MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

I've read a couple of articles about whether a spiked protein should be considered as a live creature. Covid brought this debate to the media.

I think soap does breakdown the protective membrane, at least this was the information provided by the British NHS and British Government in their wash your hands for 20 seconds or more with soap and water advice regarding Covid.

I hadn't realized that Mareck's disease survived for such a short period. I'm sure I read on a DEFRA site that 5 years was the length of time one should wait before introducing new livestock.

I think, but I'm not sure, that Oxine "kills" the Covid protein. It might be worth checking if it kills Mareks,especially if you can source Oxine given its environmentally friendly composition. Virkon S is pretty unpleasant stuff.

The oxine people make no claims about Marek's disease.

The Virkon S people claim it's effective against Marek's.

The land that would be exposed to Virkon S is a few square metres of a built up suburban environment, into which no doubt all manner of toxins are washed daily from leaky cars, old lead paints, weed killers, who knows what else. No crops are grown here, so none of it accumulates in the food chain.

If it were a pristine natural environment, I wouldn't even keep chickens, much less expose it to cleaning agents.

So I'm at ease with a thorough, possibly one time application of Virkon S.

 

[MaryJanet]

Sarah is beginning to give some thought and time to the big chicken run. She was chased into it by Melissa and then took the opportunity to look around for an hour or so. It won't be long, maybe less than a week, before she takes the decision to vacate the spare coop and move in with the hens.

 

[RoyalChick]

Sarah is beginning to give some thought and time to the big chicken run. She was chased into it by Melissa and then took the opportunity to look around for an hour or so. It won't be long, maybe less than a week, before she takes the decision to vacate the spare coop and move in with the hens.

Always a good idea to check out a new home before deciding to move in!

 

[MaryJanet]

Always a good idea to check out a new home before deciding to move in!

She seemed to like it, but needs to give it more consideration mainly because she's not sure of the landlord who butts in every single day (UNbelievable) to clean and change the water AND steal the eggs. Seriously intrusive.

 

[RoyalChick]

She seemed to like it, but needs to give it more consideration mainly because she's not sure of the landlord who butts in every single day (UNbelievable) to clean and change the water AND steal the eggs. Seriously intrusive.

Maybe she could negotiate the rent a little.

 

[MaryJanet]

Maybe she could negotiate the rent a little.

I may have to throw in some incentives.

 

[MaryJanet]

Today Sarah went into the big run of her own accord while the other hens were out grazing the backyard and she stayed there for an hour or so, nibbling, scratching and looking around. She was eventually chased out by Melissa.

The older hens are very happy to be allowed out of the big run after the long quarantine. Everyone reading this knows how big the big run is, so we all know there was no crowding whatsoever and plenty of options for the hens to get away from each other, if only for a quiet dust bath. But they've very quickly re-established their preference from roaming the entirety of the backyard as often as possible. Today they were out from 11am. It's now 5pm and they're beginning to gather near the run for supper and roosting. Due to professional commitments, tomorrow and Friday they'll be lucky if they get an hour out of the run. But! Then it'll be a 3 day weekend, with full days out and about.

Here's Sarah getting some respite from being chased.

 

[MaryJanet]

But they've very quickly re-established their preference from roaming the entirety of the backyard as often as possible.

For this reason, I'm really looking forward to adding the front yard to their roaming ground. Within a year or two I expect to have the front yard fenced and dog and chicken proofed.

 

[MaryJanet]

This looks like a good addition to fencing. Has anyone tried it?

https://digdefence.com/

 

[BDutch]

This looks like a good addition to fencing. Has anyone tried it?

https://digdefence.com/

It only covers for large diggers. Where I live, with the predators we have, it would be useless.
I use HWC 25-30 cm in the ground or flat with soil/bricks/grass on top or large stoop-tiles.