The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[chicalot]

Do you have a dust bath in the girls coop that you add material too? I have found that both wood ash and DE seem to dry out the areas surrounding the dust bath.

If it helps I have had very intense shades of green (lime and dark) and purple poop after feeding cabbage, kale, etc.

They spend very little time in the coop or run unless the weather is extreme. They dust bath under and around a building in the back yard. I havent given special foods this week but he could have found something on his own. The sneezing was worse this morning, so the coop isn't ruled out. But I'm certain the rooster sneezed also and doesnt share the same coop. Its mind boggling. We dont even have a lot of carrier birds like sparrows because of cats and dogs, though its still a possibility

 

[delisha]

Quote: I had 3 different set dates in 2 different bators... look down for the first set is tomorrow... so we shall see.
Power was off for 2 hrs and bators got down to 75.

Lambs calves, chicks, and maremma.... always have lots of pics of critters around here. Although it's rare that they ever see snow.
Took this one this afternoon after about 3" of snow and 13 degrees. Pretty uncommon for this "neck o da woods".
The maremma is my older girl Flo.


Beautiful

Quote: Is this the sick bird?
Can you take a short clip or movie of him tomorrow and post it?
Your bedding is fine..i would not remove it. I might mist it with Oxine.

Quote: ;love puppy breath

 

[armorfirelady]

I don't know about the poo---  I would think that if he is eating stuff out of the straw that he isn't used to eating it could change the color...  I am not one to judge anyone else's litter. The straw in the nesting boxes looks real good-- is the other stuff more chaffy (is that even a word?) or is like what is in the nesting boxes?  I imagine smaller particles might be more dusty and could cause sinus issues and funny stuff in digestion.... I would just make sure that in the cooler weather (if it is cold there) that they are getting a good dose of water!!!!

Its the same straw in both places. The rooster doesn't spend much time in straw. His bedding is pine. There is straw in the run but they dont spend time in the run. The girls coop with the straw was oddly on the dry side

My hens poop green once in awhile but are not sick. I'm curious did you give them a lot of greens lately? It kind of reminds me of when people eat asparagus or spinach you don't digest it all and some green comes out. Just a guess tho

 

[chicalot]

He is the one that sneezed once, dark comb, green poo. The hens are sneezing randomly. Tonight when I locked them up one hen was rattling while breathing, almost sounded like a purring cat.

 

[armorfirelady]

I agree that may be heart failure in your Roo. My girls sneeze randomly after I rake or turn the litter. I use DL but sometimes it's still a little dusty.

Did your hear the rattling during the day also?

Sometimes chickens "purr" while roosting. I've heard it from my girls a time or two. I forget what they call it but people say its a show of them being content?

 

[chicalot]

Yes, I've heard the rattling throughout the day. Maybe this cold spell has stressed them..

Do chickens get colds? I've read varying answers to that question. I'll hold out on antibiotics until I see how this pans out.

 

[aoxa]

I don't have a problem with the grooming... I just have a 'thing' about hair EVERYWHERE! Sunny stays short most of the time, I just touch up face and feet as needed between baths, his fur stays a short natural curl (unbrushed). when it starts turning into mini-dreds, then it's time for a clip again. this time of year I have a harder time clipping anything but short, so a groomer friend will take him part way down. I only have 1 longer blade (4 3/4) and it's reserved for people use. LOL

the only time there's hair on the floor in my house is when I get the clippers out.

pony shedding season is bad too. LOL especially with 2 wooly minis. you can't get near them without getting covered.

yeah.. hair is everywhere. My wife does the cleaning, I take care of all the farm chores and our accounting. She was the one who really wanted a big shedding dog Not that I don't love him. She does keep up after him and is always cursing our kitchen floors which are white tile... If only we could afford to have someone take them out so we can lay down new floor to better mask his many hairs. Everywhere I look right now as I type this there is hair haha!

As for your comment on potty training... Not having an easy time with Rosie. She still pees on the floor if you are not on her all the time. If she is in the same room with you she is usually good, but I have to take her out at least every 2 hours STILL to avoid a situation.. unless she is sleeping or in her kennel. It's mostly my fault.. I haven't been on it as I should be. It's so darn cold out there! Can she go to your house for a training session?

 

[armorfirelady]

Yes, I've heard the rattling throughout the day. Maybe this cold spell has stressed them..

Do chickens get colds? I've read varying answers to that question. I'll hold out on antibiotics until I see how this pans out.

Yes they can. I would just keep giving them garlic, basil and either yogurt or scrambled for a few days to see if there is any improvement. Basil is a natural antibiotic and garlic improves their immune system def won't hurt them to give to them for long periods. I give my girls some every couple weeks all year long

 

[Leahs Mom]

I've never used basil but I have used oregano.

 

[lindz8504]

My 5 year old Great Dane Zauk and my 1 year old DD.

My 8 year old Yorkie, Parker

My kid's 13 week old Blue heeler, Ratchet, and my middle DD. 3 years old.