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  1. Donner

    Deep litter and potato tower

    It is probably less potent than you think. Wood reduces the nitrogen content and I am digging out lower level compost that has been there for 1-4 years. So, I am thinking it is worth the experiment because it would be nice to us my free dirt instead of buying it.
  2. Donner

    Good flock protecters?

    My Collies do well with our chickens, but it did take a little work to teach them not to chase the chickens. The chickens also figured out that if they don't run the dogs won't chase.
  3. Donner

    Is this good bedding for chickens?

    I use bitterroot valley pine shavings. Mostly because they are finer than the other brand my feed store carries which I think helps them break down better on my dirt floor coop when mixed with poop giving me a better compost when I shovel some out for the plants in the yard.
  4. Donner

    Deep litter and potato tower

    My chickens live in a big coop on dirt that I started with several bales of pine shavings about 4 years ago and have been adding shavings with minimal removal until this December when I scraped the top inch or so off to the side and dug out about 10 wheel barrows to top off my garden beds. That...
  5. Donner

    Anyone know anything about growing grapes?

    I am growing wine grapes in Western Washington, so I suspect I have completely different issues than West Virginia and eating grapes. But,grapes grow from buds on last year's growth. I use cordon cane for my mini vineyard, so a trunk with an arm to each side. I prune last year's canes down to...
  6. Donner

    Donners Member Page

    The chicks are out of the house, and out of the dog's kennel and into their outside home. Chicken math attacked us and we ordered 25 Rainbow Layer Assortment from McMurrary plus a rare, plus 2 extra that McMurray threw in. They hatched September 28th, and they are all still alive as of November...
  7. Donner

    100 degree day 6yearold hen died of maggots and chicks ate them! Help!

    Ahh. Got it. It is fly species specific. Green Bottle Fly larva eat only dead tissue. Other larva are indiscriminate.
  8. Donner

    100 degree day 6yearold hen died of maggots and chicks ate them! Help!

    Don't maggots only eat dead flesh? Hence, why sterile maggots are used to clean necrotic flesh from wounds on people, in particular diabetics. They will eat all the dead flesh leaving behind only the clean healthy flesh. So, for chickens to get maggots doesn't that require a wound that has...
  9. Donner

    Thinking about composting...need advice

    This probably won't help the OP, but I am doing deep litter method with a dirt floor coop. So, my coop is the composter. I don't compost food scraps. Those get fed to the chickens. We will see how good it comes out next year when the pine shavings have had a good year to break down.
  10. Donner

    How do you keep your chickens out of your garden?

    I just have strawberries, and they are not ripe yet. But, my garden beds are surrounded by a 3ft fence. The chickens could get in if they wanted to, but have not made the attempt, yet. My best guess is there are more interesting things in the yard, than my garden beds.
  11. Donner

    Light Brahma!

    Quote: Two methods: 1) Go to uploads link above from your smart phone, and in theory you should be able to upload the picture from your phone to BYC. 2) Transfer the picture from your phone to a computer and then do #1 from your computer.
  12. Donner

    I put some fertile eggs underneath her...JUNE 6th- PICS ON PG 6

    Quote: I was looking up the same question in the forum, and most said candling is optional with a broody, especially if the eggs are fresh. There seemed to be two thoughts: 1) The hen knows when an egg is no good and will kick it out of the nest. 2) A fresh egg even at hatching temps is not...
  13. Donner

    JUNE 7TH Hatch date ~ looking for hatch buddies

    I put 6 eggs under my Broody Minorca last night. So, June 7th is the scheduled hatch date.
  14. Donner

    Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

    I just set 6 eggs under my broody Buff Minorca. See my sig for my chickens. So, there are 2 white and 4 brown eggs under her because those were the best looking eggs from yesterday. So, I am looking forward to getting some interesting mutt chicks. Crossing my finger that any of them might...
  15. Donner

    I put some fertile eggs underneath her...JUNE 6th- PICS ON PG 6

    I set 6 eggs under my Minorca last nigh,t also. I can't definitively call them fertile since I have 1 rooster and 29 hens. But, a 2-4 hatch will be just fine. So, I guess we are all looking toward a June 7 hatch.
  16. Donner

    Check step before trying to have a broody hatch...

    So, I have a Buff Minorca that has gone broody in the last 3-4 days. I have made some effort to make sure she is serious. I take the eggs away every day. Push her out of the nest every day and 3 times back to back. And, she goes right back in and does not leave for treats. So, I have 28...
  17. Donner

    What is "food grad DE?"

    Crushed fossillized diatoms. Mostly Silicon Dioxide (Silica). Food grade is uncooked amorphous silica and not a silicosis hazard. Non-food grade like that used for pool filters has been cooked into crystallized Silica which is a silicosis hazard. It is a desiccant, and thus can kill small...
  18. Donner

    Size for 16 chickens?

    The standard answer is: Coop and Run. 4 sqft per chicken of coop + 10 sqft per chicken of run. Coop only 10 sqft per chicken.
  19. Donner

    Oyter shells

    I am not an expert. My understanding is that chickens who are only fed commercial rations do not need grit. So, presuming your chicks are in a brooder and you are not feeding them a lot of treats like kitchen scraps, cracked corn, BOSS, etc... They should not need grit. My coop has a dirt...
  20. Donner

    Ok, deep breath, letting them free range without supervision...

    I have hired these guys to supervise the chickens when they are free ranging, so I don't have to. They work for food. We have had pretty much no significant issues with the dogs and chickens. An insignificant issue is that one dog has taken a liking to chicken food, and will sneak into the...
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