The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Kassaundra]

New Photo, K!

Thought I'd update it w/ my current "changing" look. Decided a yearish ago to stop coloring it and let nature do it's worst!!! lol lol lol As long as on the grand scale of life I am nudging towards the Storm side of "grey" and not the Granny Clampet side.

It is near 1/2 grown out now.

 

[Kassaundra]

What is the easiest way to cull some extra cockerels for the freezer? My grandparents always used an axe, but I'd rather not do that.....
Also, has anyone ever processed Bantam Cochins? Is there even enough meat to put forth the effort?

Ask 20 people that and you'll get 20 answers. I use a pellet gun to the head. Have tried hatchet and cutting the throat didn't like either.

 

[Kassaundra]

Enjoying sprouts today in 17 degree weather. (Thanks, Kassaundra)




Look how bad poor little "Miss Black" looks. Molting and miserable.

I was scrolling down the pic and saw the bag, so I was thinking someone was quoting one of my posts and I kept on scrolling and thought "those aren't my chickens"!!!!! Works great doesn't it!!!!

 

[TeaChick]

TeaChick, do a search on cocci... look at symptoms and treatment. I'm on my phone or I'd give you a good link on worms too. When I get home I will. ..

Okay. According to Wikipedia, they're bacteria.
Found this article on BYC about prevention and treatment; she doesn't have any blood in her poo at all.
I found an article on Parasitic Worms, but I forgot to get the link.

Thank you.
There's no blood in her poo. I'm seriously considering removing my Cochin, which I put in the old coop with her to keep her company. Just in cast it happens to be worms or cocci. =(

 

[TeaChick]

I was scrolling down the pic and saw the bag, so I was thinking someone was quoting one of my posts and I kept on scrolling and thought "those aren't my chickens"!!!!! Works great doesn't it!!!!

I haven't been around long. What is it please?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Kass was talking about my sprout bags...she was the one that did the video and taught me her method.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Quote:

 

[Kassaundra]

Kass was talking about my sprout bags...she was the one that did the video and taught me her method.

 

[TeaChick]

I'm sorry to post so much about Beauty (my sick chicken), but I have what might be a new symptom.
I had noticed and I happened to mention to someone in a PM and that person said it was strange, so I'll put it out there.
Beauty seems better in the morning, and then seems to decline over the course of the day.
I didn't think anything of it; I'm a morning person and do well in the morning and less well (slow down, not think as clearly, nothing major, just not an evening person) as the day wears on.
Anyway, so no one has to go back for the list of symptoms:

slow, deliberate movements; curls right foot when held by wing: abdominal pain
eating, but not a lot
drinking (about 2-4 oz for her and my Banty)
not laying
very skinny; has lost a lot of meat
new symptom: declines over the course of the day

I don't want to make her suffer; I also want to give her a chance to fight whatever this is.
Anything that anyone can offer would be helpful.
I know several of you have suggested that I cull her if I don't want her to suffer; I'm giving her 24 hours at a time, the first morning that she's not noticeably better, I'll cull her; as long as she's better in the mornings, I'll give her the chance to fight. (I would want the chance to fight, but I wouldn't want to be made to suffer, so I'm doing the same for her.)

 

[Scott H]

Came home and all the FF I put out was gone! Now if only the dog didn't eat it........................

Here's what happened when the muskrat came up to eat the chickens food. I was just going to shoot it cause they are a nuisance and over populated. They live under the docks around here a chew through the flotation...anyway behind him was our waterfall I built a few years back which is made of big rock and was not safe too shoot there. So I took the barrel of the gun and nudged him away from it. He ran over a jumped on the rocks under the waterfall.
Here's a visual....



with a great old cat who is no longer with us...
Well I just left him alone so he could leave and he started to do just that when the FedEx guy came in the gate, startled the rat who jumped into my water feature....

then I see him go into a hole in the rocks and it sounds like he's remodeling in there, thumping rocks around and scratching....did I mention there is a rubber liner so the water goes where you want it an so the pond doesn't leak. Well, it leaks now!

He must have started to tunnel out the back cause it really goes down fast. All the rock has to come out, patch leak, rebuild.....I shot the little bugger and slid his carcass out on the ice and an eagle ate him. Had to vent...I am so pizzed.