or just the run? And other than mite control what are the benefits?

 

[armorfirelady]

So, I'm sure this was covered in earlier posts, but with so many pages it's hard to find what I'm looking for. Somebody was taking about using wood ash for our girls. I have a wood stove I use daily this time of year. Is this what you are talking about? And, how do I use it? I'm doing what i call a "modified" deep liter method. Modified because I'm only allowing the litter to build up to my comfort level. Sort of a play it by ear if you will. Do I speed it in the coop or just the run? And other than mite control what are the benefits?

Yup wood ash from the wood stove is what I use. I just pour cool ashes in a litter box and place it in their coop.
I mainly use it for mite removal prevention. But it must taste ok since I occasionally see one of the hens eat some.

I screen the ash if I have been using pallets to get the nails & staples out first.

It also helps with the DL since its like compost.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I don't use the ash in the litter. Only in small amounts available mixed with other dirt for dusting if they CHOOSE to use it and if they have other dusting sources.

Please remember that inhaled wood ash can cause severe respiratory problems so I recommend that you DO NOT put it in large quantities in your dust area unless you are dealing with a mite emergency.

I also do not recommend using it in an area that they can't get away from like litter on the floor of an enclosed coop.

My .02

 

[aoxa]

Please remember that inhaled wood ash can cause severe respiratory problems so I recommend that you DO NOT put it in large quantities in your dust area unless you are dealing with a mite emergency.

For sure.. Anything dusty...

 

[aoxa]

Question, I have a couple sneezing birds that were in my grow out pen.. Only ones not free ranging except the silkies... No signs other than sneezing. I actually caught one male doing it and it scared me so bad I culled him right away. I opened up the pen to force them outside. I think the dust is quite bad.. No runny nose at all, no eye issues, etc. Everyone eating, drinking, pooping and acting normally. Absolutely no birds put in our flock since June.

Please tell me it's environmental. I am so nervous about it. :S

Also extremely careful with visitors. No one allowed into the pens, and if they are - they do not have chickens.

The sneezing is a dry sneeze...

I can clear out the pen, but I'd rather not. Any way to reduce dust otherwise? They were kept there because of the hawk killing the juvenile birds. Now they are big enough to go out. I hatched every single one.

 

[lalaland]

Question, I have a couple sneezing birds that were in my grow out pen.. Only ones not free ranging except the silkies... No signs other than sneezing. I actually caught one male doing it and it scared me so bad I culled him right away. I opened up the pen to force them outside. I think the dust is quite bad.. No runny nose at all, no eye issues, etc. Everyone eating, drinking, pooping and acting normally. Absolutely no birds put in our flock since June.

Please tell me it's environmental. I am so nervous about it. :S

Also extremely careful with visitors. No one allowed into the pens, and if they are - they do not have chickens.

The sneezing is a dry sneeze...

I can clear out the pen, but I'd rather not. Any way to reduce dust otherwise? They were kept there because of the hawk killing the juvenile birds. Now they are big enough to go out. I hatched every single one.

I think it is normal for chickens to occasionally sneeze. They use their beaks to dig through littler, duff, leaves, etc, and I can't see how that would happen without getting something in the nostrils. If you are feeling your pen is too dusty, what about adding leaves or hay? is this pen indoors? If it wasn't cleaned since the last group grew up - well, those chicks produce an amzing amount of dust from feather shafts, etc.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Aoxa, I've actually heard of people doing a light spray of water over their deep litter and stirring it in. It would be nice if you had a LAB mixture you could spray.

I know that sounds counterproductive as people are always trying to keep it dry. But the kind of dry we need is the dry that keeps ammonia from building up. If it's excessively dusty in there, a little moisture may keep that down. Key is balance...not too much moisture

 

[delisha]

Question for the OTs.....

Red went broody in July(?) and then thru a molt. She is still going thru the molt but is/should be almost done. She only has a few pin feathers left coming in that I can see. She is the smallest & was the one that had prolapse last year (but rectified itself when I took them off the layer) She still roosts, eats, acts normal. But her comb & wattles are very pale. I understand with the broody & going thru a molt that might happen but I figured after 3 months they would start reddening up?
She wasn't infested with mites either. I have been giving all the hens extra meat protein with the mite issue & with almost everyone molting. (no mites seen in 4 days

) Including liver & hearts for the extra vitamins. She def gets the meat protein.

No nasal discharge, wheezing, etc. Just the very pale combs.

Any thoughts?

Poor thing..I hope she holds off laying for a while. She has had a ruff year for a young bird. I have two of my old hens with pale combs and hope they do not color up for a while. I also have two broodys who are raising clutches and going through a moult with pail combs. Once they color they start to lay and they need the vacation.