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

[Fizzybelle]

Well, after I posted I went to check on Aggie and do chicken pre-bedtime chores, and she had laid an egg. At last. It certainly wasn't there as I checked before I posted my last message. I will keep an eye on her behaviour, I have a week off for mid semester break over Easter. She's still clucky, but eating like a horse at the moment, and walking with her flockmates.

Oh I ended up buying some of those fly traps from Bunnings, my homemade one was a total bust. Also have sticky fly strips hanging around the trees and vanilla car trees. That was another tip I came across on these forums. It's been ok on the flies, but has helped with the mozzies! They're evil here, and apparently they really do hate the smell of vanilla.

 

[sjturner79]

Ok, so my silkie Agnes has been on the nest for hours today. Usually doesn't take her that long to lay an egg. She got off when my patting started to bother her, ate and hopped back on. No egg, she's not laid one today, did yesterday though but I collected it soon after. Also not cranky when I pat her. She's making proper 'cluck' noises too, has been the past few days. not the usual long drawn out squawk; it actually sounds like she's saying cluck, cluck, cluck. Is this broody behaviour? I've never had a broody hen before, as I've previously had hybrids who lose interest in their eggs as soon as they're done laying them. I knew with a silkie (and also a young pekin heading into maturity) it was only a matter of time given their reputation.

Edit: I found this vid on youtube, this is what the noise she's been making whilst out with her friends in the garden the past two days, sounds like.

That is what my girls do when they are getting ready to start sitting for a hatch. I would expect in the next few days she will start sleeping in the nest, that's when you give her fertile eggs if you want her to hatch, or start locking her away from possible nests if you don't.

 

[Fancychooklady]

So , it's definitely red mites cause once again today there were hundreds of them on the underside of the lid of the nest box and northern red fowl mites spend their life on their host, rather than hiding out during the day. Being as it only takes 7 days from hatch to adulthood I will have to keep fumigating the coop.
How's this for ' double Dutch ' this link says you can use ivermectin 1% so long as you have an appropriate witholding period but any eggs laid by the birds should never be sold for human consumption . .

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/mites-lice/index.aspx

 

[Deej211]

I missed this post when I looked last night. It's great to see different setup/floorings etc.

What do you have in the nest boxes/buckets, besides the eggs?

And is that a star picket you're using for the leg of the perches/ladder?

The girls should like it and be appreciative of your hard work.

Thanks for sharing.

There is coarse river sand in the buckets as i dont want anything in the coops to clog up the rock. Had a hen lay in the sandpit for a yr so i guess its not bad. Lol. Yes i used 2 star pickets joined by 3 timbers for a roost. they must love it. I have an ara x pekin that i seperated from chicks only a month ago sitting in there all day yesterday and today. Just took her out and put 5 chicks i hatched out monday under her. Shortest sit ever. Got my fingers crossed she takes to them and is a happy crooning thing tomorrow. Shes about the least pecky chook I've ever seen and is a top notch mum. I have high expectations.

 

[Fancychooklady]

gravelled our chook pen on the weekend and dug in a drainage pipe underneath as i am sick of the recurring coughing gurgles and sneezes that come with every rain. Next to no smell and 9-10 eggs everyday since. I think the chookies approve. Best of all i only need to hose it out once a week to keep it clean. Winner all round.

The coughing , gurgling and sneezing is more likely to be an upper respiratory disease than the weather. With mycoplasma the birds will relapse at varying degrees of severity. There are 2 things that I see as ' possible ' problems with your gravel. 1- hosing out won't be a very effective means of cleaning, i.e. The poop will just filter down and sit in the gaps. 2- those larger rocks may cause bruising to the underside of the birds feet , when they jump down from the perch, leading to bumble foot. Using ' fat sand ' or builders sand in the coop is a better option. The course sand creates less dust, helps to keep feet clean, is better for drainage and easy to clean with a sieve . Just my opinion. .

 

[MyHaven]

So , it's definitely red mites cause once again today there were hundreds of them on the underside of the lid of the nest box and northern red fowl mites spend their life on their host, rather than hiding out during the day. Being as it only takes 7 days from hatch to adulthood I will have to keep fumigating the coop.
How's this for ' double Dutch ' this link says you can use ivermectin 1% so long as you have an appropriate witholding period but any eggs laid by the birds should never be sold for human consumption . .

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/mites-lice/index.aspx

I've been told too by people who use ivermectin that they do not with hold the eggs. I would really like to know because I have only got information from hear say.

I'll have to access that link when I'm on wifi - it's not opening for me now.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I've been told too by people who use ivermectin that they do not with hold the eggs. I would really like to know because I have only got information from hear say.

I'll have to access that link when I'm on wifi - it's not opening for me now.

The science and testing hasn't been done on poultry and while some vets recommend it's use, I'm guessing they wouldn't feed the eggs from these birds to their family. People argue that it has been used in the beef industry for years, but even that is no argument for its safety . Cows also have 4 stomachs and a hide thick enough to cover a lounge. . Overdosing and causing massive organ damage is my concern. With the mite infestation that I am now fighting , it would definately be much easier to put a drop on the back of their necks, but I think I'll er on the side of caution. Although I have considered doing a trial on my bachelor pen.
It only kills mites, not chicken lice and intestinal worms , as claimed by many. The ivermectin enters the bloodstream and therefore is effective against bloodsucking parasites such as red mites and scaley leg mite. Chicken lice aren't bloodsuckers, they live on the chicken skin and feather dander.

 

[Fizzybelle]

That is what my girls do when they are getting ready to start sitting for a hatch. I would expect in the next few days she will start sleeping in the nest, that's when you give her fertile eggs if you want her to hatch, or start locking her away from possible nests if you don't.

Thanks for your reply, that's good to know it is broody behaviour. I let the girls out of there sleeping quarters at six this morning, and Agnes has been sitting on the nest since dawn I'm guessing. She didn't sleep on it, but has been there all day so far. This arvo when I get home I'll make sure she gets off and eats, drinks, has a play. I'll be locking her out of the nesting area tomorrow, as I don't have eggs for her to sit. In my eyes she's still too young to be a broody mother, she's still my fluffy baby!

 

[MyHaven]

The science and testing hasn't been done on poultry and while some vets recommend it's use, I'm guessing they wouldn't feed the eggs from these birds to their family. People argue that it has been used in the beef industry for years, but even that is no argument for its safety . Cows also have 4 stomachs and a hide thick enough to cover a lounge.

. Overdosing and causing massive organ damage is my concern. With the mite infestation that I am now fighting , it would definately be much easier to put a drop on the back of their necks, but I think I'll er on the side of caution. Although I have considered doing a trial on my bachelor pen.
It only kills mites, not chicken lice and intestinal worms , as claimed by many. The ivermectin enters the bloodstream and therefore is effective against bloodsucking parasites such as red mites and scaley leg mite. Chicken lice aren't bloodsuckers, they live on the chicken skin and feather dander.

And here I am thinking that I'd found something great for worming. I found the following link also advising that the research hasn't been done. It does eventually say to withhold eggs for 5 days - but where does that come from?


http://www.selfsufficientme.com/pou...eatment-for-chickens-or-other-poultry?start=3

 

[MyHaven]

Just in case I don't get a chance to get back on here for a little while.

Please stay safe over the Easter period everyone.