Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

I've been reading the posts about worms and such....and oh boy! something new to worry about...my question now being, should I consider worming my chickens at some point??? they are all young ( 10-12 weeks) so maybe something in the future? Everyone's poo looks fine...which brings me to another subject..... My husband was remarking about a particularly smelly poo he stepped in in bare feet ( yuck!) and I started to tell him some of the things I have learned about chicken poo....along with asking him to keep a look out for off colored ones ( I had a scare when I fed them all a bunch of strawberries and found reddish poos..) and he just looked at me like I was nuts!! He said he did not care to hear about the kinds of chicken poop and that he thought it was a little crazy that I was talking about it and "studying" it.....all in good fun though!!

Also, here is a picture- we have been working on painting and staining the coop....it's almost there!! It's hard to tell in the picture, but the run is pretty good sized....we thought they would stay in it most of the time, and just let them free range for a short time before bed....well, they all love to be out so much, we let them out most of the day. They rush the door when we go to open things up in the morning, I feel bad not letting them out!

Can't believe I missed this coop, looks like you were posting the same time I was. What a great design and nice job building it!

Mine all rush to the run gate whenever they hear a door close in the house (usually a sign that I'm coming through the basement on my way to either feed them or let them out to free range) or when I pull up in the car after work and it's hilarious and sad to see at the same time. I wish I could let them out but I just put some turkeys and some new chicks in about a week ago and I don't trust them yet to know where they live and not run off or be a pain to catch. The turkeys and chicks are at least returning to the coop each night from the run although they use the people door and are terrified of the chicken pop door...

 

[buckabucka]

Mine were not cured with pour on ivermectin. I did it twice and still had worms. The dawg (dawg53 I think?) guy on here that's a worm expert said it didn't have good penetration and wasn't surprised it didn't work.

When the worm load gets heavy the hens can have many problems, so I do treat yearly.

I bought and use albendazole: http://www.jefferslivestock.com/product.asp?pn=16387&green=2ddfd400-b13c-c3ae33-c53e-40fd57f31996 You can find directions for it on here as far as weight; I calculated mine out and remember it was somewhere between 0.4 and 0.7 ml per bird, depending on how big the bird was. Albendazole is used in humans and has a pretty short half life.

I have used it in conjunction with the ivermectin pour on. I figure I'm treating them, might as well hit everything I can while I'm throwing out eggs.

Well, that's good to know. Maybe I will treat with both. This .4 - .7 ml per bird, are you putting in their water, on their skin, or down their throat? I guess I'll need to do some research before fall.

Also, does anyone know if their are places that sell those plastic transport crates for poultry locally, or should we just order on-line? DH is refusing to take birds to the butcher in our makeshift cages, after our Gardiner escapee incident.

Some guy had them cheap on Craigslist, but they were in Cumberland, and you had to buy 3, for a total of $90. That is a great price, but I did not want 3, and Cumberland is a long way (although I drove way down that way for my turtle sandbox, which is working great). I asked the guy for one, but he said he really would hate to split them up. Anyway, I'll be ordering one soon, if I can't find a place that sells them.

I like your coop, Mainechick! I don't let mine free-range because of the garden, but they love their large fenced-in area off their run.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Well, that's good to know. Maybe I will treat with both. This .4 - .7 ml per bird, are you putting in their water, on their skin, or down their throat? I guess I'll need to do some research before fall.

Down their throat. Have someone hold them and pull down on their wattles. It opens their mouth. Shove the oral syringe in there, squirt.

We do it early in the morning before we let them out of the coop, and after we worm them we throw them out into the run so we know we got everyone. It takes some time, and there's a bit of anarchy (especially for those birds that HAVE TO LAY AN EGG NOW MOM!) but it works. What didn't work was putting the dose on a piece of bread (a common helpful hint from other people who worm) because they start fighting for the bread and some only get a small piece of the dose. Wattle pulling is totally the way to go.

 

[Mainechick168]

Can't believe I missed this coop, looks like you were posting the same time I was. What a great design and nice job building it!

Mine all rush to the run gate whenever they hear a door close in the house (usually a sign that I'm coming through the basement on my way to either feed them or let them out to free range) or when I pull up in the car after work and it's hilarious and sad to see at the same time. I wish I could let them out but I just put some turkeys and some new chicks in about a week ago and I don't trust them yet to know where they live and not run off or be a pain to catch. The turkeys and chicks are at least returning to the coop each night from the run although they use the people door and are terrified of the chicken pop door...

Thanks!! It's been a collaboration between my husband and my 85 year old grandfather for the most part.


speaking of being a pain to catch....all of ours are really good about going in on their own as it gets later...or if I bring some treats out...but last weekend we had a party to attend, and were going to be out late....and I think the sensed this..... I told my husband to get them in the coop...but they all ran in the woodsline...and when he chased them out, they just ran back in...so of course I had to go out in skirt, strappy sandals and hair done nice ( this happens about 3 times a year....) and help wrangle them....in and out of the woods and across the lawn...what a PAIN!

 

[BackwoodsDiva]

Mainechick: It's a real Mainer that can chase chickens in strappy sandles with her hair done and still look sexy....BTW, My husband says i look the best when i have dirt on my face and feathers in my hair.....hahahaha....weirdo

 

[buckabucka]

Yikes! I just saw the fox sticking his head out through the ferns right on the edge of our lawn. He was about 25 feet from the non-electrified wire fence that contains the chickens. They were still locked up in their run, and now I want to leave them there for today.

I went out onto the porch and the fox ran off about 15 feet, and then stopped and turned to look at me. I ran towards him and tried to look threatening (ha), and he did leave for now, but I have the feeling he'll be back.

Meanwhile, I have 12 week old chicks in my carport. That is not so secure. I wish DH wasn't working so much because I need to get them into the hoop coop.

 

[BackwoodsDiva]

buckabucka: tis the season for fox. we have lost two in the last two weeks. I came home from class at 730, they were all there waiting to go in....went in and changed, got something to eat at at 830, one was already gone........he'll be back...(big jerk) and when he does i got a little, sumfin, sumfin for him.... keep your momma eyes peeled.....they are fast and they leave no trace....

 

[Mainechick168]

Mainechick: It's a real Mainer that can chase chickens in strappy sandles with her hair done and still look sexy....BTW, My husband says i look the best when i have dirt on my face and feathers in my hair.....hahahaha....weirdo

Backwoodsdiva, Thank god my husband is a good Maine boy too....he appreciates the "natural look" and by natural I mean forget the makeup, add dirt, sweat and multiple bug bites.....

 

[BackwoodsDiva]

hahahaha...forgot about the bug bites.. my hair is naturallly curly and it just gets bigger and bigger, the more i work outside in the humidity....Mine is a Maineboy, too...back Winterport....going to day to work on my run...i think i will copy your idea...i think it will work for our little flock.....what are your thoughts about adding on to it? I don't want to have multiple runs and coops.... i am already looking to expand my flock....four just isn't enough.....

 

[PullensPoultry]

if his neck is curling. it's probably twisted neck syndrone. If not I do not know


-Ethan