The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I have looked at it...and asked experienced beekeepers to look at it.... still watching.

But, somehow, it seems "too good to be true", and some beekeepers think the same thing. I don't have experience so just studying ourselves with a good deal of book knowledge....

I guess I'd wait until it's on the market and get more feedback from folks.

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

Yeah, it's still very new. There seems to be little independent reviews and testimonials out there. I found a forum of people who owns the Flow Hive, but the posters haven't had their hives long enough to produce honey. Maybe after another year there will be more reviews, and a price reduction in the system as try get more streamlined in manufacturing.

ETA: here's an article I had found a couple of months ago against it http://www.honeycolony.com/article/3-reasons-to-go-against-the-flow-hive/

 

[TexasOverEasy]

I am a langstroth bee keeper. One, its readily available equipment and the most common amongst the keepers I know. Also, I personally just believe it is a more natural setting for the bees to build on. I do hive removals and the wild hives I deal with nine times out of ten they are built vertically, not horizontally. Another key aspect for me is that It takes a large amount of time and resources to build the wax comb for storing honey. Langstroth frames give you the ability to use an extractor to "sling" the honey out and keep the comb intact which allows the bees to go straight to filling up.

 

[JanetMarie]

I brought a hen in the house to wash off her rump and saw the upper part of her vent is also ripped. Looks like it just happened today. There's some white stuff like the pics of vent gleet just under her vent, but only a very small amount. It doesn't wash off. She is pooping normal. I'll keep her in the house until her vent starts to heal and give her some avian specific probiotic, also give to the others. What is a suggestion to put under her vent where the gleet is? I'm thinking tee tree oil, and/or coconut oil, maybe grapefruit seed extract. Thanks.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@JanetMarie

There are a couple things that might be helpful.

Some of us use a product called NuStock on wounds. It is also anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Works quickly but stinks. Have to order it online. http://www.amazon.com/Duvet-001-0530-Nu-Stock-Ointment-12-Ounce/dp/B000HHSIYQ


Organic virgin coconut oil is a mild topical anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Lots of people use it topically when there isn't an extreme infection. Works well.

Also - if you suspect gleet, you can feed the coconut oil in it's solid state as it helps fight the fungus. Most birds will eat it right out of a bowl...you'll be surprised how much they want of it. I give my birds some from time to time when they're not sick....they love it and good oils make for healthy skin and feathers.

If there really is gleet, you would STOP GRAIN-BASED FEED, NO ACV...just give plain water, raw ground meat from a healthy source (not supermarket type...grass-fed, no antibiotic/hormone, and all the coconut oil they will eat for the first 3 days. (If there is sour crop, the diet is close to the same...works wonders.)

[Note - if you feed raw meat, only give them what they'll eat quickly. Don't leave raw meat laying out any longer than 5 minutes...remove anything leftover to the trash. I usually break it into tiny pieces (bug-sized) and drop the pieces. They will pick it up and eat it. When they quit eating what I've dropped, I don't drop more. Meat left out for any period of time can grow botulism.)

 

[harmesonfarm]

I have been curious about this... is it ok to set up a dust bathing spot in the coop itself? We have free range chickens and it's getting into the rainy season here so we were worried about they're dusting opportunities as it will become a mud pit. I know the coop should be kept clean, so this is why i've been hesitant to add in a dust bathing area with wood ash, but I suppose its part of keeping it clean?

thanks in advance for the help

 

[JanetMarie]

@JanetMarie

There are a couple things that might be helpful.

Some of us use a product called NuStock on wounds. It is also anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Works quickly but stinks. Have to order it online. http://www.amazon.com/Duvet-001-0530-Nu-Stock-Ointment-12-Ounce/dp/B000HHSIYQ


Organic virgin coconut oil is a mild topical anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Lots of people use it topically when there isn't an extreme infection. Works well.

Also - if you suspect gleet, you can feed the coconut oil in it's solid state as it helps fight the fungus. Most birds will eat it right out of a bowl...you'll be surprised how much they want of it. I give my birds some from time to time when they're not sick....they love it and good oils make for healthy skin and feathers.

If there really is gleet, you would STOP GRAIN-BASED FEED, NO ACV...just give plain water, raw ground meat from a healthy source (not supermarket type...grass-fed, no antibiotic/hormone, and all the coconut oil they will eat for the first 3 days. (If there is sour crop, the diet is close to the same...works wonders.)

[Note - if you feed raw meat, only give them what they'll eat quickly. Don't leave raw meat laying out any longer than 5 minutes...remove anything leftover to the trash. I usually break it into tiny pieces (bug-sized) and drop the pieces. They will pick it up and eat it. When they quit eating what I've dropped, I don't drop more. Meat left out for any period of time can grow botulism.)

I just took a pound of ground beef out of the freezer yesterday and put in the frig. to thaw to give everyone today, since some are going through a molt. So that's perfect. It is from a good source. We never buy supermarket meat of any kind. She will love her new diet, they all gobble the meat up so fast and want more.

I have heard of NuStock for gleet and was planning to go to TSC today to look for it. I didn't know it was only available online, so I'll order some and not bother to go to TSC. In the meantime, I'll do the change in diet and probably put some tea tree oil on her vent.

Thanks so much for taking the time to help.

 

[JanetMarie]

I have been curious about this... is it ok to set up a dust bathing spot in the coop itself? We have free range chickens and it's getting into the rainy season here so we were worried about they're dusting opportunities as it will become a mud pit. I know the coop should be kept clean, so this is why i've been hesitant to add in a dust bathing area with wood ash, but I suppose its part of keeping it clean?

thanks in advance for the help

I would set it up since that's part of chickens staying healthy. I have done that with my own birds, but they didn't use it and instead took their dust baths in the shavings. Maybe yours will use their dust bath areas as intended though.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I've done dust baths inside. But I recommend only using a little ash in the bath as it's hard on the lungs. They love peat moss for sure.

@armorfirelady had the idea of getting a wreath storage container when they were on sale a couple winters ago after Christmas...I thought it was a GREAT idea and went out and got one myself. I have used it both indoors and out during the winter...but I prefer to use it outdoors if they'll go. More room and the dirt stays outside! I've also used other low-sided plastic containers before I got the wreath holder.

But...you WILL have dust everywhere. Even more than usual!

I don't worry about dust everywhere personally.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've done dust baths inside. But I recommend only using a little ash in the bath as it's hard on the lungs. They love peat moss for sure. @armorfirelady had the idea of getting a wreath storage container when they were on sale a couple winters ago after Christmas...I thought it was a GREAT idea and went out and got one myself. I have used it both indoors and out during the winter...but I prefer to use it outdoors if they'll go. More room and the dirt stays outside! I've also used other low-sided plastic containers before I got the wreath holder. But...you WILL have dust everywhere. Even more than usual! I don't worry about dust everywhere personally.

you have a very nice set up, now I must know about your rooster, he's very good looking.