Mahonri's 2nd Annual BYC EASTER HATCH. Post pics of your chicks!

[SteveH]

Quote:
Thank you, and everyone else, for all the support. Strange you mentioned pride, I was just thinking it always goes before the fall.

A high velocity fan is working very well. The few survivors only took minutes to discover that standing in front of it gave them relief. I bought a large tiki lantern and gallon of citronella oil as back up, but not useing it yet. They do not seem attracted to a new bug zapper. Other than that, their own defence was to hide in the darkest areas; the gnats hate darkness, but love tall grass though.

Almost forgot, one more died, but I found two that flew out of the open topped pen to hide from the gnats. I had not counted the dead, just subtracted the few live from what was supposed to be in the pens. I was very pleasantly surprized by a blue Ameraucana that did not know how to back out of a lumber pile she got under, and the sport white Freedom Ranger that hid under a junked jeep at the other end of the building.

 

[1muttsfan]

Steve I just realized after a little research that buffalo gnats are what we call blackflies up here -they are a terrible scourge in the spring, but I never realized my birds were in actual danger from them. I wil l be more vigilant now, thank you for posting your troubles to help the rest of us avoid them. They are horrible pests, certainly can drive you nuts, they especially like to bite around your ears and in your hair

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
I've been studying them too; we may have a different subspecies down here. I seem to be candy for ticks and mosquitoes, but our buffalo gnats never bite me. Others get bit though, and claim it hurts. They do swarm me, bumping my head, ears and eyes; and they're easy to inhale. I read some subspecies prefer birds, and suspect that's what I'm dealing with. There's usually some wild turkies I see every time I drive from here; not only are they not to be found, but I have neither seen nor heard anything other than night birds in two days.

 

[1muttsfan]

Wow that is creepy

 

[happyhensny]

In New York we are one of the top states that have Lyme disease from ticks. Black Flies are horrendous! They don't just poke you like a mosquito, they actually rip your skin leaving a bit of blood. May is the big month for them. Nasty creatures. Sorry about your birds. The fan sounds like a great idea. When it's breezy is the only time we can go out in the evening.

Edited because I forgot how to spell.

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
According to the internet, deer ticks, the carriers of Lyme's disease, are reported but not confirmed here in this county. I've pulled several from my body last year and this, was treated last year to prevent Lyme's. I took the tick with me last year; the doctor at the clinic I used to go to looked at it, said "Yep, that's a deer tick.", and tossed it in the medical waiste can. [Now I understand why they're unconfirmed

] This year I was just tossing them myself as I pull them off, but a rash developed around one bite and prompted me to call a doctor. He he did not like the rash, even though it did not have the signature bullseye, and started me on antibiotics. The halo formed around the bite the night before the buffalo gnat catastrophy; I called him yesterday and he said just continue the antibiotics and report any signs of illness to him immediately.

I've been outside for a few minutes today and found two dog ticks crawling on me as I type.

The new bug zapper had two inches of fried mosquitoes in the bottom, and I had to light the tiki torch on the front deck to drive off the buffalo gnats........................ this is a going to be bad year around here for biteing insects. The surviveing chickens have discovered that the back side of the new fan is a safe zone, and seemed quite happy there.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
According to the internet, deer ticks, the carriers of Lyme's disease, are reported but not confirmed here in this county. I've pulled several from my body last year and this, was treated last year to prevent Lyme's. I took the tick with me last year; the doctor at the clinic I used to go to looked at it, said "Yep, that's a deer tick.", and tossed it in the medical waiste can. [Now I understand why they're unconfirmed

] This year I was just tossing them myself as I pull them off, but a rash developed around one bite and prompted me to call a doctor. He he did not like the rash, even though it did not have the signature bullseye, and started me on antibiotics. The halo formed around the bite the night before the buffalo gnat catastrophy; I called him yesterday and he said just continue the antibiotics and report any signs of illness to him immediately.

I've been outside for a few minutes today and found two dog ticks crawling on me as I type.

The new bug zapper had two inches of fried mosquitoes in the bottom, and I had to light the tiki torch on the front deck to drive off the buffalo gnats........................ this is a going to be bad year around here for biteing insects. The surviveing chickens have discovered that the back side of the new fan is a safe zone, and seemed quite happy there.

Steve, start putting vanilla on, and do the same for your remaining birds. It will help.

 

[happyhensny]

Oh Steve, that just sucks. My daughter had Lyme when she was 10. Antibiotics that gave heer a tummy ache but, she needed it. Our poor goats and cats have had them already this year. I haven't found any on chickens though. Anyone else?

 

[SteveH]

Steve, start putting vanilla on, and do the same for your remaining birds. It will help.

I tried the vanilla already, poured it undiluted in my hand then rubbed my own head and on the last EE's. Worked instantly; lasted 15 minutes or less on both of us. I poured the rest of the bottle on the coop floor with the same results. It puddled in one little spot, and a ISA Brown seemed to enjoy its taste; I figure she deserved a little drink of medicinal alcohol.

Two others declined to even sample it; they're on the wagon I guess.

I ended up taking a tiki torch with me today start a garden. It works if I stay in its smoke.​

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Quote:
I tried the vanilla already, poured it undiluted in my hand then rubbed my own head and on the last EE's. Worked instantly; lasted 15 minutes or less on both of us. I poured the rest of the bottle on the coop floor with the same results. It puddled in one little spot, and a ISA Brown seemed to enjoy its taste; I figure she deserved a little drink of medicinal alcohol.

Two others declined to even sample it; they're on the wagon I guess.

I ended up taking a tiki torch with me today start a garden. It works if I stay in its smoke.

I saw your thread about your birds a day or two ago. It just made me sick for you.

Although we have never met I have always extremely enjoyed your posts. Hang in there. You have many friends here. Wish I could do something to help.