It took some time to work up the nerve to pursue this. Checked into permethrin products at the feed store, but the property owner wasn't into using chemicals, wanted us to stick with diatomaceous earth. So we got a 50-lb. bag and used the WHOLE thing, forming a ring around the enclosure...
We are caretaking a property with a flock of chickens and I'm starting to wish we hadn't opted to keep the chickens. Every time I go out to feed and water the chickens these days, I have to pick several mites off my feet and legs. They are quick and tiny, brown and red. I bought the smaller...
Three-plus weeks later, and the five chicks are doing great.
And then three days ago, what should I discover? A hen and a whole bunch of new chicks in the yard! The next day, when I had time, I caught each of the ELEVEN chicks without much of a fight from the hen, and carried the box of them...
Well, we did lose that one chick...it was laying in the dirt the next morning and took a whole day to die. Poor thing.
The other five seem to be doing great. Mama hen is doing her job!
Is oyster shell something you can easily find at feed stores?
Thanks to you both! "Oyster shell on the side" - is this sold at feed stores, and any idea how to give it so only the hens get it? Or will the chicks simply not be interested? We were told to crush up our discarded eggshells beyond recognition and include them with the kitchen scraps. Will...
We recently moved to a property where we're caring for chickens. We're very new to this and know little more than how to feed and water them. I just went to do this and discovered a hen going nuts inside the enclosure, and six baby chicks outside! One of the chicks appears not to be doing...