The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

One more quote of interest.... Note the recommendation for Traditionally Made Fermented Unpasteurized Foods:

, grains (gluten), artificial additives, and genetically engineered ingredients (which tend to be more heavily contaminated with glyphosate)—all the top items that tend to aggravate ADHD symptoms.

Also replace sweetened beverages (whether diet and regular), including fruit juices and pasteurized milk, with pure non-fluoridated water.

• Eat traditionally fermented, unpasteurized foods: Fermented foods are one of the best routes to optimal digestive health, as long as you eat the traditionally made, unpasteurized versions. Some of the beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods are also excellent chelators of heavy metals and pesticides, which will also have a beneficial health effect by reducing your toxic load. Fermented vegetables are perhaps among the most palatable fermented foods. Many kids will also get used to fermented dairy products like kefir.

• Use a high-quality probiotic supplement. If you cannot get your child to eat fermented foods on a regular basis, a high-quality probiotic supplement may be highly beneficial in correcting abnormal gut flora that contribute to brain dysfunction.

Also from: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...205Z1A&et_cid=DM36040&et_rid=356751674#_edn15

 

[ChickChickChicky]

Something got into one of my pens last night and (presumably) killed 4 of my chickens, the 2 Welsummer girls bodies are in the pen with a little meat around the breast/necks eaten, and the 2 Black Copper Marans hens are just GONE without a trace. I'm really puzzled because I thought this pen was nearly bomb-proof, covered all over with 1/4" hardware cloth screwed on. I do see tracks in the light snow but just first impression is they look like small DOG tracks, and whatever it was had to go in over a 6 foot privacy fence to get through the ONLY opening (between top of 6' privacy fence and roof of pen, it's about a 4-6" opening that's maybe 3 feet long. I have to leave for work now but hopefully there'll be enough light left when I get home to investigate further.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Sounds like raccoon? They will sometimes eat the crop only.

Except having missing birds.... and the foot prints don't match....



Quote:http://icwdm.org/inspection/livestock.asp



http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2111/ANSI-8204web.pdf

 

[lalaland]

Something got into one of my pens last night and (presumably) killed 4 of my chickens, the 2 Welsummer girls bodies are in the pen with a little meat around the breast/necks eaten, and the 2 Black Copper Marans hens are just GONE without a trace. I'm really puzzled because I thought this pen was nearly bomb-proof, covered all over with 1/4" hardware cloth screwed on. I do see tracks in the light snow but just first impression is they look like small DOG tracks, and whatever it was had to go in over a 6 foot privacy fence to get through the ONLY opening (between top of 6' privacy fence and roof of pen, it's about a 4-6" opening that's maybe 3 feet long. I have to leave for work now but hopefully there'll be enough light left when I get home to investigate further.

I'm so sorry, that is a horrible thing to wake up to.

I vote for fox or coyote, but leaning toward fox. keep us posted.

 

[lalaland]

justine, was just going to send you a pm, havent seen you on here for a few days. hope all is well in your world!

 

[aaggjg]

I'm sitting down by my coop waiting to let the girls out & I catch something moving out of the corner of my eye. I look up to see a bird land on a tree 10 feet from me. Ummm as I focus (only had 1 sip of coffee) I realize its a hawk!! Stealth quiet arrival. Sees me look at it and flies into the trees across the way 50 feet away. Even the squirrel is out and didnt realize the hawk was here. Obviously the hawk knows this is chicken free play time. Ugh!!!

Chickchickchivky really sorry about your girls. Let us know how it got in if you figure it out. I am going to double check my coops!! I too think they are safe. (Knocks on wood)

 

[lazy gardener]

CCC: I vote raccoon. They can get in to amazingly secure areas, and the damage done matches coon. I don't think it was a fox. I think fox M.O. is to grab and run. I don't think he would stay on site to eat. You might want to bait a trap with one of the hen's bodies. Can you secure them inside the coop? I've had a coon come back in broad day light after a night time attack to finish his destruction. They also often work as a group, and will cart bodies off into the woods to work on later. Some coons are pretty huge.

 

[aaggjg]

So I think Pia is doing a little better. She was still sitting in her nest a lot. She's stand in the morning eat and I'd leave for work. Yesterday I decided to bring my broody Silkie up to keep her company because I picked Tiger up to put her back in after free at and she is so skinny!!! She comes out every morning like she's breaking the broody cycle. And has been for a good week but still sits during the day. I didnt realize how thin she is. So I figured she'd benefit from some sick ward catering. I'm not sure Pia really needs to be inside but as I haven't been able to monitor her, I just don't know and I want to make sure she's back to normal. She hasn't laid an egg since I brought her in.....

 

[aoxa]

justine, was just going to send you a pm, havent seen you on here for a few days. hope all is well in your world!

I'm in the background.



Busy with giveaways and lots of farm work. We vaccinated our birds yesterday for ILT. It is suitable for organic operations.
I wanted to do a tally at the time, but it was so busy I couldn't. He is going to email me a copy of the records so I will FINALLY have a real number!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Now you have to answer questions

Why did you vaccinate?