INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[BackyardBitten]

Wait. Herbs around a coop can help keep pests out? Which herbs and which pests? I am so interested in this! We are getting ready to build an enclosed chicken run that will surround our bird shed. We are using galvanized steel poles for the structure and I have plans to hang guttering from the middle horizontal pole, into which I'll be planting various herbs. I was going to do this just for practical, sustainability purposes (and I think it will look nice, too). But I had no idea that certain herbs could help keep pests away from chickens! Would be grateful if you could share more details

herbs can do so many things!

They are great for pest control, blood flow, respiratory health, etc. I love the website Fresh Eggs Daily. The owner, Lisa, just did an article in the last Chickens Magazine about chicken keeping and using herbs. She highlights which herbs to use. Her website is www.fresh-eggs-daily.com and she has lots of articles under her chickens & ducks category . I love her website (wish i could have something like this!)

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: If you were closer a strong maybe. But then I would have a cat math problem.

 

[CharlemagneRoost]

herbs can do so many things!

They are great for pest control, blood flow, respiratory health, etc. I love the website Fresh Eggs Daily. The owner, Lisa, just did an article in the last Chickens Magazine about chicken keeping and using herbs. She highlights which herbs to use. Her website is www.fresh-eggs-daily.com and she has lots of articles under her chickens & ducks category . I love her website (wish i could have something like this!)

I have dedicated this year to learning more about herbs, which is part of the reason why I am planning to plant them around the chicken run. I've also been getting into essential oils. Thank you so much for sharing the web site resource - it looks really great! I have several books, including one on foraging, but they really cover things more from the human benefit. I am excited to learn about how they can be used for my chickens!!!

If you want a web site, let me know - I can set you up. I used to do it for a living, but got completely burned out and went to work as a veterinarian's assistant - calling it paid therapy! Now I'm back to work in an office and do a very little bit of web development. There is still no way I'd want to do it full-time, but I can once again stand to look at it!

 

[Mother2Hens]

One of our roosters started to crow today. My husband laughed at me because I thought it was so cute and he said " we will see if you still think it is cute in a month." Haha he is probably right, but oh well. After their first full week in the coop, I let the chickens have access to the run all day today and only 3 of my 19 ever ventured out. It was crazy windy here though. I am curious to see how many of them will go out and explore tomorrow.

alliejean ~ Yip, it's cute at first, but then you find out that they crow all hours of the day-- and they get louder. My chickens hate wind almost as much as snow, so I can see why most of yours wouldn't leave the coop. Their favorite place to go when it's windy besides under the deck is in a large bush.
If you have chickens, I recommend having lots of large bushes! We happened to have a lot of foliage when we started having chickens over two years ago, and I've noticed how much they rely on them to duck into when seeing a hawk, loose dog, etc. I've mentioned before that we're going to plant a few more bushes (as large as we can find them) to help them feel safer when I have them outside of the fenced-in area. There's an open area of grass between the fence and the "nature preserve" in the far backyard where I often take them. They always seem insecure as they do their running/flapping/squawking routine down the hill. Ornamental grasses work well, too, and they love scratching around foliage. Some large bushes (like Virburnum) have low horizontal branches where they like to perch in privacy.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Odds are the kittens will either stay around our house or be given to a no kill shelter we've been told about and that our friends have had good dealings with.

FlockMaster ~ I’m glad to hear that your hen, Deedee is healing from her attack from "behind."

I also have to say that “IMO” the first thing that responsible pet owners do when they get a cat or dog is have it spayed or neutered. Can you imagine working at a shelter and having to be the one who has to put healthy, beautiful animals to sleep? You had mentioned no-kill shelters, but they can’t solve the pet population problem any more effectively than any other shelter. I had a neighbor who volunteered at a no-kill shelter, and she finally stopped because she was “fostering” too many animals that weren’t being adopted. If someone who is looking for a pet and doesn’t want to pay an adoption fee (that typically covers spay/neuter costs), I've noticed a continual, sad supply of free animals listed on craigslist --in both the Free and Pets sections--and that's just one resource for free animals. I agree that baby kittens are adorable, and that accidental pregnancies before a veterinarian appointment can happen, but shelters are full of adorable animals locked in cages waiting for loving people to adopt them.


Popham Construction Company, Inc ... - Facebook
Thank you! to everyone who viewed the video of my cat Lionel (aka Poppy The Popham Cat) who I used for advertising purposes (He received a package of Whisker Lickin’s treats as payment). My older DD adopted Lionel 6 years ago at the Indy Humane Society. Lionel is a very loving and needy cat who was constantly in the middle of my DD’s college art projects, so I offered to adopt him. He is the most special cat I’ve ever had. He’s by my side all the time except when I’m with the chickens (he hates that gang of mean pecking hens!) Lionel runs to the door if the doorbell rings and runs to the window when he sees the mail truck. He’s extremely loving and is very playful. Lionel is one of those pets that you just have an extra special connection with. He seems almost human sometimes. My DD ended up adopting two sweet, older cats that hang out together and aren’t as demanding.

 

[Mother2Hens]

I'm starting to feel like the boy who cried wolf. But this time it's legit. For reals.

I have a wheezy raspy chicken with a very slightly runny nose and it's keeping its right eye closed a lot.
The eye thing was the first sign I noticed, day before yesterday, I thought maybe she got too close to Queen Penny's food dish and got a warning shot to the eye or something. But now she's definitely got rumbly breath.
I dont really have anywhere to isolate her. I think I have enough plywood and chicken wire to whip something up. Do you think it's still necessary, or is it already to late to prevent this spreading to the others? I don't know how fast chicken germs travel.

hoosiercheetah ~ I am so sorry for all you have been through. It makes me angry that some negligent person sold unhealthy chickens to you, when you were looking so forward to your first chicken experience.

Here's some basic info on caring for an ill chicken. You can use a pet carrier or a rubbermaid box that's easily carried. I will be searching the thread for other info that I'll post.




alliejean ~ Yip, it's cute at first, but then you find out that they crow all hours of the day-- and they get louder. My chickens hate wind almost as much as snow, so I can see why most of yours wouldn't leave the coop. Their favorite place to go when it's windy besides under the deck is in a large bush.
If you have chickens, I recommend having lots of large bushes! We happened to have a lot of foliage when we started having chickens over two years ago, and I've noticed how much they rely on them to duck into when seeing a hawk, loose dog, etc. I've mentioned before that we're going to plant a few more bushes (as large as we can find them) to help them feel safer when I have them outside of the fenced-in area. There's an open area of grass between the fence and the "nature preserve" in the far backyard where I often take them. They always seem insecure as they do their running/flapping/squawking routine down the hill. Ornamental grasses work well, too, and they love scratching around foliage. Some large bushes (like Virburnum) have low horizontal branches where they like to perch in privacy.

 

[Mother2Hens]

hoosier cheetah ~ Here are some links:
Respiratory illness in hen Questions. Please Respond.
It's a recent thread from the main BYC site and has experiences/treatments from several people.

This link about Common Poultry Diseases (including Respiratory) was also mentioned: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

I think you said you live in the Indy area. You can call this avian veterinary clinic to ask advice and/or make an appointment: 317-879-8633 http://www.exoticvetclinic.com/

Hopefully you won't need this, but on page 1620 of this thread, two members posted Purdue necropsy info.

Keep us posted.

 

[CountryHen19]

I have dedicated this year to learning more about herbs, which is part of the reason why I am planning to plant them around the chicken run. I've also been getting into essential oils. Thank you so much for sharing the web site resource - it looks really great! I have several books, including one on foraging, but they really cover things more from the human benefit. I am excited to learn about how they can be used for my chickens!!!

Once I get done with school, I hope to learn more about the herbs, essential oils, etc too. And I really like reading Fresh Eggs Daily as well, on Facebook-- her tips, videos, and DITL posts about her flocks are very informative and entertaining.

I heard on Dr. Oz about lemon balm being very beneficial for something in particular but now can't remember what it was

If you were closer a strong maybe. But then I would have a cat math problem.

I'm sorry but this had me

.... I think many of us would sympathize with you

herbs can do so many things!

They are great for pest control, blood flow, respiratory health, etc. I love the website Fresh Eggs Daily. The owner, Lisa, just did an article in the last Chickens Magazine about chicken keeping and using herbs. She highlights which herbs to use. Her website is www.fresh-eggs-daily.com and she has lots of articles under her chickens & ducks category . I love her website (wish i could have something like this!)

I second the recommendation of "Fresh Eggs Daily" either blog or Facebook...

I put my wild bird door plastic on the babies pop door this week and have gradually been putting more and more of the plastic strips down. Today all went down and I had to go help the poor confused babies in. I was able to take advantage of that and take a picture of this pretty young thing! 10 week old Bielefelder pullet. I just love them

. I need to try to take the time to get pictures this week. It has been non-stop around here lately!

Such a pretty pullet! Thanks for sharing!

BTW I decided not to get any juveniles from the one CL person. This was one of the breeds he had. I will live. Thank you for all the information though!

This is the little chick that is iffy to make it!

It had some shell stuck to it so I have it a warm bath and tried to wipe and loosen it witch worked but I decided to put it back into the bator for a little while!

SOOO cute--- hope he/she makes it!!

I'm starting to feel like the boy who cried wolf. But this time it's legit. For reals.

I have a wheezy raspy chicken with a very slightly runny nose and it's keeping its right eye closed a lot.
The eye thing was the first sign I noticed, day before yesterday, I thought maybe she got too close to Queen Penny's food dish and got a warning shot to the eye or something. But now she's definitely got rumbly breath.
I dont really have anywhere to isolate her. I think I have enough plywood and chicken wire to whip something up. Do you think it's still necessary, or is it already to late to prevent this spreading to the others? I don't know how fast chicken germs travel.

Oh my goodness...you have been through the ringer with these guys :/ Hope whatever it is doesn't spread....

for you and your flock!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hello there! I am in Columbia City and new to chickens and wanted to start following this thread... We have 6 chicks, about 3 weeks old (I think?) 2 buff orpingtons, 2 black australorps and 2 RIR's... In the process of converting our shed to a coop, so I may have lots of questions... Glad to see so many people from IN!

and our thread

you have a few neighbors on here too!
Please ask away, jump right in, and no question is EVER dumb! We also chat about other poultry, livestock, waterfowl, and even family events and our new cars!
This is our thread. Our only rule is keep chat "family clean" as we have some young adults as members too.

Quote: I do exactly what brad said, if I have eggs or chicks coming. I can usually get them around 530am! One of the women working in sorting is afraid of them.. she wants them gone

so someone meets me at the back door, and I do a fast once over on the package. That way I have a PO worker see any dead babies or broken eggs. f your shipper/breeder doesn't require the PO verification, just take em home

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have a twofold fermented feed question that I didn't see answered in other threads on the subject.

I started fermenting my dog's food as a prelude to doing chicken food, and that was going really well. The dog liked it better, and after a couple weeks she stunk less. The problem was that no matter how saturated the dog food was, it would not sink. It insisted on floating on top of the water. Eventually, I did have some go bad because of contact with the air. As a side note, the difference in smell between fermented dog food (which was a pretty horrible smell) and rotten dog food was not subtle.

So my question is this. Right now I'm giving the flock Dumor layer crumbles, and that's what I want to ferment first - will it float? If so, I'm sure I can devise some kind of weight-plate to hold it down. This is what I'm going to do with the dog food, too. But I'd like to know what I'm in for.

Second part of the question. Eventually I'm going to either buy bulk grains and mix my own feed, or find a feed store or mill that will make it for me. I'm not real big on soy, which I'm sure is a major component of the dumor. I could be wrong, but I'd be shocked if it's not. So, will the grain feed float? Or does it sink politely to the bottom of a bucket of water, where I want it to be?

Thanks in advance!

I ferment my dog's food, I have always fed Iams or Science Diet. It floats at first, then absorbs and sinks. Ferment has a pleasant smell, so it sounds like the food is possibly full of fatty proteins or too much oils as brad mentioned. I alternate days so she cleans her teeth on hard food too. It really helped her skin from having "hot spots" (she is a Pug/Chihuahua mix) Sadie is a rescue that was a "Chug" designer breed of dog. She lived in a crate until we got her as a give up. I start the ferment from the juices off the grain I ferment for all the critters. Some grain may float but will sink as it absorbs the juices, usually.
There are a few members that do make their own feed, totally grain based

I admire the idea and hope to be at that point some day too. Soy isn't the only option for protein! Fish meal, and feather meal are very good nutritional choices. I use Dumor crumble a lot too, it ferments nicely, and fast.