The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[hoosiercheetah]

Are they "june bugs"?

Nope. They're little black beetles and little brown beetle-roach looking things. I'll try to get pics if I can, but they're fast.

 

[onmelissa]

One of my new babies has a crossed beak. I noticed it today. Any words of wisdom?

 

[misbhaven]

I had a chicken lay 2 eggs last night withing 5 min,,it was my cornish cross project bird it was actually after dark and she hadn't went in so i was watching thinking it might be over for her as she is 6 mths old but was in the light from the garage she was in the laying postion the was singing and there was a soft shell egg she moved over about a foot and layed another..she got up started singing and wanted petted.. she is our chicken version of a dog she wants petted and even my husband who i think would eat a snake has said many times he couldn't eat her, or she would be too tough, etc..I must have done something right both big girls are still doing well even in the heat except a Roo injury to one..
ON the other hand we are culling an EE who's beak is gotten so crooked/scissor she can only eat grain and if it is in a dish losing Condition a little more every day..

 

[armorfirelady]

 

AFL - how are those pickles coming?


And...update us on the herb boxes around the coop.  How are they working out?

Well the pickles got great reviews when I took a jar to the fair for my friends in the firehall to try. Only my mom didn't like he sour taste but said they would be good on a sandwich. The other 2 crocks are in the basement making the pantry smell pickly lol. I made up 28 jars of bread

Okay...you sold 3 of the hens...those were your older girls, right?  The first generation?  How hard was that?

I'm having to remove (at least) 2 girls from my flock this year.  They do have a home to go to (and a GREAT home for that matter).  But I almost feel like I'm betraying them or something.  I'M SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT THESE AS FARM ANIMALS.  That's what my "goal" is.  But when you start out w/only 6, you know them pretty personally so it kind of changes that dynamic real quick.

And...do the other girls all look okay?  Is it only Stella that doesn't look great?

It was 2 of The PR girls that were 2 & Lucy who was 1. The PRs had no names except their colored bands, Lucy was always flighty & the odd one out but Sophie's buddy when they hatched eggs. None laid more than 3-4 times a week. I'm hoping the new babies will help take up the slack. Edie the EE is my most proficient layer. Stella was 2nd before she started laying fart eggs, giant eggs & now nothing. Her feathers have not looked good since the spring. Remember they started turning brown? Now she has funky looking feathers with no color and looks like she is trying to molt. Otherwise she seems healthy. She looks thin but doesn't feel like it. I'm guessing it's the feathers that make her look thin.

And I didn't ask the lady who bought them what she was going to do with them. Rather not know :/

 

[Leahs Mom]

I was wondering if it the problem might be solved by adding a mineral mix to your feed (Like the Fertrell). All of the things your describing could possibly be affected by needing the minerals.

Something you could try is adding some of the Lewis Labs Brewers yeast into the feed bowl (not your ferment container). It has a pretty good mineral profile and also a good amount of protein. Might be interesting to see if the addition of the BY and/or mineral mix may make a difference.

 

[Leahs Mom]

O..and how did she know you were selling them? Did you advertise?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

On closer observation, the chickens are eating the bugs like crazy.

 

[Leahs Mom]

On closer observation, the chickens are eating the bugs like crazy.

Wonderful!!!!! Free protein

 

[Kassaundra]

One of my new babies has a crossed beak.

I noticed it today. Any words of wisdom?

It is a skull deformity, the earlier it shows the worse it will end up being. If not to bad a bird can live almost normal, just need a deepish dish for more of a scoop action instead of pecking. Some people trim the beaks to make it easier. I know of several who have kept as special needs cross beaked and hatched eggs from them w/o any offspring having crossed beaks. I however cull for it. (I've had 2 and been able to rehome rather then euthanize, however if I were not able to rehome I would euthanize)

 

[armorfirelady]

I was wondering if it the problem might be solved by adding a mineral mix to your feed (Like the Fertrell).  All of the things your describing could possibly be affected by needing the minerals.

Something you could try is adding some of the Lewis Labs Brewers yeast into the feed bowl (not your ferment container).  It has a pretty good mineral profile and also a good amount of protein.  Might be interesting to see if the addition of the BY and/or mineral mix may make a difference.

I'm curious as to how a lack of minerals would only hurt Stella and not the rest of the flock? And I haven't changed their feed at all. Ok well I don't add the fish meal or alfalfa since they have been out in the yard getting plenty of greens and bug protein. Plus once a week or so they get meat & they have the flock block avail able. I would think it would affect them all?
And I'm wondering if it isn't something genetic and might be a side effect of her laying problems?

O..and how did she know you were selling them?  Did you advertise?

I put an ad on Craig's list and had a response in 2 days I also put one up for wood chips and had a few replys. I'm hoping I can get them to drop them off since going to pick them up is out of the question for a couple weeks. Did something to my back while getting ready to come home from camping.

I sprayed down the inside of he coop today. Just to get the dust off their picture window and the sides. It gets really dry in there when we don't have rain for a few weeks. I sprayed it all down and got rid of the spider webs all over and in the roof vents. spider was not happy

added a few big arm fulls of weeds and grass clippings as well. Girls will have something to scratch through tomorrow if the rain comes and it's def cleaner in there now. I'm sure the DL will work some more now as well.

And I have a funny pic to share as well but have to do it off my phone. Babies are eating the pink tomatoes and just leaving the outside shell. They also hollowed out a green pumpkin. Guess who's going to get their wings trimmed when I find someone to help me after dark? Little stinkers