NY chicken lover!!!!

[Metella]

I usually do the marker thing - but where THIS hen is - I have to get down on my knees and crawl back - and I am just not going to do that everyday for 3 weeks!

Ha ha .... For just the laying eggs - I have a sweet little kid's rake that I pull the eggs out with !

So this hen is being moved even if it breaks her. Which I hope it doesn't.

Gramma - if you like that shade of blue - I'll make sure to cut you a super deal next time to make up for the eggs I cracked and that didn't get to you. I don't think I am going to incubate for peeps next year - not enough need for me to invest in a good one - and I have to return this one after this last hatch.


Gramma - do you really see the blue in there? everyone says they are blue - but I just am not satisfied with the saturation of the blue - I am not looking for Robin type blue - I know that is a wishful thinking - but I wanted more than a tint of blue. But I did even more research and this is from a blue gene that doesn't have any other color contaminates (brown & green) like most CCL do - so it is pure blue - just super light blue.

 

[Beer can]

Gardeners of the group, do any of you have a non-chemical way you deal with flea beetles? They are devouring my lettuce and cucumbers... I didn't have any issue with them last year. Hand picking them as I can, and have read that diatomaceous earth works well, so I'll use that after the rain stops. 
Thinking I'll try some soapy water? Any other thoughts? Thanks!

Along with what gramma posted,these things, you can buy them;

"Beneficial Nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) kill almost all pests. Therefore, they are ideally suited to combat insects in and on the soil and those that bore into wood, trees and shrubs.

These microscopic, worm-like parasites actively hunt, penetrate and destroy over 230 different pests including fleas, fungus gnats, black vine weevils and white grubs. Naturally occurring, they are not harmful to people, pets, plants or earthworms and will continue working for 18 months."

For cabbage, cauliflower worms/catapillers 'loupers' etc, I use Thuricide, a organic non-toxic bacteria that kills a long list of critters;
"thurengiensis v. kurstaki (Btk) is specific to certain pest insects, can be used with Beneficial Nematodes. Btk works by disrupting the insects' digestive system which causes starvation and death."
Most importantly;
"Crops can be harvested the day after Btk is applied."

 

[akaruby]

@Metella I think they are definitely a good blue color!

 

[Pyxis]

I usually do the marker thing - but where THIS hen is - I have to get down on my knees and crawl back - and I am just not going to do that everyday for 3 weeks!       Ha ha  .... For just the laying eggs - I have a sweet little kid's rake that I pull the eggs out with  !    


So this hen is being moved even if it breaks her.   Which I hope it doesn't.   

Is she brooding right on the ground? The easiest way to safely move her would be to wait until she's up for the day, then transfer her eggs into a cat carrier type thing, a five gallon bucket, etc etc and put it right where her nest is. Then she'll go back in there and at night you can move her carrier and all to where you want her to be and she's unlikely to break. That's how I used to do it and it always worked for me

 

[rancher hicks]

• I Found this
• Try this homemade spray to control flea beetles: 2 parts rubbing alcohol, 5 parts water, and 1 tablespoon liquid soap. Spray the mixture on the foliage of garden plants that are susceptible to these pests.
• Other things I found in the past
• Squash Bug Spray
  
  What I use:
  1 quart cooled coffee (I save leftover brewed coffee in a jar on the counter)
  1 T Ivory dish soap
  2 T cooking oil
• 20 Plants That Repel Pests
  by Magic Pro on Aug 08, 2007 with 6 Comments
  Help your garden grow while avoiding pests!
  Ants: To repel ants I find it useful to use Mint, Tansies or Pennyroyals.
  Aphids: To repel aphids use Mint, Garlic, Chive, Coriander or Anise.
  Bean Leaf Beetle: To repel bean leaf beetles use Potatoes, Onions or Turnips.
  Codling Moth: To repel codling moths use Common Oleander.
  Colorado Potato Beetle: To repel Colorado potato beetles use Green Beans, Coriander or Nasturtium.
  Cowpea Curculio: To repel Cowpea Curlios use Garlic, Cloves or Radish.
  Cucumber Beetle: To repel cucumber beetles use Radish or Tansies.
  Flea Beetle: To repel flea beetles use Garlic, Onions or Mint.
  Harlequin Bug: To repel harlequin bugs use Radish, Turnips or Onions.
  Imported Cabbage Worm: To repel imported cabbage worms use Mint, Sage, Rosemary or Hyssop.
  Japanese Beetle: To repel Japanese beetles use Garlic, Larkspur, Tansy, Rue or Geranium.
  Leaf Hopper: To repel leaf hoppers use Geranium or Petunia.
  Mexican Bean Beetle: To repel Mexican bean beetles use Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Radish, Petunia or Marigold.
  Mice: To repel mice use Onions.
  Root Knot Nematodes: To repel root knot nematodes use French Marigold, Slugs, Prostrate Rosemary or Wormwood.
  Spider Mites: To repel spider mites use Onions, Garlic, Cloves or Chives.
  Squash Bug: To repel squash bugs use Radish, Marigold, Tansies or Nasturtium.
  Squash Vine Borer: To repel squash vine borers use Cloves, Onions or Garlic.
  Stink Bug: To repel stink bugs use Radish.
  Tomato Heartworm: To repel tomato heartworms use Marigold, Sage or Borage.
  
  Read more: http://gomestic.com/gardening/20-plants-that-repel-pests/#ixzz2flz5GdZ2

When I get home I'll have to give this a try. Hopefully my plants won't be to far along.

 

[rancher hicks]

When I get home I will have eggs for hatching I expect. Just give me a call and stop to pick them up.. Free to my friends. Myfivegirls I'm sorry you're so far away, but if you can get them just let me know. I have Dels, Marans, EE's and maybe the frizzle or . One of the new chicks from Frenchy is a frizzle. I think a pullet. DD says one is a roo and causing havoc in the pen. You must show your BYC ID.

Got this in an email and thought someone might find it interesting.

EE's are lavender and blue. Any broody hen will be getting some of these eggs and marans. I'll give the EE's the marans eggs and the Marans , EE eggs so i can keep them sorted out.

 

[Beer can]

I will ..I got 8 of your eggs & 8 of susieQs ...under hens ...Love your Blue eggs they are this totally cool shade .. Heres one for Re Purposing ...from Facebook & BYC - got a old Trampoline ?

My trampoline greenhouse is going together pretty slow, will come in handy this fall and next spring. The legs I took off, plan on using for the framework for a long chicken tractor. I'll document both on a thread when I ever finish them....

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I will ..I got 8 of your eggs & 8 of susieQs ...under hens ...Love your Blue eggs they are this totally cool shade .. Heres one for Re Purposing ...from Facebook & BYC - got a old Trampoline ?

That's actually the thing I told @Beer can I want to make. I just have to get the frame

 

[Chicken girl 15]

My trampoline greenhouse is going together pretty slow, will come in handy this fall and next spring.
The legs I took off, plan on using for the framework for a long chicken tractor. I'll document both on a thread when I ever finish them....

awesome idea.

 

[shodack]

Well, they are eating plants right along side the onions, so that hasn't helped! Will try the other ideas, thank you both @Beer can @Gramma Chick !!!