The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[Beekissed]

Quote:
1. I use it with the nipples. I think it's more of a problem when the acidic water sits in the container, allowing more surface area and more time to erode the metals. As far as I know, the regulators and nipples are stainless steel and are less likely to be affected by the ACV. With feeding FF, it's not really necessary to have the ACV in the water but it sure keeps the waterer cleaner longer.

2. The old ways of telling were red comb, 2 finger spacing between the pelvic bones, loose, moist vent, etc. I've found that these signs are fallible and have caused me to cull some good layers accidentally. The only surefire way I've found to not make mistakes of this nature is to take them off the roost at night, glove up and insert a finger into the vent to palpate the next day's egg through the intestinal wall. 100% effective and have never killed a good layer since finding out this method.

3. I've found this on my flocks a time or two and don't pay it any mind....it goes away and it is never more than a few speckles now and again. Not to worry unless black spots were preceded by white blisters and are accompanied by oozing, crusty drainage.

 

[aaggjg]

Just break them by placing the in isolation without any nest or bedding...a pet cage is suitable...away from the rest of the flock. Do it in the daytime and place them where they can hear the flock but not see it. Should break that broody feeling.

Another way is to take them off the nest, hang them upside down and dunk them a couple of times in a water bucket real quick. Doesn't hurt them, no..they won't drown or choke, and it just makes them mad. Mad enough to change their minds. Madder than an old wet hen? That's where that expression came from, BTW.

After you do the dunk, throw them out of the coop. Not sit them down gently...give them an underhanded toss into the wild blue yonder.

That method of dunking has worked on every chicken I've ever had but one...and she got culled for excessive broodiness and poor mothering when she was allowed to brood.

Okay well comedy ensued!!! I filled a bucket with cold water a put my bantam Sizzle in it .... then I dunked her ..... Kept her in there until she got nice and wet. She was shivering when she came out. I figured that was good ..... She didn't put up much of a fight and was floating in the bucket not sure what to make of it.... So I took Broody #2 the 5 week and counting broody and put her in the bucket ... She DID NOT like it at all... ok Good .... They were soggy messed .... Well 10 mins later I look around and broody #2 is gone hmmmmm ... YEP back in the nest ... So I ducked her again EXTRA LONG DRIPPING WET SHIVERING .... Then I see #1 heading back up ramp to nest ... so I grab her and dunk her again. Wet Sizzles are so funny looking all soggy.... well 10 mins later both birds 1/2 dry back in nest ..... So the score today is Chickens 1 - Me 0 ....

The lesson I learned???? When its 88 outside the chickens don't really mind being wet

Thats them laughing at me .... all the way back to the nest box.


Someone just sent me this picture I thought you'd all find it amusing ..... We aren't the only ones who think fermented feed is better for chickens!!

 

[galanie]

I'd never have thought a chicken would even eat Kimchi lol

 

[normanack]

A little storm humor. Hope everyone gets through safe and sound.

 

[Wax Myrtle]

The flock is loving the coop on this misty, moisty day...they foraged all morning but are now lounging in the coop.  Was wondering about you folks trying the deep litter in your runs for the first time and how that is going with the damp, rainy weather?  I'm hoping my coop litter draws a little moisture from the ground as it is currently very dry and dusty...maybe the hard rains coming with change all that.  

I was thinking about the flocks who didn't go for the FF and I'm just not sure what to make of it....both the meaties and these layers are really loving it, eating it like hogs in slop and clean the trough so thoroughly that it looks like the dog has had a go at licking it down.  Please let us know how that all turns out and if it changes?   

 

Yesterday, while I was stirring coop litter up (and thinking I actually may need to sprinkle it a bit - dusty, and of course the grass quit growing so I can't add fresh clippings) I removed about 25% and spread it in the sand we call soil here in north coastal SC. Hoping it will help the under-tree area I have near my coop. I had a grow-out pen there for a couple months this summer, and it got a little picked over. Not packed or bare, there's still some grass clumps and struggling brush, but richer soil would be such a nice change. Sandy has given it a thorough soaking (and we're supposed to get up to 2 inches more tonight) so... Crossing fingers.

I've only had one problem with ff, and it has both times been with freshly arrived shipped chicks. I offered it in flat dishes and they'd naturally walk in it, packing it down so that they couldn't get any up. First time, I just quit and went to crumble. This time, I caved and bought a chick feeder line-o-holes trough style. Zero problems this time, excepting the times I've not yet had enough coffee and dribbled it out the side. Mine also gets licked so clean I don't even have to do more than tip it to get stray shavings out. They get cleaned just as pretty as you please, too.

 

[chickachee]

I can help you with all things Mac. They are really easy to use .... PM me if you have any questions

Thanks, I'll get situated and figure out what I need to ask and PM you (soon I hope).

 

[LOVEIGEE]

A little storm humor. Hope everyone gets through safe and sound.

Bee and all the BYC friends in the pathway......Please be careful and stay safe! Love you!

 

[Beekissed]

Okay well comedy ensued!!! I filled a bucket with cold water a put my bantam Sizzle in it .... then I dunked her ..... Kept her in there until she got nice and wet. She was shivering when she came out. I figured that was good ..... She didn't put up much of a fight and was floating in the bucket not sure what to make of it.... So I took Broody #2 the 5 week and counting broody and put her in the bucket ... She DID NOT like it at all... ok Good .... They were soggy messed .... Well 10 mins later I look around and broody #2 is gone hmmmmm ... YEP back in the nest ... So I ducked her again EXTRA LONG DRIPPING WET SHIVERING .... Then I see #1 heading back up ramp to nest ... so I grab her and dunk her again. Wet Sizzles are so funny looking all soggy.... well 10 mins later both birds 1/2 dry back in nest ..... So the score today is Chickens 1 - Me 0 ....

The lesson I learned???? When its 88 outside the chickens don't really mind being wet

Thats them laughing at me .... all the way back to the nest box.


Someone just sent me this picture I thought you'd all find it amusing ..... We aren't the only ones who think fermented feed is better for chickens!!

You forgot the upside down and throwing out of the coop maneuver!! Can't just try to give them a bath!

It's gotta be disciplinary....

Now, see...even a third world country knows enough to feed fermented and then market it. I bet this whole FF thing catches on and you start seeing farmer's markets with eggs advertised as soy-free, free ranged and fermented fed. I'm predicting this starting right now.

 

[Beekissed]

Bee and all the BYC friends in the pathway......Please be careful and stay safe! Love you!

Running out to the liquor store as we speak....

 

[Miss Lydia]

You forgot the upside down and throwing out of the coop maneuver!! Can't just try to give them a bath!

It's gotta be disciplinary....

Now, see...even a third world country knows enough to feed fermented and then market it. I bet this whole FF thing catches on and you start seeing farmer's markets with eggs advertised as soy-free, free ranged and fermented fed. I'm predicting this starting right now.

Maybe at a farmers market, but I bet if this was in a grocery store here folks would walk right on by thinking they would be poisoned if they ate it. I know my dh would. Now if it said hens fed steak and potatoes he'd buy it in a minute.