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yesterday was the hottest day of the year, so far. Supposed to be hotter all week. Of course last night at lock up a hen is in the nest box.. still there this morning... I only have 13 chicks, only 1 looks like a pullet. All is good because I eat about 40 chickens a year and need to fill the freezer this fall
 
apryl29 said:
Last night Nibbler was acting weird. I picked her up and she looked like she was having issues w/ her vent. I wiped away some gross stuff and thought maybe she was having a yeast issue. I didn't feel an egg though things seemed to be protruding a bit, but she was mad so I let her go. Then a few minutes later she was standing there and a split soft shell egg started coming out. I pulled it out and another piece followed. Then the egg whites & yolk. Of course everyone went after the yolk and white [ew.. that just came out of her butt!]. Nibbler grabbed the shells and took off. [double ew]. I managed to get part of them from her but she ate the rest while being chased down by a mob. Then she stood in the yard for a good while before finally acting normal again. Not sure what caused the egg issue, but she seemed fine when I left. I made sure they had oyster shell in the feeder.
Loki was lying in the nesting box when I got there and I thought she was dead. She was so flat and still I thought she'd died there from the heat, but she was just dedicated. I threw her out of the coop and shut the door so she kept running around the coop and run trying to find a way back in. At least she got to eat, drink and move around a bit though.
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It is time to either send in a poo sample or treat the flock for worms. Soft shelled eggs are a symptom. Any vet that does fecal float testing can test for worms in chickens. Poo is poo after all
 
apryl29 said:
And you don't dare mention it b/c someone w a stick up their butt will start making suggestions.


I wish I'd seen this yesterday... I use that same straw b/c I like it better than the field stuff in the summer (shorter pieces and it being in a bag keeps the heathens from spreading the entire bale throughout the coop prematurely.)
Anyway... I transport the bale using a dolly. Then I use a box cutter to cut the plastic bands, or I open up a pair of scissors and use one blade to saw through. The bands are too tight to get under to cut normally. I tear open one short side of the bag and pull out what I need, then shove that end against the cage I have in the coop to keep it closed. I store my straw in the coop, so I keep it out so they can use it as a step to get up to the nesting boxes and be by the window.


Those are some brave skinks. Do your birds eat them?


Wow. So are we seeing a new coop in your future? You could build 1 coop & divide it down the middle inside & put a run off each side to keep the breeds separated.


Glad to hear you're both doing well. Have a safe trip home today!


We have strawberry plants but I've only seen a single tiny berry on one... I'm guessing the late start + all the rain has slowed them down.
Beautiful plants! Bees and butterflies must love your yard.
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We don't get nearly enough bees or butterflies. Soooooo many people using chemicals around here is making it tough on them.

I do go out of my way to make sure I have lots of things available for them.

Extra plantings of blooming things to last all summer, special water dishes in shade near blooming things, shrubs and trees to rest in, and never using chemicals in the yard.


OH and I saw a tiny green grasshopper yesterday! Yup to most a pest but to me a sign that the little ecosystem in my yard is doing better.

I need to get more bee balm. Mine didn't make it through the winter very well. Maybe in better draining soil it will do better.
 
The butterfly situation this year is sad! Iv'e seen very few, normally there are tons doing the butt to butt on the lantanas but it is a ghost town out there. :(
21hens-incharge said:
We don't get nearly enough bees or butterflies. Soooooo many people using chemicals around here is making it tough on them.

I do go out of my way to make sure I have lots of things available for them.

Extra plantings of blooming things to last all summer, special water dishes in shade near blooming things, shrubs and trees to rest in, and never using chemicals in the yard.


OH and I saw a tiny green grasshopper yesterday! Yup to most a pest but to me a sign that the little ecosystem in my yard is doing better.

I need to get more bee balm. Mine didn't make it through the winter very well. Maybe in better draining soil it will do better.
Click to expand...
 
Chickassan said:
The butterfly situation this year is sad! Iv'e seen very few, normally there are tons doing the butt to butt on the lantanas but it is a ghost town out there. :(
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I cannot like a post saying there are no butterflies. :(

On my list of things to add are milk weed, bee balm, spider wart, and more bachelor buttons. OH and more hummingbird mint.
All those should be perennial here.

This year we have had painted ladies and ones I call "dorito" butterflies. They are small but the color of spicy nacho doritos. :p

Not many of any but some are WAY better than none.
I am hoping for hummingbird moth.
 
CapricornFarm said:
We see lots here, but we don't use a lot of pesticides.
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None here either, yet i've only seen a few male swallowtails.

21hens-incharge said:
I cannot like a post saying there are no butterflies. :(

On my list of things to add are milk weed, bee balm, spider wart, and more bachelor buttons. OH and more hummingbird mint.
All those should be perennial here.

This year we have had painted ladies and ones I call "dorito" butterflies. They are small but the color of spicy nacho doritos. :p

Not many of any but some are WAY better than none.
I am hoping for hummingbird moth.
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I do have hummingbird moths in spades!
20160729_142345.jpg
20160729_142403.jpg
Love those little goobers! :)
 
Chickassan said:
None here either, yet i've only seen a few male swallowtails.

I do have hummingbird moths in spades!View attachment 1825525 View attachment 1825526 Love those little goobers! :)
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Those are wicked cool!

Molpet said:
They sprayed BT 2x for gypsy moths here ... no butterflies, no moths, 1 bumblebee :barnie
15 tomato plants and 1 green tomato so far
no cabbage moths is the only good thing.
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OH NO!!!!
You may have to hand pollinate.

WTH with all the bee colony issues! Whyyyyy would they spray such an awful chemical.
:hit

I think my neighbors bees died again. :(

I have not seen ANY in at least a week.

I better check my tomato plants. :(
The peas are getting pollinated but likely just from the bumbles. Those big guys pry open the flowers to get in there. Pretty fascinating really.

https://guides.nynhp.org/american-bumble-bee/

I am 99% sure this was the type I saw. :love
 

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