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  1. Dustoff79

    cleaning with pine shavings

    I add zeolite to my shavings after I have mixed them up. This serves to help dry out the litter and absorbs the ammonia which virtually eliminates the smell. It is a great admendment to the compost pile when I finally do add the litter to it.
  2. Dustoff79

    Weed killer and fertilizer w/ chickens

    Courtney, I too free range my flock. I don't think having my chickens eat the grass/weeds that have been sprayed with the harsh chemical spray is good for them, most labels state it is posionous to "humans and domestic animals" and to not contaminate water sources. I use organic fertilizer...
  3. Dustoff79

    Use of fake eggs

    Thanks, will keep them in.
  4. Dustoff79

    Free-ranging...early?

    I moved my chicks into the coop after two weeks. I had partitioned the back portion off. as they grew I gave them free use of the whole coop while I built a temp outside run. At about two months I just opened the coop door and let them decide. in the evening I would make sure they all went...
  5. Dustoff79

    Use of fake eggs

    I have 22 hens about 22 weeks old, and 5 nest boxes in my coop. After reading several areas in this forum I have added a base (about 2") of shavings and put about 4" of hay over that and placed a golf ball or two in each nest box. Most of my eggs (I am getting about 9 a day) are in the nest...
  6. Dustoff79

    square-head screws, your new best friend

    Quote: Yep, but on the up side, they are all the way in. I have stripped out many crosstip wood screws with a 1/2 inch to go.
  7. Dustoff79

    what is normal when hens start to lay

    I have 4 EE, 4 Ancona, 5 red star, 5 Single Comb Brown Leghorns and 4 buff orpingtons. about 5 days ago, found our first brown egg in one of the nest boxes(I belive it is from one of the red stars) that afternoon found another egg (soft shell) in the same box. next day no eggs, next day one...
  8. Dustoff79

    nest boxes

    are you able to remove the divider? make one large nest box.
  9. Dustoff79

    deep litter and linoleum floor?

    if you add Zeolite (can be found as "Sweet PDZ" at most feed stores) . Zeolites have special properties, namely, they absorb moisture (soak up like a sponge) and they adsorb gases (attract and keep gas molecules stuck to them). This means that ammonia, as well as other bad smelling gases, are...
  10. Dustoff79

    Ever tried this worming formula ? No withholding period

    I am not sure the copper sulfate is a good idea, though not "highly" toxic to birds, it is toxic and does not break-down so it will remain in soil or water if contaminated. I would suggest the DE (food grade) as a better alternative. http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/coppersu.htm see MSDS...
  11. Dustoff79

    General Question,how many % wise of your Flocks sarvive??

    I have been very lucky, i purchased 25 pullets from McMurry and they arrived 2 Nov 08, All 25 are healthy, 1 turned out to be a rooster, and one I am still not sure of. Guess I need to take a picture and ask you smarter folks. I did have a scare one evening. I went into the coop I built, and...
  12. Dustoff79

    Thinking of getting some Peacock's

    Peacocks will make noise at night. Any noise will get them going. I have been in my barn and dropped a bucket on the concrete and was rewarded with a few loud screams from the neighbor's peacocks. They are well over 500 feet from my barn. I like the noise but, you need to be mindful of how...
  13. Dustoff79

    how well do pine shavings break down in a compost pile?

    I agree with Pat. A different "set" of microbes decomposes woody materials (cellulose/lignin) than decompose leafy materials, but IF you regularly have green material (such as freshly-aged grass clippings or fresh cow manure) on hand that can be added to the 'sawdust mix' as it is unloaded...
  14. Dustoff79

    san antonio - ancona rooster- free

    have a Ancona rooster that is about 5 weeks old that I am looking to rehome
  15. Dustoff79

    DE - Diatomaceous Earth

    agree, much safer than chemicals
  16. Dustoff79

    When to add a roost

    I added a 2 bar roost at about a week old. I just used scrap 2x4s as stands and attached a 1x2 between (as roost) I had one level at 4" and the second at 8".
  17. Dustoff79

    Ammonia smell...need help

    Adding Zeolite is a great way to help control the ammonia. you can get it under the name of Sweet PDZ, used for horse stalls. It absorbs ammonia, and is great in the compost pile/garden when you change the bedding. http://www.mall-net.com/mcs/zeolite.html www.sweetpdz.com/ Good luck
  18. Dustoff79

    Does DE affect composting? And do I even need it?

    As an alternative you could use Zeolite in your bedding. http://www.bza.org/zeolites.html I use a product called Sweet PDZ (initially recommended by Jarhead) http://www.sweetpdz.com/ It will help control moisture and smell problems. It is a natural alternative I now use in my coop and...
  19. Dustoff79

    DE - Diatomaceous Earth

    Quote: Have you tried (if around your area) any of the organic nurserys or try: Blue Seal Feeds 876 Stillwater Avenue Bangor, ME [email protected] or http://www.internet-grocer.net/diatome.htm wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/diatomaceous_earth.html...
  20. Dustoff79

    Laying / Nesting areas?

    No I don't think that will be a problem.
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