Australorps breed Thread

[thedragonlady]

Wow! I had no idea that the lives of my chicks were at risk due to gnats. What in the world do they do to chickens?

If your mosquitoes are that bad, you need to vaccinate for fowl pox.

 

[MeanV2]

Are you in Indiana ..I saw they had a problem in May .

Heres a article from the University
http://msucares.com/pubs/infosheets/is1861.pdf
Some say Vanilla works
Also Vet rx or vicks vapor rub , A fan & keep the chickens in a dark place in side
Also Permethrin
...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin
Arm your chickens with what you can

Illinois, and I have my chickens armed with all that and then some.

Dan

 

[fowlmouthgirls]

Ok guys, I got some comb close ups. They are both Australorps, but from different parents and about 3-5 days apart in age.
Alice

Shachiqua

I'm starting to worry that Alice is really going to be Alex!

 

[PrairieChickens]

Ok guys, I got some comb close ups. They are both Australorps, but from different parents and about 3-5 days apart in age.
Alice

Shachiqua


I'm starting to worry that Alice is really going to be Alex!

So far so good. She still looks like a pullet to me.


By the time my aussies had most of their feathers, it was pretty obvious who was going to be a boy. I want to say that this was at about four or five weeks of age, but I can't remember exactly.

 

[fowlmouthgirls]

Oh good! Phew, sigh of relief, lol

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
swarms of them land on their face & bite open areas ...eyes ears nose , some go up their nose & smother them

 

[AParmer]

swarms of them land on their face & bite open areas ...eyes ears nose , some go up their nose & smother them

That's insane! I'm certainly making a trip to the feed store for something to dust the yard with since it's not raining again today. I don't seem to have a bad problem outside though. Most all the ones pestering me are in the house. I can't seem to get rid of them. Of course if I dust outside then they shouldn't have a chance to get in.

 

[aveca]

vetrx really helps ..on comb , face, open areas..it will stay on for possibly 2 days and needs to be repeated..the birds will learn to look forward to it because they know they will be getting releif..

 

[ocap]

are the gnats that you are talking about "black flies"?? I have gnats in MO but they don't seem to bite like the black flies that I have seen in New England

 

[MeanV2]

are the gnats that you are talking about "black flies"?? I have gnats in MO but they don't seem to bite like the black flies that I have seen in New England

Buffalo gnats are related to black flies. I suppose the same family. The gnats here do not bother me at all but others get whelps from the bites of these same gnats. From what I understand the gnats are harder on younger chickens. My Buckeyes have had a tough time dealing with them while the Black Australorps seem to hold their own. I don't understand that but it is what it is.

Dan