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

[galefrances]

Please do! I'm wondering about the results of everyone else who is trying any of the things they read here....the FF~notice larger yolks in the eggs? Less smell in the coop? Less overall feed consumption? Good conditioning and feathering?

How about the deep litter in the runs and coops? Anyone incorporate that and notice any difference in the smell in the coop and run?

NuStock~how are the scales recovering from the mites? Gleet?

Ashes~help with the mites/lice?

1. FF- mine aren't laying yet, but the poop has been more formed. One of my chickens had been having black tar looking poop before, now it's formed with white caps like the others. Smell? I'm not noticing any odor in the coop or run. Their feathers had always been shiny and nice looking, but I have noticed that they aren't losing any like before. I'm not sure if that was a juvenille molt or a problem, but it's pretty much resolved now.
2. Deep litter in the run is still new, but the chickens sure love it. I've been using grass clippings and leaves for a few weeks now and no odor at all. The coop had deep litter, but I had to shovel it out because I read where you said the DE would kill all the good bugs. So basically I'm starting from scratch and I still have the poop board under the roosts because I just don't have the heart to tell my DH that yet another thing I made him do is wrong.
3. Never had mites, lice, or gleet. I did order the NuStock and have it on hand just in case. But do have a pan of ashes and dirt waiting to be put in the coop for when winter comes so they can dustbathe.
4. Problem I have to solve: DH put a roof over the run so that come this winter the chickens would have extra space without worrying about snow. (we live in a snow belt and get lake effect snow of several feet) Anyway, now the coop is dark because the run is shading the window on that side. Matter of fact, the run is too shaded as well, but that should correct once the tree on the South side loses it's leaves. I made a huge mistake and faced the windows East and West- thinking I'd catch sunrise and sunset. Then I read where everyone was facing the windows South. Makes sense now, but at the time....my DH has always said I was never gifted in the common sense dept. So it looks like we'll be adding windows.
5. Last...I know you and everyone else has said how you shouldn't own chickens if you can't cull. BUT, each and every day I pray to Jesus that I will have the perfect 12 chickens ever to be kept and that I won't have to break one of their necks. And as much as I try to mentally prepare for the day when reality takes hold and I might have to cull....I plan on calling my son in law to do the deed.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Will I be able to do a true deep litter in the coop since mine is elevated and has linoleum over wood for the flooring?

I usually just keep adding fresh pine shavings on the floor over whatever is in there until I clean it out in the spring. I toss scratch in and let the girls move the litter around. I also have a manure board under the roost that I scoop each day.

I'm willing to reconfigure the coop inside, but it is still elevated between 12" and 18" off the ground.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please do! I'm wondering about the results of everyone else who is trying any of the things they read here....the FF~notice larger yolks in the eggs? Less smell in the coop? Less overall feed consumption? Good conditioning and feathering?

How about the deep litter in the runs and coops? Anyone incorporate that and notice any difference in the smell in the coop and run?

NuStock~how are the scales recovering from the mites? Gleet?

Ashes~help with the mites/lice?

I can diff tell a difference in coop smell since starting ff, I have used deep litter for a long time but still had an issue with smell, and the vent gleet is completely gone in my lil bantam, I will post pics when I give her a bath well I may not but she is so dirty from dust bathing and having white feathers all the dirt has stuck because of the Nustock, If you don't mind a dirty bottom, I'll post a before and after tonight. I didn't have scaley leg mites but did have mites on my girls but after treating with Neem oil and also rubbing the Nu stock on all their legs no more mites. I put ashes and sand inside a plastic tote long and shallow and they use it not only to dust bath in but also to get grit I guess even though they have the whole place to get grit. or they like the taste of sand and ashes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

1. FF- mine aren't laying yet, but the poop has been more formed. One of my chickens had been having black tar looking poop before, now it's formed with white caps like the others. Smell? I'm not noticing any odor in the coop or run. Their feathers had always been shiny and nice looking, but I have noticed that they aren't losing any like before. I'm not sure if that was a juvenille molt or a problem, but it's pretty much resolved now.
2. Deep litter in the run is still new, but the chickens sure love it. I've been using grass clippings and leaves for a few weeks now and no odor at all. The coop had deep litter, but I had to shovel it out because I read where you said the DE would kill all the good bugs. So basically I'm starting from scratch and I still have the poop board under the roosts because I just don't have the heart to tell my DH that yet another thing I made him do is wrong.
3. Never had mites, lice, or gleet. I did order the NuStock and have it on hand just in case. But do have a pan of ashes and dirt waiting to be put in the coop for when winter comes so they can dustbathe.
4. Problem I have to solve: DH put a roof over the run so that come this winter the chickens would have extra space without worrying about snow. (we live in a snow belt and get lake effect snow of several feet) Anyway, now the coop is dark because the run is shading the window on that side. Matter of fact, the run is too shaded as well, but that should correct once the tree on the South side loses it's leaves. I made a huge mistake and faced the windows East and West- thinking I'd catch sunrise and sunset. Then I read where everyone was facing the windows South. Makes sense now, but at the time....my DH has always said I was never gifted in the common sense dept. So it looks like we'll be adding windows.
5. Last...I know you and everyone else has said how you shouldn't own chickens if you can't cull. BUT, each and every day I pray to Jesus that I will have the perfect 12 chickens ever to be kept and that I won't have to break one of their necks. And as much as I try to mentally prepare for the day when reality takes hold and I might have to cull....I plan on calling my son in law to do the deed.

I understand completely about the culling, Thank the Lord my dh takes care of that part for me,

 

[galanie]

My "deep litter" doesn't really cook at all. It's bone dry and always is in there. But I still haven't cleaned the coop out since spring of 2011. I use poop boards and just let the rest mix in with the litter. It doesn't smell in there much at all.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Will I be able to do a true deep litter in the coop since mine is elevated and has linoleum over wood for the flooring?
I usually just keep adding fresh pine shavings on the floor over whatever is in there until I clean it out in the spring. I toss scratch in and let the girls move the litter around. I also have a manure board under the roost that I scoop each day.
I'm willing to reconfigure the coop inside, but it is still elevated between 12" and 18" off the ground.

Hey bobbies, My coop is about a ft off the ground, wood floor with vinyl over top, and I have used deep litter for at least 8 yrs. I don't even take all the litter out in the spring. I usually just take out about 1/3 of it and put around my blueberry bushes and around the straw berry plants. I usually add shaving every other week. during the rest of the year. it's about 12'' deep now.

 

[lalaland]

Well, I caved in a bit this morning. The molting BO that has been looking so poorly - has the sick chicken hunched over not moving thing going - was again totally uninterested in FF this morning, and the FF wasn't cold. I fed her cottage cheese last night when she went in to roost (she's in the coop a good 15 min before anyone else at night), which she gobbled, so I was disappointed this morning when she didn't even wander over to the FF with the other hens. When I noticed another molting hen pecking at the empty dry feed container, I poured a scoop of dry mash into it, and the sickly BO came over and ate like no tomorrow. So I'm wondering if part of her feeling poorly is lack of food since she is avoiding the FF. They do freerange, but with the hard frosts the pickings are slim.

I'm figuring she's about 4 or 5 years old, and dang it, I guess I'll just spoil her. She is kind of the mom of the flock - alerts me when someone is in distress, and if I am working on a chicken and the chicken is noisy with objections, she comes right over to scold me and to watch out for the hen.

Is anyone else planning on keeping on with the FF with winter? Since I have two gallon crocks going on the back of the stove, I don't need to stop because of the cold.

 

[lalaland]

About Deep Litter and Hay:

I'm wondering if anyone has achieved composted deep litter in the coop using hay? I can see how it would work real well with shavings. I skipped the fall cleanout this year and just added some fresh hay, which makes the coop smell great, but since the girls are hardly in the coop there isn't much stirring action going on. I have a good amount of poop, feathers, and.....hay. No moisture.

They will be inside more in the winter, especially when the snows first come and they are terrified to go out (this involves me shoveling, and covering the dreaded snow with a bit of hay - usually takes a couple of days before they will come out and then only with treats to lure them out). There are only a few days in the winter when I shut them in - when windchills are 20 below or lower is kind of my rule of thumb - and then just because they aren't outside anyway, and with the windblowing it gets pretty cold in the coop.

 

[stonykill]

Will I be able to do a true deep litter in the coop since mine is elevated and has linoleum over wood for the flooring?
I usually just keep adding fresh pine shavings on the floor over whatever is in there until I clean it out in the spring. I toss scratch in and let the girls move the litter around. I also have a manure board under the roost that I scoop each day.
I'm willing to reconfigure the coop inside, but it is still elevated between 12" and 18" off the ground.

yup. You just described all 7 of my coops.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

<snip>
Is anyone else planning on keeping on with the FF with winter? Since I have two gallon crocks going on the back of the stove, I don't need to stop because of the cold.

Yes, I plan on continuing during the winter. Figure that they need it the most during winter as there will be less foraging for the good stuff. Plus they'll be spending more time in the coop = more poop in the coop and I like the firmer poo with less odor that you get with the FF. With only three hens, I've got far fewer birds than most so it's much easier for me. I keep the bucket in the same room as our wood burning stove so it's always has some warmth and is bubbling. On these recent colder mornings I will admit that I've "cheated" and have added a bit of hot oatmeal to the FF to make it a little warmer before giving to the girls.