Recent content by RiverBendPol

  1. RiverBendPol

    Flies no more!! Found the perfect fly repellent.

    I have Ziploc bags 3/4 full of water, with 4 copper pennies in them, hanging on my horse barn, chicken coop, house porch and front door. For some reason the light shining through the bagged water frightens away the flies. Our fly population is waaaaaaaaaaaaay down this year, with no costly...
  2. RiverBendPol

    Parasites?!

    I need the wisdom of the BYC sages! I have a small flock, 3 Buff Orps and 2 Silver Wyandotts. They are not my problem this time. :) I also have 3 equines. I also have about 60 acres of hay fields. Getting closer to the problem-bear with me. Every Fall, I spread chicken poo from a local farm all...
  3. RiverBendPol

    **Digging my way to the coop. GOT SNOW?**

    Good morning! I'm in a white-out this morning and yes, of course I shovel to the coop! Otherwise I'd be wading. Our snow is about 3 1/2 feet deep. I also shovel out the run for my girls(and sweep their ramp!) and sprinkle hay all over the place. They are quite content to huddle inside...
  4. RiverBendPol

    What will you do when they are too old to lay?

    OK, you guys all talk about 'culling' or 'eating' or some other word that signifies the fact that your chickens no longer exist but I want to know HOW. How do you get them from clucking and scratching around your door yard to lying on a platter on your kitchen table. We have 3 Buff Orps, 3...
  5. RiverBendPol

    Trouble lurking in my chicken house

    BloominOrchid~ Erin )O( Displaced Country Pumpkin living in the city Mom to 5 Skin Kids, 30 Chickens and counting...2 boxers, 4 lizards, 2 Hermies, a pond full of fish and the biggest Baby, Big Daddy, The love of my life! Soldier, Army Wife and sister of 4 more in the military. Thank You...
  6. RiverBendPol

    Trouble lurking in my chicken house

    Thanks, Matt- Are you saying I have to put her in a cage or just keep her away from her nest? Should I put her in a dog crate? These girls are free range, out at first light, in before dusk. Should I haul her outside and shut the doors for the day? Should I block off the opening of the nests so...
  7. RiverBendPol

    Trouble lurking in my chicken house

    Hi Kids- I have 3 Buff Orpingtons. Lovely, friendly birds, all came here together in May, 2008 as fluffy day old chix. Now, at almost 3 years old, they have gone down as our worst batch of "laying hens" to date. We've had RI Reds in the past who laid more than we could handle. These girls have...
  8. RiverBendPol

    Comb color changes?

    Hi- We're in Maine where it is cold and snowy already. (altho today it is balmy 30!) My 3 Buff Orps have been molting and not laying since the end of August. Yesterday I noticed all 3 combs and wattles have turned a sort of pale reddish-peach color and have shrunk! Is this major color change a...
  9. RiverBendPol

    WARSHING AIGS [Washing Eggs]

    Quote: Me too. I also think egg shells are porous and wetting whatever slime may be on the outside will just help it soak into the inside.
  10. RiverBendPol

    How long does it take before they start laying again?

    MY Buff Orps are molting and not laying. They have light and heat. I'm so bummed, I HATE buying eggs! Have you guys seen these little videos? They are hysterical. My girls look a whole lot better than the ones featured in the films so I guess we're still OK. Happy Holidays to one and all-...
  11. RiverBendPol

    My chickens stopped laying eggs :( Anyone know why?

    Mine gave up eggs about a month ago. I feel like Mrs. Tweedy although I will not slit the throats of my girls no matter how long they refuse to lay! They will not end up in a pie because I don't like grrrravy either! However, that said, I really wish the girls would get busy and lay me an egg...
  12. RiverBendPol

    i put light in the coop on at 4am off at 7am

    Mid coast Maine??! Me too! Well, not quite mid. A little south of Mid, I guess but MAINE all the same. My Buff Orps have their light on all the time. I suppose I should switch it to go off. Do you think it is better to have it go on early in the morning or stay on into the night? Maybe I'll try...
  13. RiverBendPol

    Does comb/wattle development suggest maturity/egglaying readiness?

    One of my BO's has such red and flappy head gear we had to name her Pat, just in case...She also has a spur on one ankle. The 2 other girls never caught up in that department but Pat is now, at 16 months, most definitely a girl. It was a bit scary there for a while.
  14. RiverBendPol

    hen hasn't laid in 3 days

    My 3 Buff Orpington girls, 16 months old, are on strike. We haven't seen an egg since the beginning of August. They have a lovely house with 2 nesting boxes and a big run (about 8' square). The girls are free range, going out every day into the great outdoors around 8 am and back in before dusk...
  15. RiverBendPol

    How often do you clean out the coop?

    My 3 hens have a 6 or 7' square room, 2 nesting boxes. I have shavings about 4" deep on the floor. Under their perch, I have a plastic tray (the bottom od a dog crate. All the poop lands on the tray and I take it out and pitch it in the compost about every week-10 days. Easy as pie. Their...
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