Backyard Chickens

I dust their bedding but actually never had any problems, they need clean water though to stay healthy, change it often

We lost our flock the year before last.

We waited almost 2 years to get more bc our hearts still hurt.

We love, but hold back a bit with this flock. We haven't even named them yet.

In memory of:

Bertha
Red
Henny
Penny
Prissy
Missy
Dottie
and
Meep

NEVER NAME THE LIVESTOCK!

So, true. Didn't name my soon to be sold goat kids either. They are "the white one and the black one." lol

I haven't either. I keep the coop clean, put ACV in their water and dust the coop with diaotamaceous earth every so often.

Yep that's about what I do

I'm not veterinarian just some observations. If you watch a wild birds resting in a tree, rarely you'll see one just sitting still, usually cleaning their feathers of fleas, mites or scratching itchy skin could be infected with fungus, bacteria , same with chickens are juicy hosts. If the coop gets badly infested with some parasites, chickens won't go to sleep inside, they'll find some other places, that was a signal to sanitize it, we used chemicals ,boiling water or steamer. About diseases, not sure what kind but we lost them all sometimes, chickens get all kind of contagious diseases and living all together die quickly in a couple of days are all gone; some diseases and parasites like avian flu or influenza is transmissible to humans.
The animals get sick and suffer also in their short life before we slaughter them; i also watched some of my cows, sheep, pigs dying, at least humans can tell the doctor what hurts. What's interesting with animals you know something is wrong with it when get sick because won't eat , instinctively fasting cleansing their body, works for us also.

Are you in Fortuna? I have a preacher uncle lives there.

That's not right...we named all of our cows...let's see...t-bone, rib eye, prime rib...

Chickens are stinky. I prefer quail, they are sweet sweet birds, excellent eggs! Not stinky.

Had a problem with snakes. Had to put up smaller mesh on the pen. The girls are happy.

I have Chickens, the eggs are good, the droppings and straw are composted and used in the garden.

Put 1/2” mesh bird netting around to help stop the chicken snakes. That snake away stuff doesn’t work at all.

Nope! Im in Maryland.

Last Edited by Fortunabeargirl on 07/04/2020 12:54 AM

Yep, its called going "off feed."

This is more of an issue on farms where there is a greater risk of exposure to diseases and parasites due to the larger number of birds and the greater frequency of new arrivals coming in.

On a small homestead, one has the luxury of a more controlled environment, a better diet, the opportunity for excellent sanitation practices, and often more space per bird bc there aren't as many needed.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but we've had chickens for over 10 yrs and have never had one even get sick. Knock on wood.

It's those damn predators you need to watch out for, OP.

ETA: Now goats are another story. I swear they are born on a suicide mission. Don't get goats.

I'm just kidding ... GET GOATS!!



Last Edited by Fortunabeargirl on 07/04/2020 09:56 AM

powdered lime around the perimeter, snakes won't cross because it burns their belly.

Any idea what might be on my turkeys cheek? I have asked everywhere not his ear closer to his beak
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