NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tough Old Bird]

..... love watching hens run.

Me, too! So comical! They aren't the most graceful looking creatures, at least when they're running with with their wings flapping and their big cans waddling from side to side!

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Drat, my flock has bugs too. Eprinex can be used for mites and lice?

Do they have Mites or Lice? If it's Lice, I would make a solution of Dawn and Water and put it in a spray bottle and spray under their wings and down their backs. They will drop off. I found that was the best thing for getting rid of lice. What is with these nasty bugs this year?!?


I cleaned my silkie coop again today, sprayed it with Neem again, but didn't get the chance to look at my lavender hen again. I will do that first thing in the morning and if she's still got them, I'll spray or dust her crest feathers again.

Seems like several folks are battling these gross parasites. It makes me wonder if one season is worse than another for them. All's I know is, I am scratching just thinking of them. It's crazy how imagination can cause actual sensations! I dusted my coop floor, especially corners, with DE today before I put the new bedding down. I'm nervous we'll be next...!

TOB

 

[Lapeerian]

Lynzi- give your orps a chance to settle in. Each week they had a new setup, flock member, fence, location or coop. As Rancher says, change upsets them and will put them off laying. Also, make sure you are using a bright enough bulb to mimic daylight. The only ones laying for me now are my first year birds and an occasional NH second year bird.
House - thanks for the heads up. We have fuel oil, but primarily been using the woodstove. But my parents use massive quantities of propane for the corn dryer. Combined with the lower corn prices, that is going to sting a bit.
Tab - good luck on your return and happy birthday to the middle little.
Been busy here prepping for winter still. Horse barn doors are closed up, going to get some more hay tomorrow before the rain comes. Harvey the dog is settling in and is very tolerant of a little girl that tends to do whatever she wants despite her parents' wishes. Canned up apple pie filling and applesauce a couple weeks ago. Starting the house clean and prep for the turkey day gathering of hubby's family here.

 

[armorfirelady]

I used wood ash several times over a week then used it again 10 days later. Got rid of the mites and lice on the birds easily.

But remember if you don't remove all the bedding in the coops with birds with bugs it will take longer. I was told to remove them and either burn them or put in trash. Not in compost or somewhere birds could get them again. Then I sprayed all the wood down with neem oil.

Now I leave a litter box full of wood ash with some peat moss in their coop for them to dust bath in. They now keep themselves bug free without me needing to do anything

 

[Lynzi777]

I have Sevin and was going to sprinkle it all over the coop today but didn't have the patience in waiting foe the neem oil to dry! I thought I read that if DE or sevin gets wet it doesn't work? So I figured I'd save the rest for the birds themselves.

 

[Breella]

Is it true that adding some ACV to fermented feed "reverses" it from fermenting into alcohol? (I know it doesn't really reverse it, but I think I read something about ACV with THE MOTHER digesting alcohol proteins) I think I had a batch go the wrong way due to lack of water while I was at work and want to know if it can be saved with some water and ACV before I trash it.

Also everyone's favorite game: Hen or Roo?


I am noticing that the pattern on this barred rock is different than the pattern on the other three that I have. Victory is a very shy bird and hard to get photos of so this was the best I could do this evening.

 

[armorfirelady]

Brealla- I'm guessing girl. She is almost same color as my Stella. I am told BRs are colored sexed.

Here is quite I read about it.
"It's not all about the down colour, though once they are fully feathered it is very much true. Hens are much darker than roosters, and the boys have clearer crisp barring where females look jumbled (talking about common barred rocks, not GSPR or Stukel BRs)."

Now my Stella doesn't seem as dark as the pullet in the pic with this quote but she is not as light as the Roo either.

As for the ACV reversing......I don't honestly know. But I think it's the yeasts that determine alcohol fermentation!

Anyways if it doesn't smell rotten try adding some water to it. Mine has smelled strong before and adding water helped. You can def tell the difference between a rotten smell and a strong pickling smell

 

[Breella]

Anyways if it doesn't smell rotten try adding some water to it. Mine has smelled strong before and adding water helped. You can def tell the difference between a rotten smell and a strong pickling smell

After two days of fermenting it all smells like week old frat house party to me.

 

[Gramma Chick]

I used wood ash several times over a week then used it again 10 days later. Got rid of the mites and lice on the birds easily.

But remember if you don't remove all the bedding in the coops with birds with bugs it will take longer. I was told to remove them and either burn them or put in trash. Not in compost or somewhere birds could get them again. Then I sprayed all the wood down with neem oil.

Now I leave a litter box full of wood ash with some peat moss in their coop for them to dust bath in. They now keep themselves bug free without me needing to do anything

Your Welcome TOB

I checked out my chickens today for buggies ...no sign at all .
They do dust bathe everyday ...they enjoyed it today with sun !

However I got another scratch on my face .
While the rest were waiting in the coop ..
Lucky the big Roo decided to chase the Little Roo Skiddy
the door was partially open to where I was setting .
Skiddy decided that was a exit & flew up on top of my head ..
Unfortunately he couldnt steady himself & he scratched my cheek trying to .
Turn the other cheek ...last time it was the right side .
I grabbed him but too late ...my husband saw it ..
I wish he had a camera ...it must have looked pretty funny a roo trying to balance on my head ..LOL

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Party On !
You can cover it ! loosely ...just put it on top.. dont screw it on ! in case it needs to vent