Maine

[hoppy]

I haven't tried Frontline, mostly because I have questions about it. Doesn't it work for an extended period of time (at least from what I remember about treating a cat)? It seems like it must be systemic, in which case why couldn't traces of the chemical get into the egg? What is the chemical, anyway? Is it used in humans at all?

I haven't actually checked for mites in a while, but today I discovered worms on the poop board. I'm going to treat with Valbazen, but I may wait another month or so. I read that it is stressful to treat for worms and you shouldn't do it while they are molting. A bunch of mine are molting now. It seems like someone will always be molting though, so I'm not sure how long I will wait.

 

[Jazor]

Two things to kick off this Sunday:

1) Thank you all for the great input, it's looking more and more like a cockerel Barred Rock is my "rare exotic" and I would have the same suspicions: it was late in the season, the hatchery probably figured a matching Roo for my barred rocks would be "ok". Either way, it's not OK! I'll raise this guy till he's feathered, but after that he's homeless. If anyone is interested, please let me know! I travel from Freeport area to Augusta Monday-Thursday, and to Portland area on Fridays. I would be willing to rehome him to anyone looking for a hatchery raised roo. He's from Murray McMurray, I could give a copy of the pullorum certificate if you'd like. He's been vaccinated for marek's disease, and coccidiosis. He should pretty somewhat social, I treat the birds very well. They eat non-medicated starter crumbles and will soon be getting greens for treats.

2) Anyone able to recommend some good ways to clean the chicks? For the most part they are very well kept, but there is one who seems to need a little assistance keeping the vent clear. I've been wetting a paper towel and helping out, but (of course) it's the fussy bird who squawks when taking away from the flock for just a moment. Anything I can use to clean her up so it's a more effective, and hopefully more permanent cleaning?

Cheers,
Jazor

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Two things to kick off this Sunday:

2) Anyone able to recommend some good ways to clean the chicks? For the most part they are very well kept, but there is one who seems to need a little assistance keeping the vent clear. I've been wetting a paper towel and helping out, but (of course) it's the fussy bird who squawks when taking away from the flock for just a moment. Anything I can use to clean her up so it's a more effective, and hopefully more permanent cleaning?

Cheers,
Jazor

For those with persistent poobutt I run their butt under slightly hot (a step up from warm) water, and squish the poo off. They will shriek. Then I use beard clipping scissors to trim the fur back there so there's less for the poo to get stuck on. It seems to work well, just make sure to be very careful, their little vent holes stick out far and you don't want to clip that.

 

[buckabucka]

So, I thought I was all set with my 6 "girls."  But then, this morning I had the window cracked just a little and heard a strange sound coming from the coop.  It repeated about 4-5 times and at the end of those, I could tell what it sounded like.    ANOTHER cockerel!  Now, I just need to figure out which one it is.  I think it's either one of my Buffs or the RIR.  So, ONCE AGAIN, I have a cockerel up for grabs...  Will keep you posted on which breed it is.

Oh, this is such a disappointment when it happens! I have had the same experience in the past. This spring, I was lucky to find the opposite: a pullet in my bachelor pen.

Thanks for the Frontline info, Hoppy. I'll probably stick with the Ivermectin for now, just because I already have some. Back when I used Frontline for the cats, you could only purchase it through a vet, and I could not bring my elderly cats to the vet without a major crisis. One of them was petrified, and also had a reaction to all the shots (which was required every visit). So I always got my Frontline online from Australia!

On cleaning chicks, I always took a pint plastic container and filled it with very warm water. The chicks were always squirmy when I pick them up, but once I got their back end soaking in the warm water, they seemed to calm down. It only takes a minute of soaking before things will easily rub off with a paper towel or wash cloth. I try to dry them slightly with a paper towel, to prevent others from picking. A little vaseline in the area can help with prevention, but if you overdo it, I find it encourages picking.

 

[Mainechick168]

My non chicken related story for the day:

Earlier this week, DH and I went to bed very early, but around 10:30 I woke up, because the motion sensor light went off. I figured it was the cat, so half asleep, walked down the stairs, and looked out the front window- noticed this large brownish body, and was immediately confused, until I walked down a few more stairs, and saw it's friend, with a white and gray face looking in the window at me...it was DONKEYS! The people 2 houses down from us raise them, and apparently they wanted to go for a late night adventure, because they were all over my lawn! I told DH and his response was "what do you mean there are donkeys on the lawn?!?!" Shortly after I woke up, the owners showed up, and we helped drive them back home. Silly donkeys!

 

[CoopChick719]

That must have been a sight to see late at night and half asleep!

 

[ashandvine]

Ashandvine, you said you weren't sure how the portable fence post cross pieces worked? I took some more pictures today. The two foot piece is screwed onto the upright on the 4 inch side and the 16 inch piece butts into the 2 foot piece and is screwed onto the upright's 2 inch side. Slightly bigger than 3/8" holes are drilled into the ends and a 10" spike goes into the ground after you slide the piece through the wire, to make it more stable.

Thank YOU!!! I do understand it much better now. I am going to say it was because I was so tired... yeah.

For those with persistent poobutt I run their butt under slightly hot (a step up from warm) water, and squish the poo off. They will shriek. Then I use beard clipping scissors to trim the fur back there so there's less for the poo to get stuck on. It seems to work well, just make sure to be very careful, their little vent holes stick out far and you don't want to clip that.

You are buzz clipping the butts? And DH doesn't complain that they smell like poo or you that his stache isn't smelling like chicken butt????

We can now call mustaches butt fluff! [I might still be really tired... humor is effected at this level of cognition, sorry]

My non chicken story is still farm and Maine related: Kunekune pigs are the most awesome! Their area was a bit muddy today after the rain but otherwise they and their area were really clean, they are smallish, grow quickly, are totally forage/free range fed [ie no grain at all] and they were SO freaking friendly! The kids and I were all over them. Pics below are of Big Mama and Albert, who I have decided is charming. They were sitting or laying because as soon as the kids scratched their sides they rolled over to give them their bellies!!

 

[anyasmifya]

Those pigs are sooo cute! Ahh, I want one.

Is my pullet broody? She is a white crested polish, her brother has started crowing about 2 weeks ago. I think she is like 3 or 4 months old. She is super anti-social. She hangs out alone usually in the coop all day long. She doesn't sit in the nesting area though. She hasn't layed any eggs yet, as far as I know. Many evenings I have gone to lock the birdies up and will find her roosting in some odd area and have to move her into the coop. When she is in the coop in the evenings she is sits on the floor with an slw. Is she "special", a loner, or broody? I'm worried she will get eaten by a predator. It doesn't seem like the other birds are picking on her, she has all her feathers but she runs away when they get too close. She is very sweet and lets me handle her, the only one out of the bunch. My husband wants to bring her in the house and put her in a big bird cage.. We'll tell people she is some sort of fancy cockatoo. LOL

Anyone else have a bird like this? Is she just extremely maternal and waiting for eggs?

 

[MEMama3]

We might be getting a pig soon. My son wanted to sign up for the drawing at his school to be part of the pig scramble at the fryeburg fair this year. I said "sure" since what are the odds his name would be drawn. Apparently he's the only one to enter and it closes in 1 week. The only kids allowed to participate are third graders from each of the three schools in the district (one per school).

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Love the photos of the pigs! We had one when I was very young... my parents found him by the side of the highway (they speculate that he had fallen off a truck) and brought him home. He grew to be huge, but would walk right beside the stroller with my mom and got along great with the dogs.
Well, I'm embarrassed to admit I think I over-reacted with the lice/mites.

The brown spot and clumps that I saw were totally gone today. I think it was actually poop that had gotten on her neck. (Can you tell this is my first go at chickens?!) I inspected each of girls VERY thoroughly and didn't see anything out of the ordinary today. With the help of my husband, I did frontline all of them, though. They won't be laying until at least November, so I'm not going to worry about the chemicals. (I probably get more frontline rubbed off from my dog than eggs would give anyway!) I cleaned out the coop, put DE around the edges/cracks, and replaced the shavings. I'll keep a close eye on it, though. It is funny, four of the girls just love being held (2 buffs and 2 golden comets) and four of them scream bloody murder each time (one buff and the three barred rocks).

Thank you all for the advice!!