The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[stonykill]

Hi all! I'm looking for some natural things just to keep my flock healthy! Wow I just used the term flock! Oh my I've gotten so many that they are now a flock! Lol. None are sick that I can tell. I just want to keep sick from happening. I know the best thing is prayer, but I also have to put some back into it So far I've found pumpkin seed, grape extract, alfalfa, & vinegar? Any thoughts on these? Please & thank you

let them free range and find their own sources of protein.

 

[hellbender]

Hi all! I'm looking for some natural things just to keep my flock healthy! Wow I just used the term flock! Oh my I've gotten so many that they are now a flock! Lol. None are sick that I can tell. I just want to keep sick from happening. I know the best thing is prayer, but I also have to put some back into it So far I've found pumpkin seed, grape extract, alfalfa, & vinegar? Any thoughts on these? Please & thank you

Hi, glad to hear your flock is doing well. I may have some helpful hints later on but I will watch along with you to see how much I too may learn from this group of very experienced folks. What you garner from them should stand you in good stead, provided you heed their pearls of wisdom.

Good luck!!!

 

[hellbender]

There have been studies on it and been proven to work. There is nothing more scary to a rat than a ferret.

I'm sorry Scott....although I do agree with you , I have to laugh about the prospect of trying to eliminate large rodents that, by and large, hide from you, by bringing is an even larger rodent that can and will stick to you like super glue when they aren't trying to get at the chickens themselves...You'll have to admit that visual is hilarious.

 

[Binababy]

 let them free range and find their own sources of protein.  

I will try, but no longer am able to do so. (I have an uncle that may kill anything of mine that wonders to his place(

 

[tjo804]

I will try, but no longer am able to do so. (I have an uncle that may kill anything of mine that wonders to his place(

I live on 1 acre and my neighbor has a Very nice Motorcycle I need to keep my Ladies away from.

I let them out when I have time to be out with them until dusk when they go back inside for the night. I could round em up and put em to bed early but it is always been fun for me to do my yard work with them pulling weeds cutting grass and watching them help.

 

[armorfirelady]

 let them free range and find their own sources of protein.  

I will try, but no longer am able to do so. (I have an uncle that may kill anything of mine that wonders to his place(

Invest in electro netting. Keeps chickens in and predators out. If you get a few rolls it gives them a very large area to range in

 

[armorfirelady]

I found this egg this morning. Weird little bump on the side. Never have seen one like this before. I believe its from one of the big girls.

I have my eye on Sophie. I've seen her a couple times over the last week stretch her neck like she was trying to gulp something. She is active, eating & eliminating. She has not laid in ever a month tho. She is the one that lays in frequent. Other than a streak on her fluffy butt she looks good. I think tonight after work I will give her a dose of olive oil to see if it helps. They have all had yogurt and meat in the last week. Egg shells, grit and oyster shells are available free choice.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Invest in electro netting. Keeps chickens in and predators out. If you get a few rolls it gives them a very large area to range in

Electronet itself is pretty inexpensive. It's portable and you can move it wherever you want it very easily. The fence charger is the most expensive part.

You might even be able to use a piece of it just across the side you don't want them to go into and forgo the electric if you don't have the $$ for the charger. It wouldn't keep predators out but would at least keep them from going where you don't want them to go.

 

[chicalot]

Can you guys tell me if this is a silkier or not. I picked up 3 today hoping they're silkies.

 

[Phoenixxx]

Can you guys tell me if this is a silkier or not. I picked up 3 today hoping they're silkies.

It looks like one...? Do they have 5 toes? The skin on the body, is it black like the legs and beak? If so, they're silkies.