The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Lacy Blues]

The naked girl is beginning to feather nicely and I HATE that she's had to be inside away from the flock for this long. I may be able to reacclimate her beginning next Friday if the weather forecast stays as they've stated. But I"m also concerned about her regaining her place in the flock again. We shall see how it goes.

If you have nice days you could let her out and she could maintain her position in the flock. If she is walking ok, there shouldn't be any problems with that... just bring her in at night.

 

[Leahs Mom]

That's what I've been thinking. From what I see of the extended forecast, I can't begin to do that until at least Thursday of this week or Maybe Friday. But the numbers seem to change so I'll have to just keep watching.

 

[LindaB220]

My DH was told that people don't eat roosters they only eat the chickens by his one of his coworkers. The coworker then went on to explain that ALL roosters are to be used as breeders.

Bahahahaha. Because all people know that you have to have a rooster for eggs, right?

 

[lazy gardener]

Sally, that thought process just boggles my mind. I'm sure that person's logic states that all male animals, no matter what the species are not ever supposed to enter the food chain. Chauvinistic, much???

 

[LindaB220]

There is a farm nearby. They have a mill and sell nonGMO and soy free feeds. They raise chickens and sell eggs. They are going to sell chicks, too. They have a small farm shop and sell grassfed meats. They have chicken, turkey, beef, pork, eggs and broth bones and chicken feet. I don't know how long the shop had been there before I found it. You could try Local Harvest and see if there is anything near you. I have been trying to eat healthier and go chemical free....not just in food....trying to help an autoimmune condition. It is helping but is slow......some people have much quicker results.

Oh....the farm shop is on the honor system...isn't that wonderful?

We have Food Relay, also. You can order online and pick up locally.

It is all pricey. I do the best I can moneywise. My own eggs help (when I get them, lol).

If anyone is interested in the eating and living plan pm me and I can give you info. Most of it available for free and I am only passing on free 'stuff' I have researched. No money involved....I am not affiliated in any way.....I just live here in the woods with hubby and chickies and trying to imrove my health. Sorry...didn't plan to say any of that.

Wonderful place!!! I wish we had something comparable down in Louisiana. At least close to me.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote:

That's what I've been thinking. From what I see of the extended forecast, I can't begin to do that until at least Thursday of this week or Maybe Friday. But the numbers seem to change so I'll have to just keep watching.

I was going to suggest this as well. While my girls were not as bare as yours I did notice that when they were bare they tended to just stay in the coop on cold or windy days. They are out more often now as their feathers grow back in. I am hoping that with suet, meat daily & the brewers yeast will help them refeather a little quicker.

I really think the drastic wx changes are messing with the hens molting & laying. Its been almost 2 weeks since I have gotten any eggs. While 2 girls are almost done molting & 1 has just started I cant explain why the other 2 old enough to lay are not laying. Stella was doing great till the 2nd day of the storm. Has anyone else noticed this ?

I noticed today Sophie has a dirty bum and it looks yellow like nustock but I was short on time & couldn't look further. She has not laid in a long long time. But I haven't seen and fart eggs and other than a squeak once in awhile when eating she has been acting fine.

I just wish Mother Nature would give us a hard frost. With all the snow we have had you would think the ground would be frozen but its not. WHo would of thought in December I would be giving my dogs flea meds :/

 

[Lacy Blues]

armorfirelady, your Sophie may be an internal layer. I had one do the same thing and you couldn't tell. It was probably egg yolk on her back end as sometimes, when the system gets really backed up, they will pass a yolk.

 

[armorfirelady]

armorfirelady, your Sophie may be an internal layer. I had one do the same thing and you couldn't tell. It was probably egg yolk on her back end as sometimes, when the system gets really backed up, they will pass a yolk.

Yeah that's what I am thinking. She is acting ok so far. She has never been a good layer since I got her but I love the dark eggs when she does lay. I am hoping the one BCM pullet I have lays dark eggs.

 

[Amberjem]

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: I wouldn't be too quick to judge...just watch and see how she is behaving. If she ends up standing around upright in corners or looking like she's not feeling well then you can probably conclude there's an issue. If she's acting normal (and you'll know since you know the behavior of your chickens pretty well) then I'd take a "wait and see" stance.

Last year I had one little girl that laid lots and lots get internal laying/egg binding (not sure exactly which to call it). She was the only bird that has ever had any issue here. Just after molt, she began the "corner standing" and it was obvious she wasn't feeling well. She would pass what looked like cooked egg white and yolk...almost like the "look" of hard boiled egg. She was only 1 year old when this began (she was a December hatch). We did finally have to put her out of her misery. I think I waited too long and would know the symptoms much better if they happened again. She was my "mystery chick" that got in by mistake when I picked up some SFH chicks to put under the broody with my 1 lone hatch that year. We're pretty she was a BA.

Her daughter is the one that is just molting now and I hope she doesn't end up w/the same issue. She's been very prolific egg layer; she's 15 months old right now and this is her first "official" molt.


As far a laying in general, I have had no eggs for weeks. The last to lay consistently is the BA mix that's just molting. Even the new pullets aren't laying so I'll probably have to wait until the days get longer again before I see any eggs.