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

[Melabella]

Got it! Hmmmm...would a salad diet help with reduced FF dressing then?

was wondering the same thing. One day on FF, one day off FF...

 

[Mountain Momma]

Whew! I have been reading and reading trying to catch up. I soooo love this thread. I haven't even started yet on the OT thread. This one is doing just fine on education so far. I have had chickens since '09. I found BYC and started in "learning" all the "right" things to do. I was going to be the best chicken person around, and stocked up my first aid kit with Ivermectin, wazine,infant vitamins, DE, Blue Kote.... etc. I have wormed, dusted with DE, Sevin, used vasoline on their legs for mites.I even found a way to be able to bandage my chickens feet when I was treating them for bumblefoot. ( I did find a great antibacterial to soak their feet in, that is used for Koi, worked wonders!)
I used the DLM, and it was working pretty good. I have a dirt floor in my coop. I had a 40 lb bag of the DE, and used it up this spring, and purchased another 40 lb bag. I have had some problems with mites, and also used more DE, and was spraying the coops and runs with permythrn ( I don't think the spelling is correct) I began having more and more issues with feather picking and stinky coops. More flies.... so of course, more DE and more spraying. I had found a feed store that carried a layer crumble/pellet that had 20% protein, and I started feeding them that, thinking they were suffering from not having enough protein. Purina only has 17%. It helped, but not completely. I was thinking about getting rid of the chickens, but still really enjoyed having them around, and working with them, and enjoying the sounds that they make. Well, about 2 weeks ago, I found this thread, by accident. I had even stopped really reading BYC. I had a couple of threads that I had subscribed to, and I found one of Bees' early postings, and my curosity started me reading. Wow, a whole NEW way of raising chickens. This stuff made sense! I finally made it to town today, and purchased some items to be able to make the FF, (needed buckets!) I also bought dehydrated alfalfa dust to add to the mash to give more greens, as they can't free range. I also bought the sulfur, bag balm, and ordered the pine tar on line today. I made up the first of my mash, and it's in the bathtub... cooking. I have waited until I was able to catch up before I posted. I actually have to go back to 184-381 and connect the first half and the last....someday....
I have so much to tell everyone! I feel like I know all of you, after reading all of these pages. I so look forward to continue reading and enjoying the companionship of this group. And a huge big THANK YOU to all who contribute!
Now, I do have a question...... what the heck do I do with an open 40 lb bag of DE?????

You sound a lot like ME! I have an open bag of De as well. Had it for about 5 months. Let me know if you come up with a use for it. I used to shovel out my coop every week, blew it out with the shop vac and then scrubbed it with bleach water and a broom. Sometimes I wiped my chickens with baby wipes to get the dust off them. SHsh. Noone really knows about that. Welcome! and thanks for the Koi tip. Will find it and keep it on hand. I'm making better time on this thread than the rocking chair too. Determined to finish though.
Lisa

 

[Beekissed]

You sound a lot like ME! I have an open bag of De as well. Had it for about 5 months. Let me know if you come up with a use for it. I used to shovel out my coop every week, blew it out with the shop vac and then scrubbed it with bleach water and a broom. Sometimes I wiped my chickens with baby wipes to get the dust off them. SHsh. Noone really knows about that. Welcome! and thanks for the Koi tip. Will find it and keep it on hand. I'm making better time on this thread than the rocking chair too. Determined to finish though.
Lisa

NO WAY.

You are SO funny!!!!

Who told you to do that? Don'tcha wanna go back and snap their heads against the wall a coupla times now? I bet you are so relieved you found these threads. I'm wondering how many other folks are out there in BYC land who are wiping their chickens down with antiseptic or baby wipes. That's going to have me chuckling all day tomorrow! You are a riot, MM!

 

[Mountain Momma]

NO WAY.

You are SO funny!!!!

Who told you to do that? Don'tcha wanna go back and snap their heads against the wall a coupla times now? I bet you are so relieved you found these threads. I'm wondering how many other folks are out there in BYC land who are wiping their chickens down with antiseptic or baby wipes. That's going to have me chuckling all day tomorrow! You are a riot, MM!

It warms my heart to bring you so much laughter! The main blogs et al said to clean your coop once a week, and mine is close to the house so I took it as gospel. As for that other thing, well the chickens in all the pictures always look so shiny and clean. Mine are always dusty so I thought people were wiping them down to make them shine and just not giving up their secret....so I did it too. Even got some compliments fromm a neighbor on how nice they looked. And yes I am relieved as all get out. The DL is so counter intuitive but it works great. You and the others have been an extreme advantage to me in my first year as a chickener. I talk about you all the time. I say "Bee's way is this, Bee makes her own Nustock, and Bee never uses antibiotics that make super bugs, and Bruce's recipe is this and his favorite meat chicken is Cornish but you have to grow themm slow and Bee would not allow a stray in her yard and..." I'm sure its amusing to my friends.
Have a great night!
L

 

[aoxa]

Had a dog visit the yard this morning, though it showed no interest in the chooks.  It was easily caught, the number on the collar called and the owners came to collect it.  The chickens did not like this stranger and were wary.  I'm glad I didn't have to shoot it. 

Jake didn't like the culling of Miss Ruby, per usual.  He watched anxiously, whimpered often and paced as he always does.  That dog is some weird pup! 

 

I'm glad you didn't have to either. Were his owners apologetic?

Thanks, I wasn't sure about decreased exercise vs needing to stay warm in -10 temps.

Their feathers are sufficient for staying warm and some fat, but not excessive.  I don't believe that types of feed(more corn) can keep a chicken warm, though being too underfed can certainly compromise their ability to keep warm and to stay healthy.  Wild birds survive those temps and they are burning fuel due to having to find food, so I think the chickens have a big advantage in that regard.  Their foods and water are provided, they have good shelter and they do not have to evade predators...life is good as a chicken in the winter months. 

Bee - this should be said in that what is too cold thread.

Never provided heat. Though sometimes I wish I could have a heatlamp following me around while I do chores in February.

 

[Leahs Mom]

You're asking if you should candle the eggs before you set them under her? Confused.. No you couldn't tell beforehand. 3 days after for white eggs, and 5-7 days after for brown/green. Never can tell before. It would be so helpful if you could. Then I wouldn't waste the infertile eggs by incubating lol.
Usually it's the ones that die that are the issue, not the infertile ones.

No...I was asking if, after she's been on them for awhile, I should candle.

 

[aoxa]

You guys are all talking about birds getting fat for winter. Mine seem to be slimming down Especially my cochins! It's miraculous. They needed to slim down.. Mabel especially. She was one fat chick. Anyone want to see before and after?

Mabel early summer - weighed about the same as my 12 pound cat.

This weekend. She's finishing up her molt.

 

[aoxa]

Before & after pictures of my ducks.. They show a very big improvement. Macy (Muscovy) has NEVER looked so good. Not even when she was a baby.

Before

after She's so clean and healthy!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Maybe the Brinsea warmer for chicks would work in instances where a heat lamp could pose a danger?
Thing is mighty expensive, but everyone who has them swears by them.

I actually contacted Brinsea regarding their warmer and asked them if they thought it would be warm enough for "outdoor" brooding in the hen house/barn in cool spring weather. They said they thought it would not be warm enough and was made to be used indoors where the temperature was already around 70 degrees.

 

[aoxa]

Maybe the Brinsea warmer for chicks would work in instances where a heat lamp could pose a danger?

Thing is mighty expensive, but everyone who has them swears by them.

I actually contacted Brinsea regarding their warmer and asked them if they thought it would be warm enough for "outdoor" brooding in the hen house/barn in cool spring weather.  They said they thought it would not be warm enough and was made to be used indoors where the temperature was already around 70 degrees.

Ah that really sucks! They need to figure out how to make something that can be used outside...