Maine

[quailtrail]

@lazy gardener
I'm getting them from DraigAthar. ..dozen+ I've been patiently waiting for these. I am soooo excited! !! Yes I do plan on breeding these as well.

 

[quailtrail]

Quail Trail, I am so excited to see someone else bringing Doms into the state.  I'm guessing that you plan to breed them?  I'm also guessing that they are far better quality than the MMc stock I got.  So, you can plan on me to come knocking on your door in the future for some hatching eggs!  Hubby and I spent the afternoon putting the new tractor together.  The 2 chick doors are on it, it's screwed together.  Still needs the wheels.  We decided to nix the skis in favor of using all 4 of the lawnmower wheels.  There are 2 x 12" and 2 x 8", with the mounting hardware that I saved, so the 12" wheels can be raised/lowered.  I also got the new chick door in the 3 x 6 tractor.  That was an interesting endeavor.  I had lots of little helpers, pecking at my fingers, at the drill, trying to pick up my screws, trying out the door before I was done installing it.  Their insane fear of all things human is starting to be replaced by curiosity fueled by "got anything fun to eat?"  If the weather is decent tomorrow, I'll move the new tractor down beside the garage.  Should be a fun move down a steep hill... alone... with PVC for rollers.  Then, I'll rig some sort of roof, and a tunnel between the 2 tractors so they can get out for some "on the grass" time.

Can't wait to see pictures of this! !!

 

[CoopChick719]

I used the 50-100 lb dog frontline, because that is what I had on hand. I just did one drop way up under each wing. In researching it, I'm not sure that the frontline is proven... it's certainly off-label. If it is an issue for me again, I will likely try the ivermectin pour-on. Just a heads-up that the people at the store might try to talk you out of buying ivermectin for chickens, so just be strong. With frontline I didn't eat the eggs for 3 days... figured I get more touching my dog than I do from the eggs, so I didn't withhold long.

Ughhh ... appears they have mites with all the "scratching" motions. Trying the natural way first. They were dust bathing today, lots of garlic, wood ash ready for tomorrow and plan on scrubbing coop Saturday. ..amd treatment for birds with garlicjuice, water, tree tea oil and lavender oil mix. Hope I'm not wasting my time? ?? Thoughts???

I haven't seen anything other than a lot of preening.

We've had a lot of preening going here too! I been checking the girls for mites but haven't seen anything. I started w/my 4 white ones. I figured they'd show up more on white bird. I have used Frontline in the past which seemed to work well when my rooster had mites. I didn't sell any eggs for about 3 days but we ate them w/no ill side effects. I've also used Ivermectin Pour On w/good results on mites as well. However, I've heard on other threads it's losing it's effectiveness on worms.

I've also been throwing orange peels in the nesting boxes for mite control. Any type of citrus peel will do. I even have co-workers who save their peels for me. Yes, I am THAT person in the office! "Hey, can I have your orange peels?" "Are you going to finish that salad or just throw it away?" I have one co-worker who saves all of her veggies peels & ends that she uses over the weekend. She brings them in for the girls on Mondays. She cleaned out her pantry last weekend and brought in some oatmeal & ground flax seed for them.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, quailtrail. While I think treating for worms and mites a couple times a year would give peace of mind, I don't do it on a regular schedule. I usually worm when worms show up on the poop board, and mites I treat if I happen to be holding a chicken and see them, but I rarely pick my chickens up. I have kind of a lazy approach (or perhaps busy-person approach). My original flock is 4 years old and they seem to be hanging on with no problem.

Thank you for saying this bucka! I had a guy on another thread who made me feel like I was a bad chicken owner because I'd "SEEN" worms on my roosts. Said he was STUNNED (in all caps) "If you're SEEING worms, you should look at your mangement practices!!" Like I'm encouraging my chickens to get worms?!

Hubby and I spent the afternoon putting the new tractor together. The 2 chick doors are on it, it's screwed together. Still needs the wheels. We decided to nix the skis in favor of using all 4 of the lawnmower wheels. There are 2 x 12" and 2 x 8", with the mounting hardware that I saved, so the 12" wheels can be raised/lowered. I also got the new chick door in the 3 x 6 tractor. That was an interesting endeavor. I had lots of little helpers, pecking at my fingers, at the drill, trying to pick up my screws, trying out the door before I was done installing it. Their insane fear of all things human is starting to be replaced by curiosity fueled by "got anything fun to eat?" If the weather is decent tomorrow, I'll move the new tractor down beside the garage. Should be a fun move down a steep hill... alone... with PVC for rollers. Then, I'll rig some sort of roof, and a tunnel between the 2 tractors so they can get out for some "on the grass" time.

Post pics when you can!!

 

[lazy gardener]

Still a work in progress, but I'll be sure to post pics when project is presentable! I did take some pics of the construction details.

 

[CoopChick719]

The Chicklets First Outing

First time on grass.



Meat bird in his glory!



Not sure how to use this dusting bin so let's just eat it instead!

 

[quailtrail]

The Chicklets First Outing First time on grass. Meat bird in his glory! Not sure how to use this dusting bin so let's just eat it instead!

How old are they now??? They get so big too fast!

 

[buckabucka]

Coopchick, when I had my first sick hen, she did have mites ( I don't know if that was the only thing wrong with her, but she did survive). UMaine hooked me up with a chicken vet that did phone consultations. I mentioned the possibility of worms, and she basically said all chickens get worms, especially if they go outside.
She seemed much less freaked out than I was.

It IS supposed to mean a heavy worm load if you see worms on the poop board, but I kind of wonder if this only happens with certain less-healthy hens. When this shows up in my coop, it is always in the same spot on the poop board. Some people only use natural remedies (which I'm not sure work for a heavy worm load), but they have a survival of the fittest attitude. I do treat mine, but only as necessary.

I also know people with chickens that never really learn much about them, but it is not like they abuse their animals or anything. I try to learn what I can, and take good care, but only to a point. It might be different if I were retired. I would only take people's negative comments on your management practices seriously if they had been to your house and visited your flock.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

The Chicklets First Outing

First time on grass.



Meat bird in his glory!



Not sure how to use this dusting bin so let's just eat it instead!

CoopChick - the size between the meat birds and layers is just incredible! Are they the same age? (I have no experience with them.)

 

[lazy gardener]

Coop chick, I was following that thread. Take it from whence it comes. When I saw that statement made by that person, I was not the least bit surprised, as he is one of several who is extremely abrasive, and has a "my way is the only right way" attitude. Honestly, I don't remember who it was, there are several with that kind of attitude, and I've learned to laugh at them b/c they are so pathetically opinionated. And, that's MY OPINION!!! I choose not to raise my chickens in a bubble. Nor will I let them die if they have an issue that is easily treatable. I can see both sides of the coin, tend to offer my opinion when none is asked, and sincerely hope that I do not offend anyone in the process.

 

[lazy gardener]

Coop chick, I was following that thread. Take it from whence it comes. When I saw that statement made by that person, I was not the least bit surprised, as he is one of several who is extremely abrasive, and has a "my way is the only right way" attitude. Honestly, I don't remember who it was, there are several with that kind of attitude, and I've learned to laugh at them b/c they are so pathetically opinionated. And, that's MY OPINION!!! I choose not to raise my chickens in a bubble. Nor will I let them die if they have an issue that is easily treatable. I can see both sides of the coin, tend to offer my opinion when none is asked, and sincerely hope that I do not offend anyone in the process.

Nice looking tractor, and birds by the way!