South Carolina

[huckleberryfarm]

Quote:
I am so sorry for you. I had this happen 2 weeks ago, too. It seems the PO is getting less and less reliable. I may check into UPS or FedEx. (Don't shoot me, Jackie!!

) Although FedEx handles the USPS packages.

I sold eggs on auction, shipped them out PRIORITY on Wed. and they went to the right town but then were scanned every day (even on Sunday) and still did not get to her until the next Wed! She tracked them and when they had not arrived on Monday she let me know. She had been to the PO on Sat. demanding to know where they were but they did not help her. She told them and gave them the tracking number that the package showed to be there in the PO but they could not find it. They scanned it in every day but could not find it! She has set the eggs and we hope they are okay but the PO is really getting crazy.

I also shipped out eggs last week, owners request, via Express Mail. She sent me the money Express mail, paid for the eggs and paid for shipping back Express mail. It wound up costing her over $100 (she really wanted those eggs!) and she still did not get them for 4 days! She is filing a complaint but we all know how that goes.

I know Priority does not really guarantee them to get there even if they say it does. Express mail is guaranteed over night to certain towns but even when they get there they get lost in the mess they have. When you question them they point out that fine print.

Good luck!

Shocking that the very efficient post office is losing so much money. I've actually had pretty good luck with them so far.

 

[huckleberryfarm]

So obviously I need to change the shavings in the baby coop. We can get them at the feed store but they might also be bad. I never ever thought new shavings would have mites. The babies in the house are in plastic brooders with shavings. It has to be that. If I clean out the coop, treat it with Sevin, put in clean shavings, should I then treat each chicks with the sand/DE/Sevin mixture? I guess I can try it in the house too. I hate to treat a day-old chick but that's better than mites I think.

This is very annoying and frustrating.

 

[monkeemakr]

Quote:
I've been using hay or straw (just depending on which I have at the moment) as brooder bedding. Is that bad? I change it out every week and spray with oxine on the bottom before putting new in. I tried the shavings once, but they smelled pretty musty when the bag was opened so I gave up on that.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
How would chicks get lice? And wouldn't you treat them both the same way?

Dunno how they might have gotten them, that is why I advised researching them. And I would think you get rid of them the same way but it would be best to research them both and learn about them to see how you can prevent them in the future.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
I've been using hay or straw (just depending on which I have at the moment) as brooder bedding. Is that bad? I change it out every week and spray with oxine on the bottom before putting new in. I tried the shavings once, but they smelled pretty musty when the bag was opened so I gave up on that.

Actually hay and straw are more likely to carry mites. They love those shafts where they can get into a small crevice and lay eggs.
Just check your chicks over well, under arm pits,..er....I mean wings, around the vent and they love to lay eggs on the neck and around the face.
I good product and I love the smell, too, is Poultry Protector. I don't use it often as they really hate the fragrance or being wet but when I bring home something new it is sprayed down with it. Just in case.

Sounds like you are doing well to try and keep ahead of them.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Susanne,
Did I read somewhere that you are getting into d'Uccles????
That would be awesome to have another d'Uccle breeder around. This is a wonderful breed to own!

Let us know more about what you plan on doing. How exciting!

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

Miss Amy, you never showed us the brooder room.

We parked near your car. Because we talked so long I remember what you car looked like... I told the kids and hubby about the saga of the stolen car.

We looked at tractors until you mentioned kittens. We went in that building just where the cats had their litters.

I've had chickens "this time" since May 2009. I grew up with chickens in North Charleston.

We have made the sand mixture for our adult birds several times. The kids catch the birds and bring them to me. I have to rub the bird butts, lol. The excess gets poured where I *hope* someone will dust bathe one day.

See? It's just a Chicken People Thing.

 

[monkeemakr]

Quote:
I've been using hay or straw (just depending on which I have at the moment) as brooder bedding. Is that bad? I change it out every week and spray with oxine on the bottom before putting new in. I tried the shavings once, but they smelled pretty musty when the bag was opened so I gave up on that.

Actually hay and straw are more likely to carry mites. They love those shafts where they can get into a small crevice and lay eggs.
Just check your chicks over well, under arm pits,..er....I mean wings, around the vent and they love to lay eggs on the neck and around the face.
I good product and I love the smell, too, is Poultry Protector. I don't use it often as they really hate the fragrance or being wet but when I bring home something new it is sprayed down with it. Just in case.

Sounds like you are doing well to try and keep ahead of them.

Thanks Amy. I may just mix a little DE into the hay when I put it in, and I"ll keep an eye out for those dang little critters on my sweet little critters. I'll have to check out that Poultry Protector. That's new to me.

 

[Jackie B.]

Quote:
I always always always add poultry dust or sevin when I lay down new shavings. Those little buggers are relentless if there's just an ounce of moisture on any wood crevice. I LOATHE mites and lice. Creepy little buggers. Maybe that's what I should be for Halloween!!!

 

[RedBugPoultry]

I keep trying to catch up on this thread but I just have to much going on around here to do so.

Susanne, I a really sorry that you have mites or lice in your chicks. I know the feeling of finding the things or something similar in the birds. I do hope you get it under control.

I have been having a time with one of my marans babies--I have named him Hannibal. At first I saw him biting toes so I moved out 3 sibling he was biting on, them yesterday I caught him biting another siblings butt--so I removed that chick. He only has 2 sibling to go and then he will be along! All 4 chicks are doing great together away from him and no one is pecking on anyone else. I have them in a plastic dog kennel but today I am bringing back in the big tub for a brooder to give them more room. I think I will keep Hannibal out with one chick and put the others in the big tub. I have some "Pick No More" waiting at the post office but have not gotten there to get it.

Oh, and on top of all of this my female peachicks is pulling all the feathers off my male chicks chest! Never a dull moment here.....

Oh, and I think the old hog pen is going to be a peafowl pen only. I think we are going to do something different for the coral blue guineas.

Did I hear d'uccles? Amy, what colors do you have that are laying eggs? ......