INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

@nenebynature And...if they're in an area that the chickens can't get to there are some traps that don't use toxic lure. I've read whole articles where folks are trapping them then feeding to the chickens as @Faraday40 suggests

 

[Faraday40]

I just called my chickens over & flicked some down to them. (That was all the training they needed.) I'm assuming they're OK to eat, because the chickens still keep eating them.

 

[JanetMarie]

The Japanese beetles are attacking my rose blooms, so I set out a bag trap yesterday. There's too many to keep squishing.
Don't your chickens eat them?
We used to get those pretty green beetles all over the raspberries & apples. They seemed to disappear once we got the chickens. I guess if you use traps, you can feed them as free treats.

No, the chickens don't eat them, but will instead pick petals off the rose bushes they can reach, so around those I have to put a low fence.

 

[Indyshent]

Anybody have a duckling in need of a new home or company? I picked up a Rouen at the RK in Bloomington last night in hopes that my two broody ducks would get off their fruitless nests to raise it, but alas, they've rejected it, so I'm having to brood this one lonely duckling. It's a few days old probably, no feathers, very friendly. The unsuccessful ducks have taken over a nest of chicken eggs and won't mother the chicks, which have all died so far. They're both quite determined to hatch a duckling, but all the duck eggs are infertile.

 

[RoseHaven]

Do you guys deworm your chickens? I never thought of doing so, but it popped up in a blog and now has me thinking I should.

I use a bit of diatomaceous earth (food grade) in their greens once a week, and about 1/8 c. Bragg' apple cider vinegar in two gallons of their water. Never had pasty butt after the first week we got them (in the mail from McMurray) and won't have to deworm them.

I started putting DE in our cat's wet food once a week, a large pinch. No nematodes this year at her well-kitty check up...and she's our farm mouser, eats all sorts of stuff outside.

 

[RoseHaven]

I am lucky that I have such a big space for them to range and roam. I work at hidden Hill nursery in Utica Indiana, and I just found the Summersweet this year. They are one-of-a-kind!

I have a ton of mint that grows along the sunny side of my barn and I have to admit I absolutely love it.I also planted some around the chicken run but it hasn't taken off yet. I am probably one of the only people in the gardening world who is always looking to collect more mint ha ha.

@Leahs Mom @nenebynature
I've planted spearmint & peppermint in our young orchard. I love having mint everywhere! Going to root some cuttings and plant near the chicken yard for convenience.

 

[RoseHaven]

I caught my penciled rock pullet behind the coop with a young lav orp cockerel.
Is it just me or does it look like I was interrupting them?

Brick didn't look very happy about it. LOL

I think you may have, ahem, disturbed them...

 

[Finnie]

Several months back, someone new was looking for New Hapmshire Red breeding stock. Since the "search this thread" function doesn't work on mobile anymore, I can't go back and find out who that was. But in case they are still subscribed, I found a NH rooster on Craigslist:
https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/grd/6203809100.html

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Thank you so much @JanetMarie I will look that up online. I'm not sure what's getting to them. There were tiny green things on the back of the leaves a couple times this spring. The green foliage is so chewed up it looks lacy. I fertilized couple days ago and I'm finally seeing some new growth on both bushes. I cut out some of the older most damaged greenery this week. And of course Japanese beetles are beginning to descend. Although I'm not having as many as I had last year (at least not yet).

My guineas obliterate the beetles! I have some wild roses and guineas visit them daily.

No, the chickens don't eat them, but will instead pick petals off the rose bushes they can reach, so around those I have to put a low fence.

ugh!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July! I've been assessing my flock, and will need to add new blood to my goose flock next year. My oldest 2 Gee and Angel live with my oldest DD now. I am seeing lower fertility in my brown Chinese, so its time to add to my flock. Won't be until spring, everyone's sold out this year.