The Bougie Coop: Keeping Chickens in Smaller Spaces

Breed Spotlight: Svarthöna

A quick breed spotlight on a lesser known fibromelanistic chicken: the Svarthöna.

Common Supplements Used for Parasite Control: Do They Work?

A look into some common supplements used by chicken keepers for parasite control.  Do they actually work? The Bougie Coop is sponsored by Eden Feeds [http://www.edenfeeds.com].   Links to studies referenced:  Red Pepper (capsaicin): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9495104/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9495104/] (as antibiotic activity and good for gut health) https://kkgpublications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ijaps.5.50004-2.pdf [https://kkgpublications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ijaps.5.50004-2.pdf] (effect on parasites) Pumpkin seeds: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/103/Supplement_1/268/8139035 [https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/103/Supplement_1/268/8139035] (No effect) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283678017_Evaluation_of_the_anthelmintic_activity_of_pumpkin_seeds_Cucurbita_maxima_in_mice_naturall [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283678017_Evaluation_of_the_anthelmintic_activity_of_pumpkin_seeds_Cucurbita_maxima_in_mice_naturally_infected_with_Aspiculuris_tetraptera] https://cast.desu.edu/sites/cars/files/document/16/pumpkin_seeds-worms_djo.pdf [https://cast.desu.edu/sites/cars/files/document/16/pumpkin_seeds-worms_djo.pdf] No effect https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10209233/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10209233/] no effect laying hens https://meridian.allenpress.com/avian-diseases/article/69/1/74/505621/Effect-of-Supplementation-with-Artemisia [https://meridian.allenpress.com/avian-diseases/article/69/1/74/505621/Effect-of-Supplementation-with-Artemisia] No effect at doses that would be commonly given to backyard hens   Garlic: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09712119.2019.1573731#d1e2387 [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09712119.2019.1573731#d1e2387] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10854602/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10854602/] https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/22/3185 [https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/22/3185] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304401721002740 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304401721002740] Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8136961/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8136961/] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30450876/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30450876/] Wormwood: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7070545/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7070545/] (in sheep) https://ijvar.org/index.php/ijvar/article/view/550/464 [https://ijvar.org/index.php/ijvar/article/view/550/464] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/03079457.2024.2342882?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed#abstract [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/03079457.2024.2342882?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed#abstract] https://academicjournals.org/article/article1384248573_Seddiek%20et%20al.pdf [https://academicjournals.org/article/article1384248573_Seddiek%20et%20al.pdf] https://poultrydvm.com/supplement/wormwood [https://poultrydvm.com/supplement/wormwood] Diatomaceous Earth: https://www.wpsa-aeca.es/aeca_imgs_docs/15369_com-11.pdf [https://www.wpsa-aeca.es/aeca_imgs_docs/15369_com-11.pdf]

The Hard Cull: A Difficult Aspect of Chicken Keeping

We discuss one of the most difficult aspects of keeping chickens: euthanizing a sick or injured bird.   More information about humane euthanasia for chickens: UC Davis Poultry Euthanasia Guidelines [https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2019-03/301025.pdf] Chicken Farmers of Canada On-Farm Chicken Euthanasia Guidelines [https://www.chickenfarmers.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/CFC-Euthanasia-Guidelines.pdf]

Bonus Episode: Baby It's Cold Outside: Should Chickens Have Access to Heat?

It's that time of year again when everyone asks: "Do chickens need heat?"   The Bougie Coop proudly feeds and is sponsored by Eden Feeds: Montana grown, non-GMO ingredients. https://www.edenfeeds.com/ [https://www.edenfeeds.com/] We are edited and made to sound better by Landis Podcast Editing.  https://www.landispodcastediting.com/ [https://www.landispodcastediting.com/]  Thanks, Jared! For those who love to nerd out, here's some science: https://modernpoultry.media/cold-temperatures-can-have-severe-consequences-for-poultry-health-and-welfare/?mp=1761680868201 [https://modernpoultry.media/cold-temperatures-can-have-severe-consequences-for-poultry-health-and-welfare/?mp=1761680868201] https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1769 [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10741227/] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/animal-science/articles/10.3389/fanim.2021.775311/full [https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/animal-science/articles/10.3389/fanim.2021.775311/full] https://extension.umn.edu/small-scale-poultry/caring-chickens-cold-weather [https://extension.umn.edu/small-scale-poultry/caring-chickens-cold-weather] Sweeter Heater, made in the USA and the safest way to supply heat to your livestock: https://www.sweeterheater.com [https://www.sweeterheater.com] For those who don’t want to spend as much (or who can’t) on a Sweeter Heater, Premier 1 has introduced a safety switch on their heat lamps.  It will cut the power if the lamp ends up at an unsafe angle.  I have not used it, but I do like the fact that it has this safety feature and I think this would make it a better option than other heat lamps. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/prima-heat-lamp

Baby It’s (Almost) Cold Outside: Prepping for Winter Weather

The weather is cooling off and soon it’s going to be the dark days of winter. Now is the time to prep your coop and your girls, and make your winter keeping a little easier! The Bougie Coop proudly feeds and is sponsored by Eden Feeds: Montana grown, non-GMO ingredients. https://www.edenfeeds.com/ [https://www.edenfeeds.com/] We are edited and made to sound better by Landis Podcast Editing.  https://www.landispodcastediting.com/ [https://www.landispodcastediting.com/]  Thanks, Jared!   Link to odor eating enzymes I use and recommend: Carefree Enzymes Poultry Odor Digester https://www.chewy.com/carefree-enzymes-poultry-coop-odor/ [https://www.chewy.com/carefree-enzymes-poultry-coop-odor/] For those of us who want to nerd out on why wearing a respirator or mask is important when cleaning your coop, here ya go: Bird Fancier’s Lung: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7724370/#:~:text=Acute%2520or%2520subacute%252 [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7724370/#:~:text=Acute%2520or%2520subacute%252] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_fancier%27s_lung [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_fancier%27s_lung] Histoplasmosis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histoplasmosis [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histoplasmosis] Aspergillosis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillosis [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillosis]