Sdwd

[rancher hicks]

Thanks so much. No one here is into chickens like I am in fact I may need to go to rehab for the addiction. I'm afraid to install my money management software cuz then I'll see how much I'm spending on these girls. TSC is having a sale, Lord have mercy. I'll be stocking up on wood shavings for the winter. Now if country max has their buy one get one I'll be all set. This year I didn't have to buy stuff til mid spring. I repackage the feed into cleaned out cat litter jugs for storage and transport to the coop in winter.

I've been saving bubble wrap to ship eggs. Of course with only four non hatchery hens it takes some time to get a doz eggs to ship. I've learned from speckledhen how to pack eggs. While it's a little more work it's worth it to get a good hatch. I shipped some this past spring to someone on here who I don't see anymore and of 13 eggs 12 hatched. Not bad 'ey? I had thought spring was a good time to offer eggs but then for some of you fall would work too wouldn't it. I don't think the hot summer is a good time to ship eggs. Any advice is aways welcome of course.

Well take care time to check on the girls.
Love ya all
Rancher.

 

[Serrin]

Quote:
Don't bet on it sweetie!

DH keeps making the snarky little remark that if there were any way to take a sleeping bag out to the coop and sleep with them, I likely would!

And ya know what? He's RIGHT! I would! In a heartbeat!!!

And why bother putting the dollar figures into a money management program. All that's going to tell you is how much you've spent. Can it tell you how much you've gotten in return for your care and keeping of these amazing little creatures? I bet it can't. Cuz you just can't put a price on something this priceless!

Don't try to fight it Tim. It's a loosing battle that you cannot win. Best to just go with the flow and enjoy the many happy hours with your babies that still lay ahead of you!

 

[joletabey]

And my DH keeps saying he expects there to be chickens in bed with us shortly-especially my chicks.

Money can't buy me love, love, everybody tells me so. . . . .

Amy, did I miss the hawk story you promised? You promised some story . . . . .

 

[rancher hicks]

Oh really? Well DW has found wood chips in the bed! I have thought of converting the back room on the house into a coop so I don't have far to go to let them out in the morning. Its bigger and I can fit more chickens in there.

As for money management it's just quicken software. It would help to see where ALL the money goes. I intend to give the software to each of my four kids for Christmas. Maybe then they won't be calling for money so much. Got hit for 250 today. Good garden o'peas! If it weren't for the Lord I wouldn't have it to give but they need to get their acts together.
We need a new furnace and the leach field and garage roof worked on. We can squeeze out one but not all three. Help me Jesus!

Now some questions for ya'all.
Have you ever used

1. Verm-X?
2. Rare Breeds Auctions?
3. Feather Auctions?
4. Bid Bird Auctions?

Have a look and tell me what you think.

I can get Wazine at TSC but would rather avoid the egg toss if I can. I don't see worms but figured an once of prevention wouldn't hurt. How long is the egg toss with Wazine?

Oh and I forgot BO has a live chick so there may be hope for the other 3 eggs. I just hope it's a girl. Wish they'd hang an "its' a girl or boy" balloon, on the outside of the nest box. You know kinda like people do on there mailboxes. Is that asking to much?

 

[kathyinmo]

Here are a couple posts that I saved, written by William (Pine Grove). The thing is with using Wazine, you have to toss the eggs for 2 weeks, and then (2 weeks later) you have to treat with another wormer (like Ivermectin) and toss for 2 more weeks. I do not like to toss eggs out for a full month.

Valbazen which is a cattle wormer is the best I've ever used..It kills more types of worms than all the others combined, And you don't have to worry about a massive worm kill like with piperazine or ivermectin which will sometimes clog the intestines..Valbazen slowly starves the parasites over a 2 to 5 day period..Valbazen is also used for human treatments at 400 mg child or adult..So unless you are allergic to it I'ts ok to consume the eggs after treatment, But I and all I know wait two weeks ..I'ts pricey at around $40.00 per bottle but well worth it

Dosage is 1/2 cc orally to adult large fowl.. 1/4 cc for bantams and young standard breeds
*********************************************************************
Is Ivermectin really effective for cecal or gizzard worms? Levamisol would be my choice as a water soluble..IMO Piperazine and Ivermectin has seen their better days as an effective round wormer..After wroming with everything from Red devil Lye to the old Salsbury Wormall Tablets I'm convinced that Valbazen is the most effective wormer that can be given to poultry, It even has anti-protozoa properties against Blackhead and coccidiosis...​

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Now that is just a wonderful idea, Tim. I know your wife would love that!

As for money management .....

What's that? I am a "good citizen," my father told me so, because I always keep circulating my money.

Now some questions for ya'all.
Have you ever used

1. Verm-X?
2. Rare Breeds Auctions?
3. Feather Auctions?
4. Bid Bird Auctions?

No, to all 4 of them.

Oh and I forgot BO has a live chick so there may be hope for the other 3 eggs. I just hope it's a girl. Wish they'd hang an "its' a girl or boy" balloon, on the outside of the nest box. You know kinda like people do on there mailboxes. Is that asking to much?

YAY! Maybe 3 more new ones in the morning!

I agree .... a sign, a balloon, anything .... a pink feather for a girl and a blue one for a boy would be nice.​

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:

This is why I was considering using Verm-X as a preventative but it's expensive IMO. It comes in pellets and liquid and recommends worming every month. Which is very convenient if your the producer and seller of the stuff. IMO

Also with these other types how much of a "residual" is left in the birds system? There has to be a better and safer way. What do organic poultry keepers use?
The instructions for Verm-X is for 5 birds. Who in their right mind has just 5 chickens? Good garden o' peas!

 

[kathyinmo]

I hope I never see worms in poop or in eggs. I prefer to be safe, rather than sorry. A friend of mine kept losing birds, and come to find out .... it was worms that killed them. I have read that some people worm their chickens every 3 months, and others do it every 6 months.

Actually, the best thing to do would be to take a poop sample to the vet and have them check it. Any vet can do that, no need to specialize in birds. Hmmm, maybe I will just do that. I wonder how much that would cost. I think I will call my local vet and ask about that.

 

[Serrin]

Kathy, when you find out, please post your findings here, won't you? I'd be very interested to know what the going rate for fecal testing for worms would run.

I have a bottle of the "Pig Swig" Piperazine water wormer for swine and poultry. The instructions on the bottle read like stereo directions, I swear!

Not one word about withdrawal or tossing the eggs for a specified length of time or anything. So, being as this is for both swine and poultry, my question is: Is there a withdrawal period whereby I need to toss the eggs? The dosing calls for one fluid ounce [two tablespoons] to one and one quarter gallons water. Dose for one to two days. And that's about all it has to say about that!

This is kind of embarrassing for me to admit, but, ummm...In four and a half years, I have never wormed my chickens. They have never exhibited any signs of having any kind of worms at all. I've never seen worms present in either fecal matter or eggs. [Worms? IN EGGS?!?!?

Is that even possible???

I've never heard of such a thing....eeew!! Just EEEEWWWW!!!! ]

Maybe I should just give this bottle of "Pig Swig" to my neighbor to use on her girls. She's not getting any eggs from them any longer anyhow, so nothing to toss and loose out on.

I think I want me a bottle of that Valbazen. Does anyone know what the shelf life is of the Valbazen and where I can get it? Any links would be greatly appreciated.

No Beth! You haven't missed the hawk story yet. **blushing furiously** I still haven't posted it. But, it's a good story! You're gonna love it when I finally get off of my tail feathers and type it all out for ya!

Just please, not tonight. I'm bushed and heading to bed now. It has been another LOOOOOOONG old day!

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Here are a couple pictures from this article...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1585788/