The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[fenwickchic]

Hello all!
I have been following this thread for quite a while and it is the best education I can think of!
I am incubating (for the first time) in my classroom. Two local facebook friends gave me fertile eggs and said they'll take them back after they hatch. This is great because knowing the odds of hatching and that I wanted to start a flock this year, I ordered 15 chicks from McMurray to come hatch week (May 12).
The eggs are on day 11 and the incubator seems to be holding temp at about 100 degrees, although all three thermometers disagree and the one I put in ice water is about four degrees off. I haven't candled as all of the eggs are rather dark and after reading Bee's trouble wit candling I am not confident I will be able to tell anything. I have really just been letting them go, adding water every 2-3 days and hoping for the best. I found some really great day-to-day details and graphics and the kids really enjoy seeing the development.
Anyway, two weekends ago I bought some countryside organic chick starter. I began to ferment it that same weekend because I had read to start fermenting the day you set your eggs. I stirred and added filtered water daily for the first week and since than have stirred every third day. Yesterday when i stirred there was more liquid than usual and it as a sweet vinegary smell along with a slight undertone of "fart" for lack of a better word.
Is this normal or should I dump and start again?
Thank you all for the knowledge you provide!!
Also, I apologize for misspelled words, my g and h don't work very well =\

Hi, I also get my feed from Countryside Organics and ferment it. I use filtered water too. Don't worry about the "fart" smell. The reason you are getting that is because Countryside adds fish meal (but check your label). I am using layer mash, so it may not be in the chick feed but I'm guessing it is. I threw away a perfectly good batch for that very reason until I read about someone having fish meal in their food. Sure enough, that was my issue. My family HATES the smell, but they have to deal with it. I've tried moving it to other locations besides the kitchen but I found I got mold issues and the "bubbling" action ceased when I moved it to the basement. It was not warm enough and apparently too damp. So you need a fairly warm, dry area and must stir it daily. There is a whole fermented feed thread here at BYC. Helps me a lot.

 

[fenwickchic]

4 foot, 2" x4" welded wire from TSC. The 4 foot width from side to side and the length cut to fit. I hammered poultry wire "u" nails along one side and then bent it over and did the other side. 16 inch braces between the long sides makes the tunnel high enough and wide enough for large fowl. I was going to build them out of 2x2 lumber to keep the weight down, but got a wicked deal on rough cut hemlock 2x3's. They are heavy, but I won't be moving them very often.

I love it!!!! What a great idea. I can't wait to show DH. It actually looks similar to a train track and he loves trains. I just might be able to get him to build me some. LOL

 

[lalaland]

If she is not laying..she may be going broody..some cry non stop just before they go into it..they sound like a cat in heat..
Chickens do not cry when they hurt or when they are sick..they hide it..

...
leave them alone unless you see pale comb and wattles..they get off the nest..just because you don't see them... does not mean they do not get off....they do get off..trust your birds..if she was healthy before brooding she will be fine..

If you are worried about mites in her nest box..clean the mites up..mites can kill..

don't worry about them on the bird as much as ..worry about the source..... than get them off the bird....put garlic, citrus, and citronella around the box after you get rid of them.

If you have mites...the last thing to worry about is breaking her brood...a dead bird and chicks would be worse.

thanks Delisha.
I'm surpised she might have mites, because the coop was empty and clean until a few months ago when the sulmtalers were moved to the coop. I checked the two hens who share the coop with her and they are clean.
I guess I will remove the nest box, and replace the hay nest when she is off the nest this afternoon.

She has her own area, and it is small, so I know she wasn't pooping. It is possible she was drinking, but am confident she wasn't eating because of the way I've left her food - with a few dandelion leaves on top so I could see if she was nibbling or anything.

Delisha, do you pull your broodies off the nest once a day or not?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Is she continuing the cough this morning?

There are several different respiratory diseases that can cause coughing that would be associated with the symptoms I listed. But if you aren't seeing any of the symptoms above...

Is it possible she swallowed something (like a small piece of metal/screw, etc.?
Is she gasping for air? It didn't sound like she was in your description.

 

[armorfirelady]

Lala if ur worried about mites just toss some ash in with nesting materials. That's what I do with mine. They mix it all up when they are making their nest. It gives me some piece of mind at least.

On citronella plants- check your local farmers markets. My mom picked one up there last week. No idea why I didn't pick one up also. Guess I was to occupied with the herbs and veggies I bought to grow in hay bales (I read about it in a magazine & wanted to try it.) but this week I think I will have her pick one up for me me I will plant it next to the coop. I'm trying to grow herbs/plants that deter bugs around the coop and spruce it up some as well

 

[delisha]

Quote: I never pull them off unless the comb is pale and know they have to poop..some of my broodys will not get off the nest if they hear peeping.
Some of my broodys get real thin from setting..I do not worry because me birds are healthy. I know my birds are healthy and that gives a great piece of mind.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I didn't take my girl off either. I felt that they had enough sense to do what was needed.

 

[lalaland]

Dang. Ok, I'm going to stop with the pulling the broody off the nest.
I won't coax her to eat, will just make sure she has fresh food and water available.
WIll watch to see if her comb gets paler, and intervene then maybe.

When its dark, I'm going to check her for mites - and I will sprinkle a little ash under the nest and replace the hay.

Will buy some citrus fruits and peel them, and put some peels in the nest box. or around it...I don't have any citronella. I'll add garlic podwer too - wonder if that will repel mites?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Lala - if there is enough space where she can get out of the nest to add a a shallow rubbermaid tote thingie with dirt and ash available she might take a quick dust bath when she comes out. And...she might not!

 

[armorfirelady]

Lala if u were closer I would lend you my game cam so u could see when she gets off.