Disclaimer: Fay (BA hen) tested positive for MG and MS two years ago and sadly went to The Rainbow Bridge several months after her diagnosis.
Fast forward to last month: one of Fay's original flockmates --Celeste (BA, coming 7 y.o.)-- began showing what I believe are MG signs like increased...
I've reached a critical point in the nuisance sparrow population at my barn and have ordered a live trap that can hold several sparrows at one time. I'm also looking at changing from hanging feeders (they worked great for about 10 years) to a tote or bucket feeder with the port holes in the...
I've bought an indoor/outdoor, 3-speed, covered motor fan that I'll position somewhere outside my coop. I'd like it to blow into or across the window(s) for interior coop cooling. I plan to site the fan underneath a roof overhang to further protect from the weather, although it is outdoor rated...
They're b a-a-a-a ck again, since we've had a few welcome days of less than freezing weather. Today in the 80's here and feral bees are swarming my hanging chicken feeders. I changed the feeders out for wet chicken mash dishes and plan to hang a couple of open sugar water feeders away from the...
Well, some good news on this forum. Took my 22 week young pullet, Blanche, to my vet yesterday to evaluate/trim her crossbeak. He used a Dremel and took just enough off, top and bottom, to give me a tutorial on how it is done. Said she is in quite good condition despite her eating challenges...
Can't believe we're still in catastrophic drought and the wheels are already turning in my brain--winterizing!
My new run extension is 8'x10' so this winter I'd like to hang/install clear shower curtains or vinyl panels to go around for rain and wind mitigation. Our temps (Central TX) can jump...
Going forward with plans for Blanche, my Meyer Hatchery EE, coming on 14 weeks old. I'd consider her a 'moderate' crossbeak, although I don't know if there is an official/unofficial description of degrees of crossing.
What brand, speed, size, etc. grinding tool :hmm is appropriate, if that's...
While looking for info to help me manage my cross beak, Blanche, I came across this news item:
http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/living/traveling-cross-beak-chicken-visits-fort-hood/article_f1673d8e-1342-11ed-9c3e-03229d160255.html
SOLD
New, in box, unused polyethylene poultry netting with UV inhibitors. Knotted 1" squares, black. Size: 25' x 25'. To cover your outdoor run, or garden. Purchased from this supplier:
https://pinnonhatch.com/poultry-supplies/p/heavy-knotted-poultry-netting-1mesh
Ordered before I realized I...
One of my Meyer Hatchery girls, Blanche, now 11 weeks old, has developed what I consider a "moderate" crossbeak :( As such, I'd like to purchase/make a deep-dish feeder that can hang underneath the coop. I plan to put "chook mash" in this feeder, twice daily. I add cool water to the crumbles...
FYI, in Central Texas here, and brother we are hot! Daily temps now consistently in the mid-90's, plus extreme drought. No such thing as "cooling down"--we only get 'less hot' from about 4 am to 10am with mid-hi 70's and then the temperatures rise.
The early start to and continuance of this...
Have you noticed that both Manna Pro and TSC Dumor brands of chick grit contain vegetable oil as an ingredient? Just wondering if this is for dust control or some other reason. I had an unopened bag of Dumor chick grit in my feed room for a few months in anticipation of my chick arrival, but...
My four chicks are coming onto 4 weeks old, brooded inside. All going well so far! Once we've completed construction on the new run extension (2-3 weeks from now?) plans are to transition the girls into the existing run, which has a raised coop. Both existing run and extension run (they'll...
My new chicks are expected for delivery to my post office the second week of May. I've ordered only 4 chicks (that's what I have space for)--yes I know it's not an ideal number to ship. I haven't done 'day-old chicks' in many years so here are some questions:
Do I need to open the shipping box...
Lots of folks seem to be using puppy pads over some other bedding material to start with, in their brooders. Also some use paper towels. If newspapers are a no-no, aren't the p. pads and p. towels just as slick for chicks to navigate? Wouldn't there be potential for splayed legs on those...
My small batch of four chicks scheduled to arrive next month. I plan to use a brooder plate, and have wool hen available. Are the brooder plates safe to use on top of shavings as bedding? I'll probably raise one side of the plate to have a slanted orientation. Thanks!
I'm researching how to expand an existing coop/run setup by attaching an 8'x10' roofed run. It's the roof purlins, joists, trusses, whatever all those pieces are that hold the metal onto the structure that have my head swirling. Thanks to all the BYC'ers over all the years who took time to post...
Not sure if I phrased my subject line accurately. If I had day-old chicks completely separated from my small flock of hens while they grow into pullets (observing best biosecurity that I can), would this serve as a de facto quarantine period? Would I need to let my chicks grow up and THEN...
Fay, a BA, is nearly 4 years old and is slowly improving from months of inability to stand or walk for periods of time (long, complicated). She has made good progress in the last few weeks but it's obvious from her posture and movements that she is still quite debilitated; she must flap her...
Obviously, with cautions in place re: handling, container, etc. BUT,
Has anyone used dry ice to keep coops cool during excessive heat? What chicken-safe container did you use? What about off-gassing, if any? What about safe placement within coop? Would dry ice be as cool as just a frozen jug...