Crazy Chicken Lady in Florida

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Butt_Nugget_Hut092

Butt_Nugget_Hut092

Chirping
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May 30, 2024
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Location
Florida
Hi everyone,
My name is Amanda and I hatched my first chickens last October from eggs that were given to me. It's been quite the learning curve.
I currently have 6 laying hens in my coop on my property. Then another 16 chicks in a brooder... chicken math is real...
As far as breeds go I have a mix, I wasn't told what the eggs were when I was given them. So this is my best guess after researching for my 6 hens. I have three barred Rock hens, an Ameraucana (possibly Ameraucana/barred Rock mix), a white Plymouth hen, and I believe a silver laced wyandotte mixed with possibly a black Sussex but I'm not positive on her.
Then chick wise, I have 6 marans, I believe 5 cuckoo marans and 1 midnight majesty maran, a white legbar, an Ameraucana, a silkie, a Crele old english bantam, a blue old english bantam, a cochin bantam, an easter egger, a welsummer, and supposedly 2 olive eggers.
I love chickens in general and love spoiling them. What I don't love is all the poop, the flies in the coop, and the stress of keeping them safe from predators.

Photos of my hens attached.
 

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pennyJo1960 said:
Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out. I use spent coffee grounds in my coop love the smell not as many flies.
Click to expand...
Really?
The flies in my coop are insane and I have tried so many things to keep them down.

Different beddings (Pelletized pine, hay, sand), PDZ stall refresher, Barn Lime, Peppermint spray, Fly Tapes, Fly Traps, chicken safe pest powders and sprays...
I keep the coop and run as clean as possible, doing weekly hose downs of everything to keep the poop down, and they still will not go away. I'm dumbstruck with how stubborn and resistant the stupid flies are.
 
Hiya, Amanda, and welcome to BYC! :frow

We didn't have a fly problem until the farm across the road sold a few years ago to a lady with horses. We use horse bedding pellets in the coop so there's no wet poop in there so beats me why they were in there but you had to hold your breath so you wouldn't breath one in.

My sister who raises turkeys commercially put me on to this stuff. I just spray one dot on the window, and one on each of the walls. It lasts a month. The dead flies are safe for the chickens to eat.

It's pricey, but I bought my can about 5 years ago and it's still over half full. We've used nothing else. It does a wonderful job!


fly bait.jpg
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow

Your flock is gorgeous! ♥️ Thanks for sharing!

Best wishes with the flies, they are definitely attracted to moisture and poop, so keep things as clean and dry as possible.

Make yourself at home here!
 

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