I keep peppermint around chicken run and under nest and coop straw.
Plus I seem to be hen mother to a chicken hit squad!.
If it enters the run and causes a commotion the ladies mob and destroy.
I am blessed ,my barnyard classics where hatched and brooded by my neighbor. My Yard rooster gleefully runs both yards and a small flock of feral hens he shares with neighbors rooster. By the way I have a chicken / dog friendly Pit you can borrow to scare this hateful woman LOL!>
So everyone thought I was crazy getting the Dixie Chicks and think I might be a little crazier with morning routine.
I start my coffe,walk and feed the dogs,grab some scratch for the Dixie Chicks,a cup of coffee and go sit on chair in run,scatter scratch,drink my very strong coffee and...
The Dixie Chicks are Southern Country girls of questtsionable heretige..They are a tough group and a bug
snatching,dirt digging,hay tossing bunch.. LOL,
AM Feed: Simple scattered cracked corn,barley,wheat. Placed in dirt run,Amount for 12 ....14wk chicks..depends whats in run and feeder...
Pics in coop design,we have since added highboy dresser and donated nest boxes...cost increase of $18.00 for support lumber hubby insisted on!,,,,,,ok hubby thought you did not want the Dixie Chicks?
The Dixie Chicks will be close to 4mos when they come home,they have dirt run with good amount of worms etc,they will be getting veggies and scarps.Feed wise I am baffled.Grit right now is in their run (natural raked dirt).Do I put them on adult scratch,starter/finisher or layer feed ?.
We have the tall long needled pines with the HUGE cones.Neighbors semi feral chickens,(my Dixie Chicks family!),thinks I pile them so they can play and toss them!.
I'm in NE North Carolina,I do not grow catnip,I grow peppermint and spearmint.I have both growing in chicken run and herb garden.Yes peppermint for sure deters Raccoons.Yes it is invasive,but also deters moles from yard and garden.If in container you have to be sure to not let roots touch...
Mint is invasive in NC,I threw some in what is now my chicken run,It is scattered around and moving throughout the run.
I tried containing both spearmint and peppermint in herb garden,have figured out that mint like chickens pretty much goes where it feels the inspiration takes it !.
I tend to...
Definatly not onboard in beginning,in fact not 100% there.
Yet.LOL,will not let me struggle with creating or moving things
.But he wasn't onboard with my Pit Bull that now sleeps beside him and is a spoilt lap dog,(thanks to ....you guessed it reluctant hubby!).
My Dixie Chicks are low budget...
Hubby is saying leave homemade coop bottom bare wood,I am saying NO.I will continue with plan to line with tarp tacked down and will put combo of wheat straw and pine needles.I also found recycle bin on side fits perfect in half of house...easy clean.Run is dirt with mint growing in it.
The...
Hearing your ventures with the neighbors makes me want to hug mine !,
We share all the critters and don't ever complain.We share children,gardens,supplies and yes chickens!.
One neighbor is giving me my Dixie Chicks,advising and helping to build run and even found more chicks his semi feral...
I will begin the pics tommarrow...right now I have house,fence,chicks and hubby all in different places!.I found out the chicks are a combo of Bantan,a black 365 layer,a fancy crested and multicolored.They will range from bantam to RR in size and weight. So I have redubbed the "breed",as "Dixie...
I am chuckling...I began with neighbors semi feral hens and turkey laying in back of truck 5 years ago.Playing hide and seek with eggs past 2 years.Now we are at the point where a mixed brood hatched and making a run with shelter for the chicks,They come "home to roost",over next 2 days!.I am...
As far a type we are not sure.Mom is white,medium size with small streak of black under her eyes,Dad could be heavy bodied multicolored rooster or medium boddied crested.Chicks range from black to white and red.
Neighbors have different types all free range.
Hen could of hatched out not just her...
Husband definatly not 100% onboard with my new venture !. I took old wardeobe,turned on side,removed the doors and placed on cinderblooks.Set up with bread crates.Asked neighboring farmer for wheat straw to line with.I put old piece of tarp under straw and place it on shed side with gutter so...