INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Mother2Hens]

Is anyone else having trouble with flies this year? We hardly had any problems with them last year, but they are terrible this year. Do any birds eat them? I know my chickens ignore them, but was wondering about Guineas or Muscovys?

Flies are one thing that I don't mind killing! Here's some various information that I ran across last spring and kept it to post during Fly Season:

Get Rid of Flies

Flies love chicken poop. Use (coarse) sand as chicken coop litter and chicken run ground cover. Sand coats droppings and dries them out, reducing odors and moisture simultaneously.

M2H comment: After reading about Agricultural/Garden Lime, I bought a bag to try as a coop deodorizer instead of Sweet PDZ. It's about a quarter of the price, and I think the Ag Lime does a much better job. (The kind I bought is powdered, so I sprinkle it around when the chickens aren't in the coop in order to prevent respiratory issues). After I scrape poop off the tray each morning, I sprinkle Ag Lime over the poop residue areas, which deters flies. If you don't have time to scrape poop before you go to work, just throw some Ag Lime over the poop to prevent hovering flies. There have been two wasp nests in the coop this summer. Both times, I waited until right before the chickens came in to sleep for the night (when the wasps are resting in the nest). I threw Ag Lime on the nest several times in a row. The wasps start to come out and the lime powder adheres to them-- I guess it smothers them, but it has worked). Now back to Flies . . .

Plant Warfare:
Plant herbs around your coop and yard. Basil, lavender, mint and rosemary are all natural fly repellents.
Grow some carniverous plants that eat flies.

Vanilla Air Fresherner "Trees" for cars - Some claim hanging several together keep flies away.
M2H comment: Didn't work for me. I hung some in a bush (tasteful decor), and it didn't repel flies, but the smell repulsed me!

Fly Traps:
Each type of physical fly trap has its drawbacks: some are stinky, nasty to look at and some are costly, but most are effective to varying degrees.

Trap-n-Toss is an inexpensive, disposable trap should be hung no higher than four feet from the ground. It's stinky, but effective.

The Epps Biting Fly Trap attracts flies that bonk into the unit, fall into soapy water and drown.

Biological Warfare: Use an all-natural, organic, live enzyme purifying/cleaning solution such as Farm 360 to expedite the decomposition of organic waste. By breaking down organic waste, odor-causing compounds are eliminated, ammonia is neutralized and the coop and yard are healthier for chickens to live in without those pesky flies around.

Make your own Herbel Pest Control:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/04/herbal-pest-contol-spruce-coop-herbal.html
Ingredients include: Bay leaves, Calendula petals, Catnip, Chamomile (Egyptian), Cinnamon chips, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Orange peel granules, Oregano, Peppermint, Rose petals, Spearmint, Tansy, Wormwood.

 

[chick rookie]

So today we go out to the run and discover a dead Welsummer pullet. Her head and guts were missing but don't look like much of a struggle happened as there were 0 feathers around. Whatever ate it also didn't go thru the breasts but from the back. Then we realized another Welsummer pullet was missing. Anyone have any idea what could have gotten them? We had a falcon last year, but he didn't eat the heads. And then he disappeared ;-) any input would be much appreciated


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Sounds like my weasel attack last year. Sorry about your loss

I have no idea why she thinks they are ugly. I'm about to just bring one home and she can deal with it lol.


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My DH thinks my Silkies are ugly too but he like them????

Is anyone else having trouble with flies this year? We hardly had any problems with them last year, but they are terrible this year. Do any birds eat them? I know my chickens ignore them, but was wondering about Guineas or Muscovys?

for all the people that are having FLY problems.... get some Fly Pretors, you can order on-line or from any horse supply books ie.... Valley Vet, Jeffers ect.. it is a long term solution but it is Awesome. they are Fly that eat Flys, they dont "bug" other critters, none of them, they are great!!!

Ok y'all. I'm at a loss... For the last 2 weeks my ladies egg production has plummeted! I have 8 (out of 16) girls that are around a year old. We normally get 5-7 eggs a day. We are lucky if we get any right now. There was not a single egg yesterday. It's like they all got together and decided to go on strike. I think a couple may be molting, but definitely not all of them. Any ideas what could have caused the extreme change and what to do about it. For the first time since they started laying we don't have a single egg in the fridge! If I have to go to buy store eggs when I have 16 birds I'm gonna lose it.

not to mention store eggs are gross.... lol

Hello all Indiana Chicken People. I have been on here for almost a year but just found this forum. Ive been on a couple of the others.

Im from nothern Indiana in Goshen and have a couple chickens Im trying to find.

My flock consists of the following:

2 Black copper marans (pair) love my rooster, only mature i have, pic below
8 young Blue laces Red Wyandottes not yet laying and unfortunately all splash (2 pullets and 3-4 cockerels for trade or sale)
3 blue eggers, not sure if true americana but one looks the part
1 bared rock
3 isa browns
1 Tolbunt polish (after this weeks Elkhart Co fair ends)
and a couple young ones that were to be blue coppers and one olive egger pullets but they all SEEM to be roos, not cool.

anyway, here is what Im looking for:

Black (or maybe Blue) copper maran hens/pullets
Black/dark Blue laced Red Wyandotte cockrel (maybe roo) to balance my 2 splash hens
Olive egger

If anyone has any of these and is relativley close by, let me know
thanks all

Here's "Big Guy"

beautiful Roo, and welcome to our group

, hope you find your extras.

we tried out the stinky jar style traps from TSC last year. They worked I guess but wow that smell, it took our breath away. I did enjoy the meter guy not trampling through my yard as much last year though. He seemed to avoid the traps and spent less time "glancing" in our windows.

WOW you have a peeping tom... that's bad.. hope you didn't give him anything to see... lol

True the stinking plastic jar traps work great! We get the ones with black lids they seen to work best for us!!
On another note we finally got our goat herd to our new farm!!! It's nice to look out the back window and see pigs, goats, and horses (cows will be next year)! Our chickens will be transferred here soon. My in laws bought my pallet coop from me. Kinda bittersweet, but got enough to buy a new shed (8x8 shed/coop) and some left over to do a concrete pad for our boar hogs. So it worked out. Our new place is coming together nicely!!!

Congrats on your new place, Enjoy

Well my Cochin hen did not make it. She died this morning due to a prolapsed vent. Don't tell the other chickens but she was easily my favorite hen lol.

sorry for your loss

Well, Dad has at least another month in extended care. Dr Storey breezed in, shook his hand and said, "you look pretty good for a dead man!" Went on to tell Dad that he is still a sick man, and the road to recovery is a long one. Hard facts he needed to hear. Dr is now allowing him to use his arms, which is a huge plus! Told Dad he needs to EAT proteins, eat period. Dads not much for eating meats, and really only likes hamburger. he has always been a ground food guy, even chops his spaghetti into tiny pieces. I got him 2 cases of BOOST pudding and several high protein drinks. Dr was pleased that we had purchased those for him.. Told Dad get busy and start eating a lot of it. Mom also saw her Dr regarding her dizzy spells, vertigo. Long day..
Had a very upsetting incident in my guinea coop. The pekin went in, raided the nests! Trampled some of the babies, ate the eggs... My guinea egg disaster has some good ending, several of the saved eggs are hatching tonight. 3 of the poor lil guys are recovering very well with band aid legs. Lost 5 keets that were crushed. I added a fence and gate to prevent them from entering the shed again. Never had this problem with my Muscovies, This will be my last year for pekin.
Off to bed, pretty wupped

Wow didn't know ducks would do that... so sorry

@jchny2000 Hang in there. You have certainly not had a fun week. Hope your trampled keets recover. I don't know a thing about ducks (except that they taste awfully good), but have heard that Muscovies are one of the better breeds to have with chickens.

I wish I could get my mom to eat more protein. She is weak and wobbly from muscle loss. The only time she really eats well is when we take her out to Golden Corral or Cracker Barrel, so we always do when we visit. Fingers crossed for your dad!

My mother lost her husband and now she eats waffle cones. So we take her out to eat every weekend, and she EAT'S lol

 

[hoosiercheetah]

@chick rookie : do you guys ever sleep???

Nope.

 

[Birdylady3]

Morning peeps! I was only 2 pages behind this morning. Yay me! So what is on everyone's agenda today? Mine is finish vacuuming, do dishes, feed animals, mop, clean pond and coops.

 

[racinchickins]

I have thought about getting turkeys. Does anyone know where to get some and how long does it take until a turkey is ready to butcher.

Quote: I raised two BBB turkeys this year just to see what they were like. They were just as personable as my heritage birds, but after 5 months, the male could barely walk, and the female was on her way there so I processed them. My heritage turkeys take longer (8-9 mths), but don't have the health issues. Not sure where you are located, but if you are anywhere close to Indy, I do have some poults for sale. They probably won't be ready for Thanksgiving though. The place I ordered them from was delayed badly by the cold spring.

 

[Quinstar]

@bradselig sorry for the loss of your Cochin. I'd offer to let you have the one I get from you back, but she's pretty much my favorite hen now! I can't believe I waited so long for a Cochin.

@jchny2000 So sorry about your keets and like someone already said, make sure you are taking care of yourself as well!!! How is the little monster that you took in for me doing? My Light Brahma that he always hung out with seems a bit sad, but overall the chickens all seem a lot happier with him gone. I'll feel better when Gray is old enough to start watching out for the ladies. Without the Guinea I don't really have a flock watchdog right now.

Morning all! Today's schedule.... work, work, feed baby, work, work, train new house sitter, work, feed baby, work, work, feed baby, work, work, work, pack for peaceful weekend at in-laws where I get to sleep in because grandma and grandpa get up with baby in the morning!!!! Is it sad that I am that excited about it?

And... on the note of pest control... http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/04/herbal-pest-contol-spruce-coop-herbal.html. I don't know if anyone follows the Chicken Chick on FB, but she's pretty great!

 

[Minminme]

Well my Cochin hen did not make it. She died this morning due to a prolapsed vent. Don't tell the other chickens but she was easily my favorite hen lol.

I'm so sorry Brad, a favorite can be replaced in th flock but never in your heart.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Well my Cochin hen did not make it. She died this morning due to a prolapsed vent. Don't tell the other chickens but she was easily my favorite hen lol.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Well, Dad has at least another month in extended care. Dr Storey breezed in, shook his hand and said, "you look pretty good for a dead man!" Went on to tell Dad that he is still a sick man, and the road to recovery is a long one. Hard facts he needed to hear. Dr is now allowing him to use his arms, which is a huge plus! Told Dad he needs to EAT proteins, eat period. Dads not much for eating meats, and really only likes hamburger. he has always been a ground food guy, even chops his spaghetti into tiny pieces. I got him 2 cases of BOOST pudding and several high protein drinks. Dr was pleased that we had purchased those for him.. Told Dad get busy and start eating a lot of it. Mom also saw her Dr regarding her dizzy spells, vertigo. Long day..
Had a very upsetting incident in my guinea coop. The pekin went in, raided the nests! Trampled some of the babies, ate the eggs... My guinea egg disaster has some good ending, several of the saved eggs are hatching tonight. 3 of the poor lil guys are recovering very well with band aid legs. Lost 5 keets that were crushed. I added a fence and gate to prevent them from entering the shed again. Never had this problem with my Muscovies, This will be my last year for pekin.
Off to bed, pretty wupped

 

[Thriftymom6]

Well my Cochin hen did not make it. She died this morning due to a prolapsed vent. Don't tell the other chickens but she was easily my favorite hen lol.

Sorry for your loss