NY chicken lover!!!!

[Beer can]

I've never heard of de untill reading about it on BYC. I like what rancher said it does to slugs, we always have a problem with slugs and shelled snails in the garden. One year our tomatoes, every time they ripened were chewed on, some half gone, and it looked like teeth marks in them.
I thought maybe mice or chipmunks. One morn I was out there just before the sun was fully out, they had slugs on them!! Who would have thought slugs could chew tomatoes half gone in one night!! Definitly going to try de in the garden next year. A perimiter of wood ashes helped, baiting with beer was a joke (and I don't like wasting beer). Havta try de this summer. How do you use it in a garden most effectively?

 

[Metella]

I suggest putting DE on plants in the evening ... yes it kills mites and lice - and therefore is not the greatest for bees ... so if you put on your plants at night when bees are heading home - it may have less damaging affect on bees - but still get into contact with aphids and slugs and such ....

Edit to add - or do all your main DE around coop and yard and such now - when bees are sleeping away the snow days.

 

[Glasshen]

the flock is not enjoying the season.

 

[wny egger]

morning everyone ..i hit the tractor store early this morning and picked up feed ..i also grabbed a bag of feather fixer ..it says it helps with mites and its 18% protein ..it was a small bag and at 8 bucks i guess i'll be mixing it in with their dumars layer feed ..it says it can be thrown on the ground for treats or with treats ..i added it right to the feed mix this morning ..i will try and keep this in their dient from now on ..i put a big wall calander up as well to help me keep better track of cleaning or any treatments i do ..i no someone suggested the feather fixer and want to thank them and ask how do they feed their birds with it ..i cant afford to feed them straight feather fixer , so i am mixing it ..

i never new we could consume DE or that it was good for us ..i have used it on plants ..and heard they used it on animals but until now never new we could ingest it ..

 

[Gramma Chick]

the flock is not enjoying the season.

Aww it looks so cozy ....I see no evidence of humans either ..LOL

 

[boskelli1571]

I've never heard of de untill reading about it on BYC. I like what rancher said it does to slugs, we always have a problem with slugs and shelled snails in the garden. One year our tomatoes, every time they ripened were chewed on, some half gone, and it looked like teeth marks in them.
I thought maybe mice or chipmunks. One morn I was out there just before the sun was fully out, they had slugs on them!! Who would have thought slugs could chew tomatoes half gone in one night!! Definitly going to try de in the garden next year. A perimiter of wood ashes helped, baiting with beer was a joke (and I don't like wasting beer). Havta try de this summer. How do you use it in a garden most effectively?

I also use egg shells around the plants - crush them up and sprinkle in a general circle around your plants. Slugs/snails slash themselves to bits crossing over the shell, it's good for the garden too!

 

[marquisella]

Quote: Since I started using raised beds,, I don't get bugs, slugs anymore. I so get cabbage moths occasionally, but they don't do much damage, I can live with it. I don't put anything on my garden at all anymore. Makes me feel better anyhow. And, when I let the chickens out and they jump into the beds looking for bugs, I know they won't get any chemicals on or in them either.

 

[Lynzi777]

Just want to pop in and say Hi!
Hope you guys are enjoying all the snow - I actually would much rather the snow than all the rain we've been getting here the last few weeks. My driveway is a mud-pit and my side yard is a pond! I actually went to clean the coops today IN the rain because I am so sick of being stuck inside because of the rain. The birds were all soaked but at least their coops are dry and clean now.

Hope all is well with everyone!

 

[rancher hicks]

Is it possibly your computer ? How old is it ? What is your operating system ? or what is the Browser you use ?
It also may have extra junk on it that is slowing it down.

I have TWC & I get almost instant connection ..If I am waiting for more than a couple seconds ...it is unusual .
I have nothing Special for a connection ..I do have a newer computer ...
We have 3 computers going 24 / 7 ..My son plays online games ..while my hubby & I am both on.

We used to have DSL and I could watch CBS this morning just fine. I'm computer literate so I know all that stuff. In fact I get irritated if you call TWC because they say try this, try that, blah , blah , blah and I've already rebooted etc. etc. They're just reading off a book and not as computer savvy as I am.

Some people suspect DE
heres a thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/820282/naturewise-feather-fixer-pellet-anyone-using
Pic of the ingredients
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/820282/lightbox/post/11963470/id/5957274

I've read all the stuff about why not to use DE and all that. Keep in mind folks that there are people on this site that work for companies and they're here to steer you to their products. I speak from my experience, not cuz I work for some DE company. So buy a bag, get a slug or two and sprinkle some DE on it.

If you dont have mites ..dont worry about it ..keep using the DE ...
It doesnt work like a chemical killing them instantly .
it does work by absorbing the liquid out of them ..

You are right about that. I am not going to use chemicals that will harm me and my birds. Though this debate has been going on since 1915 or so. I have the article to prove it.

I've never heard of de untill reading about it on BYC. I like what rancher said it does to slugs, we always have a problem with slugs and shelled snails in the garden. One year our tomatoes, every time they ripened were chewed on, some half gone, and it looked like teeth marks in them.
I thought maybe mice or chipmunks. One morn I was out there just before the sun was fully out, they had slugs on them!! Who would have thought slugs could chew tomatoes half gone in one night!! Definitly going to try de in the garden next year. A perimiter of wood ashes helped, baiting with beer was a joke (and I don't like wasting beer). Havta try de this summer. How do you use it in a garden most effectively?

I sprinkle it on dry nights since slugs still have to come out. Usually around the base of plants. Slugs and snails do not like to cross sharp thing. Some insoluble grit can't hurt either.

I suggest putting DE on plants in the evening ... yes it kills mites and lice - and therefore is not the greatest for bees ... so if you put on your plants at night when bees are heading home - it may have less damaging affect on bees - but still get into contact with aphids and slugs and such ....

Edit to add - or do all your main DE around coop and yard and such now - when bees are sleeping away the snow days.

I was not aware it would harm Bees. Bees are not soft bodied are they?

I don't normally sprinkle it ON the plants as much as around the base of the plant. Slugs who can't get on the plant can't do any harm. They come out at night.

We need you bee people to educate us so we don't do any harm to our Bee friends. Bees are people too. Any insect that Disco dances is a friend of mine. "Shake, shake, shake, shake your booty" - KC and the Sunshine Band.

 

[Beer can]

Since I started using raised beds,, I don't get bugs, slugs anymore. I so get cabbage moths occasionally, but they don't do much damage, I can live with it. I don't put anything on my garden at all anymore. Makes me feel better anyhow. And, when I let the chickens out and they jump into the beds looking for bugs, I know they won't get any chemicals on or in them either.

My father inlaw used to pay our daughter a nickel a piece to catch them moths, called them cabbage loopers. He grows a lot of cabbage and the larva wreaks havoc on cabbage, nobody wants to eat worms in their sauerkraut. He uses organic pyrethrin. I wouldn't dare to let my chickens near my garden, don't they eat your produce? Rip up plants scratching? I let them in it after growing season. I had a huge medusa ornamental pepper plant in a big pot on our back steps. I was going to try eating some and save the rest for reseeding. Came home one day and them chickens ate every single pepper!! I hoped they pooped fire!!!