I mean trying to make one by pressing the little button. It pops up the dialog box but wont allow labels to be made for my own use later.
But wont allow me to label my download. Its kind of a minor issue
Backyard Chickens?
- Thread starter Dragonborn
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But wont allow me to label my download. Its kind of a minor issue
Yup. I'm a member there, since my first chickens of 2016. Some very helpful members as well as the "others" Haha, eye roll...
@Brioddy - the following is not addressed to you, but just my thoughts floating around and musing about all the animals - horses, dogs, cats, chickens - that I have been responsible for letting them live or die.
I am not a pet chicken owner, and cannot afford what it would take to have a vet treat a chicken. I keep them in the best of environments and in trade I take the eggs. I do all I can with what I've got and always try to do the most humane thing when that needs to be. I'm also pro-active against the natural predators with layers of electric fence, and have mourned every loss. I love each and every creature that comes into my life/home situation and give it all I can. It's a joy to have relationships with other species and defiantly my hat is off to those who can afford better, more life sustaining care.
We are a fragile Earth that is meant to get along and in the order of things there is always life, death and life again. I have a hard time ending the life of another creature but I realize that letting that creature suffer longer due to my sympathy and not wanting to be part of it, well, that is not right either. I'm still learning. Probably will be until it's my turn to go.
In my experience I think diet is a huge key to healthy chickens. Give them a nice variety without a bunch of crap fillers and you've won most of the battle. I haven't experienced a sick chicken and I believe it's due to their diet. They have their own herb garden and I and those herbs really play a huge medicinal role.
Support their immune system with herbs and your chickens will live a long healthy life!
I now have 6 littles that have hatched over the last couple of days. I think they have a new home with a friend that lives down the road.
Support their immune system with herbs and your chickens will live a long healthy life!
I now have 6 littles that have hatched over the last couple of days. I think they have a new home with a friend that lives down the road.
What herbs do they like/eat most?
They eat all that I give them Most people don't realize the medicinal power of herbs but I'm beginning to. I find herbs pretty fascinating and have spent the last few years learning, growing and developing my own little backyard pharmacy.
I'm gonna cheat and use a link to explain what I use for my chickens. 21 Best Herbs For Happy And Healthy Chickens
If you have any questions just ask.
I take they aren't showing any signs of illness after losing your older hen? That would be a real bummer....Growing up, looking like chickens. Funky chickens.
No, absolutely not. Dixie had nothing that was contagious, it was internal/ovarian/age related, I had a good experience on BYC forum with some experienced members, learned a little more and they all agreed it was an end of life ordeal. The youngsters are vibrant and have no signs of illness or stress.
She died of Salpingitis right? My understanding is that is caused by either a viral or bacterial infection and you're right, it usually fatal. It's nearly impossible to catch early enough is treat successfully.
Several years ago I went to seminar about chick care. There was one particular speaker that talked about the most common illnesses in chickens. He said that while other birds in the flock may not get Salpingitis they can get sick from the bacteria or virus that causes the oviduct infection. I was just curious to know if you were seeing that happen.
Ah, I see what you were referring to. Yes, I agree, the bacteria or viral reasons could spread. There was only wire separating her from the chicks when they were little as I assumed her ailment was age related not a contagious disease. I can't find the exact article, but after we did the necropsy and found the problem I did search the BYC forum and found it. So basically of these causes, only age fit the bill. 2 old hens on a 1/2 acre space, even cleaned under the roost daily (sand floor, use kitty litter scoop to pick up), zero stress, no injury, so even though I could be wrong, I assume at her age the immunity system failed and the salpingitis thrived inside her oviduct. Hopefully if the bacteria survived through her droppings around the area, the young ones will have a vibrant healthy immune system to ward it off! We did bury the body way away from the chicken paddock. Planning to let them out in the 1/2 acre fence next week. But yes, they did grow up with her walking around their pen, then later the chicks ran around the stall where she had been hanging out, and now they are in the coop/pen where she use to spend time roosting and hanging out. Fingers crossed I don't have lash egg problems when they start laying. In my 9 years of chickens, I never saw one and Dixies stayed internal.
Salpingitis can occur for various reasons, including:
- Poor hygiene: Unsanitary living conditions can lead to bacterial infections.
- Stress: Overcrowding, poor nutrition, or extreme weather conditions can weaken a chicken's immune system.
- Injury: Trauma to the oviduct can trigger inflammation, whether from laying large eggs or other internal issues.
- Age: Older hens are more susceptible to reproductive issues, including salpingitis.
This is what I love about herbs. They can really help to keep an immune system strong! Doesn't hurt that they are cheap and easy to grow!
I have a few, but the drought and heat we've had this year took most of them. Lavender barely hanging on, rosemary died, the rabbits and chipmunks were so desperate for something green they ate the mint, Yarrow and hollyhocks and poppies - things they never touched before. The wild dandelions didn't come up in the yard - usually it's a carpet of dandelion. Finally some came up under the birdbath that I kept full and the water that would run over while cleaning & filling it. I gave cut up dandelion to Dixie and she'd act a little relieved for a day or so. I also have been giving it to the youngsters. If I mix the dandelion with other greens you can see them pick it out first. It's suppose to be a super medicinal herb and it's obvious how they know it's good for them!
Lucky for me drought is not really in our vocabulary around here. We get plenty of rain which is nice for someone likie me that grows most of our food.
I do have an irrigation system to supplement when it's real hot that hubby and I put together. Works well and is probably the best way to water because it's pretty targeted so not much waste.
Brioddy
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Do you cultivate the herbs or just sprinkle seeds in the yard? The dirt at my place plants seem to love and I was thinking about just throwing some seeds out as I have a lot. I’ve had chickens since January now and knock on wood, haven’t had any issues. Everyone looks happy and healthy, I have eight now of different ages and they get along for the most part too. I let them free range the fenced in area out back and it’s not huge, but they love it and beg to be let out. Sometimes they drive me crazy getting them all back in when I have to leave early for work though.
I do both. I have an actual herb garden for them as well as areas where I throw down seed. The herb bed has pretty much herbs that I use medicinally with them. The open areas where I just throw down seed is done on a rotation. I section off areas with chicken wire and throw a chicken forage blend or cover crop seeds and let them grow a few weeks before moving the chicken wire. Otherwise the chickens just eat up all the seed.
Nice! How long does it typically take for herbs to sprout and grow to a size the chickens can browse the plants?
How many times per season do you rotate?
What size plot for x number of birds will last long enough to allow the next plot to ripen?
I usually give it a couple of weeks for the forage seed. Sometimes longer, depends on the seed.
So many I don't even count. I usually have 2 areas at a time fenced off to try to stay ahead of them. I have chicken wire tied to tee posts and 4 wheels from an old truck that I roll where I need and then stick the post in to hold the fencing.
I have 16 hens and 1 roo. The area I fence off is roughly 6'x6'.
It's some work but worth it for me. Foraging is an important behavior for chickens. Also keeps them healthy and happy. Generally speaking the feed you buy supply's good macronutrients and foraging adds micronutrients so I get a more balanced diet so healthier hens and eggs.
My youngsters are now out in the paddock all day. The one remaining old hen ignores them, and they avoid her. I was hoping she'd take an interest in showing them the ways of the world, but nope.
@GennyB have you ever made fermented feed for your chickens? There's all this powder in the feeder when it's almost empty so instead of tossing it out I followed instructions for fermenting it (BYC forum has lots of info on it). They are nuts about it! I figure it's good for them like any fermented foods.
LOL. It was when I was training for RH (SAR for sports) and had to teach walking the plank and go to a table for sit, stand & down, and also had a makeshift jump for IGP training. Not agility, but for dog training, yeah. When I used "real" jumps borrowed from the kennel club I set them up in a different paddock so the chickens wouldn't get on them. They tend to poop on everything, which I didn't care so much about my homemade stuff, but was not going to put borrowed equipment in their field! I've got training videos with the chickens getting in Ashas way.
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