Thank you all. I had to do a lot of on-line research and got the info on a hydroponic gardening site. It is ph neutral but has lots of trace minerals. Helps with cell wall strength. So I don't have to worry about the garden getting out of whack. It doesn't kill earthworms, they are 'wet' so it...
Yes, I use the food grade DE also. I'm unsure what the composition of it is. I don't want to over-lime the garden, if it is in fact an alkaline, then I won't want to add lime to the garden in addition to the DE. That is the question.
Does anyone know what DE adds to the garden? I'm using deep litter method and when I do empty the coop I've been putting the litter, which is loaded w/ DE, in the compost pile. I have a new garden plot with very poor soil and am considering putting the litter right into the garden. Is the DE an...
Yogurt, watermelon, tomatoes, any leftover bread. Today they're getting banana and pumpking bread leftover from a wedding breakfast. They'll go bonkers for it! And a big bucket of tomato trimmings from my processing of about 40 lbs yesterday
FID card, that's what I meant rather than a permit, which is required here for a handgun. The dog is now acting a little agitated and is sitting on the back steps. I still have to figure out how to dispatch the critter, I will lock the girls up at night until I get a trap and a fid card and a...
Yes, I had a dream during an afternoon nap that they had gotten out of their temporary, moveable run by knocking one side over and were all over the yard. Woke up, looked out the window, and there they were running around the yard with the side of the pen knocked over. This dream it was a dead...
This is gonna be a problem. Will a BB gun be enough to keep it away? Hens making their usual 'we want breakfast' ruckus. When I looked out to tell them I was coming, a gorgeous, ivory colored, very healthy 'yote was at their run, grinning at them with his tongue hanging out. He just looked at me...
I saw in another post that heat was slowing down other folks hens. It was suggested that a mister in the run may help. I'm off to set one up now! My golden comets were 20 weeks, laying age when I got them in May and the polish crested I raised from chicks, they are over a year old. Age shouldn't...
I joined a local farmers market and sell as many as I bring. I sold 10 dz @ $4 ea. and was sold out in 1 1/2 hrs! I feed my hens organic feed and greens from the garden. Other ppl @ the market sell for 5.50 a dz!! 3.50 for a half dz. Not sure how well they sell, but they are certified organic...
They are getting the same feed and water, (organic and w/ apple cider vinegar,respectively) let out of the run 3 x's weekly at dusk for an hour of running. (Very funny) 15 polish crested and 20 golden comets, only a few are broody. Such good girls, but I'm down to 10dz eggs a week for the...
I'm getting about 16 eggs from 35 girls, down from 25 a day. Whats going on??!! Only a couple are broody. I sell at the local frmers market and last week only had 10 dz. which sold out in 1 1/2 hrs. Market runs for 4 hours!
I love my polish crested. I have 14 hens, and one sultan hen. They have started laying in earnest and I get 8 eggs a day. A few really like to be held and patted. I use DE in their coop so mites shouldn't be a problem. I hadn't thought to trim head feathers, good idea. I plan on ordering 6...
This link is incredible. Thanks Ruth, and all who pointed me in the right direction. Yes, my hens foot looks exactly like that. Tomorrow I (and she) will be all set. Again, Thanks a million! Donna
That's what I was afraid of! lol
And, we are not going above freezing for a wk or so here,
I hate to leave her w/ a wound.
Is it an infection that can be resolved w/ a med, do you know?
Thanks!! Donna
She is not using her right foot, is hopping. When I looked, she has a big swollen 'knot'on the bottom, where her toes all meet up. I put blue-kote and when it dried put a triple antibiotic ointment. I'm sure these won't help, I didn't see any broken skin. Can I use sulmet for this? Or do I need...
Hi, I have 4 that I know of and maybe 1-2 more roosters that are getting feisty. Need to go, they are Beautiful! Crow like teen boys going through puberty. ;^ ) Looking for homes where they will live, not be meat. I'm in Grafton which is SE of Worcester. Pls email or call 508-839-9602...
Your coop ia awesome awesome awesome!!! And I love your chickens, I have the same, but they're 4 wk old chicks right now. Beautiful. And, My hubby and I are building our first coop w/o plans too! hahahaha We have a two story wood playhouse, cut the 2nd floor out and are building on to it. I...
Hi From Central Massachusets. I'm a newbie too. This place is great! As is your coop. Your chickens ought to be happy there! We're converting a two story wooden playhouse that my boys have outgrown for our 27 chicks. It's a fun process. C Ya, Donna