Washingtonians

[Cowgirlgrace]

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Eww, sickness!

Hmm, maggot flies won't go in my chickens unless there is a wound with dead tissue right? Seem those flies would be around anyway. Don't they use maggots to clean up dead tissue in humans? Why are they toxic to chickens?

 

[Ogress]

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What about making this for growing Black Soldier Fly larvae? They are not one of the types associated with flystrike, and you would not have the stench from the rotting meat.

http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/bsf-bucket-composter-version-2-1/

 

[cheryl98117]

Its snowing here, and sticking... Only a trace amount so far, but my DH just left for work, so I am really hoping it doesnt build up until tonight... Down town Poulsbo turns into a nightmare with a little snow... And I can't help but be concerned for my other half. Guess I wouldn't be much of a wife if I didn't worry a little. Tempratures are hovering right at freezing, we might warm up a little still, but I'm not overly hopefull.

 

[Ogress]

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There are lots of different types of flies and maggots. Some eat carrion, some do not. Some produce toxins and others do not.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

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Well, I have lots of chickens so something cost effective that maybe comes in a 50# bag. This would be a supplement. Was looking into fish meal but havn't found a source. Need to call Wilbur Ellis or Wilco. It's used for fertilizer also. BTW, was looking at the Mazuri game bird which is way too expensive and has fish meal but doesn't appear to be much so it would be a complete feed instead of a supplement. Anyway on the same website they also have Mazuri Bear food. Lots of meat protein in that! All too much money. Thats why I think the cost of a pure protein like fish meal would be cheaper since it would be a supplement to the regular chicken feed. You wouldn't use much on a daily basis.

I was just thinking of something and this is just a thought and wondering if anyone has heard of this. We have a farm down the road that sells lamb and beef and they do the slaughtering in the farm. I think they call it offel? thats the guts from the slaughtered animals. Seems really gross but I wonder if that is ok to feed chickens? Ya, I think a dry bagged feed would be better. I don't even process my roos. I give them away because of guts and blood. Let someone else do it LOL. Actually I am seriously considering raising those Freedom Rangers. Might start processing again. Used to do it all the time as a kid with my dad but havn't had the hankering to do it lately. OK, I'm rambling. Got to go finish ordering seeds. If anyone has a source for fish meal let me know.

Why not just make a little mealworm farm??? they are not supposed to stink bad, you can sell the extras if you have any to birdies and reptile peeps.
http://www.sialis.org/raisingmealworms.htm

I looked that site up. Possibility but if I know me I would forget about them and mess everything up. The wheat bran is what I remember the mealworms coming in at the Zoo. We put them in the bird dishes.

 

[Chickielady]

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French Marans have to have feathered shanks, and usually a few toes.
English version is cleaned legged.
The Splash always seem to have more feathers on their shanks than the blacks or blues.

 

[Chickielady]

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Yes. A clean shanked Marans is completely unwanted, unless it is Cuckoo, then it is still unwanted but to people who just want the common hatchery cuckoos, it's acceptable.

Feathered Shanks is a part of the french standard, which we Americans are using.

The snow is continuing to pour, but hardly any of it is actually stacking, if even sticking. Clallam Bay and Neah Bay aren't even getting it yet.

Yeah, my Silver Cuckoos have feathered shanks and are attracting attention...I got them from a old woman in Santa Rosa CA that had them for years and did not even remember where she got them.
I think I have about 5 feather shanked chicks and 2 seem to be lighter: Cockerals...and hopefully they both will have great shank feathers as well.
The last hatchery cuckoo marans I saw looked like blurry maybe sooty barred rock types.

 

[Chickielady]

CR::: sounds like a plan. I have to go get feed at Scott's later this week, and need you to call Weavagarden and ask her if she needs some more.
Then I can meet ya on the side of the road and give you some drawings and a down payment, OK ???

I also have a pasty butt issue.
Never had it in a self-hatched bird before.
This little guy continues to soil himself.
I use soft warm sponge to dab the crusty doo doo away.
I have dabbed a tiny amount of preperation H on his tiny heiny as it was a bit red.
I have them on a mix of medicated and Scott's well ground chick starter, and they are on a bed of sand, and with 12 other chicks that are all doing fine.
Just this one has the issue.
I always thought it was from a bacterial infection (in the intestines) , some say it is a form of constipation, and most people say it is from stress from shipping the chicks.
But these did not get shipped, they were hatched here.
Honestly I have never seen a pasty butt home hatched chick.
Anyone have any more ideas I can try ?
(I will be back on in a few hours !)

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

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I don't know much about the causes of pasty butt but when I occasionally see it in a chick i just keep it cleaned off and they seem to outgrow it. Most don't act sick but will screech when it is stuck on and they can't poop. I guess if it is like that for any length of time they can die from not being able to poop but havn't had any die from it since I usually notice it in time. If he is acting sick and you are keeping it cleaned then he might have another problem but dunno.

 

[TheReidHomestead]

Robin, try adding a tiny pit of organic Apple Cider Vinegar to their water. I have heard that it can help with pasty butt and I've been using it with the chicks this last year and have seen less of it. They say 2-3 TBSN's per gallon for hens. I probably use a tspn or 2 per quart for the chicks. Hope it helps!