Guest guest Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 I am pleased at how the flock has developed to a harmonious community with no fighting, etc. It is surprisingly easy to keep the coop clean and smelling nice too. It only requires that you build the roosts : 1. Higher than the nests in order to encourage them to spend nights up on the roosts instead of in the nests 2. 12' from wall 3. And including a 24 " deep poop board under the nest, say halfway from floor to roost. (collects over 95% of all droppings in coop, especially in warmer weather.) By scraping the poop board each morning and putting the manure into a plastic tote bin with a tight-sealing lid, kept beneath one of the poop boards, the coop always smells clean as it is very well ventilated by design. (mine is homebuilt) I add fresh grass clippings no less than once a week nor oftener than twice a week, which is easy since I keep around 5-6 acres cut. Adding fresh clippins oftener could cause mold/mildew. Also makes it easy to use deflector and mowing pattern to create windrows of clippings wherever clover is growing well for treats. I do not even spread it, but instead dump a couple of piles outside for the chooks to root through, then I dump the balance inside the coop and let them spread it too. The coop always smells like fresh cut grass, and the litter is free of charge, which I love best of all. I did 1 sq ft of full-time ventilation per each 4 birds, via gable vents, turbine vent, and full length soffit vents front and back sides. The 4 windows can be opened as far as desireable for even more ventilation and to help keep coop interior cool. Dryness, excellent ventilation year round and a clean poop board are the three things that will insure any coop is a healthy one. Chooks are very susceptible to lung ailments. Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 11:55 AM Subject: Chickens Chickens make wonderful pets. They are smarter than most people know. When they are fed fresh greens and allowed to eat bugs the Omega 3 content of their eggs goes up. I grew collards in a container garden one year for them after buying the greens for them the previous year. When flax seed was not too expensive we would also feed ours flax to further boost the Omega 3 content. Black oil sunflower seeds are very good for the Omega 3 content also and they love those, shell and all. The eggs have a form of Omega 3 called DHA that is better for humans, than the EPA form primarily found in plants. That is why mammalian sources of Omega 3 are better for us, and dogs, than vegetable sources, but all of them are of benefit, we just have to convert the EPA and there is some loss in the conversion efficiency. Women supposedly convert more efficiently than men, or dogs. <g> Another nutrient that you may be getting from feeding them greens is the trace mineral silicon, which will definitely improve hair and fingernails, strength and rate of growth. Try eating a lot of onions when the sweet ones are in season, best to eat them raw or lightly cooked, they are high in Si also. I still buy high DHA eggs at the grocery now that I no longer have chickens, they are twice the price but a food based source of Omega 3 is worth more to me than taking a capsule. Garnet G Simpkins wrote: > > I keep chickens (4 different breeds of layers). I keep them in a run > of some 2000 sq ft with 3 shade trees and plenty of fresh water. I am > afraid to free-range them and instead, I take them wild greens and > garden produce as well as veggie and fruit kitchen scraps along with > their feed. A good reason for not free-rainging mine is that they are > such pets that they would congregate on our porches and poop > everywhere while waiting for us to come out and keep them company or > bring treats. They are safe behind a 6 ft tall electrified fence set > in cement. Hawks can get them if the crows that have air superiority > hereabouts will let them in . No losses in the year I have had them > and my oh my, the wonderful fresh eggs. First winter I have ever had > in memory that my fingers did not split and not one hangnail either. > Must be all that collagen in those fresh eggs. I trained them by > whistling a tune called 'Rocky Top' when they were chicks in my > garage. I would whistle it each time I would feed them. ow they go > nuts when i approach the run whistling. They stampede wings a flapping > to the gate, and stragglers will fly over 30 ft and plop down in the > middle of the flock at the gate which promps lots of squawking in > protest. They are hilarious to watch and I now know that the producer > of Keystone Cops in the silent movie days must have kept chickens and > was inspired by their antics in creating Keystone Cops. They have a > surprising amount of personality and occasionally we do what we call > 'chicken TV' where we sit in their run in camper chairs and they sit > on our laps and shoulders to tell us about their day. Good thing none > of the neighbors can see us! LOL And yes, my wife has informed me that > we would not be eating them when they get too old to lay eggs. LOL > > Re: Carpenter bees > > Racoons are devious about getting to poultry, will pull them right > through a fence if they can reach their little paws in and grab them. > > We have lost ducks to them when we did not get home before dark > to put the ducks up. It was not pretty. We learned to be more cautious > and put them up before leaving just in case we did not make it home > before dark. > > I have never had Khaki s but many who use their ducks for > training and trialing herding dogs like to cross them with Indian Runners > to get hybrid vigor. Khaki's can get too fat and slow, Runners are very, > very inbred due to one breeder dominating the breed for the last 40 > years, ran all the other breeders out of business and then ran the breed > down from too much inbreeding. Crosses are a great idea to get past > this and since there is no registry it's any body's game. > > Garnet > > oldglory@... <mailto:oldglory%40bigcountry.net> wrote: > > > > Hi Garnet, > > > > The all around best duck to keep is the Khaki . They have Indian > > Runners in their background but they lay more eggs and they are the best > > tasting eggs you will ever eat. Love them! > > > > They are semi upright and very nervous, but not as nervous as an Indian > > Runner. They set a world record for laying eggs, think it was 306 in 305 > > days. The Khaki is not all that large, but fast and lays large > > eggs for their body size. I had one duck who laid such large eggs and > > double yolked eggs, that I feared for her life. A raccoon took her > > life but > > my Anatolians took the raccoons lives in return when I let them in the > > large > > back area. No more problems since then. > > > > Jean > > > > ****************** > > > > > > > > If you are able to keep poultry Indian Runner ducks, a land dwelling > > > duck that > > > only needs a kiddie pool of water and does not fly, will eliminate > > > wasps, scorpions, > > > fire ants (95%), flies . . . from any area they are permitted > access to. > > > They will > > > also eat tender garden plants. And they lay up to 275 eggs a year. > > > > > > Garnet > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List Home Page: > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DimethylSulfoxide-DMSO > > Books: > DMSO Nature's Healer by Morton > MSM The Definitive Guide by Stanely MD and Appleton, > ND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 If you have an egg allergy (I react to chicken eggs) would you be able to tolerate duck eggs? I really miss being able to have eggs. Dianne > > > > Hi Garnet, > > > > The all around best duck to keep is the Khaki . They have Indian > > Runners in their background but they lay more eggs and they are the best > > tasting eggs you will ever eat. Love them! > > > > They are semi upright and very nervous, but not as nervous as an Indian > > Runner. They set a world record for laying eggs, think it was 306 in 305 > > days. The Khaki is not all that large, but fast and lays large > > eggs for their body size. I had one duck who laid such large eggs and > > double yolked eggs, that I feared for her life. A raccoon took her > > life but > > my Anatolians took the raccoons lives in return when I let them in the > > large > > back area. No more problems since then. > > > > Jean > > > > ****************** > > > > > > > > If you are able to keep poultry Indian Runner ducks, a land dwelling > > > duck that > > > only needs a kiddie pool of water and does not fly, will eliminate > > > wasps, scorpions, > > > fire ants (95%), flies . . . from any area they are permitted > access to. > > > They will > > > also eat tender garden plants. And they lay up to 275 eggs a year. > > > > > > Garnet > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List Home Page: > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DimethylSulfoxide-DMSO > > Books: > DMSO Nature's Healer by Morton > MSM The Definitive Guide by Stanely MD and Appleton, > ND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 I think the only way you can find out is to try them. No way to be sure otherwise. I suspect they will bother you too, but it is worth the effort. Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 5:01 AM Subject: Re: Chickens If you have an egg allergy (I react to chicken eggs) would you be able to tolerate duck eggs? I really miss being able to have eggs. Dianne > > > > Hi Garnet, > > > > The all around best duck to keep is the Khaki . They have Indian > > Runners in their background but they lay more eggs and they are the best > > tasting eggs you will ever eat. Love them! > > > > They are semi upright and very nervous, but not as nervous as an Indian > > Runner. They set a world record for laying eggs, think it was 306 in 305 > > days. The Khaki is not all that large, but fast and lays large > > eggs for their body size. I had one duck who laid such large eggs and > > double yolked eggs, that I feared for her life. A raccoon took her > > life but > > my Anatolians took the raccoons lives in return when I let them in the > > large > > back area. No more problems since then. > > > > Jean > > > > ****************** > > > > > > > > If you are able to keep poultry Indian Runner ducks, a land dwelling > > > duck that > > > only needs a kiddie pool of water and does not fly, will eliminate > > > wasps, scorpions, > > > fire ants (95%), flies . . . from any area they are permitted > access to. > > > They will > > > also eat tender garden plants. And they lay up to 275 eggs a year. > > > > > > Garnet > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List Home Page: > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DimethylSulfoxide-DMSO > > Books: > DMSO Nature's Healer by Morton > MSM The Definitive Guide by Stanely MD and Appleton, > ND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Dianne France wrote: > If you have an egg allergy (I react to chicken eggs) would you be able to tolerate duck eggs? I really miss being able to have eggs. > > Dianne > Do you react to small amounts of eggs? I can eat chicken eggs if I don't eat too many or on too many consecutive days, and it also depends on what other foods I eat at the same time, or on the same day(s). Some people, like me, have a " threshold " of reactivity, but many react to the tiniest amount of one of their allergens. Have you tried chicken yolk and white separately? I have trouble if I eat too many yolks but do not seem to have any trouble from egg whites. Of course, I like yolks, and don't like whites, ironically. And for me personally it makes a difference what the chickens are fed. I react more to the supposedly healthier eggs here they are labelled " omega 3 " or something. sol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Sol I also have a dairy allergy but goat milk doesn't react. That is why I was wondering about the chicken vs duck eggs. I am allergic to the whites. I also can't have wheat products. It's a real bummer.  I tested positive for heavy metals (especially lead) and my MD,NT told me that once I am able to eliminate the metals I might be able to tolerate the foods I've been alergic to but not on a daily basis.  Dianne > If you have an egg allergy (I react to chicken eggs) would you be able to tolerate duck eggs? I really miss being able to have eggs. > > Dianne > Do you react to small amounts of eggs? I can eat chicken eggs if I don't eat too many or on too many consecutive days, and it also depends on what other foods I eat at the same time, or on the same day(s). Some people, like me, have a " threshold " of reactivity, but many react to the tiniest amount of one of their allergens. Have you tried chicken yolk and white separately? I have trouble if I eat too many yolks but do not seem to have any trouble from egg whites. Of course, I like yolks, and don't like whites, ironically. And for me personally it makes a difference what the chickens are fed. I react more to the supposedly healthier eggs here they are labelled " omega 3 " or something. sol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 It's worth trying them, if you can find someone who has them. I think there may be some people who can eat them even though they are allergic to chicken eggs. Some people can eat eggs mixed in a food but not alone. And others can eat the yolk with less reaction than the white -- some foods have only egg yolk. Depending on how severe your reaction to chicken eggs is, you could test yourself. But if you're reaction to chicken eggs is severe I would not try duck eggs at all. I think I would try a nibble of just the yolk first, as a test. Another test would be to just rub some of the white and in another area, some of the yolk on your forearm and see if it turns red. If you react to a skin test with a chicken egg then this may help you determine what you might expect from duck eggs. If you Google < " chicken egg allergy " +duck> you will find many discussions. Some say they can eat duck eggs, most say not to even try it, those tend to be the medical sites. I like to use duck eggs in cooking but I don't like them by themselves, they taste more gamey to me, although some people really like them. It probably depends on what they eat. If they free range they are likely to have a gamey taste to their eggs but also to be higher in Omega 3's. Garnet Dianne France wrote: > > If you have an egg allergy (I react to chicken eggs) would you be able > to tolerate duck eggs? I really miss being able to have eggs. > > Dianne > > > > > > > > Hi Garnet, > > > > > > The all around best duck to keep is the Khaki . They have > Indian > > > Runners in their background but they lay more eggs and they are > the best > > > tasting eggs you will ever eat. Love them! > > > > > > They are semi upright and very nervous, but not as nervous as an > Indian > > > Runner. They set a world record for laying eggs, think it was 306 > in 305 > > > days. The Khaki is not all that large, but fast and lays > large > > > eggs for their body size. I had one duck who laid such large eggs and > > > double yolked eggs, that I feared for her life. A raccoon took her > > > life but > > > my Anatolians took the raccoons lives in return when I let them in the > > > large > > > back area. No more problems since then. > > > > > > Jean > > > > > > ****************** > > > > > > > > > > > If you are able to keep poultry Indian Runner ducks, a land dwelling > > > > duck that > > > > only needs a kiddie pool of water and does not fly, will eliminate > > > > wasps, scorpions, > > > > fire ants (95%), flies . . . from any area they are permitted > > access to. > > > > They will > > > > also eat tender garden plants. And they lay up to 275 eggs a year. > > > > > > > > Garnet > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > List Home Page: > > > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DimethylSulfoxide-DMSO > > > > Books: > > DMSO Nature's Healer by Morton > > MSM The Definitive Guide by Stanely MD and Appleton, > > ND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Might depend on what they are feeding them to raise the Omega 3's. There are different feed stuffs for doing that, Kelp is one of them. Flax seed is another, and greens, even grass fed will have higher levels. Garnet sol wrote: > > I react more > to the supposedly healthier eggs here they are labelled " omega 3 " or > something. > sol > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Kelp is one problem for me, also some are fed the shells from crabs and shrimp, and or oyster shell as the source of calcium. I found by calling one producer that their " vegetarian " fed hens were being fed such things, so they were not really vegetarian fed, by my definition anyway. sol Garnet_LDN wrote: > Might depend on what they are feeding them to raise the Omega 3's. > > There are different feed stuffs for doing that, Kelp is one of them. > > Flax seed is another, and greens, even grass fed will have higher > levels. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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