Ways to Improve Health?

[LynneaC]

I think I posed my first reply to the wrong thread; anyway, I also have the insulated houses, with several heat lamps. I give the girls cooked oatmeal, the old fashioned kind. I just watch for it to go on sale. I also have the water wamers that provide nice warm water for them. Hope this helps

 

[MandalaMaMa]

I was wondering why do you need to change the water daily if using ACV. I have seen this mentioned a couple of time and was just wondering why. I have been using ACV with Mother but only change their water weekly thru the winter and twice a week when it warms up.

 

[dirtybirdman]

I know it's cold and I myself had nights as low as 20 below here in New York and heat my coop as well the birds still need good ventilation and a dry floor. A good way to determine this is to take a look around for condensation on walls and window

 

[MaPa26]

Just wondering if you could provide some background on why not to feed them probiotics. I understand that has become a daily diet for some and wanted to get your insight on why not to feed it.

All of the information everyone has provided has been quite valuable. thanks!

Never have heard back from the member who posted that statement about probiotics being bad for chickens. No one agreed with her. Sounds to me that you feed your chickens very well. I agree with the member who said not to give them bread. Mine have never gotten it, but one day I gave them some and they didn't even like it! It was whole grain or I wouldn't even have bothered. I consider bread a filler or a treat; not a nutritional food for them, which they really need during these cold months. I favor all of the other suggestions given, like yogurt, cracked corn, mealworms (I think that was in here?), cooked beans, COOKED potato skins (I saw that somewhere) and I occasionally give my girls a suet cake containing millet, cracked corn and nuts. Only because it is so cold at night.

Ventilation seems to be a very important issue, as someone else mentioned, because of the respiratory infections. You may want to do some research on ammonia. It is detrimental to livestock. I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread, but you can find threads about "Sweet PDZ" in the forums--a LOT of threads on it. It is thoroughly discussed. I stumbled across it and started reading the threads. PDZ is a stall freshener. There is the real thing and a synthetic. The crystals bind with ammonia. I finally picked up a bag (Tractor Supply), thinking I might need it if my coop got out of control, smell-wise. There is still a lot of winter weather left, this year, so I don't want to do a total clean out until Spring (I also do "deep litter" in the coop.). So I planned to sprinkle a couple cups of PDZ if I detected ammonia odor. So far, it hasn't smelled at all! I attribute that to proper diet and the yogurt!

I need to go out today and rake off the worst of the poo, under the roost, turn the top couple of inches of shavings over and then throw on a couple of new inches of shavings. In my pen, we have brought in a couple flakes of wheat straw and let THEM spread it out. When they finished, I added a huge bag of leaves. Then more straw when it was needed, again. That's the pattern. I'll clean it all out when weather permits. I think it is true, that letting the shavings build up actually helps heat the coop. The composting poo creates its own warmth.

As I first started adding layers of shavings, I had a water spill in one corner. A chicken must have jumped on the bowl and sloshed it. But the area/shavings were frozen solid and I couldn't clean it up. I covered the area with a plywood board and every day that it got warm enough, I would scraped out the wet shavings until I got them all cleaned up. I keep the board in there, now, to provide a solid, steady surface for the water bowl to sit on. Haven't had anymore spills. I have other plans for next year-- a heated waterer.

I am putting their scratch in a bowl. I feed it to them a few hours before roosting time. Digesting grains raises their body temperature more than regular feed will.

99% of everything I am doing is info I got right here on BYC. If you want to do more research on something you see, just google it and check other sources. I posted some pictures of our coop in this thread. You can look through "pictures only" by clicking on the "Recent Images In This Thread" in the far right column. I am posting a pic of my "fermenting" jar. I found it at Walmart. They have three or four sizes, made by Libby Glass Co (USA!). This is the only photo I could find of it, in my files. It is important to keep the grain/food completely covered with water. It expands, so you need to watch the water level.

The first photo was my first attempt, using a yogurt container. Obviously, it wasn't large enough, so I found the glass jar with lid:



This is the best photo, that I have on file, of the jar system. The rose was the intended subject of this photo! lol!

 

[amyandkids]

My birds love fermented feed but I do not completely cover it with water once its fermented! I just keep it "wet" my birds wont eat it if its too much water. Everyone has there own way!!!!

 

[MaPa26]

My birds love fermented feed but I do not completely cover it with water once its fermented! I just keep it "wet" my birds wont eat it if its too much water. Everyone has there own way!!!!

I use a small strainer to dip out what I need and then I just replace the feed--and add a little more water if I have to. The good bacteria will continue to replenish itself. Yep, if it is too wet they sure do make a mess slinging it all over themselves. lol!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Games are more observant for danger than most farm breeds, also they are protective. They will protect ( there) hens with there lives. I have seen roos run hawks off when the hawk was after a hen or chick.

I did not know that. will have to file that info away for the next time I need a roo. thank you

I had a Black Star sexlink flock when I first started with chickens. The rooster which was finally decided upon fought off hawks and then to protect his flock, gave his life when a bobcat got in the coop. He was a fantastic rooster!

 

[chick rookie]

I had a Black Star sexlink flock when I first started with chickens. The rooster which was finally decided upon fought off hawks and then to protect his flock, gave his life when a bobcat got in the coop. He was a fantastic rooster!

Aww he was a hero, sorry you lost him.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote:Originally Posted by MaPa26
I am posting a pic of my "fermenting" jar. I found it at Walmart. They have three or four sizes, made by Libby Glass Co (USA!
Classy! I like it.

 

[MandalaMaMa]

fuzzybutt love - I just started some scratch in the same container. I love it. This is my first time trying it. We actually have a few of those containers around the house from when my hubby was into making sauerkraut. I figured it would be perfect for this.