New member - Barbi Colson

[Barbi colson]

Hi I'm Barbi Colson, have 4 black rock hens, got them with their house and all the bits from eBay in February, they are just great to have around, now settled in, the cats have got bored with them, the dog is now banned from rolling in their poo...... They have escaped to my mums garden (next door) once and been rounded up again, and are now penned into an area away from the cats access to mums! They are doing a wonderful job of ploughing up our derelict garden. Such good company too! They love apples I have found, but have had to reduce number as they got runny poo :/ I found BYC via a friend, when I asked about chicken mites, seems we have them and I got a nasty shock today, when I put my hand on the side of their house and it was swarming with mites yuk yuk when it got the house etc, I carefully cleaned everything, but in the last week, we appear to have a real problem. Have dusted all around their shed and their perches. Got to wait till Saturday to dust the girls as I need husband to hold them. I love the fact that when I go down the garden, they come rushing to see me and I have got to the point where I can stroke 3 of them, just the big grey girl to win over now.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! It is amazing what good pets they are isn't it, they have such personalities... sounds like your introduction to chicken keeping has been something of an adventure.
Good luck taking care of the mite problem, they are annoying things to deal with, do you know what kind you have?
Apples are a big favorite treat wise (and pears) not sure if you have seen it, but there is a nice chicken treat chart in the Learning Center, lots of suggestions for other things to try on your girls https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Yes, they do get attached to you as much as you to them! Especially if you are carrying a bag of goodies!

If these mites you found outside are in the coop as well, you will need to strip down your coop, remove all bedding and spray with permethrin spray all floors, boxes, under the roost bar, (mites love to hide there and lay their eggs) and just get ever corner. Dust the birds really well down to the skin and and make sure to get this area outside the coop that you saw all the mites as well. There are many types of mites that are not necessarily harmful to chickens. But you will want to jump on this if these are in deed chicken mites.

So glad you could join and welcome to our flock!

 

[Ren2014]

Hello and

I love that feeling also when they come running. I don't know about mites but I know you've heard from two of the best already here on BYC! Good luck.

 

[Barbi colson]

Thought I might have some work to do!! Shed they,re in is starting to look like it's got dandruff with the amount of anti mite dust I've thrown at it.... One of the funniest moments last week was when Mel my husband was trying to dig a hole...... Turned round and there's 4 hens with their heads in the hole!!! So he started another, same thing!! I should explain we have been building a house for the past 8 years and the garden has been left to become a jungle, the chickens have taken a little under two months to bring it under control!! Right it's nearly 1am here, off to bed I must go! Thanks for your assistance. Bxxx

 

[gander007]

 

[drumstick diva]

welcome to our flock. I've gotten quite caught up with your story and really interested in hearing how things progress.

 

[Duckopolis]

Good luck with your poultry raising adventures,and I hope you find everything you need to know. Don't forget to take a look at BYC's very useful learning center (If you haven't already)! The learning center as well as the forum should answer your questions! Glad to have you here!