Arizona Chickens

[kevs-chickadees]

When all else fails, it's time to borrow some time-honored advice from Carl Spackler. Now, where did that box of dynamite go?

The not so environmental friendly version is mixing just enough flammable material with engine oil, dumping it down the whole and lighting it. Depending on the amount of oil used it will burn for hours. Not that I've ever done it.

 

[pipemum]

Wheat Grass "butts" from the juice cafe. They actually called me to let me know they had some. I love my little chicken community!

Ah, you've reminded me of a forgotten resource! I used to grow and juice wheat grass. I still have a bunch of trays and wheat seeds. The weather is perfect, guess I'll get some trays started.

 

[MandyFitch]

Ah, you've reminded me of a forgotten resource! I used to grow and juice wheat grass. I still have a bunch of trays and wheat seeds. The weather is perfect, guess I'll get some trays started.

They loved it! And the place must go through many flats a day. I'm thinking of lining my whole coop with it!

 

[heidisue]

Yes, that'd be great, let us know! 

I checked and it is Amdro - it says for fire ants on the package and on the back it also says for harvester ants. It worked great though - but I wouldn't put it in the garden and I kept my girls in the run for a few days after I put it down.

 

[kpgoldstar]

Hey everyone!
Thanks to all who have responded and helped with my endless questions about ff. Last night I left the dry feeder out of the brooder. The small trays I had left of ff were picked clean. This morning when I fed I had full bubbles and a big poof of gas from the ff container (a gallon glass jar). I fed about 3/4 cup for 4 3-week old chicks in 2 separate containers. They didn't devour it or act like they were crazy hungry. I left the dry feeder out of the brooder all day and was gone until 5. The containers were again clean as a whistle.

I refilled them and although they seemed ravenous when I first set them down, they didn't devour the feed and left quite a good amount in there. They got their short lawn time for as long as we could tolerate as the wind was blowing and it was a little chilly out (if you can call 75 chilly!) Cleaned the brooder, they definitely seemed to have pooped less in the 24 hours since switching and it is smaller and a little harder or more pebbly I guess.

As I was transferring chicks from lawn back to garage brooder box I left the screen lid off. They all can fly to the top edge of the brooder without the lid now. Only two ever attempt it on a regular basis. Of course my most adventurous one vying for top hen escaped over the top and discovered the dry feeder next to the box and was happily eating away!! Little Bugger! We got her back in and I remembered about sprinkling some dry feed over the ff. I did that and they seemed a little more interested.

Now a little over an hour later and one container is nearly empty and the other is about 1/2 full. They are all cozy and content on their roost together. I plan to not place the dry feeder back in there tonight. I know it is a learning curve and an adjustment to not have access to feed 24 hours a day and I feel bad if they seem to be starving by morning but I realize the health benefits of ff.
Pipemum you did not come off as a know it all. I appreciate your advice and knowledge and it helps to also have someone who is not home all day and has evenings when you don't make it home until after your birds have gone to bed. Thanks for your posts.

So do the flats of wheatgrass normally get dumped by the juice places after they have harvested the tops? I may have to go on a hunt!

My coop arrived yesterday and even though my hubby used to be a contractor, we bought a prefab put-together one. We own a business and just don't have time for lengthy projects around the house so this was perfect. My girls should be ready for their permanent home by the weekend of the 26th. They will be 5 weeks by then.

P.S. Lighter fluid is another not so environmentally friendly way of eliminating ants. Squirt over the entire hill and ignite. I don't have and have never even heard of leaf cutter ants. YIKES! We have just the standard piss-ants we call them and have had to resort to the Ambro or whatever it's called on just a few occasions. Make sure you keep any pets away from that stuff, highly toxic.

 

[Angelray]

All this talk of FF has me thinking...honestly it was the idea of firm poop & less of it that really caught my attention! Gonna start a batch this weekend I think....yup. Also going to start building my 2nd coop for meaties! Im so happy with my polish girl, Calico. She has laid an egg for me almost everyday!! My fluffy butts are growing fast & enjoying a treat of boiled Calico eggs with some mash. Goodnight folks!

 

[MagicChicken]

Today was the roosters' day out. They alternate free-ranging days with the pullets. Checked on everyone this morning, let the rooster boys out, did the yard chores and then left the house around 10:30 this morning. The birds have free choice food and water in the coop/run. They prefer the fish flavored water from the pond when they are out. They usually pop into the coop/run for a snack several times a day, and then tank up in the evening before going to roost.

Tonight I didn't get back until dark. Went to close the coop and found... the coop was already closed and locked. Huh? Then I discovered one of the roosters outside the coop, trying to figure out how to get in. Huh? again... Then I noticed the rest of the rooster boys roosting on a nearby rail - all outside the coop. Hmmm... I must have let them out this morning, then closed and locked the coop door behind them... Either that or someone sneaked into my yard just to close and lock my chicken coop with no birds in it... Yeah, right. Guess I am a bad chicken momma, sending the kids out to play and then locking them out of the house

Good thing everyone was ok. I picked the boys up and moved them to their normal roosts. They seemed relieved to be back home. Bet they eat a lot of feed tomorrow. Poor boys!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

A quick search showed that one Amdro product may be effective for leaf cutters (I'm assuming the Texas leaf cutters aren't going to vary TOO MUCH from ours) (from the Texas A&M Extension site):

Quote:

A permie site mentioned using a fungicide to destroy the food source in the mound. Said you can find stuff in the hardware stores specific to leaf cutters, but no product mentioned.

I don't have much more time to search today, but I'll search for more information tomorrow.

Oh boy, that doesn't sound good. I'm not sure I'd feel safe using it in my back yard since we grow food everywhere. Maybe the colony in the front though.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I'm seriously thinking about getting one of those body suits. They are hilarious. Imagining wearing it with all my lumps, rolls, and not so pleasant stuff completely visible is a bit horrifying, but walking downtown during lunchtime and the stares, all while being incognito, PRICELESS. Then I could pad around the house in the suit, and freak out my dogs. And chickens. And husband. And probably kid. I dunno. $15 and loss of dignity is a small price to pay for massive amusement. Like, I could wear the suit and sit around reading my Kindle, like it was totally normal. Making dinner in the suit. Oh, oh, going for a run in the suit. Uh, that might be a bit much.

What the heck is the actual purpose of the suits? Halloween costume?

That's the funniest thing I've read in some time. We should all do it!

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote:

A permie site mentioned using a fungicide to destroy the food source in the mound. Said you can find stuff in the hardware stores specific to leaf cutters, but no product mentioned.

I don't have much more time to search today, but I'll search for more information tomorrow.

Oh boy, that doesn't sound good. I'm not sure I'd feel safe using it in my back yard since we grow food everywhere. Maybe the colony in the front though.

I wonder if a ring of sulfur powder would work to keep the ants out of certain areas, without harming gardens and soil?