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  1. Hecate

    Hecates Page

    The Hatching Adventure Begins! I set up my brand new Little Giant forced air incubator on the 7th in order to give it plenty of time to stabilize and for me to get to know how it operated. I haven't had any troubles with it yet -- I am very satisfied with it! I received 16 eggs from...
  2. Hecate

    My Chickens are Sleeping in their Nest Boxes

    I have a few girls that like to sleep in the nest box. They never have an issue with not laying because it's where they sleep - they all lay well. The only problem I do have is that sometimes they poop in the box upon waking, but even that is not usual. I have read that hanging a curtain in...
  3. Hecate

    Keeping the run clean

    I used to add straw or grass clippings to our run and had the same problems you described. I abandoned that when we relocated out coop, and kept it bare earth, which has helped a lot. Someone on another thread mentioned using a product called Sweet PDZ awhile back. We've been using it in the...
  4. Hecate

    Cheap ways to he a chicken coop

    Our coop is slightly smaller than what would be recommended for the number of chickens we have. Consequentially, our hens like to roost outside in the run when it's nice weather, and stay huddled close together in winter to keep warm. We have small vents to keep heat in during the winter, and...
  5. Hecate

    What do you put in the nest boxes?

    I have several aromatic herbs growing in my garden (rosemary, lavender, basil) and like to add several sprigs to the nest box weekly. It helps keep pesky bugs down and keep things smelling fresh.
  6. Hecate

    poke weed and poke berries

    As I understand from several herbalist sources, the seed in the berries is very toxic to people, but must be crushed to release the toxin. Our birds like the berries and the young shoots. We've never had any trouble with it.
  7. Hecate

    Don't have the nerve- 6 roos driving me nuts!

    I'm in the same boat - we have a local butcher just down the road, but they don't process chickens. I found out who butchers chickens around us through a 4-H leader. You might try that route. Good luck!
  8. Hecate

    Combo playscape/coop/run is DONE!!!

    Love it!
  9. Hecate

    screaming/screeching hen !?!?

    Our polish is a screamer. She was nice and quiet over the winter, but now that the weather has warmed up, she's back at it. It is indeed the most cacophonous racket - much worse than the rooster we had!
  10. Hecate

    Help, dead hen with NO clue

    Wish I could offer more than this, but I had a polish who up and died out of nowhere last year. She was for all appearances healthy, and upon inspection showed no parasites, injuries or the like. Since no other hens came down with anything, I had to assume she was simply not a hardy gal, or...
  11. Hecate

    Packing peanuts

    Have you checked to see if there are any hatcheries close enough for you to drive and pick up your order? That's what we do, and we don't have to worry about minimum orders or getting roosters we can't keep. Plus, it's cheaper for us to drive than to have our chicks delivered.
  12. Hecate

    Alternative Brooder Bedding Ideas?

    Organic potting soil mix with no fertilizer/chemicals. It has worked really well for us every time. Don't know if I will use it this year with ducklings - we'll have to see how sloppy they are.
  13. Hecate

    what are the names of your chickens?

    Hecate, Isabelle, Lucy, Elizabeth, Autumn, Chica, Chicken #1, Chicken #2, Electra, and 3 unnamed Busckeye hens and 1 buckeye rooster.
  14. Hecate

    Sand Hill Preservation Center

    I am sending in my order for assorted ducks today. I was hoping for their first ship date, but I saw on their website that they are sold out on the assortment until May 4. I have been getting their catalog for years, but have only ordered seeds so far (always quality!), since I wasn't set up...
  15. Hecate

    Muscovies in US - REGULATION CHANGES OPEN FOR COMMENTS - 10/1 update

    When it comes right down to it, only individual states should be regulating what is and is not considered an invasive species in their own state, and determing for themselves the appropriate actions. The federal government has a simple task - defense of the nation so that the states can go...
  16. Hecate

    Muscovies in US - REGULATION CHANGES OPEN FOR COMMENTS - 10/1 update

    ...getting the a-okay for a new critter! Reading the text, it seems that the real concern is that they are being released for hunting. Regardless of the reason, I still don't think it's okay. If they're concerned about the *feral* population, they ought to offer a hunting bounty or some such...
  17. Hecate

    Muddy mess....straw, pine, sand?....HELP

    I feel your pain - snow melt here created the most disgusting mess in the chicken pen! Last year we had plenty of wood chips available from a maple tree we had trimmed up. I would throw a pile into the pen wherever the muck seemed to be the worst and let the chickens scratch and spread them...
  18. Hecate

    Lead in oyster shell?

    Safe lead levels: Blood - 10 micrograms/deciliter Soil - uncontaminated if lead level is lower than 15 ppm Drinking water - 15 micrograms/liter is the EPA actions level Food (intended for consumption by children, FDA) - 0.5 microgams/mL; other food varies See the following website for a...
  19. Hecate

    Can your chickens eat butternut/acorn squash?

    Squash seeds are supposed to be good for natural worming, too - so it's a nutritious feed supplement, and a precautionary medicine all in one! Ours are crazy for winter squash!
  20. Hecate

    No eggs in two months this is a problem!

    I am in a similar situation. I have several hens (all heritage breeds) that are 15 months old and layed well all spring and summer, but have now stopped altogether for the last 2 months. Only two out of 8 have nice red combs and wattles. I am finally considering sending the others to the pot...
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