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

[just me]

I know exactly what you mean...as a single parent, I have had to teach my three boys as much as possible the manly arts. Somewhat confusing coming from a woman but I'm not much like other women, so it fit just right. Now the boys tell me that I've spoiled them for a wife because they will expect her to be like their mom and grandma and help them dress out deer, run equipment and work alongside the men.

I'd say they are probably right...not many women out there like that anymore.

Here's my youngest with his first bow kill..he had killed one with a gun the year earlier and that was the last year he used a gun, at 7 yrs old...this one was at 8 yrs. My dad taught them to hunt and Mom and I taught them to gut, skin and process.



And my middle boy with his first bow kill at 7 yrs old:




My oldest with his first bow kill at 11 yrs...took him a little longer because he had a fear of heights and couldn't hunt out of a tree stand when he was younger.

Great pics and good looking boys!!

Also, I have to say that when I married DH, I got a keeper!!

 

[Beekissed]

I have another question for you, Bee! (of course...when don't I???)
I currently have a flock of 20- 9 laying hens, 1 rooster and a group of 10 chicks.
The rooster is the father of 1 of the hens, 3 of the pullets and all 3 of the cockerals.
This leaves me with 16 hens/pullets, an adult rooster, and the 3 cockerals.
I am considering keeping one of the cockerals.
I hatch my own chicks, and am concerned about the relationship between the cockerals and his 4 sisters in the flock.
There are 12 other hens in the flock, one of whom is his biological "mother".
Would I be better off getting a batch of straight run chicks next year and finding a cockeral from another line than to keep one of these cockerals?
I am concerned the current Rooster won't be able to cover all 16 hens. Is it feesible that he might?
Always looking to the future, and wondering about genetic problems from inbreeding...
Any thoughts?

Won't be a problem! Chickens are a bit different and can be line bred just fine without any consequences. Breeders quite often breed sons back to mothers, daughters to fathers, etc. to refine the line. If your rooster is vigorous he should be able to cover 16 hens with no problem...when you consider they only have to be bred once every 30 days(I think that's the number) then he will cycle through those numbers quite easily. I've kept 1 roo for 28-29 hens with no problems with fertility.

 

[Ashdoes]

Now I can see it!  That looks very uncomfortable, doesn't it?  Does he limp at all or has he just gotten used to it by now?  Is this something that is common with this breed?  I don't know that I've ever heard of such a thing with standard chickens unless there was an injury of some sort that broke the toe and it healed incorrectly. 

I don't blame you one bit for giving it a timeline.  It's wise to consider the long reaching effects of this kind of deformity. 

 

I think he just got used to it. All that white part is the top and side of that toe, and it kind of formed so that he kept his balance just fine.
I hope someone more experienced with Silkies can say if it's common or not. I'm not sure if it's the breed, or bantam thing, but I don't like the Silkies much and won't be getting anymore.

 

[Beekissed]

That's why you need a facebook group....much less to manage!

I checked out that group, LM...I think those ladies would tar and feather me in 2 seconds on FB! They very much seem to be the type that would run me out on a rail for killing and eating my chickens.

No offense, but I don't think they would appreciate my crusty old practicality....

 

[Leahs Mom]

I checked out that group, LM...I think those ladies would tar and feather me in 2 seconds on FB! They very much seem to be the type that would run me out on a rail for killing and eating my chickens.

No offense, but I don't think they would appreciate my crusty old practicality....

I didn't ask you to JOIN a group...

I asked you to START a group!!!!!

 

[Bulldogma]

I didn't ask you to JOIN a group...

I asked you to START a group!!!!!

Agreed! Bee - you need your own FB group where people can share information. If you need help, let me know and I can get it up and running for you (and make you an administrator).

 

[Beekissed]

How would the information stay current...one would have to scroll down through a million pages just like on this forum to reference the tidbits of info scattered throughout the page? I don't see how it is much different than this here...just people asking questions and others commenting on it. Unless I missed something or some tool available that can organize the topics into categories?

 

[Leahs Mom]

We could even do some of our own give-aways...we could get Nustock to sponsor a few free tubes!

 

[Mumsy]

Thank you for taking the time to take before and after pics!!!! What a difference! I'll be anxiously awaiting the results of his NS treatment and can't wait to see him in his fully feathered beauty when this is all done. I know from this experience with my flock that I had always taken that natural beauty for granted until it was gone...when it came back it seemed that all was right in the world once again and smooth and beautiful chickens on the grass are a precious thing to behold.

Taking pictures with one hand while holding a 7 lb. rooster with spurs upside down with the other is tricky tricky. Johnny was a beautiful glossy cockerel when I brought him home. As he matured he peaked it seem right at one years of age. I really thought his dull shaggy appearence was due to a hard moult until I actually handled him and saw what was under those hard feathers. What is not readily apparent to the untrained eye is his lack of fluff. Anywhere! He has pulled or scratched it out. The remaining feathers are dull, rough, and chewed. It's like he's missing his underwear under there.
I cut off the mite egg encrusted fluff around his bum. Better able to smear that Nu stock all over the bare bottomed area.


When I'm not outside, he likes to munch on chick scratch I put out for the wild Mourning Doves and Quail. I think he likes eating with the wild birds on occassion for the company. Anyhoo...This will be my full body 'before' picture on day one of Nu stock treatment for mites.

 

[Bulldogma]

How would the information stay current...one would have to scroll down through a million pages just like on this forum to reference the tidbits of info scattered throughout the page? I don't see how it is much different than this here...just people asking questions and others commenting on it. Unless I missed something or some tool available that can organize the topics into categories?

Hmmm - I see your point. What about something like this.

Pages can be added for different subjects (see the tabs at the top) and then people can ask questions in the comments section. Important info and points could be added to each post.

I started working on this the other day - still playing, adding (lots to add) and tweaking before I let the cat out of the bag. I was going to ask and see if you'd be my main resource on this... but sort of chickened out and figured you'd be too busy. I wanted to start putting together a sort of "encyclopedia" of the OT ways for newbies like myself and have been trying to go through the variety of information and compile as much of the "meat and potatoes" of natural chicken keeping as possible.