Washingtonians

[Chickielady]

I am still wading through 200+ posts so maybe this has been addressed? But what exactly does this do? What is the reasoning to give to the chickens? I have seen the discussion on and off but haven't seen why or the benefits of it.

THANKS!

E.Coli are antibiotic resistant and are secondary infectious bacteria, in other words, if a bird is weakend or sick with a CRD or other issue, and you give the bird antibiotics, the disease or wounds may clear up just fine but the e.coli will thrive in the weakened bird, and the antibiotics will not kill it off.
Collibaciliosis will kill the bird.

here is an example:
A bird is sneezing, and stumbling, having issues breathing, so you know it has a form of airsacculitis.
You put said bird on an antibiotic in the water, but it is sick and does not want to eat or drink usually and antibiotics in the water often taste horrible too !
So, now the e.coli is flourishing in the bird as the bird's immunal system is weakened by the airsacculitis in the first place.
The bird drinks, and now the water is contaminated with e.coli.
The other birds that drink will also get it.
Birds also typically wash out their nostrils in their water...and this is a great way to pass on a disease.
Imagine 20 humans drinking out of the same cup, over & over & over.
So, we add the solution, and it works.
We add chlorine & Chloramine to all municipal water systems.
it is in your water.
trouble is, it is not at the level needed to deal with coliform bacteria.
When coliform (e.coli) bacteria are found in municipal water systems, we are told to boil our water.
Chickens cannot boil their own water.
Sunlight also kills off chlorine.
Chlorine itself in a natural state is a gas.
So after 24 hrs it can be exposed to air and evaoprate out of the chicken's water and be killed off by sunlight.
If you have ever had a fish tank you know to let water stand 24 hrs before adding to your fish tank so the chlorine can evaporate out.
The solution kills the coliform bacteria that love to grow in the sinuses and bodies of the chookies.
Hope this helps, so many people do not realize that chlorine is added to our water (us human's water) for a very good reason, and those of us on well water have to be very careful as few have chlorine injectors.
Hope this helps.

 

[Chickielady]

Omgosh yes! I've been talking about treadle feeders for the longest time! I'd love to have at least 2 of them - one for each coop! The other day I found rat poop IN my chicken's feeder out in the run,

so I've been bringing it in every night. I've only ever seen that one wood rat that comes from the neighbor's yard. My Golden Retriever has been on his scent and tried to catch him several times but the varmint is too quick and small for him.
That would be fantastic!!! I realize I'm using a lot of exclamation points but you don't know how excited I am about this! If you were to make some treadle feeders I would be willing to drive to pick mine up if we had a meeting place. I'll do whatever is needed!

Seems to me that Broodytood said her Grandfather was making treadle feeders...anyone remember ? CR ?

 

[Chickielady]

Poor DH. This is why it takes it takes so long to get the fence stained. He has help. (Notice the ball strategically placed so it can be easily reached by DH's. Gryffin is very helpful.)

Beautiful Dog !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Totalcolour]

My husband figured some of the bad behaviors (like jumping on everyone who walked in the door) would be difficult to break since we have small children in the house, who would not know how, or physically be able to keep a 6 month old brown lab from jumping on them. By 6 months, a lab puppy may still be a puppy - but they are very large.

Our Airedale had this very problem and I was at my wits end. Not only jumping, but going completely berserk, and if we put her in another room, she would claw and bite at the door.

I spoke to a trainer/dog show person (also a BYC'er) and she told me what to do to break this habit. It worked! It took three days (with our dog, with other may take longer). We use a pinch collar (NOT a choke) and a leash. The dog is put into the "down" position, and handler then stands on the leash so that the dog is comfortable but can't stand up. Then a friend rings doorbell. The first day, the dog tried to explode as usual but couldn't get up. The "pinch" collar helped get her attention. I kept her down until she calmed down, then let her greet guest from a sit. Day two, she barely moved when the doorbell rang. Day three she went into the down position voluntarily when we went to the front door, before doorbell rang. She didn't even try to get up whe hubby opened the door.

We shall continue this for a few more days, then try it without the collar and leash. I'll keep you posted.

Even though YOU aren't getting the Lab, this may be helpful for others who have this issue.

 

[Chickielady]

Quick Question --

I just got a shipment of $65/dozen eggs that was pretty badly beaten up with evidence of leaking out the side.

Do I take it to the PO to open it and prove the mishandling or would they do anything anyway??

BUMMER !!!!!!!!!!!!! Must not have double boxed either.............Crapola, you'd have to run over that with a forklift to do that kind of damage.
I would take many photos, and contact the seller & offer to pay shipping if they could send more eggs (free if you pay the shipping)
I do this for my buyers, and I double box.

 

[Chickielady]

Opened this in front of the supervisor at our local PO. It was clear that the two eggs on the more smashed-in corner of the box were shattered and oozed all over. The box smelled pretty bad from the outside and awful from the inside. That reinforces my resolve to pack eggs in a box and put that box in a larger box like I've done before. Not even foam will keep a blow or sufficient strength from breaking eggs.

I learned some interesting facts from the PO supervisor:

--machines do most of a package's movement from point to point, and, since machines can't read, the markings on the outside are of little consequence

--marking something "live hatching eggs" will give it more notice and maybe even special handling (from the humans who will supersede the machines

I will hope that the remaining eggs won't be scrambled, but, in my past experience, that is usually the case.

You CAN write "DO NOT CONVEY" on any box shipped.
I have done that with shipping matted artwork so it does not get crunched.
This requires a human actually hand stamping & carrying the box where it needs to go, intead of sending it down a conveyor belt.
Might help.

 

[Chickielady]

Then get you some Favs! I have 8 broody Favs right now!!

Eight ?

out of how many ?

I thought having 4 broody Buckeyes, 2 broody Javas and 3 broody Ameraucanas was bad !!!

 

[Chickielady]

I see no male hackle on this bird.
It looks like a pullet to me, has it crowed ?????????????

 

[Chickielady]

Dad died last night.

...........................................

Oh honey I am so sorry !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chickielady]

Right now my girls have access to 18% starter/grower feed, water, and grit. And they free-range most of the day in the half acre backyard. When do I need to start providing oyster shell and/or egg shells? I had heard it's good to put it out with the first egg.

Oyster shell, crushed, does not "stay" in the bird very long.
They need access to it all the time.
A good time to start is just before POL.
Although, growing birds can utilize it for bone building properties before they begin to lay.
I have it all over in every pen to keep the mud down...it is slippery clay & the oyster shell helps.