Chickens definitely need a place to dust themselves. It's their way of staying clean, getting mites/parasites off them, as well as cooling down. If they have access to an open yard/area, they will chose a place with loose/loamy dirt or sand.
They tend to pick the places you don't want them...
I've been following a couple of other threads on mites....
I just did a Permethrin bug bomb thing in the coop. The chickens were moved to another part of the yard (with a big lawn, so they're happy!). The coop is airing out now.
I also put together a dusting tray full of playsand, DE and...
Does that kill them? Or just keep them off me?
I've changed my sheets everyday so far, and am very careful about touching anything in the coop/yard, or bringing any more mites inside.
Thanks for your help!
I'm freaking out here! I've been getting bites... I thought at first mosquitoes, then maybe fleas. But I now believe they are some sort of mite!! Yikes!!
I have 5 hens, a dog and a cat. The cat likes to hang out in the yard with the chickens, and then sometimes she'll sleep on the foot...
A friend of mine found a mallard egg on the sidewalk near the pond in her community. The maintenance crew wanted to throw it away, but she grabbed it. Now it's under my broody hen. (Ugh!) Not sure if it's even viable, so this may be a moot point. But if so, what do I do if it hatches? I...
First time Broody-Hatcher here... I have a Silkie that goes broody every 6-8 weeks. It take me several weeks to break her, and then 2-3 weeks later she's back on a nest doing her best to hatch non-fertile eggs. So last week I broke down and bought 7 eggs from Papa's Poutlry.
So I'm in...
Robgray, Can you post more pics of your chicks? I've got several different orp colors in the bator right now and want to be able to identify them when they hatch.
Thanks!
San Clemente California Chicken Ordinance
Are Chickens Allowed in this location
No
Max Chickens Allowed
Roosters Allowed
No
Permit Required
No
Coop Restrictions
City/Organization Contact name
City of San Clemente Kim Kurtz - Animal Services 949-361-8200 [email protected]...
I was taught to put them in the fridge for a full 24 hours before you freeze them. This helps the rig-a-mortis relax and they won't be so tough when you eat them.
I froze my first birds right away and ended up having to use them only for soups and shredded stuff. But once learning that...
My 3 girls free range all throughout the day, and have just started laying. I was afraid of the same thing, so I check all around the backyard every evening. It's been two weeks, and I know at least 2 girls are laying. One lays during the night, from the roost (which we are trying to break...
Tree branches! About an inch or two wide. The chickens like them because they are NOT an even surface and therefore can get a better grip. Plus you are reducing your carbon footprint!!
We absolutely have rats that scurry along the top of the block walls that surround our yard (and all the neighboring yards). We've probably always had them, but they've definately honed in on our property since the arrival of the girls.
Although I think they are gross, and they are probably...
I'm in San Clemente and use a rabbit hutch exactly the same, bought it on Craig's List for $40. I built an enclosure around it. It is holding up just fine. If you want pictures of what I've done, PM me and I'll send them to you.
I have 6 almost full grown Black Australorp roosters, that we are giving away. I hatched them on Christmas Day, and they are all very friendly. Two are much bigger than the others, but all of them are still growing. they currently free range in our "urban" backyard for a few hours each day...