California - Northern

[EZFarms]

Don't be adding new birds until you know what killed your current ones. Cold stress can manifest symptoms of some other underlying condition. I read that up to 98% of backyard flocks have MS/MG carriers but may never exhibit CRD symptoms until a time of stress like brooding, molting, prolific egg laying, heatwaves, cold temps, etc, and then you can walk out one morning and find a seemingly healthy bird dead for no apparent reason. Plus AI has been found in Calif. Foster Farms had to destroy 4,000 turkeys in a remote farm and AI can kill a chicken quickly in 24-48 hours after contracting the virus. A necropsy is the only way to know for certain what got your birds. You don't want to add healthy birds until you know what's up for certain. Yes, it's a hassle but that's the responsibility we take on with chicken keeping.

Re DE: I had Leghorns that were particularly sensitive to dusts and always sneezed for an hour after just a plain old dirt/dust bath so I never used powdered treatments on my birds -- I use organic Manna Pro Poultry Protector spray which has no massive danger warnings like the labels of pymethrin or DE dusts and my coop/chickens have been lice/mite free for 31/2 yrs. Poultry Protector can be used as often as you need without danger - just follow label instructions. The following website presented DE pros/cons intelligently IMO: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/05/diatomaceous-earth-de-benefitrisk.html

Make your own decisions -- I'm just throwing out things for your perusal.

yeah im not adding for a while im just looking around

 

[ronott1]

It's been blowing 20-25 knots all day here in Fairfield.
I was told by a local fruit tree farmer that the wind should not knock off your blooms if the tree is healthy & grew strong flower/fruit stems.
We had a big bud drop a couple years ago but it was because of a mold?mildew? problem with a long wet spell.
I'm sure gale-force winds would be an exception, though.
I'm hoping for a decent crop this year too - apricots, plums, apples, pears, & figs.

Were you in the Navy?

When I was growing up, on Uncle of mine came back from Vietnam and surprised me by saying that a bicyclist was traveling at about 12 knots...

 

[chrissyr]

Wow, did you other NorCal folks just get a big blast of wind for the past two hours? Hope it doesn't blow off my baby peach blooms!

Oh i have to get a pic, but the almond orchard next to us looks like snow all over. its absolutely beautiful!! but I venture not go go out there because of the allergies

 

[Sylvester017]

I have one in a coop and that flock really likes it. I don't like cleaning the tube the nipple waterers are secured in, so I try to keep the whole system in the shade to reduce cleaning cycles.

Thanks for your input. Using shade under a backyard popup canopy is what I had in mind for one of the BriteTaps. BriteTap reviewers said they liked using the BriteTap Sun Cover over the waterer so I ordered those also. The reviews said they have gone as long as 2 weeks with no algae visible through the clear waterer but I certainly mean to change it more often than that! The written instructions, videos, and BriteTap emails have been very helpful -- if only all online product sellers could be so thorough!

The detailed multiple videos of every product Cove Products sells is the reason we decided on their Chicken Condos Mobile Barn Coop/Run Pkg for our coop replacement. They even have a video for every accessory they sell like their chicken ramp, nestboxes, treat balls, treadle or silo feeders, predator eyes nitelite, auto chicken door, etc etc etc.
http://www.chickencondos.com/index....-x-8-run-w-4-x-4-barn-coop-basic-tractor.html

We watched the assembly instructions for Eggstreme Fiberglass Coops and the Amish Board & Batton Coops and they looked so awkward with 2 men having to assemble them using power screw drilling every painstaking step of the way that we opted for the somewhat easier-to-assemble Cove Products Barn Coop which also has a dog kennel run below it with optional additional kennel runs to add easily. The runs are sturdy powder-coated kennel wire and a bit sturdier than even 1/2-in hardwire. The mobile feature and optional wire tray for summer use is what sold us on the Cove Products Chicken Condos. We get very hot in SoCal and the Amish-built and Eggstreme Coop models were too much enclosed and neither came with run options or additional mesh-tray floor options. We BYCers all have different requirements depending on our climate zones.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

On the subject of DE and its ability to kill lice and mites.

I used Sevin poultry and plant dust for awhile, but once one of my birds got a slightly irritated red spot on her skin at the place where I dusted her, I switched to DE. I have not had ANY problems not being able to kill lice since I've used it. I purchased an OEGB cock from a show, and when I got home and really checked him over, I found that he had a really bad infestation of lice. They were everywhere on him. All I had to do was lift a little portion of his feathers to see them scurrying around.

They were even burrowing holes in his skin by the feather shafts. Gross, I know.

This is how I treated him, and how I treat all my animals who get lice or mites. I take a spray bottle with water in it and saturate the feathers (or fur) in the places where I will apply the DE. Usually under the wings, inside the V of the tail feathers, or on the top of the head or under the throat on goats. Then I cake the DE on, rubbing it in gently. After that, I spray more water right on top to get everything wet again. The DE will dry really fast, and will cling to the feathers or fur. I've found that this keeps the DE on for longer than just dusting, which helps kill all the nasty bugs.

My OEGB cock was completely free of lice in 2 days, with 1 application of DE.

Hope this information helps.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: Yep, heavy winds all day. I was planning on checking on my hive today, but it's too windy to open it up.

As for my fruit trees, everything has blossomed or is in blossom now, except my apples, fig, and apricot. My pluots are done. My plums are in full bloom now. My nectarines and peaches just started blooming. Usually it snows on the blossoms when they bloom early, so I'm sure that's coming next.

 

[RooJi]

If you don't find any from someone in this group you could try Metzer Farms:


-Kathy

Thanks!!

 

[Sylvester017]

yeah im not adding for a while im just looking around

Chicken keeping can be a real bummer sometimes. I've never lost an adult but have lost two juveniles and have one Silkie I've had to rush to the vet 4x in one year -- we figured from vet visits alone (not counting feed, housing, health maintenance products, treats, etc) that her little Cadbury eggs cost us $5 apiece last year!!!!!

 

[casportpony]

I'd love to do a side-by-side experiment with DE, poultry dust, Sevin and ivermectin given orally, by injection and topically. I'll have to see if I can find six with lice and try it.

-Kathy

 

[ronott1]

I'd love to do a side-by-side experiment with DE, poultry dust, Sevin and ivermectin given orally, by injection and topically. I'll have to see if I can find six with lice and try it.

-Kathy

Good article

http://www.lonestarfarmstead.com/animal-care/permethrin-vs-de/