North Carolina

[Miss Lydia]

Well...we ended up processing 7 birds yesterday - out of them, the teenager was a BREEZE (and I got to do him...woot). I was the official bird catcher and deed do-er while the DH was the "official" doing everything else (haha). Had Alex here to "supervise" and remind us what we're doing as well as walk us through the skinning process. She also checked on my sweet mama who went up against the predator.

She was in rough shape yesterday afternoon, just standing, eyes pretty much shut - no visible wounds anywhere. We did find mites (AHHH) and planned to do a dusting today (suggestions on how often after the initial dusting??). Sadly, last night, despite giving mama some vitamins and scrambled eggs, she passed quietly while in my lap!!

She was one of the 2 birds we had decided no matter what they would be our family birds because they were just so sweet and just great broodies/mamas. I am sure her sister is going to be a bit lost without her. My flock definitely will not be the same. RIP Olivia, my sweet splash Cochin...you will be dearly missed!!

I am going to try and enjoy myself today as DH is taking me out on a date today to celebrate my growing another year older!!

I think from now on, I will just say I am 29 and holding!! LOL I hope everyone has a great day!!

So sorry to hear about your Cochin NH never easy to lose one she sounded like a sweet heart too.

And Happy Birthday to YOU!! Enjoy..

 

[Chasity]

Quote: If you still wish to pluck, in addition to having a hot pot to loosen feathers... be sure to have a wash pot ready to get the feathers still stuck to your hands. That is really annoying when ya can't get them off. And hang chicken from a foot while plucking to free up both hands. after ward you can always singe the fuzzies that just won't pluck

. If you like yours without skin, and don't want the feathers, then definitely skin the pluck'in cluckers.

I usually pluck so that I have feathers, but I know I am thinking of sending the little guy over to the grands for the day next time I end up with about 60 more roos than I can use.

I am sure that Scottcaddy is right..... I bet you have some whoppers to share.

Now to get the flock out of here...

Have a great day everyone! Time to make sure everyone is happy fat and sassy. Got to still freshen the brooder boxes, and I think I am going to move a few certain pullets into the hen house this evening. They are flying around in the Green house too much... and making poo on the hubbies tools.

ooohhh... he must love to put up with my mess, and all of my birds' mess toooo... Lord bless him; -Beth, he knew I was worn down, and he got up to warm soak the Silkie babie's bottom for me this morning, so I could sleep a little longer... and he warmed up and dries it too...

Happy B-day! NH Have a good time on your date!!!

 

[tick22]

Thanks for the responses, I guess I will try the skinning next time. I mean, it has to been easier than the way I ahve been doing it.

Scottcaddy.. oh the stories I could post. laughs... But I am afriad they would take up a very big post to tell any of them. The guys around here have since the first day I got here, been helping me (seeing if they can get me killed) with everything I have done. Being a city/beach/desert boy. I did everything different than country folks did. I have been the source of alot of entertainment for the neighbors and others since that day. I mean the line up of chairs and watch me do or try to do things from cutting down a tree to that first killing and cleaning of Roo... I have learned alot as well as they have.
It seems I do almost everything different than they did.

Fun Fact. I was the first person who installed cut-off valves to each waterline. it seems they all had a shut-off valve in the street and nowhere else. sheesh, Now as they repair any plumbing they install a shut-off valve. smiles...

I spend 30 plus years climbing phone poles so when they saw me climbing a pine, they all bet if I would fall off while cutting off branches. Afterwards they told me the trick about the chain and rope. Thanks guys!! That was after I have cut all those **** branches...

You should hear all the ways you can sex a biddie. laughs. That in itself is another post... (none of them worked by the way)

so again, thanks for all the info and anymore than comes.

time to get busy, phase 2.....

 

[crazyhen]

There are many ways to get rid of mites , bugs etc on chickens. First clean coops etc and use sevin dust in the bedding.

Choices from there:
Use Sevin 5% dust on hens repeat in two weeks
Use permithrin dust on hens repeat in two weeks
Use Ivermectin pour on at the rate of three good drops on hens( two near bottom) and one on back) repeat in one month.
Some use the lig. Ivermectin by mouth (different type )but if you do it gets in the meat and eggs. You will not be able to eat them later period. Its alright for just show birds.
Good luck getting rid of them. They are so hard to completely get rid of in an area once they are there. It takes constant vigilance.
The wild birds , neighbor birds etc. bring them in. Gloria Jean

 

[doubleatraining]

ROLL CALL for WCA tomorrow?? I haven't been in what feels like months and I'm going through withdrawls. LOL

 

[DiggstownChicks]

I bought a show Mottled Houdans pullet this year and brought her home, only to find her infested with lice.

It took us 5 weeks and a weekly dusting her (and the other 3 chicks) with DE and deep cleaning the coop until we got rid of them! WHAT A PAIN!!

She is much happier and immediately started laying.

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/f..._medium=link&gclid=CPvnqZa11rMCFQJx4AodESwAaw

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

ROLL CALL for WCA tomorrow?? I haven't been in what feels like months and I'm going through withdrawls. LOL

Well, I really haven't been in months...since the first of August! I'll be there tomorrow, with cookies! (gotta have cookies!) And lovely plastic boot covers for my paranoia. I know Beth is coming, too.

 

[Chasity]

I went through an experience with an infestation that caught a ride home with us from the WCA this summer. We did not have all birds together so only one area had to be treated luckily. This was not a small area, but anyone who has seen our little 3 acres would understand why I felt so lucky. To the point.... We do regularly use the DE for regular maintenance, but what we call (run-D) was ate up, so we put all birds in a temporary run (stakes & chicken wire ring). Sprayed with permithrin, at about 10% the entire area, including coop and run. Then I held birds by feet, and the Hubby prayed each bird under wings, and bottom. I ran my hands over bird and coated each well, and handed them off to DS1, he put each bird back into coop in its new position (movable coop and run). As he put them back we kept the assembly line moving. The good thing about the way we did this was not only was the coop done and each bird as it went back to dry off, but then the area was done, and it was all done in a short time frame, and we did not have to repeat the process. Total coverage with plant based insecticide, and no return trip for the sprayer.

I was so impressed with how well this worked, that I thought it was important to share. We did go back to out normal routine with the DE, and I still do spot checks often, but all has been well. New birds do not go directly into main coops either. I am about to introduce a few that were acquired over the summer, but I will inspect them well first. We have a very wild habitat for our hens that are of laying age, and do not wish to upset it. We take pride in having healthy happy hens.

... and yes! I am the crazy fool with transition chickens in the Green House!

For those of you who have not met her; this is a newbie, and she is on "bug patrol" in the green house. Emmadine, has come to me for a behavior problem, and is in excellent shape. We do believe that the behavior problem has been addressed, and as soon as her two weeks are up (I loose track, it may be) she is allowed to go to a new home, or into the hen house. I will not be breeding her because I do not have a Speckled Sussex male.


Here is an outside view of the Hen House (run- C)


Inside house!


Older picture inside run-C



I enjoy sharing pictures, and would love to see what others are doing in their coops. Many have been on here for a while, and the ones who have joined this year, like myself could really gain some insight and enjoy seeing the experience of others!

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

There are many ways to get rid of mites , bugs etc on chickens. First clean coops etc and use sevin dust in the bedding.

Choices from there:
Use Sevin 5% dust on hens repeat in two weeks
Use permithrin dust on hens repeat in two weeks
Use Ivermectin pour on at the rate of three good drops on hens( two near bottom) and one on back) repeat in one month.
Some use the lig. Ivermectin by mouth (different type )but if you do it gets in the meat and eggs. You will not be able to eat them later period. Its alright for just show birds.
Good luck getting rid of them. They are so hard to completely get rid of in an area once they are there. It takes constant vigilance.
The wild birds , neighbor birds etc. bring them in. Gloria Jean

Thank you VERY much!! Looks like as part of our date, we're going to go to TSC to get new shavings and dust!!

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

ROLL CALL for WCA tomorrow?? I haven't been in what feels like months and I'm going through withdrawls. LOL

hoping to be there.....haven't been since May???? early June????

Happy Birthday NH.....hope it's a grand one