North Carolina

[NewHomesteader2010]

Good Morning, Happy People!

Loved the rain yesterday, although I wasn't out in it. We could use a bit more here.

Another long day today.

On top of it all, I got requested by the boss to do some baking for some vistors coming to a meeting today. The down side of sharing my cooking, I guess. But it's okay. I like baking, it's just bad timing for it. Must. Do. Time. Management.

The chickies are growing rapidly. I love it!

Since I brought the birds from Daddys, the turkeys are no longer roaming. They are sticking with the chickens, to the consternation of those birds, who have never seen birds that big. One of the hens has moved into the chicken house. When I go out to close up at dusk, she puffs up hugely and is ready to fight what she can't see in the dark. I have a guard turkey for my chickens!

Have a great day, everyone!

Hey I have an idea for you...you could start marketing these guard turkeys as Chickenstock Guardians!! I for one, who will not have a dog, would certainly get a guard turkey!! I mean Beth and Alex keep shying me away from a guard Emu because of my children...and I've heard horror stories about donkeys and children, so I am in need of a good guardian!! This could be the start of something HUGE!! LOL

We had a little rain yesterday...although I think it was because I decided to try to wash the duck poo off my deck so when I have deliveries and visitors they don't have to navigate the little "bombs" on the way to our door. Sure enough, 5 minutes after I get the deck hosed down...it starts raining!!!

I must say, I am turning into a HUGE duck lover (as is my DH)...my girls will sit on the deck railing and "talk" every time I open the door (okay, they're really begging, but shhhh!!). I can feed them from out of my hands and pet them!!

It is LOVE!! They are much more friendly than my chickens, but then again...they are for bug control - like my guineas!! Speaking of guineas, those things are a) dumb (no surprise there) and b) VERY resilient!! I had one that appeared to have a wound on it's back and couldn't get to it to check it out because they're so flighty, but as of yesterday, aside from a few ruffled feathers, you cannot tell there was anything wrong!! PHEW!!
Still NO WORD on wether or not we can purchase the land around us!! I really do hate waiting, but good things come to those who wait, right?? If nothing else, I am learning patience!! I'm off to make egg free (no chickens laying means no soy-free eggs for the DD) pumpkin muffins for breakfast!! Yes, I know, I REALLY NEED to go grocery shopping!! LOL Off to bake and then to research 8 passenger vehicles!!

My car will not fit 3 car seats side by side - and Dh's...well it barely fits 2!! It looks like I am going to end up being a minivan mom...NOOOOOO. Maybe I can find a cool, reasonably priced, non-gas guzzling 8 passenger SUV... LOL Okay, that was a dream.

Have a great day everyone!!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Yep, we got rain. It rained off and on all day at work (central Robeson County), and when I got home (southern Cumberland County) we had lots of puddles and soaked ground, so I assume it did the same there. Wet enough that everything was still soaked this morning. RF, your kids would have loved the puddles!

Guard turkeys! I'll work on raising and training up a batch!

 

[BHep]

Hey I have an idea for you...you could start marketing these guard turkeys as Chickenstock Guardians!! I for one, who will not have a dog, would certainly get a guard turkey!! I mean Beth and Alex keep shying me away from a guard Emu because of my children...and I've heard horror stories about donkeys and children, so I am in need of a good guardian!! This could be the start of something HUGE!! LOL

We had a little rain yesterday...although I think it was because I decided to try to wash the duck poo off my deck so when I have deliveries and visitors they don't have to navigate the little "bombs" on the way to our door. Sure enough, 5 minutes after I get the deck hosed down...it starts raining!!!

I must say, I am turning into a HUGE duck lover (as is my DH)...my girls will sit on the deck railing and "talk" every time I open the door (okay, they're really begging, but shhhh!!). I can feed them from out of my hands and pet them!!

It is LOVE!! They are much more friendly than my chickens, but then again...they are for bug control - like my guineas!! Speaking of guineas, those things are a) dumb (no surprise there) and b) VERY resilient!! I had one that appeared to have a wound on it's back and couldn't get to it to check it out because they're so flighty, but as of yesterday, aside from a few ruffled feathers, you cannot tell there was anything wrong!! PHEW!!
Still NO WORD on wether or not we can purchase the land around us!! I really do hate waiting, but good things come to those who wait, right?? If nothing else, I am learning patience!! I'm off to make egg free (no chickens laying means no soy-free eggs for the DD) pumpkin muffins for breakfast!! Yes, I know, I REALLY NEED to go grocery shopping!! LOL Off to bake and then to research 8 passenger vehicles!!

My car will not fit 3 car seats side by side - and Dh's...well it barely fits 2!! It looks like I am going to end up being a minivan mom...NOOOOOO. Maybe I can find a cool, reasonably priced, non-gas guzzling 8 passenger SUV... LOL Okay, that was a dream.

Have a great day everyone!!

At the rate your are going, you will need a 12 passenger VAN !!

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Quote: At the rate your are going, you will need a 12 passenger VAN !!

At the rate she is going she needs to look into a bus!!!!!

congrats again !!!!!!!
( I want quacking ducks) hope DH didn't hear that

 

[KristanB]

Im in "Mite Hell"...

Im dusitn the flock and have given Eprinex on the skin, dusting coops and using DE in coops and in box for their dust bathing. Any other suggestions? Im about to spray the entire coop and flock with bleach and a power hose....like spray it till its drippin wet...which Im sure is not good for them...Im just frustrated. Will the cold weather start to help? Any advice is greatly welcomed!

Oh, and my egg production has gone to waaaaay down. Mites cause that too?

 

[doubleatraining]

Im in "Mite Hell"...

Im dusitn the flock and have given Eprinex on the skin, dusting coops and using DE in coops and in box for their dust bathing. Any other suggestions? Im about to spray the entire coop and flock with bleach and a power hose....like spray it till its drippin wet...which Im sure is not good for them...Im just frustrated. Will the cold weather start to help? Any advice is greatly welcomed!

Oh, and my egg production has gone to waaaaay down. Mites cause that too?

Sevin Dust on the birds and all over the coop.

 

[KristanB]

Sevin Dust on the birds and all over the coop.

Regular Sevin Dust or the Dust for poultry?

 

[Matt A NC]

DE is a preventative. It won't do crap once infested. Sevin dust is the way to go. It is 5% Carbaryl in a 1 pound shake can. This time of year you may not be able to find it, except Lowes or a good feed store. You can normally get 3 cans for ~$12.

It was just a few years ago you could get a 5 pound bag for $7. I guess they weren't making enough money.

Matt

 

[KristanB]

DE is a preventative. It won't do crap once infested. Sevin dust is the way to go. It is 5% Carbaryl in a 1 pound shake can. This time of year you may not be able to find it, except Lowes or a good feed store. You can normally get 3 cans for ~$12.

It was just a few years ago you could get a 5 pound bag for $7. I guess they weren't making enough money.

Matt

Thanks! I think its in a Red Shaker can....pretty sure my local feed store has it...they are pretty good bout stocking the good stuff. How often should/can I dust birds? Every day till I dont see them anymore? Every other day?

 

[Matt A NC]

Yep, red can with a yellow top. Dust the birds, houses, and nests. Wait a week and do it again. The dust will kill all live mites within hours. Then you have to get any that hatch later.

Be sure to dust the entire bird and work it in to get to the skin. I use bare hands, but most recommend to use gloves and a mask. When I dust a bird I place the bird in it's house at first. That initial shake off the bird does helps dust the house. I have dusted a bird, but didn't do the entire bird. The mites moved up to her neck running from the dust and started again.

My problem right now is Northern Fowl mites. I hate those things. I am dusting everyone this weekend. It takes a little while to get all 100 chickens.

Matt