Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[AnneInTheBurbs]

But your dirt is not as special as their dirt. Maybe if your dirt was more white, then people would know it was special and pay you for it?

Remember, some people eat that special dirt . . .

Don't judge! I just bought a 40 lb. bucket of dirt. (Aztec Secret pure Bentonite clay, to be exact). A guy had a super great deal on Craigslist for it. Do you think that would be safe to add to a dust bathing area? Or are the particles still too small? I didn't buy it for the chickens, but thinking about it, I bet it couldn't hurt.

My new little chicken is isolated from the other girls so far. She mainly stays on the porch near her box. Hoping it will get better. Why can't we all just get along?

Question some of you may have a good answer for: where is the least expensive place to get grass seed? I need some for the areas where my naughty girls went to town. That doesn't sound very good, does it?

 

[Kinmera]

I douse my birds water with unfiltered ACV.

the ratio is 2% acv to 98% water.... I do it the EASY way..... 1/4 cup to a Gallon of water. Thats about 2x the ACV needed, but it works.

 

[dheltzel]

Don't judge! I just bought a 40 lb. bucket of dirt. (Aztec Secret pure Bentonite clay, to be exact). A guy had a super great deal on Craigslist for it. Do you think that would be safe to add to a dust bathing area? Or are the particles still too small? I didn't buy it for the chickens, but thinking about it, I bet it couldn't hurt.

My new little chicken is isolated from the other girls so far. She mainly stays on the porch near her box. Hoping it will get better. Why can't we all just get along?

Question some of you may have a good answer for: where is the least expensive place to get grass seed? I need some for the areas where my naughty girls went to town. That doesn't sound very good, does it?

I probably would have bought the DE too, I've been tempted to try it for nestboxes. It's also a good, organic pest control (like salt on slugs - that what it does to many insects, but you have to get it on them or where they travel).

It is too late to get grass going now, best to wait until spring. Nothing says you can't prepare the area now, unless it's a slope prone to erosion. Wait until spring to buy the seed, then check the home centers and/or Walmart (lots of places are out of grass seed now). There are different species of grass that do well under different conditions, and lots of varieties of each species. Kind of like poultry, you won't get the same results for chickens and peacocks, so figure out what you want them for, then get the species best for that purpose. Tall Fescue is ideal for heavy traffic areas, much better than bluegrass, ryegrass, or the fine fescues. It does not look as good (they use it for athletic fields, check those out sometime to see what it looks like).

You might also consider some other type of ground cover if this is an area where growing grass is problematic.

 

[dheltzel]

I douse my birds water with unfiltered ACV.

the ratio is 2% acv to 98% water.... I do it the EASY way..... 1/4 cup to a Gallon of water. Thats about 2x the ACV needed, but it works.

Brings to mind the phrase "madder than a wet hen".

 

[Kinmera]

I put the ACV in their drinking water silly =)

 

[Kinmera]

I also use a combination of Food Grade DE, Play sand, and Wood ash in the coops as a 'dusting' box for the chickens to keep external parasites off.

then because I like the smell of it -- I use things like dried rosemary, thyme, etc and sprinkle them in the nesting boxes and sprinkled on the floor of the coops b/c they are supposed to help keep the critters away too.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I probably would have bought the DE too, I've been tempted to try it for nestboxes. It's also a good, organic pest control (like salt on slugs - that what it does to many insects, but you have to get it on them or where they travel).

It is too late to get grass going now, best to wait until spring. Nothing says you can't prepare the area now, unless it's a slope prone to erosion. Wait until spring to buy the seed, then check the home centers and/or Walmart (lots of places are out of grass seed now). There are different species of grass that do well under different conditions, and lots of varieties of each species. Kind of like poultry, you won't get the same results for chickens and peacocks, so figure out what you want them for, then get the species best for that purpose. Tall Fescue is ideal for heavy traffic areas, much better than bluegrass, ryegrass, or the fine fescues. It does not look as good (they use it for athletic fields, check those out sometime to see what it looks like).

You might also consider some other type of ground cover if this is an area where growing grass is problematic.

Don't tell me that, Hubby will not be amused. I did spread some seed a week or two ago, we'll see if it makes it until spring. It is not a high traffic area, but it is a favorite chicken area. So, I need AstroTurf.

 

[chiques chicks]

I also use a combination of Food Grade DE, Play sand, and Wood ash in the coops as a 'dusting' box for the chickens to keep external parasites off.

then because I like the smell of it -- I use things like dried rosemary, thyme, etc and sprinkle them in the nesting boxes and sprinkled on the floor of the coops b/c they are supposed to help keep the critters away too.

I also put wood ashes in dusting boxes and in the coop. One advantage to a wood stove.

 

[fisherlady]

I also put wood ashes in dusting boxes and in the coop. One advantage to a wood stove.

x3 on the wood ashes... I have a green turtle sand box in the run (under the covered portion) which we fill with a mix of play sand and wood ashes. The birds love it for a dust bath on days it is rainy or they can't get out to their favorite spot in the woods or under the old boat. Through the winter I add the ashes to the coop floor sand also, and have had 'dusting parties' involving up to 15 birds at a time after they see me spreading the ashes. If you have never been in a coop during a dusting storm it is quite the experience! LOL.... but remember to wear your dust mask!

 

[dheltzel]

I put the ACV in their drinking water silly =)

I read "I douse my birds", and skipped over the word water. Its worth a try, but that may not bring a parasite infestation under control like getting dust or DE on their soft little bodies. I was thinking you were spraying the lice with ACV, and that might work, but gets back to the wet hen thing.

For anyone trying to avoid pesticides, the ACV in the water would be worth trying. Also, you could spray their hiding places with soapy water (Safers Insecticidal soap is especially effective on soft bodies insects and mites). Spreading around DE would help too, and finally, carefully dusting with DE should be very effective, just watch the airborne stuff, maybe work in a well-ventilated area and wear a dust mask.