Recent content by steveonCapeCod

  1. steveonCapeCod

    How the heck do I get rid of fire ants inside the chicken run?? 😱😱😱

    I make my own "ant trap" and it seems to work for every kind of ant. I start by taking a margarine tub (cleaned and washed). I melt a few holes on each side about an inch up from the bottom. I do this by heating up a nail and it will melt about 4 or 5 holes before it needs to be reheated. I...
  2. steveonCapeCod

    Chicken run floor...??

    One other thing: Anything that can be used to keep pests away (like cedar does to moths) is probably not a good thing to have around livestock. I'd avoid aromatics. I ask the tree guys to bring me chips that are either from fruit trees or hardwoods. BTW, chips will only last a few weeks...
  3. steveonCapeCod

    Chicken run floor...??

    Couple of things: 1. I agree that wood chips from a commercial tree guy are great. 2. I dump raked leaves in when I get them, the girls think it's enrichment. 3. If you call a commercial tree guy, he'll be glad to deliver a truck of chips (they have to pay to get rid of them and would love to...
  4. steveonCapeCod

    What do you do with all those eggs?

    If you ask people to save you their empty egg cartons, you'll have more than you need and you'll know who really loves getting eggs. (Giving you empty cartons is sending you a message.) If you have a gym near you, see if they'll take the extra eggs - the Keto dieters devour a lot of eggs. My...
  5. steveonCapeCod

    Featherless Bottom

    I want to thank all who added a comment and give an update: The Buff died a couple of days ago. We noticed that she was very lethargic and her comb went very pale. My daughter did a necropsy on her and found that she had a massive cyst (about the size of a baseball) it was filled with liquid...
  6. steveonCapeCod

    Featherless Bottom

    (Sorry if this is already online. I tried to search BYC for this but could not find anything.) I have 3 Buff Orphingtons in my flock. One in particular has no feathers on her rump area. One of her sisters was broody and my daughter was taking care of the girls for a couple of days. She kept...
  7. steveonCapeCod

    Day old chicks put into coop?

    junebuggena, thank you very much for that. Down here on Cape Cod the farm store gets day old chicks (allegedly), so, if I have a hen go broody, I could try to time getting the chicks around her broody episode. I wonder what my chances of all the stars aligning: broody hen, day old australoph...
  8. steveonCapeCod

    Day old chicks put into coop?

    Song of joy, thank you very much for your response. You are right, the Eco Glow probably is not sufficient for young chicks in the winter here. I did spoil my girls when I built my current coop: The coop has 2x6 framing and whole coop is insulated heavily. It's also heated. (I also have...
  9. steveonCapeCod

    Day old chicks put into coop?

    Thank you very much for your reply. Yes, I do have a brooder plate. It's an EcoGlow. It's got adjustable legs/sides and the chicks love it. I cut a piece of 1/8" Celtec for the top so I can clean it simply. I would put that in the coop with the chicks if I put them in. My idea was to just...
  10. steveonCapeCod

    Day old chicks put into coop?

    Has anyone put day old chicks into a coop? Every year I add to my flock by buying day old chicks and raising them in doors. I start with an aquarium and increase the size of the "indoor coop" till they are big enough to move the large "indoor coop" into the coop. Needless to say, this is a...
  11. steveonCapeCod

    Easter Eggers' Egg Size?

    aart, I do have some pics (below). Here's some background: I did contact the State poultry inspector and asked if she wanted me to send in a bird for necropsy. She asked a couple of questions to determine if there were any chance of avian flu or newcastle. There was no indication so...
  12. steveonCapeCod

    Easter Eggers' Egg Size?

    aart, Thank you for the Welcome. I've been a "lurker" on this site for years. It's my go to site for chicken info. The RS are about 31 months old. (I'm down to 2 from the original flock of 6. I have lost 4 birds this year. (It's nice having a daughter who's a vet and will do necropsies...
  13. steveonCapeCod

    Easter Eggers' Egg Size?

    Raising chickens here on Cape Cod I decided to add breeds to my "industrial" chickens (Red Stars). Five months ago I got 3 Buff Orphingtons and 3 Easter Eggers (McMurray Hatchery). The BO seem to be really slow developers. They get bigger and bigger every day, but their comb is still tiny and...
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