| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Mama Jewel |
Posted - Aug 16 2010 : 09:05:23 AM
 I *think* I have my husband on board for allowing me to have chickens --whoo hoo! So, now begins the research, so by the time spring comes, we'll be all ready! So I'm hoping to start a new thread for newbie chicken owners, like me, to go to get info from all you veteran chicken owners.
I went ahead & am checking out a whole bunch of books from the library, but is there a favorite, go-to book that you recommend?
What poultry hatchery do you recommend? I looked to see if there was a local one, but didn't see anything when I googled it.
I live in a suburban area, so I checked the city laws & we can have a backyard flock. I'm thinking I'll only have 3 or 4... so here comes the hard question, that I hope won't upset anyone, but I'm vegetarian & won't be using the chickens as meat... what can I expect to be the length of time that a hen will stop laying eggs (I know that their lifespan is 10 yrs).
I'm really excited about the possibility of having fresh, organic eggs for my family, so any words of wisdom is greatly appreciated 
Farm Girl Sister #1683 Living Simply & Naturally on our lil Sweet Peas Farmette
"Do Everything in Love." 1 Cor 14
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Dec 30 2011 : 4:37:44 PM
Well you sure read my mind Michele - last night I put on a crock pot of beans for their breakfast with some veggie tops. I also give them a Cayenne Pepper in anything that I cook. I will ask a few folks who come here if they would save and freeze any fat and left over meat scraps. I will also talk with a my buffalo rancher guy if he might save me some scrapes...
Thanks again for giving me more ideas - like I said this is the first real time I ever had my hens molt like this so I want to make sure they come thru with no issues. Wondering why this time it is so different??? Had Americanas for 19 years and never had this?? Strange.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Dec 30 2011 : 08:29:30 AM
Oh to have that many molt during the cold months is sooo hard Grace, like me I know you worry about them being cold. since you are not much of a meat eater you might want to put on a few pots of beans for them...high in protein...black beans & navy beans are really good for them as it is more concentrated in the things they need plus you can mix in a hand full of fresh spinach, carrots, beets ect for them...make them a hobo stew of sorts...with molting its not just the protein they need for the feathers but extra calcuim & iron...plus sugars to help keep them warm...The juice from the beans ect cooking are wonderful for them also you can separate that if you want & use that other days for on top of their feed warm. If you have any vegs that are past what you want to eat throw those in the pot...just remember to peel the potatoes...:) Even scrambled eggs at this time are a good idea to help with the feather regrowth. Another idea I have heard from old timers is to take a teaspoon of red chili powder & mix that in their wet mix it helps get them warm without hurting them...plus gets that blood moving thur the veins & heart. during the cold weather you can do that daily for them. if you give them wet food of any kind.We have still not gotten any snow here in Massachusetts...weirdest winter I have seen here...bitter cold though some days.....Oh & soybeans if you have them are great cooked for them during this time if you get ahold of some....also a drop of two of baby vits in their feed will be a boost for them as well if you can't give them the other things you at least can get the extra iron & calcuim in them daily....Hope you are well Grace & doing good...xoxo...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Dec 29 2011 : 08:40:40 AM
Boy do they Sherrye and it breaks my heart because they normally looks so pretty... Right now just about everyone here looks worse for wear.. Scared myself when looking in the mirror...
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| sherrye |
Posted - Dec 29 2011 : 07:06:29 AM
well grace it sounds like you are doing it right. they just need to grow feathers again. it takes a long time. they look rough for a while dont they? happy days sherrrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| grace gerber |
Posted - Dec 27 2011 : 4:04:46 PM
Hi Sherrye - I sure have burnt the calories having to pull hay in all this snow, now with a layer of ice under it - fun times.
I have been giving them some fat for about the last two weeks - I do not eat much meat myself so the fat is slim pickens... I did purchase some lard at the store the other day and mixed it with some cracked sunflower seeds. I incread their laying crumbles and also I have been sprout seeds for them. This is the first year I have ever had this happen - Most of my girls you would have never known they molted so this is really new to this farm..
Thanks for the help - I feel so sorry for them - they look just terrible - some of them and others not a feather missing...
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| sherrye |
Posted - Dec 27 2011 : 3:15:37 PM
oh my grace, i can not wrap my brain around that much snow. we just today have some winter weather. we have been warm and dry for this time of year. now instead of cold and snow we are going to have warm and rain. crazy stuff for sure.. during the time my chickens molt i feed fat. they need extra protein and fat. my dad would use the rind from bacon hang it and they would peck it. i feed the beef trim and pork trim from our own stock. higher protein is a big help. feathers are pure protein. hope this helps happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| grace gerber |
Posted - Dec 27 2011 : 09:14:11 AM
I have one girl who is so broody and I have gotten rid of all the roo's. She is funny but not the most friendly. I take her out of the nesting box twice a day - place her with the girls while they eat and then collect all the eggs - I have fake ones in the nexting boxes so I know this is not helping but the other girls did not like when I removed the fake eggs...
Right now I am dealing with their molting and pecking each others feathers.... This is the first time in 20 some years I have had so much molting but I do not count looks just trying to make sure they stay warm with less feathers....
We just now can open the doors after the hugs storm that happened a couple days before Xmas - everyone is worn out from the 23 inches we received... Love to know how to help with the molting since it never has been this bad..
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Dec 27 2011 : 06:16:52 AM
No I don't think its egg bound or you would see a puffy vent area & maybe dried blood in that area is she had an egg stuck.....with it being drops of blood it sounds more like a comb or toe nail wound...look to see if any of them have scabs on the combs or any with broken nails. If its the one broody alot of times they spend so much time in the box they are weak when out but if she is favoring one leg check the nails & underside of the foot for cuts, blood or other wounds....is the blood near or under the perches?...if so someone got pissy during the night & pecked its neighbor.....if its near the nesting box one of the other hens may have been picking on the one in the nest & got nailed...which I might add serves her right for being a pill!
A egg bound hen will walk like a duck..move side to side when they walk...vent area will be very very puffy...poo will be more watery/algue green,clear & yellow a lot of times they will also lower their wings so they might drag the floor or ground when they move.
Just keep checking over the next few days to see who has fresh scabs in face area & nail breakage ...good luck dear hen but I think from what yo have said they are all alright...just moody :)....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| EdenFarm |
Posted - Dec 26 2011 : 6:43:51 PM
Hi Michele'! It's me again. I have an 8 mo old Australorp I'm worried about. She's been broody lately which isn't a big deal but today I found blood drops in the coop. I can't say where the blood is coming from or even if it's her. I thought I may have stepped on one of my girls foot earlier this week, so I checked all 8 of my chickens out and saw nothing obvious. I moved the broody girl out to the run and she did seem just a little tender on one foot but nothing looks wrong with her foot. A couple of other girls seem to take notice of her in that mean chicken way so I put her back in her nesting box. I still can't figure out where the blood drops are coming from. She could be a little lame & getting picked on so I'll go over her again in the morning. Am I missing something obvious? Do I need to worry about egg binding? They're averaging 6 eggs a day so hard to know...Yikes! Erin |
| EdenFarm |
Posted - Nov 30 2011 : 2:19:39 PM
Thanks Michele'
I've been feeding my broody girl and there is water nearby. I just wasn't sure if I should be doing something more. I'll just allow her to get over it! And thanks for your advice on the heat lights. I think I can modify things a bit. It's probably safe to say I've been over doing it a bit. As my husband has been saying "they DO have feathers!"
Erin |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Nov 29 2011 : 07:59:22 AM
Broody hens never need a Roo when they get that way...you can block that nesting box, keep removing the eggs & pick her up & remove her from it when you are out there.......Some people put a bag of ice cubes in with the eggs which they don't like but I have never done that as I see no reason for it if I am not selling the eggs, I just enjoy mine so I let them get broody if they want.... If you don't need that one egg she lays each day then let her be but make sure she has feed/water close to her...I put a dish of feed in the box near her face each morning so i know she is eating enough....by the time I do all the coop stuff its usually all gone....
As for the chickens getting too cold, once in the coop even if its cold they will get together on the roost for extra warmth...They are more likely to get frost bite while outside where there is no protection from the ind & cold air...but I too, have heat lamps just because I don't want them to ever feel that cold...I also keep a red heat lamp on over their water container that is on 24/7 once it starts to freeze but I have a 2 room coop so the light is in one room & feed sacks cover the door to that area so the light is not so bright on them all night long....but they can get to the feed/water...Don't worry about what you do. If you feel right by it then do it....Some never heat their coops, some like you & I do because we worry...so do what feels right by you...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| EdenFarm |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 1:38:55 PM
Hi All-
I haven't been on for a couple of weeks and am a bit confused by the new format. I'm hoping this will post on the all things chickens discussion! I have a 7 month old Plymouth Rock hen who is broody. She is just hanging out in a nesting box. No chance of chicks since no rooster. Any ideas on how to get her out of the hen house?
Also, I'm in Wisconsin and I have two heat lamps hanging in the hen house. I have them go on in the early evening and off in the morning. I read somewhere that you can set the lamps to go on for a couple of hours in early evening and then a couple of hours in early morning. That would save energy but I wouldn't want the girls to be cold. It hasn't been terribly cold..yet..around freezing or a little lower so far. When it's really bad of course I'd have the lights on 24/7. |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Nov 24 2011 : 04:11:54 AM
Oh I am so happy to hear she is up & back with her flock...they love our attention but they sure will miss their own kind....keep a watch on her as she will now be able to re-injury that leg easier from now on....great news though about her being out & about.....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 4:19:26 PM
Meg, So glad to hear your hen lady is doing better!!! I'll bet she is glad to be back with the rest of the gang.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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| Calico Hen |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 3:11:53 PM
Thanks Michele for the info on gout. After two weeks in the "infirmary" I have moved my injured hen back out into the coop. Earlier this week she began standing, walking, and doing exercises with her right leg and foot. She has gotten stronger everyday so last night we put her out with her buddies. Early this morning they were all happy to be together and the injured hen was going about her business as usual. We think she did injure the leg during the move and needed recovery time. Thanks again. |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 02:30:48 AM
I forgot to mention that gout also creates sharp crystals that once developed are hard to get rid of & are very painful for the animal...humans too!.....& the recovery time will be alot longer than dealing with a cold or minor ailment in the chicken...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| hoosiercountry |
Posted - Nov 20 2011 : 2:20:55 PM
Hi Michele, sorry I'm travel nurse and gone every two days so takes me awhile to get back to you. Thanks for the info, I want to do right by my girls, been so many years since I had chickens and don't seem to recall that much. So glad I found MaryJane's site even more glad to be able to reach out for help and all you farmgal's are there to lend a helping hand and advice. Thanks again |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Nov 18 2011 : 11:50:30 PM
From what I understand gout is the swelling of the tissue & built up fluid that can effect the muscles in the legs...they will loose their balance..think drunken sailor :)....tend to not want to move since there is pain....& when there is pain they eat & drink less...but from the sounds of it I bet she injured herself some time during the move & it took a week for it to really start hurting for it to show....even when put in crates, boxes ect they will still try to move around a bit, or if you have to turn or stop suddenly they will react & try to move to get their balance.....I am glad she decided to work on this herself some never get the use of a leg after an injury but she was willing to work on it...she may always have a limp especially when over active, I have 2 that never lost their limp after injuries but are happy little girls who still lay occassionally for me & I watch them daily to make sure they are alright...if the limp is really bad that day I take them into the house...which I might add both are in the dining room right now asleep...Pipers lg got bad about a month ago so I have been keeping her in well Gertie has been missing her so she comes to the door during the day to be let in & last 2 days has decided she wants to be in here at night instead of the coop...Even Porgie comes in during the day to check on her...lol....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| Calico Hen |
Posted - Nov 18 2011 : 05:26:15 AM
Hi Ladies! We moved from very Urban Tampa Fl to very rural Mid-TN the last of October. My three "city" banties made the trip with us. We just got internet here on the farm or I'd have asked this earlier. After about a week here, my 3 yr old hen appeared unable to walk, she used her wings to steady herself but did not seem to have leg power. She is the wildest of my hens but we were able to catch her and put her in a smaller cage in the "infirmary", back room of the house. She didn't appear to eat or move for days, I'd given up much hope but about ten days later she was standing and stretching or exercising her left leg. Still just a bit wobbly, she is definitely on the mend. Any ideas on what could have been the problem? Did she catch a cold (inner ear/balance affected)? stroke? I don't think her leg was broken? Michele, you mentioned gout. What symptoms does that create? |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Nov 18 2011 : 01:40:33 AM
Hello Karla no giving them egg shells is a great idea cause they get that calcium...but make sure its finely ground, I use my rolling pin & a paper bag to do it.....plus if they get the calcium & proteins they need they shouldn't eat their eggs but don't hold me to that...ever so often one of the eggs gets broken in the nesting box or knocked out & my hens are all on it......I find mine will eat eggs more often than not when molting when all their energy is going to make new feathers so you feeding them egg shells will greatly help with that when the time comes....just don't over do it...too much calcium can cause gout & cause really rough eggshells since they are trying to get rid of the extra...but 1-2 a week is good, just sprinkle it on their dry feed or dump it into the container that has oyster shells or grit.....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| hoosiercountry |
Posted - Nov 17 2011 : 1:33:24 PM
Hi Michele, this may be a repeat question but I am alittle new and haven't covered all the old forums yet, so I hope you don't mind. But can I put the old shells from eggs I've used in table scraps to feed my chickens? Or is that starting a bad habit of eating their own eggs? Thanks Karla |
| hoosiercountry |
Posted - Oct 30 2011 : 08:22:57 AM
Thanks so much Michele for the infomation, as my girls grow so will my knowledge from all my new wonderful friends like you that share their wisdom. I look forward to following along and learning from all of you. |
| EdenFarm |
Posted - Oct 29 2011 : 05:55:47 AM
Thanks Michele'. Once I set up the water heater the coop will be officially ready for winter. Everything else is already in place. I'm praying for a mild one although everything seems to be pointing toward just the opposite. Oh well it's not like weather people have ever been wrong. I have my fingers crossed.
Erin |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 7:01:25 PM
The water heaters are great, yes the brick paver is an excellent ida plus if you have it put a bit of sand down first then the paver then the water heater...all of this will help let the built up heat go away thur safe means.....also make sure you can cover the plug wiring...I have an old part of a rain gutter spout that I put my wire & extension cord in so it couldn't get pecked...even with that laying on the floor its not something they will mess with but they will climb on it & poo on it...but thats better than all that wiring getting damaged.....I push the metal guttering right up to the waterer but when I change the water I let it air out while I change the water & if damp inside I will use a rag & dry the area...I did this daily just to be on the safe side.....if you can't do that bury the wiring under other pavers, I promise it will not hurt the wire coating at all but will make it safer so the chickens can't claw at it.....every week or so check the heater just to make sure its still working well...if its too hot to touch something is wrong with it & shut it off immediately & take it back....each day when you check the water make sure if its wet or damp on top to dry it off........also if you have warmer days shut it off, this helps let it cool down for a while & extends the life of it......getting a power surger is my #1 thing I have in my coop so if anything happens to the electricity it shuts everything off right then & there......Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| EdenFarm |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 10:54:53 AM
Hi Michele'...I picked up a heated base (Farm Innovators) for my galvanized waterer and on the box it lists that it is "For outdoor use in a dry, covered area"
My plan is to use it in the coop. The coop has a wooden floor but I'd place the base on top of a brick paver. What are your thoughts?
Erin |
