Maine

[joanie_maine]

I had minks and weasels find my birds when I first moved here. Especially in the Spring & Fall. I found out that these varmits can get in through holes that are an inch or larger. Since then, all my pens are covered with wire less than an inch in diameter - even the tops of the pens. And my barn is locked up like Fort Knox at night.

I no longer free range anything. Back when I did free range, the foxes came each day, same route every day.It has been my experience that once a predator finds food, it comes back until there is no more food to be found.

 

[MustardTiger]

Ugh I have mites now. I saw them in daylight so I am thinking northern fowl. Jesus. What works best on these things around here? I have read they can be resistant to both permetherin and Sevin.

Oddly enough they are only on ONE of the hens. I am planning to clean out the coop and boxes and spray the hell out of everything with whatever you guys suggest works the best :/

I feel like they are crawling all over me!

*****I had a closer look and looked at some photos and I am pretty sure they are lice.

this is way worse than any of my other chicken drama as of yet

 

[buckabucka]

West Gardiner Beef is where we released the roosters, SCG. I like that you can make an appointment. Albion is definitely closer, but took so much longer, even though DH arrived very early. He was third in line with our 5 birds, but number 1 and 2 in line had 80 and 55 birds. It took forever, so we'll be headed back to Gardiner this fall.

 

[Clover Run]

I lost one of my bantam babies this evening. Literally cannot find her. I can only assume something got her. First chicken I have lost.

On the other hand - I brought home my little flock of W/C Black Polish. Can't wait to have chicks and hatching eggs!

I am selling my little bantam flock if anyone is interested. 1 roo and 5 pullets - half RI Red - not sure of other half. 8-9 weeks old.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Just found my speckled sussex rooster dead.

He was mean as the dickens but I was hoping to hatch his babies in December, then eat him and select a new rooster. He's now thwarted my plans. BF says I should just hatch the SS eggs now, but I wasn't planning on this outcome and also have a frisky showgirl rooster in with the gang - therefore I can't guarantee who fertilized what and I really don't want showgirl crosses.

Anyone have SS eggs?

 

[ashandvine]

Luvmygoats has SS. I think she ships too.

Any idea what he died from? Just too sour for himself? You could eat the crosses if you did hatch the eggs now.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

The showgirl is a true bantam, he's insanely small. While I do eat bantams if I hatch them, I really don't prefer to do so.

I'd also have to separate out the SS girls... and I'm not prepared to do that at the moment. I've got bumblefoot biddies inside in my cages.

No idea what he died from. One of the SS girls died suddenly a few months back. She was only a few months old and not laying yet. Bad genes?

 

[buckabucka]

Sorry about your SS rooster, SCG. If he was nasty, maybe it is just as well to not have his offspring, although it is always a drag to have a future plan disrupted.

I've got plenty of roosters growing out here, but they are all olive egger mutts and a couple of Marraduna Basque.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Don't get me wrong, I've got plenty of roosters here, just my plan went to pot.

Oh well. Sometimes the farm life gives me a headache, and sometimes a smile. Today was both. Here's my smile - Banty raising her ducklings.

 

[Clover Run]

Does anyone know if Black Polish can be integrated into a regular free ranging flock? I have mine in there own coop and run. I had a lady come to buy a couple other pullets this evening and she asked about the Black Polish. I told her I wasn't sure how they would do. She was interested in getting a few chicks when I have some to add to her laying flock for fun. Any ideas?