Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[AussieChics]

Howdy AussieChics

When I had my run-in with a mite infestation (not sure if you remember my posts from back then) they were tiny and being old, I could only really see them with my glasses on; did not look anything like fleas and more like tiny, tiny spiders.

Sorry about the too much information to follow but they prefer to hang out in warmer areas of the body and if you do have a few, you can see them on the inside of undergarments; bras, undies etc.

Even talking about it now is creeping me out ; but we noticed we had a problem when we got itchy and I thought it was the new fabric softener I was using but nope, we had a mite problem.

The good news, it is fixable

I know I can never say we do not have some mites but after that episode, I have a mite phobia and probably over-prevent now rather than under-prevent 

I find them on my arm mostly. Think i had one near my ear. Freaked out it might be nits. Im gunna check the cat tonight cos he has been sleeping on my clean washing specifically the top im wearing (just realised lol)

 

[Steampunked]

Nothing much to share right now, but man are my Anconas pretty (or so I think!):

 

[Teila]

All the research I did said that while they can be found on humans, dogs and cats, they do not survive off the bird host for more than a couple of days. They will, however, nip said humans, dogs and cats!

Research also indicated that one type of mite stays entirely on the chicken while another hides in the cracks of the coop, roosts etc and comes out only at night to bite the birds.

No-one told my infestation that! These things were crawling on the coop walls!

Anyways, what I did learn is that, if their host were to die or vacate the nest, they go off in search of another which would explain their being out and about in the coop and on the lawn where I saw them also.

I thought they may have been introduced by the bush turkey we had pay a visit but I think now, they may have relocated from the numerous Dove nests we have in the trees. Either that or whatever I had were not mites

Fingers crossed that you do not have a mite problem

 

[Teila]

I hate having to rehome my boys!

OK, I am probably going to ramble now

Whenever I give into a broody I beat myself up over the consequences of having boys and the worry of where they are going to end up. I can't keep them, I certainly can't even entertain the other alternative to finding them homes, so I have to trust my judgement and let them go.

I have been lucky in the past in that they have been taken by people who live on an acreage or are replacing a rooster who they lost. But, who knows? That could just be something they are telling me to make me feel better?

I have a lady coming tomorrow who may take all three .. while it would be good to rehome them together; who takes three possible roosters? Granted they are beautiful little boys but still

Aaargh! Next time I have a broody and I mention caving, please, please, please remind me of how I feel right now

 

[Kooka]

I hate having to rehome my boys!

OK, I am probably going to ramble now

Whenever I give into a broody I beat myself up over the consequences of having boys and the worry of where they are going to end up. I can't keep them, I certainly can't even entertain the other alternative to finding them homes, so I have to trust my judgement and let them go.

I have been lucky in the past in that they have been taken by people who live on an acreage or are replacing a rooster who they lost. But, who knows? That could just be something they are telling me to make me feel better?

I have a lady coming tomorrow who may take all three .. while it would be good to rehome them together; who takes three possible roosters? Granted they are beautiful little boys but still

Aaargh! Next time I have a broody and I mention caving, please, please, please remind me of how I feel right now

Naa! Nature made the ratio of males to female for a reason......that is fine and dandy in Nature. Domestic chooks never got the message that in a protected environment where predation is not a day to day fact of life that ratio is no longer required.

WE, the folks that choose to adopt the responsibility that Nature imposes HAVE to step up and accept the responsibility fair and square.

I get squeamish about the roosters, after all in most breeds the rooster is a stunning looking bird.

BUT

The fellas have a role to play, and in the small flock we just aren't able to provide that role or the "natural" predation that drives the ratio in the first place.

Does not help you feel better, I understand your feelings..... but like you next time I will get a few eggs and it will be on again

Ho Hummm!

 

[appps]

@Teila. I didn't know you can't worm while they are moulting. Is that from the wormer instructions or just something you've heard on here?

 

[IamSamSam]

Teila you know all my LS roos went to one big farm. They then take the boys to auction and sell them ! It was all for saving the roos that these girls took them I use them a lot. Hope you find someone like that

 

[Teila]

Thanks Kooka, Thanks Sam

Today is the day

As I mentioned, I have this lady coming this morning but luckily I also have 5 or 6 others interested so if my gut instinct says “No”, I have other options.

I am going to miss the little guys but I can take comfort in the fact that I am going to give KiKi and Crystal the best life I can and after today, both of them and Cilla will be able to break out of the broody pen and explore the garden. I know Cilla is keen to get back to free ranging.

I will be kept amused with shepherding from the Aunties

appps I have Kilverm Wormer whose active constituent is Levamisole and the directions state “This product is contraindicated in extremely hot weather” which we all know and I could have sworn I read about the moult contraindication on there also but I can’t see it now

One school of thought is that the wormer can cause deformed feathers and also that their system is already under stress with the moult and worming them could possibly increase that.

 

[appps]

Howdy AussieChics

When I had my run-in with a mite infestation (not sure if you remember my posts from back then) they were tiny and being old, I could only really see them with my glasses on; did not look anything like fleas and more like tiny, tiny spiders.

Sorry about the too much information to follow but they prefer to hang out in warmer areas of the body and if you do have a few, you can see them on the inside of undergarments; bras, undies etc.

Even talking about it now is creeping me out ; but we noticed we had a problem when we got itchy and I thought it was the new fabric softener I was using but nope, we had a mite problem.

The good news, it is fixable

I know I can never say we do not have some mites but after that episode, I have a mite phobia and probably over-prevent now rather than under-prevent 

That was us too, skin folds itched like hell.

 

[Teila]

Well, just like that, my little boys are gone

The lady who took them seemed nice and she apparently lives on acreage where the chooks get to free range all day and then penned up at night.

Cilla is keeping Crystal and KiKi close and is currently camped out under their coop and not showing any interest in going into the temporary, even bigger extension I have just made her which includes nice green lawn. Way to go in making me feel bad Cilla!

I will give her a couple of days and then let her out for real; have a meet the Aunties session etc. Hopefully soon we will have one flock again.