Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[ManueB]

Very unlikely to be fleas. More likely to be a mite of one sort or another. Can you se them on your skin or on the chickens?

Actually, they are. Chickens don't get fleas. You treated the cats, that kills the fleas that are ON them. It doesn't kill any fleas in the house nor, more importantly, the eggs they have laid. You need to "bomb" the house - twice. Once to kill the live fleas then again after the eggs have hatched to kill the next generation. Then you will be flea free .... until the cats bring in more.

Thanks for those informations! They must be fleas because we did see one or two teenie tiny things jumping on us. For the cats we got some stuff that was twice the price, and supposed to kill the eggs, but I suppose they could have brought eggs in the house before we treated them. We will get that bomb thing when my partner goes back to town which won't be before saturday,argggg. .

Just wondering though: could the fleas come from the coop and live in the hay, without affecting the hens? Because we be been spending a lot more time in the coop since that hawk attack as the girls want to stay inside most of the time.

Those stupid cats were barn cats when they arrived as kitten and for a year until my partner decided his "princess" imperatively had to come inside

 

[ManueB]

Henry.
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He is very impressive and beautiful on those two pictures. Very regal !

 

[micstrachan]

I gave the chickies some organic greens.
Mr. Bumble was acting up this morning (attacking my feet), but I can't hold a grudge when he does this stuff.

Oh my gosh. Tidbitting is one of the cutest behaviors ever!

 

[Marie2020]

DW sees them in the Missisquoi reserve on her 6 days a week work commute.


Probably need some of Granny Clampett's tonic, cures anything!


Actually, they are. Chickens don't get fleas. You treated the cats, that kills the fleas that are ON them. It doesn't kill any fleas in the house nor, more importantly, the eggs they have laid. You need to "bomb" the house - twice. Once to kill the live fleas then again after the eggs have hatched to kill the next generation. Then you will be flea free .... until the cats bring in more.

I used bicarbonate peppermint eucalyptus and geranium rose oil. I kept on putting bicarbonate all over the carpet especially around the skirting boards. My friend told me too use a bowl of water with a little dish soap water and place it under a light/lamp. Apparently they just jump in of their own accord. I can't verify that as I have not tried that method.

I periodically brush bicarbonate into the cat and dog as a preventive. Plus I use various oils in a mix I make. The bicarbonate burns the flea

 

[Marie2020]

@Shadrach

A belated Happy Birthday

 

[LozzyR]

What else does one do on ones birthday but go and celebrate with some chickens in the wet and cold!
There was food in the feeder again today!
I had to hustle them in 15 minutes early because my eldest had booked a table for dinner.
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Happy birthday Shad!

 

[Marie2020]

@Shadrach
Agatha is still laying eggs with no shell I've given them all a mix of oyster shells mixed grit and egg shells I also have the netex calcium and minerals which I'm not adding to the food right now. She is also broody . Would you have any advice please

 

[GregnLety]

Opinions on straw versus cedar or pine chips for bedding for the coop?

 

[ManueB]

I used bicarbonate peppermint eucalyptus and geranium rose oil. I kept on putting bicarbonate all over the carpet especially around the skirting boards. My friend told me too use a bowl of water with a little dish soap water and place it under a light/lamp. Apparently they just jump in of their own accord. I can't verify that as I have not tried that method.

I periodically brush bicarbonate into the cat and dog as a preventive. Plus I use various oils in a mix I make. The bicarbonate burns the flea

Thanks, I have all of that at home so I will definitely give it a try! I've been using lavender oil and vinegar to try relieve the itch but I can't say it's really working .

 

[ManueB]

@Shadrach
Agatha is still laying eggs with no shell I've given them all a mix of oyster shells mixed grit and egg shells I also have the netex calcium and minerals which I'm not adding to the food right now. She is also broody . Would you have any advice please

If I remember right, she's an ex-batt like mine?
I had one of my hens lay soft shell eggs for a few periods, that once lasted up to a month. I also gave egg shells, oysters shells and liquid minerals but nothing helped. We ended up simply giving her a small "special" almost every day with a high protein content, either egg or sardine, mixed with semolina and lentil, and some vitamins mixed in, for support.
I think it's just that their reproductive system is screwed up.
However I don't understand how yours could be broody and laying soft shelled at the same time. If she is broody she shouldn't be laying. Maybe she's not being broody but just nesting for a very long time because she has trouble passing the egg?

Mine always pull out of it, but unfortunately it can also be something bad like ovarian cancer.