NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tough Old Bird]

When I put the chicks (with mom) in with the rooster last year, there was no problem, but there was a whole flock involved. Anybody else have any experience? I keep thinking that it could go either way.

Maybe a lot depends on the individual roo's personality, too. You know I have no experience with this as chickens go, but as with any animal, there is always an individual temperament that can make or break a situation.

TOB

 

[mderby48]

I believe mderby has just had to separate one of her new roos because of a comb injury.  She put him in with some 5 (?) week old chicks and he has been great, so far as I know.  In a matter of fact, he didn't want to leave them when she tried to put him back with the adult flock.  Hopefully, this is still up to date info, but it sounded like the roo was getting on great with the chicks and even preferred their company.

TOB

Yes that is correct. The chicks were 5 weeks old. At first I just watched him to see how it went, a few of the chicks pecked him a little bit but he just stood there. He was in with them for 5 days. It took a lot of bribery with treats to get him back in the coop. This particular rooster was aggressive towards my 11 year old son, since he came out of the chick pen he hasn't even tried attacking him! I think the chicks made him a big softie

 

[Glasshen]

Lynzi, I took a tick off my dog about a week ago. I had also heard that chickens would reduce the tick population, but I think that rumor was started by the same professor who teaches chicken math. I was then told that guinea hens and Muscovy ducks like ticks. My worry is that I'll keep adding species and the ticks and also slugs will continue on unaffected.

 

[Lynzi777]

Lynzi, I took a tick off my dog about a week ago. I had also heard that chickens would reduce the tick population, but I think that rumor was started by the same professor who teaches chicken math. I was then told that guinea hens and Muscovy ducks like ticks. My worry is that I'll keep adding species and the ticks and also slugs will continue on unaffected.

Exactly my thinking! I just worry about the kids picking them up while they're in the yard. Ever since moving to NY, I've seen some of THE smallest ticks I have ever seen in life. My son had one on his inner thigh two years ago that I noticed while giving him a bath and it was the seriously smaller than a freckle! Since then, those are the only ones I've seen. Not the brown deer ticks that we used to see living in CT. These are teeny tiny black specks. So it makes me nervous if I were to miss one on the kids because they are so small.

 

[ChickPrincess]

Mine are beginning to look this way as well, especially the favorite hens. Poor things.

Mine look awful. Bare backs, nipped at heads, and now some neck feathers missing. Will they EVER look normal again???

I am suspecting the 2 free chics may be baby roos .
They are already showing roos type behaviors ..
Has anyone had pullets act this way too ..?
they do the tall standing stink eye at each other ..jump fly at each other & even peck each other sometimes too ...At 3 weeks old
Their little feet click on the kitchen floor ...so they get excited ... they race each other around in the kitchen like little speed boats ..
I let them out a couple of times a day ..for exercise ..in the kitchen .
I took them outside yesterday for some sun & fresh air for a few minutes..
We were all fine till the flock found out that I was eating a apple .
My son was trying to catch the babies.. they were running every which way ...
Till they realized I was the shelter ..& hopped up on my arms for protection ...I was almost setting at ground level

My little ones in the garage have been doing it. I have seen some of my chicks as young as a week old doing it. Just figuring out who's top girl, I guess.

Anything I can do for my yard (knowing my chickens free range) to put some type of control on the amount of ticks we have!?! I pulled 2 ticks off my dog two weeks ago when I was giving him a bath/haircut. My husband pulled one off the next day, and today I came home from Target and my husband was in the process of pulling 5 off of him! 5!!!!!! This is getting ridiculous! Ticks skeeve me out! So now I'm all grossed out itching at every little thing I feel. Ugh!

Maybe look into the ingredient "neem" in insect control products. As long as neem OIL is not used, it is safe for anyone/anything to ingest. Neem is a wonder tree.

Exactly my thinking! I just worry about the kids picking them up while they're in the yard. Ever since moving to NY, I've seen some of THE smallest ticks I have ever seen in life. My son had one on his inner thigh two years ago that I noticed while giving him a bath and it was the seriously smaller than a freckle! Since then, those are the only ones I've seen. Not the brown deer ticks that we used to see living in CT. These are teeny tiny black specks. So it makes me nervous if I were to miss one on the kids because they are so small.

My aunt had lyme disease from a tick or mosquito bite. Not something to take lightly. She was ill a long time. I also heard guinea hens were awesome tick eaters.

 

[Lynzi777]

Maybe look into the ingredient "neem" in insect control products. As long as neem OIL is not used, it is safe for anyone/anything to ingest. Neem is a wonder tree.
My aunt had lyme disease from a tick or mosquito bite. Not something to take lightly. She was ill a long time. I also heard guinea hens were awesome tick eaters.

Thanks I will! And I know! I've heard of a few people getting lyme disease last summer. It just freaks me out. I turn into such a nut in the summer when the kids are anywhere remotely close to the woods. LOL

 

[stonykill]

Anything I can do for my yard (knowing my chickens free range) to put some type of control on the amount of ticks we have!?! I pulled 2 ticks off my dog two weeks ago when I was giving him a bath/haircut. My husband pulled one off the next day, and today I came home from Target and my husband was in the process of pulling 5 off of him! 5!!!!!! This is getting ridiculous! Ticks skeeve me out! So now I'm all grossed out itching at every little thing I feel. Ugh!

my property used to be loaded with ticks until I got chickens. They eat all of the ticks, the ground hornets, snakes , ants etc. So I guess my answer is, just get more chickens

 

[Lynzi777]

my property used to be loaded with ticks until I got chickens. They eat all of the ticks, the ground hornets, snakes , ants etc. So I guess my answer is, just get more chickens

I was afraid people were going to start telling me that. LOL

 

[Glasshen]

Stony, do you teach chicken math?

I think the very little ticks are the ones that are more likely to transmit Lyme Disease. You can take them off and put them in a Baggie and have them tested. I have done this for my dog. But my dog has gotten the Lyme Disease shot that they don't give to people. Doesn't that seem strange?

 

[happyhensny]

my property used to be loaded with ticks until I got chickens. They eat all of the ticks, the ground hornets, snakes , ants etc. So I guess my answer is, just get more chickens

I was afraid people were going to start telling me that. LOL

I second that plan. We have WAAAYYYY fewer ticks now that the chickens free range every day. Maybe only feed the chickens in the evening when they go back in to roost, hungrier hens may eat more bugs during the day?

Stony, do you teach chicken math?

I think the very little ticks are the ones that are more likely to transmit Lyme Disease. You can take them off and put them in a Baggie and have them tested. I have done this for my dog. But my dog has gotten the Lyme Disease shot that they don't give to people. Doesn't that seem strange?

My DD had Lyme, lucklily we caught it very early and she took the antibiotics and has not had any problems at all. The doctor said that unless the tick is engorged it is unlikely that Lyme has been transmitted.