Tag: backyard chickens

“Dead Birds Flying” (Another Bird Flu Update)

~ Crystal Sands ~ Leave a comment

I wish I had better news to share about the bird flu right now. In terms of spread to humans, chances are still low, but in the last 24 hours, another human became infected. This time, it was a dairy worker in Nevada. So far, there is no human to human transmission, but about 70 people have become infected from animals. And, according to research presented in a recent article in Scientific American, the virus is just one mutation away from being able to bind more efficiently to human cells.

And while transmission to humans is a concern as the virus continues to mutate, right now, outbreaks in wild and domestic bird populations are decimating populations. Eggs are so expensive people are stealing them by the truckload. I saw today that organic eggs were $11 a dozen at the grocery store. Maine has now also reported its first cases in York County, and the state has issued a high alert for the virus. I’ll speak to what we are doing and what other chicken keepers can do below, but I wanted to step back for a moment and talk about the devastation this virus is having on wildlife.

This weekend, I read an article at NPR about why the bird flu we are experiencing now is so much worse than the bird flu of the past. I have seen many people in farming and chicken forums skeptical about the dangers of the bird flu, citing evidence that bird flu has been around forever and that there have been outbreaks in the past. These things are true, but there has been an adaptation in the bird flu in recent years that has changed things. Things are not as they used to be. Nothing really is, is it?

Scientists in the article explain that, starting in 2020 to 2021, the virus adapted. In the past, sick birds would die quickly from the symptoms, which cut down on the spread of the virus. In recent years, the virus has adapted, and infected birds live longer–just long enough to spread the virus to another population. It’s causing the virus to spread differently than in the past, and there are many, many people who are in denial about this, which never bodes well for the prevention of spread.

The author of the article, Gabrielle Emanuel, citing experts who have studied the flu virus for decades, explains:

“The particular virus that causes bird flu — H5N1 — itself is not new. It’s a disease that originated in east Asia, first detected in China in 1996. The virus has mostly terrorized poultry farms and led to massive culling. It has occasionally spilled over to humans, causing some 400 deaths over the decades, but rarely spreads human-to-human. And while it has jumped over into wild birds periodically — killing many birds in many places — it never took off globally.

Then came 2020 and 2021, when the version that’s driving the current outbreak emerged.

The virus evolved so some wild birds are able to migrate just far enough to reach another bird community or mammal population to pass the virus on before dying.”

A scientist cited in the article explains it’s like “dead birds flying,” and the virus is wreaking havoc on wildlife–birds, marine mammals, and, of course, it’s spreading to both commercial and backyard chicken flocks, dairy farms, and some humans.

I guess the question comes down to this: What can we do?

While scientists keep stressing the importance of government preparedness (I read that the UK has ramped up production of vaccines), it’s not hopeful that our government is doing anything to prepare for this. In the immediate, if you live in a state like we do where there have been cases of bird flu, it’s a good idea to take some precautions.

We do not live near water, so that helps us, but it’s no guarantee, of course. We studied the migration patterns of birds and see that our greatest risk in our part of Maine is from the first of April to the middle of June. If we start to see cases in our area, we will have to lock down the flock. To make it possible to lock down the flock, Ron plans to build two covered high tunnels that he thinks will be able to withstand the wind. I’ll definitely keep you posted on Ron’s plans because he thinks his plans will be affordable and effective, and he’s usually right on such things.

In the immediate, we are keeping food and water away from wildlife. We are only feeding the chickens in the coop, and they are barely leaving the coop right now anyway because of all the snow. Last year, when we realized we had better not get new chicken babies and work on naturally downsizing the flock, who knew it was going to be so important so quickly?

It’s also important to keep people away from the flock, and we are using designated shoes for the coop, but we always do the latter. I have also not been letting the flock have driveway time this winter, which makes everyone sad.

Our ducks have also been locking themselves down for the most part on their own because of all the snow, but we do keep their feed and water outside, so I am making a canvas tent this week to connect to their duck house and put food and water in. My only worry is that those skittish runner ducks won’t stand for it. I’ll keep you posted.

If you have chickens, this site from the University of Minnesota Extension office is very helpful. I have also been following the altCDC on social media. It seems like a good idea.

Please take good care, everyone. There is so much to follow in the news that we can’t keep up with it all. It’s just exhausting. I’ll do my best to keep you updated on bird flu.

photo credit: Edouard Gilles, Unsplash

Silver Saved Hector

~ Crystal Sands ~ Leave a comment

It has been many days of bad news. I know overwhelming us with bad news is the point, but I feel so down nonetheless. But there are good things too, and I have the best story to tell about Hector.

Last year, we lost Silver, and I was heartbroken because it was partially my fault. She had water belly in a bad way. It had come on quickly, and I kept researching and researching on how to drain her. I was so scared to poke her with that needle and drain her belly. I finally did it, but I was too little too late. Perhaps because I had go buy the equipment and perhaps because I kept watching the same videos and reading the same instructions over and over, we lost Silver.

I as devastated, but a reader and a friend said, “Now you know how to do it, and it will save the next one.”

The next one came pretty quickly. Last May, Hector, who has never had the greatest health, developed water belly. I was still terrified, but I had the equipment, got my son to hold her, and I drained her. I did everything right, I had thought, but the liquid that came out was not a normal, clear color as it should. I looked it up, and it was infection. Everything I read said that the draining would help but that something was seriously wrong with her and that she didn’t have much time.

I kept watching Hector and spoiling her, thinking any moment could be her last, but so far, that moment has never come. I don’t know why. I definitely pulled infected fluid out of her. The ONLY thing I can figure out is that maybe, by some bit of luck, I got enough of the infection out of her that her immune system was able to help her fight off the rest.

Hector continues to be one who is a little slower than the others. I figured out pretty quickly that she did not have the best genetics because she started to develop struggles at a VERY young age. In fact, she will be just three years old this spring. Still, she is still with us and doing well overall. I am thankful because she is the sweetest little thing, and as she has gotten older, she has developed a little bit of sass, which you just have to adore.

The most interesting thing to me is that last week, Hector started laying again! I have no idea how she could be that sick last year and recover enough to be laying again, but I know her eggs. She is a Black Copper Maran and lays a beautiful chocolate egg. Faure lays an egg that is pretty close, but hers are speckled. Hector’s eggs are the only ones that are solid chocolate eggs, so these are definitely her eggs.

The chocolate egg on the left is definitely Hector’s, and the dark egg on the right is Faure’s. I put in two cream-colored eggs for contrast. Aren’t they all beautiful?

It feels a little bit like a miracle. My sweet Silver saved my sweet Hector, and I am learning all the time. I don’t know how much longer Hector has, but she got more time in a place where she is loved and respected. That seems pretty good to me.

Our Beautiful Hens–a Photoshoot

~ Crystal Sands ~ Leave a comment

This winter has been coldest we have had in some time. Some of our girls have barely left the coop since mid-December. I know everyone wants out of the coop for some driveway time because, for some reason unknown to me, the shoveled driveway is better than the shoveled run, but since we are trying to teach the flock to stay in their area, I have not let the flock out for driveway time all winter.

To make up for it, I have been trying to visit regularly with treats, and this evening, I decided to take photos. Some of them just couldn’t be still enough (I tried for 10 minutes to get a picture of Bianca), but I got some great pictures of some of the girls. I hope these make your heart happy after a really tough week in the world. These girls are so beautiful my heart almost can’t take it.

This is Juliet, and this is my favorite picture of her ever! She will be 5 years old this spring, and she still lays a beautiful olive egg–at least I think so. She hasn’t started laying this year yet. Juliet is the original quirky chicken of our flock and actually raised Ruby, which explains a lot.
This is Betty Jr. Betty Jr. is the daughter of one of our original Rhode Island Reds. Her mama, Betty, was the most perfect Rhode Island Red I had ever seen, so I named her “beautiful Betty.” Betty Jr. is a carbon copy of her. In fact, when Betty was alive, I couldn’t tell them apart unless they were side by side. Betty Jr. will be 8 years old this spring, and I don’t think she’s still laying eggs. She’s also looking pretty old, which breaks my heart, as she is a direct line to my original girls.
This is Clara. She is named after Clara Schumann, the composer. She was raised by Petty last fall, and she’s so friendly. She is one of my few hens who will let me pick her up and snuggle her, so she’s a favorite. I adore her and am so thankful for this beautiful picture of her.
This is Kate, and I have written about her many times. She is from my Shakespeare batch of chicks from 2020, and she was raised alongside Juliet. When Kate was a baby, she was the sassiest little thing I have ever seen. She has remained fairly sassy, but I am worried about her of late. I think the long winter has taken a toll on her mentally. She hasn’t even been taking treats from my hand. Thankfully, this evening, she finally did. I don’t see anything physically wrong with her, but she likes her freedom. She is definitely a wild and free kind of girl. I hope she’s going to be okay, and I can’t wait for the snow and ice to melt.
This Eleanor, named after the Beatle’s song, “Eleanor Rigby.” I wish I could tell you more about Eleanor, but I know very little about her. She is mysterious. She, and here three sisters, are Salmon Faverolles, somehow live in the flock but outside of it at the same time. I can’t explain it exactly. Sometimes, they will take treats from me but not at other times. They watch things a lot. Sometimes, they are all four together, and other times, they are separated into two’s. I keep thinking that, as they get older, I will begin go understand them more, but I am not sure. They’re chill and mysterious and beautiful. They will be three years old this spring, and that’s the most information I have on Eleanor and her sisters. Oh, and they were raised by Ruby, so maybe that’s what’s going on.

A Bird Flu Update

~ Crystal Sands ~ 4 Comments

On Friday, I was hanging out with my daughter, and we ran into Target to see if I could find a package of organic bagels. I have found that, more and more, I have a hard time hunting down organic foods at the grocery store. I guess it’s okay because it forces me to make more of my own, but sometimes, I just wish to buy a package of organic bagels. Alas, there were no bagels, but I also noticed something else–there were no eggs. Not a single egg at my local Target.

Our hens have been laying well enough that I have not had to buy eggs since right before Christmas, and the last time I was at Target getting eggs, the cooler was full of all the eggs. It looked a little surreal seeing the empty shelves in the cooler. It triggered some anxiety for sure, but I was very thankful for our chickens. My mind went to how important it is to take care of those birds.

There was a sign in the egg section that said something about the shortage due to bird flu and that they didn’t know when more eggs would be in.

I wish I could update you more than I am able to on the state of things related to the bird flu, but last week, the Trump administration ordered the CDC to stop all public communications. The CDC was set to release a big report on bird flu this coming week. I worry about not having a national organization to connect the dots for us, but I can see that we will have to do our best based on local and state news stories. I think NPR does a pretty good job of providing national coverage.

The trouble with bird flu is layered. First, there is the worry about it jumping to different species. We know it has jumped to a variety of mammals, including cows and is everywhere in our milk supply. While I read that no humans have gotten sick from cow’s milk, the fact that this is jumping to mammals just doesn’t make you feel good about it, to say the least. There have been 67 reported cases of bird flu in humans in the United States and just one death. I read the biggest concern about bird flu getting us sick is that the virus was noted to be mutating within the human hosts, but overall, the risk to most people is low right now. Still, the person who died got it from his backyard flock, so there’s that.

Another worry is what happens to commercial flocks and our food supply chains in the U.S. Bird flu cases are popping up more and more, with some large scale outbreaks in Georgia, Ohio, New York, and more. The New York duck farm that had to euthanize 100,000 ducks this week was such a worry to me because it’s so far north. As far as I know, there have not been any cases in Maine this year, but there was one in Vermont about two weeks ago. It worries me for there not to be a break from the virus in the winter.

I am also worried because our homestead is not as prepared as I would like it to be. We have been downsizing our flock in anticipation of bird flue, but it’s a slow process. We still have 33 birds. Right now, our flock is mostly on a self-imposed lock down in the coop, but our run is not covered. On top of this, our flock has lived their lives in the chicken pasture just living it up as chickens. And this is my third concern about the bird flu: What happens to backyard flocks?

I use Maine poultry Facebook groups to monitor the state of things in our area. Again, no cases yet, but I am saddened to report that there are a significant number of chicken keepers who are laughing about the bird flu and acting like it is made up. These people will certainly not take any precautions. And maybe they are right. Maybe they will get lucky. Maybe we will get lucky.

But, of course, it is a mistake to mistake luck for evidence, and while some people do not know this, I know this. As soon as the snow melts, if there are cases in Maine, we have to build a new run and cover it. This is going to be so expensive because we want a big run for those birds. They are used to so much space. We cannot lock them down without respect to that and their happiness, but we may have to lock them down. Can you imagine how this is going to sit with Ruby? She wanted out in the driveway today, but I didn’t let her. I’m trying to train her for the worst, and she was just heartbroken. My little girl. My heart aches for her. Yeah, our run is going to cost us all the money.

The headlines in the national news say to expect eggs prices to go higher and for shortages to continue. I am sure it won’t take long for any food item that uses eggs, such as mayonnaise, to also jump in price. I can see that the spring is very likely to bring a lot more cases. I am reading and reading right now about things small flock owners can do without panicking, and I will write more about that later this week. In addition to working on a cover for our run, we are having to tell neighbors they cannot visit our chickens for now, and we are being very careful with our shoes. But I can see that we will need to take much more stringent precautions if bird flu heads our direction, and I will share what I learn, of course.

In the meantime, if you do not keep chickens, find a local farmer or homesteader and make a connection right now to buy eggs. If you do keep chickens, keep a close eye on your local news and try to join poultry forums in your area if you are on Facebook. I will also work to keep updates going here.

If you have questions or just have updates to share, please post them in the comments. Numbers on my blog are growing, so I am hoping this can be a good space to communicate about such things. I also have this idea to start a chicken podcast in the coming week or two, but we will see. We’ll see if I can be organized enough to make it happen.

The light and the eggs return

~ Crystal Sands ~ Leave a comment

I just collected the eggs and spent a little time this evening spiffying up the chicken coop. We got just 5 eggs today, which is a treat to me after several weeks of sometimes getting no eggs, but yesterday it was 9 eggs! And on Wednesday, we got a whopping 11 eggs! That’s really good for January, no light in the coop, and no new hens last year.

I am grateful to those hens, and I try to work hard to show them. Today, I delivered a week’s worth of scraps from the kitchen, did some spot cleaning in terms of poop in the coop, opened up the windows for a bit because it was warm, cleaned all the windows, and then made a small dent in the spiderwebs on the ceiling and in the corners. How are there that many spiders in winter? I also cleaned the nest boxes and added fresh straw.

Most everyone seemed pleased, and most everyone is doing well. Rooster is rattling a little bit but hanging in there quite well for a rooster who is going to be 9 years old this summer. Mary Jane is doing remarkably well. She is the queen of that coop and asserts herself when it comes to eating, as well as her personal space.

Ruby is hanging in there. I am actually happy to report that she is adjusting a little bit to life in the winter in the coop. This is the most consistent winter we have had since she has been alive. It’s been an adjustment for her. She’s not hiding in the corner anymore. Of course, I keep the run and some paths in the yard shoveled for all of them, and she seems to be happy using them. It’s too snowy for her to run around everywhere like she likes, but she’s making do with what she has. It’s great to see. I worried she was just going to stress herself of death.

Of course, when I give treats, she is one of a handful of lower-level hens I always make sure get a treat. When I feed scraps, there is usually enough for everyone. I save up all week–everything from crusts that don’t get eaten to the little bits of leftovers sometimes left on the plate–so there is a feast at least one day per week. But even with a good amount of scraps, the hens at the bottom of the pecking order will not get much. So I always keep a secret bowl and then go around to each of them and hand feed them. Kate is the only one who will not take something from me. I have to throw it on the ground in front of her. I don’t know why she doesn’t trust me, but I respect her ways, of course.

Right now, the hens I save up for are Ruby, Kate, Bianca, Juliet, and I always have a special bowl for Mary Jane. She just moves too slow these days and quit trying. She just waits at the door of the coop once she sees me coming with treats and knows she gets her own bowl. It is not often than anyone dares to sneak in a bite from her bowl. She won’t stand for it, though I have to say that I saw her allow Joan and Betty Jr. (two very old hens) to grab a bite or two from time to time.

I am so grateful for the time I get to spend getting to know these birds. I get so busy sometimes with work of all kinds that I don’t get to hang out with them as much as I would like. At the very least though, I get to hang out with them for morning chores, but when I have more time to just hang out with those chickens, I am better for it. I was thankful for today in so many ways.

I read that, in our part of Maine, we have 6 hours and 48 minutes more daylight on the Summer Solstice than we do on the Winter Solstice. The light comes fast. I feel it’s energy. I hope I’m ready for what is ahead.

photo credit: Nicole Wilcox, Unsplash

Today was the day we left the coop!

~ Crystal Sands ~ 2 Comments

I guess my writing last night about the chickens not wanting to leave the coop did some good because we left the coop this morning! I was so grateful. Some of them were outside off and on for several hours today, so maybe, just maybe, we’ll get an egg tomorrow. None for today–but there’s hope for tomorrow.

The humans also had to leave the coop today for a little bit to get a flu shot. There is some risk for people with long COVID getting a flu shot, as well as other vaccines, but we decided that, even though we mask everywhere we go, our son’s girlfriend might accidentally bring the flu to us. And while there is some risk getting the flu shot, there would definitely be trouble for our long COVID symptoms if we got the flu–so flu shot it was. My fingers are crossed. I have made really good progress with my long COVID symptoms of late, so I am hopeful it is all going to be okay.

I didn’t like leaving the coop though, and I am glad to be back home. In my younger days, I used to get a little stir crazy if I didn’t leave the house every few days. Now, I try to see how long I can go without going anywhere. I can’t get a good streak very often because my son has many activities as a cellist, but one time, I did make it nine glorious days!

This time, I made it six days, and I feel like that was pretty good. I would love to know if I have other homebodies following this blog. What is your longest streak of not leaving the house?

Anyway, I have beautiful pictures to share of my sweet flock finally leaving the coop! I’m so proud of them. They were rewarded with treats for sure.

This is Tuesday, Ruby’s biological daughter and only friend. Tuesday is one of the smartest hens I have ever met. I adore her. And isn’t she beautiful?

This is one of our boys, Dvorak. Rooster finally came out of the coop as well, but Dvorak was one of the first ones out. I can tell he’s tired of being cooped up, probably especially since Rooster is and will always be the boss of him.

This is Yoshi. She is a pardoned meat bird from 2023. She’s very sweet, and while I can tell she doesn’t have the genetics to go for the long haul like Mary Jane who will be 8 this summer, she’s a great addition to the flock. She’s so chill and is a great layer.

This is the covered area we call “chicken camp” because it’s where they can camp out and dust bathe away from the coop. We need to add more dirt, but these chickens made do today.

You’re a free girl now.

~ Crystal Sands ~ Leave a comment

I have mentioned that Ruby has been struggling withe her mental health this winter. If you follow Ruby’s story, you know she has a hard time hanging out with the rest of the flock. She’s quirky, a loner, needs her space–all that and more.

It seems funny that she’s so quirky, but I was starting to get really worried about her. With all the snow, she has not been able to run around like she likes and has been stuck in the coop. In the last week, she wasn’t eating well, not even treats, and was so stressed. I was finding her in the coop with her head down in the corner. It’s like she just couldn’t take it all. It was the saddest thing ever.

I had another chicken who was so similar to Ruby. She was Banjo. She had an injury at one point and had to live in the house for about a week where she thrived. She would sit on Ron’s shoulder and watch him while he played video games, but when she got better, though I wanted to keep her in the house, we had three dogs and two cats at the time, and it just seemed impossible to keep Banjo in the house. We put her back in the coop, and she passed away about a year later, just from general health issues, but I always figured her mental state played a big role in her passing.

So, with Ruby, I have been determined to meet her mental health needs, but the house is not the answer for her. She doesn’t like the house. She doesn’t like me that much, I think, though she definitely likes to boss me around. So I have been at a loss as the best way to help Ruby get through the snow lockdown. She has the run, which is shoveled and full of straw, but she didn’t want to come out of the coop at all, yet the coop was making her miserable.

Finally, a couple of days ago, in between work and mom errands, I went to get her, which she complained about mightily, but I put her in the garage for a bit and hand fed her treats. For real, she mostly just sat there and complained at me. I wish I knew exactly what she was trying to say because she talked the whole time I was with her. It was definitely a giant complaint.

After a bit, I would put her back in the coop, and I would put her in a nest box where she could be above any fray (though I have to say that it’s been pretty peaceful in the coop overall). This seemed to help, so I did this the next day as well. Still, I have been anxiously awaiting the warm weather and rain that came yesterday.

I knew it would melt the snow, and it did! It was 55 degrees and rained like 2 inches. The wind was epic, and we lost power. It was worth it.

This morning, when I let the chickens out of the coop, the snow was gone! Lockdown was over!

In Ruby’s life, we have had very warm Decembers here in Maine, so poor Ruby is not used to so much snow so early. This morning, when she saw the snow was gone, I swear, I could see joy in her eyes! She waited in the coop until I came around to the big door to do the food and water, and then she was out and about! She made noises all the way out the door. Truly, I think she was saying to me, “It’s about time!”

I have always thought that there is a Tom Petty song for almost every occasion, and I sang to Ruby, “Hey Ruby! You’re a free girl now.”

She didn’t care for my singing, but she did care for the green grass minus all of her flock mates. I am so happy for her.

I think we have more snow coming next week, but in the meantime, Ruby gets to enjoy freedom for a bit. I don’t think I have ever been so thankful for the rain. I mean, we really, really needed the rain, but Ruby needed it more.

Two eggs per day–sometimes one

~ Crystal Sands ~ Leave a comment

Right around Thanksgiving is always the worst time for egg laying in our flock. Since we do not add light to the coop, our girls rest this time of year, and it’s always a little disheartening when I go collect the eggs. I have been getting two per day most days this week, but this morning, it was just one.

In our efforts to reduce our flock size naturally over time, we did not have any new baby chicks this summer, which means no one is just starting to lay eggs this fall. It’s been awhile since we have not had any new layers, so I have a feeling that this year is going to be extra tough in the egg department.

There is a good chance I am going to have to buy some eggs this week, and I am interested in seeing how much they cost. I will only buy free-range, humanely-raised eggs, so they are already quite expensive. But I was just reading yesterday that egg prices were up 30% in October due to issues with bird flu nationwide and increased demand. I don’t know why demand would be higher, unless all the chicken keepers all over the country, collectively, are having to buy eggs right now like I am about to do.

I’ll have to keep you posted on how much they cost. Vital Farms are my favorite eggs that taste most like our eggs. I hope they aren’t sold out. I have been having a very, very hard time finding organic, grass-fed milk at our grocery stores. I can still find organic, but because of my son’s liver issues due to long COVID, he can only drink grass-fed milk. There is. a dairy here in Maine that I can buy milk from sometimes, but they are often just sold out. This milk shortage makes me a bit nervous.

Anyway, hopefully, I can find the eggs I want tomorrow. Maybe next year we’ll have at least a few baby chicks in the summer, so I don’t have to buy eggs next Thanksgiving. I really want to get some heritage breed chicks. In the meantime, I have dread for the day I go out to the coop and there is not a single egg for me. I think it’s coming.

A Little About Circe–and Why She Hates Me

~ Crystal Sands ~ 2 Comments

Circe is one of the most beautiful chickens we have, and I realized as I was looking for a picture for this post that I do not have a single picture of her since she was a baby. She can’t stand me. For a long time, she couldn’t stand anyone–except her brother. She now has a few friends in the flock, mainly Pumpkin, but she still hates me.

Circe is named after the minor goddess in Greek mythology who makes a famed appearance in Homer’s Odyssey. I was reading Circe by Madeline Miller the year she was born, so we have a Circe and a Penelope. Both of them are strong-willed hens, but Circe acts like I am a monster. Maybe I am.

This is not Circe. This is her biological sister. I have zero pictures of Circe as an adult.

When Circe was little, she loved her brother more than her mother. I have never seen two chickens be so close as Circe and her brother. I kept praying Circe’s brother was a girl, but he was a he. We already had two roosters, so there was no way he could stay. I tried to find him a home but was unsuccessful. It was during the pandemic–EVERYBODY had gotten baby chicks, and EVERYBODY had too many roosters. I knew he was going to have to be food, but I was reluctant because of how close he was with Circe.

“It’s just like in the story,” I told Ron when he asked me about “that extra rooster.” “Her only friend is her brother, just like the real Circe,” I explained.

“The real Circe?” Ron asked.

“You know what I mean. If we take her brother from her, Circe is never going to be same.”

But take him we did, and Circe has hated me ever since. She doesn’t trust people, and you can’t blame her at all.

She keeps her distance from me most of the time. Of course, she comes for treats, but she’s in and out and never hangs around too long. That poor baby.

She is an extra poor baby right now because something is wrong with her. She is having a pretty hard molt, and last night, we heard her with full on rales in the coop. I am constantly terrified of the rales because of all of our trauma with the respiratory infection that hit our flock in 2019. Ron said he thought it might just be something in her throat. I hoped for that to be the case, but I had to isolate her just in case.

I got the dog crate ready for her and then swiped her from the roost last night. Oh, she fought me, and no matter how much I tried to help her feel better, she wasn’t having it.

I took her to the guest bathroom, which is also the animal hospital around our house, and while I was away getting a little olive oil and a syringe to put a little oil down her throat in case something was stuck, she went from the floor to the toilet to the sink and was trying to get on top of the light fixture above the sink.

I got her down with much ado and then had to give her the olive oil. I managed to get it in her. She was shocked at first and when she gathered herself, she leaned in and bit me so hard.

She is also very upset at having to stay in the crate. It’s a big crate with tons of room. but she is the closest thing to a wild chicken we have. None of this medical care is sitting well with her. I was devastated when I woke up this morning to find her still with some rales. They were quieter but still there.

I spent all morning while my son was in his college class looking for some way to get access to antibiotics without going to the vet because we really can’t afford a vet right now, and I know what she would need if it’s respiratory. I need the water soluble version of Tylan. I have all the natural remedies, but her rales were so bad last night that I was thinking we might need the big guns. Of course, no one wants to sell you an antibiotic without a prescription, and that’s understandable. I mean, people have run fast a loose with antibiotics for a long time, I suppose. I think I wouldn’t. I think I would be careful, but I’m sure everybody thinks that.

Thankfully, we may be in luck anyway because, when we got home from my son’s class, she didn’t have the rales–at least not very much. And, this afternoon, when I took her a snack, all was quiet. Maybe it was just something stuck in her throat. I hope so. I hope so.

I really need that little hen to get better, and as soon as she is, I am going to get a really good picture of her. Maybe, hopefully, through all of this, she will find a way to forgive me for my awfulness.

Maybe. Hopefully.

On the Importance of Chickens

~ Crystal Sands ~ 2 Comments

I know I am biased, but I think a good place to start in prepping for the future is with chickens. They are so versatile and not only provide food but also provide fertilizer for a garden. They are also a joy, and that’s going to matter.

Whether you have chickens already or are thinking about chickens, I thought I might share some advice and things I have learned about keeping chickens over the years that might be helpful. I will go into more detail about some of these topics in the coming weeks and months, but I thought a list of ideas this morning might be helpful. Then, others can add to the list, as I am sure there are things I will forget.

This is Petty and her brood from last fall. By greatest luck or some kind of blessing from the chicken gods, every single one of her six babies was a girl. In this picture, we have Annie, Clara, Jacqueline, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Lenore.
  1. I recommend starting with a good coop. If you have to use a cheaper little coop you can buy online, I think that’s a good place to start, but most people I know end up having to make modifications to those, especially if you live in a colder climate. A sturdy coop can make a big difference in the long run. We converted an old shed, and it has been great.
  2. To cut down on predators, I think it’s important to think about placement of your coop. Ours is close to our house, and I am so thankful for this. If you have farm dogs who protect chickens, then this may not be a worry, but I am a big believer in coop placement near your home if you can do it. Yes, there will be noise in the summers, but those egg songs equal good food.
  3. I think it’s more important than ever to get heritage breed chickens. I lucked into a heritage rooster, and his genes have been so good for our flock over the years. I have tried purchasing from local and reputable breeders but have not had good luck in the long-term genetics department. Our sweet Rooster is nine years old now and has had the best genes. We need a similar rooster to add to our flock. Rooster gets to stay, but he just doesn’t make babies too much anymore. We have a rooster, Dvorak, who is also a great boy and will get to live out his life, but he is only about three years old and clearly do not have the best genetics. I will not get babies from him anymore. This spring, I will be purchasing some heritage breed chickens from the most reputable breeders I can find online. I think it’s going to be about tracking down people who specialize in the breeds I want, and I am going to be looking for people who have been breeding these chickens for decades, not just a few years. I have found that people who have been in it for just a few years may be doing good work overall, but they may not know about longevity. I will share what I find out with others.
  4. Get or keep broody hens. If you know someone who has a broody line, ask them for babies or hatching eggs. Even though I curse the way our flock goes broody every summer, there are some perks to this. When we need more chickens, we can get them easily and efficiently. I think it’s a good idea to get an incubator as well, but with some good broody hens, you can have baby chicks without using electricity. Broody hens will also raise ducks for you. I have read that you never want a mama duck to raise a baby chicken because she will accidentally drown the baby chicken, but a mama chicken can raise baby ducks. Ruby and Petty, it turns out, who go broody all summer and will raise babies so well, are worth their weight in gold.
  5. Start saving scraps to feed your chickens. Keep a bowl in your refrigerator and save every little scrap. It will add up and help you cut down on feed costs. Affording feed may be an issue, so making good habits related to scraps right now seems like a good idea to me. Plus, it eliminates food waste.
  6. With the cost of feed in mind, I think it’s important to think about the size of your flock. You want to think about your needs, what you can share, and how much you can feed. Depending upon your area, you may also want to consider bird flu outbreaks. Here in Maine, we had a terrible outbreak two or three years ago, and we got lucky. However, the outbreak reminded us that we do need a smaller flock in case our flock had to be locked down in a covered run to protect them from bird flu.
  7. My final thought for this morning is that you definitely want to learn how to compost your chicken poop. Chicken poop is one of the best fertilizers for your garden because it is complex, but it does have to be composted. A few years ago, I got my husband to make this video to show people how he does it. There are other ways, of course, but this one works very well for us. It is a shame to waste good chicken poop! Just keep in mind, if you grow an organic garden, you are going to want to feed your chickens organic food.

I would love to hear your tips for keeping chickens. What advice do you have for others who are new to chickens or who just want to step up their game?

PS It felt important to add that, while I was writing this post, I was also putting a dinner on. I put potatoes, turnips, carrots, and onions underneath a roast in a large pot to cook on low all day. All of the vegetables came from our homestead. The roast came from a local farm and was expensive because it was humanely raised and grass fed. It cost about $25. That pot of meat and veggies will feed our family for two meals, so that’s $12.50 per day for our family of three to have a really nice dinner each day.