MJ's little flock

[Shadrach]

Shad, I know I keep saying it but your birds are just gorgeous! Love seeing their photos.

I'll keep telling them.

 

[Ribh]

I'll keep telling them.

You do that. If they're anything like mine they'll smirk because they know it's true.

 

[Shadrach]

Interesting. Do you think it cools them down? I was thinking maybe that's why Janet bathed for so long yesterday.

Yes in part I think it does.
I wrote an article about dust bathing. I have a few other anecdotal observations of chicken dust bathing and those I know who live with their flocks in a free range setting report similar behavior. In short there are two types of dust bathing and I believe they serve different purposes in part at least.
Part of the science for why they do it is pretty well established and isn't much to do with parasites.
Read for yourself if you're interested.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/why-chickens-bath-in-dust-and-not-in-water.74441/

 

[MaryJanet]

Essential coop accessories

The obvious items are clean and rodent-proof feed and water dispensersand storage, and good roosts

Cable ties - I buy long ones in packs of 100 - perfect for mounting new perches etc

Something to sit on while waiting for the hens to roost

A soup ladle is handy for measuring feed and for adding water to make mash

Scissors for snipping the tail ends of the cable ties

A dust brush


What are your essential accessories and why do you consider them essential?

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh! I forgot to mention the misting system, which i swear by when the temperature soars.

 

[Shadrach]

Coop cleaning; wide paint scraper, brush and blowtorch.
Day to day, a handful of walnuts and leather riggers gloves.

 

[MaryJanet]

Blowtorch? What do you use tgat for?

 

[Ribh]

COOP ESSENTIALS:

• Rake long enough to reach the back of the coop
• Hose that will reach everywhere
• small shovel & bucket
• gloves!!!!
• Something to measure out the feed

 

[LozzyR]

Interesting. Do you think it cools them down? I was thinking maybe that's why Janet bathed for so long yesterday.

When we put the weeper soaker hose on the run roof the first time and turned it on, Emily and Lucy ran to be under it, licking the water off the bench that was sitting under it at the time. Lucy then proceeded to dig a hole in the mud and sat in it for at least 20 minutes! I've got photos of her all wet and muddy. They don't seem to like the hose as much since then. We'll use it to damp down the run at that end so that when it evaporates, it (hopefully) cools things down.

 

[Shadrach]

Blowtorch? What do you use tgat for?

Cleaning.
The blue part of the flame from a blow torch kills every known mite and bacteria that troubles chickens. It also kills the eggs.
I prefer not to use chemicals for cleaning. You do however need the right type of coop.
Bee keepers have been using blow torches to clean hives for years.