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

[Fancychooklady]

Ok so the chicks do have red little bugs on them

It's not a bad infestation but its been confirmed. I have a dusting powder, more surface spray for the coop & lime to dust around the floor of the run. Anything else I need to know? Am I missing anything? Do I have the right stuff? what's the protocol?

Once I get rid of the bugs my daughters daycare has asked if I could bring our chicks into the room for a little show and tell.

I'm thinking about it but are also really unsure they will like it.

It's not just a case of one application , you need to strip the coop and spray every couple of days. The birds need to be treated also . Yellow sulphur powder sprinkled around the bedding and coop is what I use. The entire life cycle of a female mite is only 7 days , so they are busy multiplying and multiply they will, unless you can break the life cycle. I have also sprayed the outside and underside of the coop with Yates success , spinosad.

http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2540&Itemid=2816

 

[mooandmcgee]

Thanks Fancychooklady that's great a great site. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MyHaven]

In any other breed the langshan comb extends to far back over the head and has too many points(or spikes) on it.

But it looks impressive on a langshan.

 

[Fizzybelle]

Question, is it too late in the season now for a moult to start? I expected Ada and Annabelle to have their first full moult after summer, since they're now over a year old, but if they did I must've blinked and missed it. There were no tell tail feathers everywhere, and Annabelle's back feathers, particularly her tail feathers are looking rather tatty. Guess it might wait till spring, or next year now? Or could it be something nutritional that I've overlooked as to why they didn't, though their diets are quite good so I don't know what it could be. I don't give them human junk food, they eat grass, layer crumble (it's pellets broken up smaller) and layer mix with shell grit and/or crushed egg shell for calcium, plus some sustenhance vitamins for poultry. Veges and fruit scraps, bread and rice as well.

 

[appps]

Question, is it too late in the season now for a moult to start? I expected Ada and Annabelle to have their first full moult after summer, since they're now over a year old, but if they did I must've blinked and missed it. There were no tell tail feathers everywhere, and Annabelle's back feathers, particularly her tail feathers are looking rather tatty. Guess it might wait till spring, or next year now? Or could it be something nutritional that I've overlooked as to why they didn't, though their diets are quite good so I don't know what it could be. I don't give them human junk food, they eat grass, layer crumble (it's pellets broken up smaller) and layer mix with shell grit and/or crushed egg shell for calcium, plus some sustenhance vitamins for poultry. Veges and fruit scraps, bread and rice as well.

Mine have never been dependable moulters. I've only got one that moults every year, my frizzle regularly looses all her neck feathers. The others are pretty hit and miss with most years only one or two seeming to do it. Funnily enough the nearly four year old half naked chicken doing our worst molt on record at the moment is also having her first noticable Moult.

 

[Fizzybelle]

Thanks Appps, that's good to know. I was really hoping Annabelle at least would by this summer's end. Here's hoping for next season anyway.

 

[Anniebee]

Teila

Re Kiki. (Using iPad, so no quote available !!! ).

Have read the great suggestions, and your decision to stick with it all, and keep Kiki.

I know I harp on about bringing chooks inside for all kinds of reasons, and am wondering if changing her habitat for, say, a week or 10 days, might break her of the noise. A dog e.g. Who barks incessantly has a behavioural problem, be it separation anxiety, or dominance, aggression (maybe) or protection instinct and defence of territory.

Yes, I know chooks are nothing like dogs, BUT, they all have inbred wild instincts. Taking her from her self appointed position as wanna be head of the palace and all she surveys, placing her in a puppy or lamb cage/crib, alone, totally different digs, might 'break' her of the noise. Then re-introduce her to her friends little by little, returning her to her indoor accommodation, during the day for as long as the slow re-introductions take, and at night. Food, water, bedding and an upturned chair to roost on ... maybe, will give her chookie brain something to consider.

Sounds far fetched I know, but if we can 'break' broodiness, why not try it. Might just work. She just might learn her place in the scheme of things, and quieten down. .Might.

Good luck with whatever method you try.

Cheers.....

 

[Anniebee]

Fizzybelle.

I have only 3. Mindy moults like a dynamo on steroids, and did so twice in one year. ! Mandy takes forever ... Months - starting anywhere
between summer and late autumn. Molly has skipped the process entirely once, and is late starting again.

She had a half hearted attempt, early autumn, stopped and began laying again.

I might be tempted to worry if a hen began a full on moult in Spring, but would not be surprised if that has happened for some ...

They are laws unto themselves. Don't worry.

Cheers ....

 

[Anniebee]

Fancy ....

Having trouble with iPad. Posted to you about the photo of Global Champs in Miami. It disappeared. !! My iPad doesn't do quotes.

What a wonderful ambition to have in such a spectacular setting.

Sure hope your daughter gets to do her hearts desire there one day soon.

Tku for sharing.

Cheers ....

 

[Teila]

Good morning folks

Mooandmcgee ugggh, sorry to hear that the girls do have mites

I can not add any more advice over that which Fancy has already provided except deep breath, do not stress, they are treatable.

I have experienced a bad mite infestation which had me showering multiple times a day, washing our bedding every day, changing and washing clothes constantly etc .. it was not fun but I beat them. If you catch it early and use Fancy’s suggestions, it does not have to be that bad.

Fizzybelle in answer to your moult question .. nope, Crystal started her moult just this week.

With the princesses, Dusty does a quite impressive hard moult and is pretty much ready for the baking tray .. Cilla drops a few feathers here and there but really does not change appearance except for maybe a couple of pin feathers on her head .. LuLu completely lost her tail but otherwise looked normal .. Blondie did not look any different and kind of kept her external plumage which hid the many pin feathers she had .. KiKi dropped a heap of feathers but looked absolutely no different and Crystal has dropped a heap of feathers and looks like she has been playing with electricity; bits sticking out everywhere

So, the princesses are currently listening to classical music