North Carolina

[cknnewbie]

Good Late Morning everyone!!

I wish I could say it was a good day, but alas it's starting off TERRIBLE. My great mama chicken decided for some reason to "ditch" her babies yesterday and DH didn't check on them (when I was at the doctor's office) anyway...out of the babies we only have 3 left...I hate to say the "funny part" but the funny part is that the sole survivors of whatever took them/happened to them are my WHITE ones!! I have both super blues left and 1 white SFH...I am so disappointed and yet can't blame the hubby, as he did work 18 hours and then came home to sleep. Had I known he wasn't going to check on them (like he said), I wouldn't have let them out until I got home.

Bad news aside, I figured out that I do NOT have an egg thief...exactly. Turns out one of my OE has gone broody and has been taking the eggs to build a nest in the corner of the coop...I found her in the nesting box this morning, DH said she was sitting in the corner on a dozen eggs or so!!

I think I might need to get some eggs for this poor girl, but I have NO place to put her!! What do you all do when you are overrun with broody hens??

Side question for those of you who garden: any suggestions/advice to naturally get rid of squash bugs and ants? Our garden is flourishing this year (I have pumpkins, watermelon, zucchini and such all growing) but we're swamped with "squash bugs" (I am assuming since they are ALL over the pumpkin plants). I spent a good hour last night just pulling them off ...and the worst part is the chickens WON'T eat them!!

Have a great Friday!! Tonight and tomorrow we'll be outside building a playset for some anxious girls!! LOL

Sorry for your loss!

This week I discovered an infestation of Japanese Beetles on the grapes and newly planted apple trees. I read that using Neem Oil for them is an organic deterrent. Has anyone tried this??

 

[TarheelBirdy]

SFH?

Swedish Flower Hens, sorry

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

No fun picking them off, huh? They are SO hard to get rid of, I hate them.

Here is a link to a forum that discusses this issue. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/organic/msg0722512410012.html

Hehe...if I wasn't about to pop any day now, I wouldn't mind so much squatting outside for an hour picking bugs off and killing them while my other kiddos sleep...but mix pregnancy with the heat/humidity and you have one UNCOMFORTABLE lady...LOL Thank you for the post though, it's been VERY interesting to read. We've had squash bugs even when we didn't plant squash and NOTHING (not even the guineas) ate them. I don't want to try the DE around the base because I know how harmful it can be to beneficial insects as well....so I may just have to try this neem oil - although I have NEVER heard of it before. Not surprising as I am new to gardening!! Many many thanks...I think also next year I will plant some mint next to the fence surrounding the raised beds as that was said to be a deterrent. Thank you again!!

 

[dutchbunny83]

I know this is a chicken thread, but I know most of you have children so I'm hoping your experience can help me.

My baby will be 2 in 6 weeks and she hasn't eaten since yesterday, but she's staying hydrated, she told me her stomach hurts. This afternoon she started a fever and at 7 tonight it was 104. I gave her motrin and now at 9pm it's still 102.

I can't get in touch with her doctor and I'm trying to avoid having her sit in the ER all night because I don't think they can really do anything. From past experience I've always been told motrin works better for high fever than tylenol but to rotate motrin and tylenol every 4 hours.

Anyone know of any other tips for helping a fever to drop???
I don't like seeing it in the 102-104 range.
I know over 104 is really serious and can start seizures.

I'm googling stuff right now, but haven't really found anything.
THANKS!!!

 

[ktown1787]

I am looking for anconas in Western NC. I am intrigued by them and would love to find some near me. Anyone have any?

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

I'm mad at myself tonight. The leghorns had been coming out of the pasture into the yard, so I clipped them. Usually by the time the feathers molt out, they are trained to stay in place. But I missed one. I knew I missed her too, and have been forgetting to take the scissors at close-down time. And today when I came home, I found her in the mouth of one of the dogs. Looks like a couple of them had been playing tug-of-war with her. My fault for not getting her clipped, and I feel horrible.

Stupidity. I'm over-blessed with it. I could have kept her safe with the loss of a couple feathers. And I didn't.

 

[TarheelBirdy]

I know this is a chicken thread, but I know most of you have children so I'm hoping your experience can help me.

My baby will be 2 in 6 weeks and she hasn't eaten since yesterday, but she's staying hydrated, she told me her stomach hurts. This afternoon she started a fever and at 7 tonight it was 104. I gave her motrin and now at 9pm it's still 102.

I can't get in touch with her doctor and I'm trying to avoid having her sit in the ER all night because I don't think they can really do anything. From past experience I've always been told motrin works better for high fever than tylenol but to rotate motrin and tylenol every 4 hours.

Anyone know of any other tips for helping a fever to drop???
I don't like seeing it in the 102-104 range.
I know over 104 is really serious and can start seizures.

I'm googling stuff right now, but haven't really found anything.
THANKS!!!

Aww, poor little princess. I hope she is better RIGHT AWAY!!!! Saying prayers.

 

[TarheelBirdy]

I'm mad at myself tonight. The leghorns had been coming out of the pasture into the yard, so I clipped them. Usually by the time the feathers molt out, they are trained to stay in place. But I missed one. I knew I missed her too, and have been forgetting to take the scissors at close-down time. And today when I came home, I found her in the mouth of one of the dogs. Looks like a couple of them had been playing tug-of-war with her. My fault for not getting her clipped, and I feel horrible.

Stupidity. I'm over-blessed with it. I could have kept her safe with the loss of a couple feathers. And I didn't.

I'm so sorry you lost your hen. Be easy on yourself, ok?

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Good Morning, Happy Chicken People! (Not so happy ones, too!)

 

[cknnewbie]

I know this is a chicken thread, but I know most of you have children so I'm hoping your experience can help me.

My baby will be 2 in 6 weeks and she hasn't eaten since yesterday, but she's staying hydrated, she told me her stomach hurts. This afternoon she started a fever and at 7 tonight it was 104. I gave her motrin and now at 9pm it's still 102.

I can't get in touch with her doctor and I'm trying to avoid having her sit in the ER all night because I don't think they can really do anything. From past experience I've always been told motrin works better for high fever than tylenol but to rotate motrin and tylenol every 4 hours.

Anyone know of any other tips for helping a fever to drop???
I don't like seeing it in the 102-104 range.
I know over 104 is really serious and can start seizures.

I'm googling stuff right now, but haven't really found anything.
THANKS!!!

Sorry I didn't see this earlier Dutchbunny. Here's where I refer my daughter's (or look up myself) for at-home guidance. I like how it breaks it down by what to do yourself, when to call the doctor, when to go to the ER. I learned to trust these protocols because the doctor's I worked with worked closely with this hospital and used these protocols for nurse telephone triage. Hope your sweetie is better soon!

http://www.childrenscolorado.org/wellness/at_home/index.aspx#abdomen