BYC Café

[ronott1]

Question.
I'm a total newbie.
My hens are "rescues" from an egg farm, so won't let me handle them. A few will let me stroke them but you can tell that they're petrified the whole time.
Several if them have very filthy feathers around their butts. Is there something I should be looking for?

I would treat them for mites and lice--do you see streaks on the eggs they lay?
It is great that you took in Battery hens!

 

[CapricornFarm]

Ooh, chocolate chip cookies! Love those things. Finally eating lunch. I slept right through the alarm this morning! I am painting boards to attach a roof of sorts to the run. It is going to be heavy to get up there! But i need something sturdy with the varmints around here.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

I would treat them for mites and lice--do you see streaks on the eggs they lay?
It is great that you took in Battery hens!

Yes there's streaks on one or two eggs out of the 8 I collected this morning.

I put wood ash in their run, even managed to pick up a few and set them down in it. They just stood there then left.

Since it's difficult to handle them what's the best way to treat them?
They're currently in a horrible old shed that is rotting. Long story but it's at my neighbours place until I finish my coop. I seriously don't think the actual structure is treatable.

 

[N F C]

Morning! Another fine day in store for us. More wood splitting and maybe I will haul some slash away for a neighbor. It is also time to do a final weed whack around the house and property to get ready for the fire season that I think may come. All of the critters are saying, "early winter", but that may be due to our colder Aug., which threw us all off.

Margie, what's "slash"?

I'm hoping for an early winter myself!

 

[ronott1]

Yes there's streaks on one or two eggs out of the 8 I collected this morning.

I put wood ash in their run, even managed to pick up a few and set them down in it. They just stood there then left.

Since it's difficult to handle them what's the best way to treat them?
They're currently in a horrible old shed that is rotting. Long story but it's at my neighbours place until I finish my coop. I seriously don't think the actual structure is treatable.

Use poultry dust on their bottoms for a couple of nights and then again in a week.

You may need to treat the coop too. You can get a permectrum concentrate and make a spray to spray in the coop. Make sure to get the roosts and cracks. Treat the nest boxes too.

What you are seeing is an indication of mites. Keep treating monthly until you do not see streaks on the eggs.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Use poultry dust on their bottoms for a couple of nights and then again in a week.

You may need to treat the coop too. You can get a permectrum concentrate and make a spray to spray in the coop. Make sure to get the roosts and cracks. Treat the nest boxes too.

What you are seeing is an indication of mites. Keep treating monthly until you do not see streaks on the eggs.

Has anyone had much luck adding garlic?

 

[ronott1]

Has anyone had much luck adding garlic?

Garlic might work as a repellent but when mites are up in the vent of a hen, it is too late to repel them...

Mites are hard to get rid of when established in a flock. One person had no luck until using elektor, which is spinosad

 

[CapricornFarm]

Man, i am tired after another day of working on the coop. At least it was not hot out. Husband put the front door on the coop! I just need to attach the wire to the roof for the run. Then will come the big job of lifting the thing on top of the dog run. Getting closer to getting this build done!
If i don't have a cup of tea, i will be asleep soon.

 

[scottcaddy]

Margie, what's "slash"?

I'm hoping for an early winter myself!

google says...
Slash Piles. by Nick Gromicko. Slash (used as a noun) is the accumulation of limbs, leaves, pine needles and miscellaneous fuel left by natural debris and forest management activities, such as thinning, pruning, and timber harvesting.
That is my good deed for the day!
Scott ( It's nite-nite time again here.)

 

[CapricornFarm]

Good night, Scott! Did i ever mention my first grandchild is named Scott!?