Colorado

[Pozees]

We often had to go through either the insurance agent themselves or the company that manufactures them. Often they will have programs for people who cannot get insurance coverage and then either give it at cost or give it to you free. There is generally paperwork involved but no more than you would normally have to do.

Coloradogal is on the right track here - see if the manufacturer will send you their description of the items, and ask them if they consider or describe them as disposable. They may even be wiling to intervene on your behalf by contacting the insurance company directly.

Insurance companies rely on us to be too busy, tired, or complacent to keep arguing for the coverage we are paying for.

 

[Pozees]

Has anyone had luck with hostas? Our flower garden in the back has been completely dug up by the chickens, which is fine. It went from being a full sun area to a full shade due to the trees growing. I know hostas love the shade, but i haven't seen many here (had them in MN) and i'm not sure if the chickens will eat them on me.

If those aren't a good one, are there any suggestions for a good full shade plant that the chickens don't like?

I haven't tried them mainly because I always feared they would require more water than I wanted to, or was able to, supply, but I know nurseries sell them in the area so they must survive; whether they will be considered a new snack by the chickens may be another matter altogether Another shade plant I've always loved but never tried (no real shade here yet) is the red/brown heuchera - so pretty, but again, no idea the attraction factor for chickens. Astilbe is a really pretty flowering shade plant, and primrose also does well in shade.

We usually have to protect from antelope and rabbits, and one of the local nursery owners said anything new is targeted just because it's new, doesn't smell like everything else, and must be sampled - often to death. We used repellant sprays repeatedly, and finally put up three of those water squirting scarecrows among a group of sumacs which (knock wood) have so far kept the antelope from biting off every new branch - not to eat, just to do it, they leave them lying there. We have had them in the ground for six years, and this is the first year they have gotten taller.

 

[kmatt87]

Can I just vent for a minute?

Our health insurance company, bless their hearts (and believe me, I'm glad we have them) are telling me that Beth's chest drainage supplies are "disposable medical supplies" and don't cover them! I have a call in to the surgeon so he can apply for a pre-auth that would let THEM decide if they will pay for them or not! I am SO IRRITATED!!!!!

If possible, have her main doctor send something in stating that she needs it. It might help.

My sister has a heart and lung condition and its rare as well as newly recognized. Over the yrs her specialist has needed to contact the insurance company many times in order to get them to pay for a medication/test/treatment. It was a pain in the *** to deal with, but not nearly as much as paying out of pocket would have been.

Good luck!

 

[kmatt87]

I haven't tried them mainly because I always feared they would require more water than I wanted to, or was able to, supply, but I know nurseries sell them in the area so they must survive; whether they will be considered a new snack by the chickens may be another matter altogether Another shade plant I've always loved but never tried (no real shade here yet) is the red/brown heuchera - so pretty, but again, no idea the attraction factor for chickens. Astilbe is a really pretty flowering shade plant, and primrose also does well in shade.

We usually have to protect from antelope and rabbits, and one of the local nursery owners said anything new is targeted just because it's new, doesn't smell like everything else, and must be sampled - often to death. We used repellant sprays repeatedly, and finally put up three of those water squirting scarecrows among a group of sumacs which (knock wood) have so far kept the antelope from biting off every new branch - not to eat, just to do it, they leave them lying there. We have had them in the ground for six years, and this is the first year they have gotten taller.

Had a few of those planted. I couldn't remember what they were called...but our dog peed on them and killed them all!! When we first moved into this place 4 yrs ago i redid the flower bed in back. Spent $500 on really nice perennials and he peed on them all! There is nothing left!! Grrr

Might look into the astilbe. The primrose has to be started from seed i guess (did a little reading). How in the world would i manage to stop the chickens from eating the seeds?!? lol.

Thanks for the suggestions!! It gives me a place to start

 

[Mommato5]

I never responded to the creepy guy that made me think of cock fighting and the next day (yesterday) I got a call from a lady who's looking for a nice rooster (she has kids) to join her flock of 7 pullets! Roo is one lucky rooster!

And, once Baby crows, we have someone (a teacher at my kid's elementary school) who's interested in him, too! I'm feeling better about my rooster situation.

 

[Pozees]

Had a few of those planted. I couldn't remember what they were called...but our dog peed on them and killed them all!! When we first moved into this place 4 yrs ago i redid the flower bed in back. Spent $500 on really nice perennials and he peed on them all! There is nothing left!! Grrr

Might look into the astilbe. The primrose has to be started from seed i guess (did a little reading). How in the world would i manage to stop the chickens from eating the seeds?!? lol.

Thanks for the suggestions!! It gives me a place to start

How frustrating! I don't know whether it works, but there is a product that I think is sold at PetsMart and maybe even Lowe's and Home Depot that is supposed to keep dogs out of the garden. For primrose, I know I've seen plants at local nurseries - not the bog box ones, locally owned ones, so I think they can be transplanted, but probably like poppies, don't really like it, and there will be some losses - making it nearly impossible to plant a really nice row or pattern I have a slope planted with catmint and poppies, and the one poppy in the middle of the top row has died three times. Pretty sure it just isn't a poppy-friendly spot, for whatever reason - the ones only a few feet away that lived, got huge in a year. Good luck!

 

[Pozees]

kmatt87, turns out there's an article about the topic of what plants chickens won't eat right here on BYC and Hostas are on the list!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/plants-chickens-dont-eat

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

kmatt87, turns out there's an article about the topic of what plants chickens won't eat right here on BYC and Hostas are on the list!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/plants-chickens-dont-eat

Huh. Iris is on the list but my girls maimed my irises. They also decided they were in the perfect dust bath spot once or twice and actually dug up the bulbs in their enthusiasm! That being said, they never completely destroyed the irises. It was almost like the length of the leaves was offensive so they, ahh, trimmed them back for me.

 

[wsmith]

I am going to attempt to get the posts set for my work shelter today. The weather looks like it will cooperate.....

 

[dennarahl]

Its coop building day!

We're finally building a bigger coop and if all goes well its going to be done just in time for all my little newly broody hatched babies to move out of my garage. *knock on wood* I'll do a picture post later today.