Maine

[suzMEchicks]

I remember last summer one of the white girls got into the pile of ash from the winter before. At first I could figure out why she was so gray and black. But she was white again the next day. Think I should put some kind of dust bath in the coop? Or outside? It's only 5 by 5 inside

 

[IZZYBELLA]

After all that, I forgot I have a question. I have 2 white leghorns who are getting pretty grungy looking lately. I wonder if I should wash them? Or is it because they haven't had a dust bath all winter? Finally, the only thing I have is ash from pellet stove. Could they use that for dust bath? Or would they all have pneumonia tomorrow? Crazy questions

If you decide to wash them, you can use a hairdryer on low to blow them dry. I did that to the one that I bathed and she loved it. Not kidding! I thought she'd be scared of the noise, but she nestled right in as if it was a spa day.

 

[dowgirl71]

I remember last summer one of the white girls got into the pile of ash from the winter before. At first I could figure out why she was so gray and black. But she was white again the next day. Think I should put some kind of dust bath in the coop? Or outside? It's only 5 by 5 inside

I bought a couple kitty litter pans and mixed some sand, ash and DE. I put them outside on nice days and they love it! At night, I put them back inside where I keep my chicken stuff, but not in with the girls. One time I did let them dust bathe inside their house and it was like a dust bomb went off. Not a good idea. Now if I let them get in them inside, I make sure the doors are wide open!

 

[lazy gardener]

Here's a bit of a bunny trail that has me chomping at the bit. Do you all remember the dire warnings about using wood chips or other high carbon mulches near your garden, the fear being that the break down process would rob all of the nitrogen out of your soil? Well, I've long thought that my experience regarding wood and sawdust does not support the nay-sayers. I've dabbled with wood products, and always been sure to add a bit of nitrogen kick just to err on the side of caution. I've not seen much evidence of nitrogen robbing going on, quite the opposite. where ever the soil is covered with any kind of mulch, the plant growth around it is always lush and robust. So, now, there are entire books written that say nitrogen robbing is not a concern. "Back to Eden" and "Hugelkulture" are 2 variations on the same theme, just in different size models: Wood mulch interfacing with the soil, with addition of compost, soil, or a high nitrogen product to cap things off. Of course, chickens could play a huge role here, providing a quick, high quality, dense nutrient compost made of poo, leaves, and lawn clippings. If you want some good mind bending education, google Back to Eden, and view the film that pops up. This guy has some good stuff going on, he uses chickens to help with the process, and his gardening concepts continually produce results in the realm of "all the experts say it can't be done, so he proves them wrong... over and over again." And this guy does it, in spite of an obvious physical disability that quite severely limits his mobility. I can't wait to get into the soil, and see what kind of results I can replicate.

 

[suzMEchicks]

I know I can't wait either!

 

[MEMama3]

Here's a bit of a bunny trail that has me chomping at the bit.  Do you all remember the dire warnings about using wood chips or other high carbon mulches near your garden, the fear being that the break down process would rob all of the nitrogen out of your soil?  Well, I've long thought that my experience regarding wood and sawdust does not support the nay-sayers.  I've dabbled with wood products, and always been sure to add a bit of nitrogen kick just to err on the side of caution.  I've not seen much evidence of nitrogen robbing going on, quite the opposite.  where ever the soil is covered with any kind of mulch, the plant growth around it is always lush and robust.  So, now, there are entire books written that say nitrogen robbing is not a concern. "Back to Eden" and "Hugelkulture" are 2 variations on the same theme, just in different size models:  Wood mulch interfacing with the soil, with addition of compost, soil, or a high nitrogen product to cap things off.  Of course, chickens could play a huge role here, providing a quick, high quality, dense nutrient compost made of poo, leaves, and lawn clippings.  If you want some good mind bending education, google Back to Eden, and view the film that pops up.  This guy has some good stuff going on, he uses chickens to help with the process, and his gardening concepts continually produce results in the realm of "all the experts say it can't be done, so he proves them wrong... over and over again."  And this guy does it, in spite of an obvious physical disability that quite severely limits his mobility.   I can't wait to get into the soil, and see what kind of results I can replicate.

one of my readers was telling me about hugelkultur. I did a lot of research and wrote a blog post about it http://104homestead.weebly.com/1/post/2014/02/a-bit-about-hugelkultur.html I'm planning on trying it for my herb bed this year. Another reader suggested using swales in conjunction. I've recruited him to write a guest post which should be out in a couple weeks.

 

[MEMama3]

Well between my broodys attack on her clutch and my inability to get the humidity to regulate in the incubator, we lost the last two chicks this morning. Both piped internally and then got stuck.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm so sorry! Stuck, dry membranes, or stuck malpositioned, or stuck drowned = too wet? Were you able to tell?

I've got a friend who is going to save a weeks worth of eggs for me. EE roo x EE, RIR, PBR. Any hatchlings I get from 24 +/- eggs will be split between myself, her and a couple of other friends.

 

[MEMama3]

I'm so sorry!  Stuck, dry membranes, or stuck malpositioned, or stuck drowned = too wet?  Were you able to tell? 

I've got a friend who is going to save a weeks worth of eggs for me.  EE roo x EE, RIR, PBR.  Any hatchlings I get from 24 +/- eggs will be split between myself, her and a couple of other friends.

of the two I saved from the killer broody 1 was positioned and may have had too low of humidity (I think it piped into a vein) and the other was definitely stuck due to dry humidity. Temps and humidity were fine until the last two days and everything went haywire. I have no clue why. My kids are going to be devastated. Heck, I'M devastated.

 

[Jazor]

I'll go along with that assessment. I'm surprised the maple buds aren't swelling, even just a bit, yet. I'm rolling over plans for a new coop in my head.

? of the day: What is the greatest age spread you've had in your brooder? How have you done it to be successful? I've done 10 days, starting with 5 hatchlings, then adding 6 hatchery birds. Wire divider at first, then adding the older to the newer, one at a time before moving the divider.

I've seen birds brooding at quite an age span. I would say 4+ weeks apart. If you're able to acclimate them slowly, and keep an eye on it...there's really not much to worry about. Then again, I'm not an expert or even really much of a novice.