The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Sally8]

It's not often that I can comment and be so assured of myself but the home made NuSock is something that I can. I also only use it sparingly (only 2-3 times since I learned about it) but the pic below is a perfect example. Cecilia was attacked by the neighbors dog. I never thought she'd make let alone produce any eggs. She had 5 babies at the time and went on to raise them. I used it every other day generously for about a week. She healed in no time. The other time was when I thought someone had leg mites. I kept the legs slathered for about a week and it was cleared up. I actually don't mind the smell, anymore but it makes me sick (with a headache) each time I make it. Both times I made a very small amount thinking I wouldn't use it. I believe that the sulfur is somewhat toxic but my dog even had the heebie jeebies and wouldn't stop scratching. I applied it to his entire stomach and the itching and scratching stopped. I AM NOT RECOMMENDING TO EVER USE IT ON YOUR PETS! My point being, it does work well but I am one of those who do not think that it is a natural remedy but I do what is best that I think for my own.

btw, I need to quit having opinions. lol

 

[tjo804]

It's not often that I can comment and be so assured of myself but the home made NuSock is something that I can. I also only use it sparingly (only 2-3 times since I learned about it) but the pic below is a perfect example. Cecilia was attacked by the neighbors dog. I never thought she'd make let alone produce any eggs. She had 5 babies at the time and went on to raise them. I used it every other day generously for about a week. She healed in no time. The other time was when I thought someone had leg mites. I kept the legs slathered for about a week and it was cleared up. I actually don't mind the smell, anymore but it makes me sick (with a headache) each time I make it. Both times I made a very small amount thinking I wouldn't use it. I believe that the sulfur is somewhat toxic but my dog even had the heebie jeebies and wouldn't stop scratching. I applied it to his entire stomach and the itching and scratching stopped. I AM NOT RECOMMENDING TO EVER USE IT ON YOUR PETS! My point being, it does work well but I am one of those who do not think that it is a natural remedy but I do what is best that I think for my own.

btw, I need to quit having opinions. lol

How do you make it? and where do you purchase sulfur?
I looked into nustock ingredients Sulfur Pine oil and mineral oil
what do you use?

btw I love opinions I have several myself. Keep sharing

 

[Leahs Mom]

How do you make it? and where do you purchase sulfur?
I looked into nustock ingredients Sulfur Pine oil and mineral oil
what do you use?

btw I love opinions I have several myself. Keep sharing

This site has a recipe.... You can usually get the stuff at your local farm store for this one.

And if you make it yourself you can choose an animal or vegetable fat carrier instead of the mineral oil or bag balm/petroleum jelly

Whoops....forgot to say that it's the "healing ointment" right at the top of the page.

 

[tjo804]

This site has a recipe.... You can usually get the stuff at your local farm store for this one.

And if you make it yourself you can choose an animal or vegetable fat carrier instead of the mineral oil or bag balm/petroleum jelly

Whoops....forgot to say that it's the "healing ointment" right at the top of the page.

Thank you

 

[Shan30]

OH...and mineral oil is very different from oils from animal or vegetable sources.  Mineral oil is a petroleum product.

Animal source fats and (some) vegetable source fats actually provide and help with the assimilation of fat soluble vitamins.





Edited to make what I was saying more clear

I have to agree I am not a fan of mineral oil. However, one can easily make their own version of nu-stock and simply replace the mineral oil with another fatty carrier. My favourite is coconut oil but I have used olive out and lard. I don't measure any of it either. Just the sulphur, a dash of pine tar and enough oil to make it a nice goo.

 

[lalaland]

I love nustock, and have told many people about it. works greats on dogs (hot spots, or skin injuries too), and chickens. Most recently, I interrupted a hawk attack. The hawk was on top of a hen and had her pinned to the ground. After I rescued her, she had a deep gash under one wing and a deep puncture would. I let the puncture wound bleed out to clean it out, and I put a tiny dab on top of the puncture wound and dabbed nustock on the deep, long gash. I didn't bandage, and did not reapply. She healed up just fine in a couple of days.

Sulphur is a naturally occurring element, and has been used for centuries for various skin elements. It is used medicinally too. Maybe half or more of it comes from a byproduct of the oil industry although it is still mined or recovered from the earth.

Potent stuff!

It is a common anti parasitic too!

 

[Shan30]

I've often wondered if dusting them with sulphur or just adding it to the dust bath would have the same effect but have no idea if sulphur would be a safe thing to inhale. Maybe with little chicken dust masks...

I know my mother was having issues with her puppy's skin and I recommended adding some sulphur to her dog shampoo. Instead she took her to the vet and $200 later she left with shampoo containing an active ingredient of sulphur haha!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I've often wondered if dusting them with sulphur or just adding it to the dust bath would have the same effect but have no idea if sulphur would be a safe thing to inhale. Maybe with little chicken dust masks...

I know my mother was having issues with her puppy's skin and I recommended adding some sulphur to her dog shampoo. Instead she took her to the vet and $200 later she left with shampoo containing an active ingredient of sulphur haha!

They DO use sulfur in the dust bath for lice/mites. According to the vet (and our own nifty chicken) in their book: Chicken Health for Dummies, it is 90% sulfur powder mixed into the dust bath at a ratio of 25:75 mix by volume of sulfur and sand.

I still prefer to keep it mainly plain dirt unless there's a problem. Inhaling sulfur and even ash can cause some lung issues. Out there in a "wild" existence birds an other animals will seek out charcoal from forest fires and use the ash as needed. But, again, it isn't an "every day", all the time thing if they have a choice.

 

[armorfirelady]

@armorfirelady
Last year one of my EEs had the bald spot on her back - presumably from her rooster friend. That back stayed bald all summer and right into fall. I was wondering if it would ever grow back.

Late fall when she went into molt she began go grow in some beautiful new feathers.

I had begun to wonder if it was permanently damaged or something but it finally did come back. Hopefully you don't have to wait that long!

If she stopped being so nosey she wouldnt have a problem

But I figure once they are back in the yard with so much space to roam that will solve her problem.

Quote: I like just giving them plain ole wood ash. Even during the summer I am going make sure there is some out for them to use if they choose. But last year they had a favorite spot that they dug out to dust bathe in & I added peat moss to it throughout the summer. I am sure they will find it again this year. The wood ash is for my piece of mind. I do not EVER want to have mites/lice again

I do not how much they inhale tho I am sure it is some since when they are done dust bathing and shake they look like PigPen from the Peanuts.

 

[Sally8]

This site has a recipe....  You can usually get the stuff at your local farm store for this one.

And if you make it yourself you can choose an animal or vegetable fat carrier instead of the mineral oil or bag balm/petroleum jelly

Whoops....forgot to say that it's the "healing ointment" right at the top of the page.

Thanks, I forgot to call it "healing ointment". Whatever it's called, it works great. I didn't know that anyone else had used it on their pet. I thought I had asked before I was ready to try anything. An 82 pound dog itching incessantly all-night-long could drive you to drink.

I have a large container with just wood ash in the chicken coop over the winter for them to dust in. In the summer I just put some in their dust holes. So far, so good.