***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kyzmette]

OK.  We are definitely not wanting to use poison. How often would you recommend I give these girls a DE dustbath? Ive cleaned all chicken areas and covered all chickens with it. Is there anything else I should do?

Dust their pen really well, because mites hide in the tiniest of cracks. If you use straw, switch to hay for the summer; straw is hollow and makes a great insulator for the winter, but makes a haven for critters. I made myself a duster pouf by using a cottage cheese container. You put the dust in it, stretch a stocking over it tight, cut some holes in the lid and put the lid on over the stocking. Dust thoroughly, including the vent area and under the wings.

If you set up a dusting box for your chickens, they'll take care of reapplying it, themselves. They love to dust in dry soil, sand, wood ash, whatever. Wood ash and DE are especially good for minimizing mite and lice issues. Whenever we have a grass fire in my area I go toss some ash in a tub.

Oh, and be sure to get food grade DE. You can find it at Tractor Supply where the cow wormer is.

 

[bardies]

Rudy and his buddies spent their first day outside today, and I have been one nervous chicken momma!!!!!!

They aren't staying out there, yet, my nerves couldn't handle that, and they aren't ready either.

Kass,

How is Rudy going to deal with temps?

 

[Kassaundra]

Kass,

How is Rudy going to deal with temps?

I don't have to worry until fall nights and winter. I have several ideas, but it will be trial and error.

 

[shelbydog]

I've got a young friend that has to sell his runner ducks. Thinks it's 3 ducks and 2 drakes. White crested, white, blue, and black. About 2 yrs old. Anybody interested?

He has 8 ducklings too.

 

[ashtree]

Dust their pen really well, because mites hide in the tiniest of cracks. If you use straw, switch to hay for the summer; straw is hollow and makes a great insulator for the winter, but makes a haven for critters. I made myself a duster pouf by using a cottage cheese container. You put the dust in it, stretch a stocking over it tight, cut some holes in the lid and put the lid on over the stocking. Dust thoroughly, including the vent area and under the wings.

If you set up a dusting box for your chickens, they'll take care of reapplying it, themselves. They love to dust in dry soil, sand, wood ash, whatever. Wood ash and DE are especially good for minimizing mite and lice issues. Whenever we have a grass fire in my area I go toss some ash in a tub.

Oh, and be sure to get food grade DE. You can find it at Tractor Supply where the cow wormer is.

We've been using pine shavings in our coop and cages (tiny ones inside). I intend on setting up a dust bathing station immediately.

Thanks for all the helpful info. It was a stressful experience but I'm glad to know its something we can handle.

 

[Poco Pollo]

What colors are the ducklings?

 

[Poco Pollo]

I've got a young friend that has to sell his runner ducks. Thinks it's 3 ducks and 2 drakes. White crested, white, blue, and black. About 2 yrs old. Anybody interested?

He has 8 ducklings too.

That was strange. My previous post lost the quote.

What colors are the 8 ducklings?

 

[shelbydog]

That was strange.  My previous post lost the quote.

What colors are the 8 ducklings?

I believe the adult birds are the parents. Let me confirm.

I'd take them from him but I just got all these ducklings with more on the way.

 

[NanaKat]

Kass, I think you need to crochet Rudy a sweater to wear during cold weather and he will have to have his feather duster hanging above his roost to snuggle under.

Had my 3 month doctor appointment today. He gave me the four shots in the lower back of my head. The shots make the whole back of my head and upper neck numb and allows the upper neck to relax. The shots help me avoid surgery for the ruptured discs. I slept the whole ride home. I always feel really good for about a week and have to be careful I don't over-do.

So when we got home, I candled eggs in the incubators and set 2 more dozen in one of the incubators. Two newly broody hens each received a clutch of eggs...the Deleware Bantam got 5 and the Buckeye got 10. That will make 9 hens sitting on eggs. Another hen is beginning to growl and puff up as she struts around the hen house. I'll give her a couple of days to see if she settles in and then give her a clutch too.

This time last year I had plenty of chicks from all the breed pens and took 75 juveniles to POOPS in early May. Hopefully we will have young birds to bring to POOPS in June this year.

 

[shelbydog]

@NanaKat the columbian dotte I got from you is broody. I'm surprised she went broody before the black dotte.

Relax and take it easy.