NY chicken lover!!!!

[LadyHawkeAvry]

One corner of the property is under several inches of water. The flood line extended just up to my summer squash, but hasn't drowned them. Integration night for the chickens. I have half a dozen young orpingtons to add to the flock. I'm on the fence about putting the keets with everyone. They are fully feathered, but still small, and like all guineas, dumb as a box of rocks... Khan can certainly hold his own with the older boys, and stands a good 6" taller than everyone else when he is upright, but he likes to sleep on his blankie instead of with the other birds. I'll move him once my broody hatches her clutch and I can move her to another pen. Last time I tried to introduce him, he pummeled the then larger cockerels, then went after the broody when she hissed to defend her nest. I will also have to send some boys to freezer camp before he joins the party... Somehow I think he's going to end up another overly spoiled bird who just won't get with the program...
More follow up with mom tomorrow. She's doing great, I'm exhausted. Go figure...

 

[Stuffedcritter]

Green pumpkin seeds (pepita) can be found at food co-op or in health food section at the grocery store better use two herbal de-wormers at the same time. I grind seeds with clove sprinkle it over the feed for chickens, rabbits, and the dog. Please do your research when using natural remedies find a lot sights with false info.

Thank you Luv for the info on candling.

Banana peels are saved for the rosebushes, tomatoes, and peppers and all the critters here love squash. (Rabbits will beg for pineapple)
Enjoy the sunshine that's coming and check out the beautiful moon.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Mine like everything but Asparagus ...But ...They eat everything all chopped up in their treat.
Bananas they will eat all of it ..
Pumpkins ...they loved the seeds ..to encourage them to eat the rest ...cut it in half put some scratch in it ..
Each day put a little more scratch in it ..soon the pumpkin will be gone
Sometimes putting it in a suet cage will get them to eat it ..
I had a scobys / mothers from my Kumbucha tea ( it is vinegary tasting & probiotic )
.put it on a plate ..even put scratch on it ..They were not impressed
I put it in a suet cage it was almost gone the next morning
Maybe it is the Presentation ! LOL

 

[Gramma Chick]

I read some article that pumpkin seeds are natural de-wormers too. Although out of season now. I guess I better get some in the ground! I would love to cut some hay for them if the weather permits.

@boskelli...is your herbal concoction anything that I can make at home?

Yes I kind of think everything in the squash family is ..
Ive never wormed my chickens or seen a worm in my chickens poo .
I used to add apple cider vinegar to their water all the time now I just do it occasionally .
I put raw onions , garlic , cayenne pepper , oregano occasionally in their treat

 

[Beer can]

Yes I kind of think everything in the squash family is ..
Ive never wormed my chickens or seen a worm in my chickens poo .
I used to add apple cider vinegar to their water all the time now I just do it occasionally .
I put raw onions , garlic , cayenne pepper , oregano occasionally in their treat

Never wormed mine either, don't understand te 'hype' on it, dad never did and his chickens were just fine for a life time....

 

[Purpletie3]

Thanks for the worming info. I have no problems right now but I am a young flock owner too and don't know what to expect. I want to do the best for my growing flock!

 

[boskelli1571]

I read some article that pumpkin seeds are natural de-wormers too. Although out of season now. I guess I better get some in the ground! I would love to cut some hay for them if the weather permits.

@boskelli...is your herbal concoction anything that I can make at home?

I bought it from moonlightmileherbs.com. She is an animal & people herbalist. It was relatively cheap about $5 for a small bottle I think.

 

[tao chick]

I see sun! I'm looking forward to a dry productive day. I wish you all the same. This chicken addiction is real. I saw an ad for 14 chickens (one roo rest hens) for $100 and I tried to think of how to fit them in my coops. LOL. I don't need them and my husband doesn't want me to spend any money on chickens when we have a source for free chicks when there is a good hatch at my in-laws.

Edited to add: the ad is gone. I seriously have to prepare my coop for more. My goal is at least 5 laying hens, but my main coop has room for 10 laying hens. I have 3 pullets so far (I think- they're only 3 months old). I have a separate brooder area (holding 4 chicks right now) and another small summer coop (planning to separate 3 of the 4 3-mo-old boys soon). So, in the end I'll probably need how many more? Chicken math is hard.

Also, my source is all the same stock. Is there value in diversity? Should I try to go to a swap? Do you know of any?

 

[Glasshen]

Last night when I went to put chickens away the broody who did such an epic job with that staggered hatch was out with the rest of the flock. She scooted right in with the others for snacks, as I watched her chicks go up into their cooplet and call her. She was not pleased when I plucked her up and set her in that area. They seem to do okay during the day, but I think they would get really cold at night if she goes back to the flock. And I think that's the way she is headed cause there was an egg in their cuddle box. Maybe I should take down their fence and see which way this moves. Maybe they will just follow her into the main coop. I will make them a safe place to go to if they need.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Morning all. Sunny here today and im hoping it drys out some. Dh ended up staying home yesterday to keep the back yard pumped out. Got rain on and off yesterday. Supposed to be dry from here on out which is good because both the runs on the big coops are a muddy mess. Tomorrows plan is to strip the big coop and put in fresh stuff. Nesting boxes need a good scrub. Going to order some nesting pads as the girls throw out everything I put in there, no matter what it is. Hitting everyone with ivermectin again as well because this weather brings on the mites. Not a big problem yet that I can see but better to be proactive.

More kazooing from the boys in the monsters coop. They were 12 weeks on this past saturday so processing time is coming up soon. Not sure yet what I will do with them, freeze or can. Older hens will be done when we are back from ga in august. Im thinking chicken soup. Nice to have a bunch of jars put up for winter.

No 2 daughter is going to have a bumper crop of tomatoes and veges this year. I will be teaching her how to can sauce and salsa, pickle and make hot pepper jam. Since she likes to raid my pantry for canned chicken, I can raid hers for what we put up! Many hands makes the work go easier.

Tab--I dont see any reason to bring in new genes unless you are getting poor quality chicks or deformities. Most breeders line breed. Fathers to daughters and grandaughters, Sons to mothers. Hatch lots, eat the roos, keep the hens for a couple of years (or more) then can them when you have their replacements ready to lay. I maintain around 20 hens, all 1 to 2 years old, year round. Every fall I cull the non layers or poor layers and put the new layers in the coop. We eat the roos, except for The Duke. He gets a pass because he is such a good rooster. First one ever.

Enjoy the day everyone!