Friday’s Quotes for the Chicks
Dalai Lama
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/happy.html#LblFl8Oom07iY9LR.99If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
Dalai Lama
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/happy.html#LblFl8Oom07iY9LR.99
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
Dalai Lama
This past Wednesday, I taught a chicken workshop for our town’s Adult Education series.
We covered lots of information, from getting chicks to moving them out to the henhouse (the next session covers flock management, medical concerns and how to cull.)
When I was talking about taking care of baby chicks, I mentioned what I feed them. I routinely suggest that all chicks have access to medicated feed until they are 5 – 6 weeks old and then it’s no more medication for them. The reason I do this is that baby chicks come from batches of other baby chicks, which means they can be exposed to many, many pathogens. Medicated feed gives them a leg up.
We’ve had a chick die from a respiratory infection. We’ve also had a baby chick recover from one and I think that the medicated feed may have had something to do with that recovery. She was eating before she got sick and my theory is that it gave her the boost she needed.
And of course, with my background in microbiology, I tend to respect the bacteria.
Can you raise chicks without using antibiotics?
Certainly, people do it all the time. It’s just that I’m not sure what else you should be doing to protect your babies.
And of course this is exactly what one of my students who wants to raise his chickens organically, asked me – “We don’t want to use medication on our chicks, what else can we do?”
I told him that some people use herbs, apple cider vinegar, and even yogurt. I personally didn’t know the answer to his question, but I’d look up the information and would have it for him for the next class.
And then guess what? Lisa Steele’s Fresh Eggs Daily raising happy, healthy chickens …naturally book arrived in the mail. She had asked me to do a review (which will be posted next week.)
Perfect timing.
I’ll be reading Lisa’s book this weekend not only for the review but to gather information for my student so that he can safely raise his chickens naturally.
How’s that for perfect timing?
Seen Around the net:
- Here is a writeup I did of that Buddhist writing retreat.
- And here’s where Janet Reid, Literary Agent used my post as a warning to others to be sure to tag your photos.
- And of course, my mammo-graham cookie photo is still going great guns. I pretty much can’t go anywhere without seeing it. (not that I’m complaining
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As always, peaceful weekend everyone, health and happiness (and safety) to your flock.
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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.
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