South Carolina

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

Guys, I'm having bad chicken luck ;(
I applied organic DE to my 1 week old chicks last night, and woke up with one of them dead. What's up with that? I thought it was supposed to be safe? Any ideas? CCK

 

[FarmerJohn3285]

Speaking of gardens-- I just finish tilling mine yesterday. It is 16'x24'= 384sqft!!!

That's the biggest garden I've ever had! They're usually only 5'x5'.

This is my list of plantings this year: Blue Lake Bush Beans, BlackEyed Peas, Silver Queen Corn, Cucumbers, Crooked Neck Squash, Okra, and maybe some melons (honeydew) or watermelon.

Adding fertilizer this evening and planting tomorrow. Only thing is, since this is a brand new area for the garden, weeds may be a problem and will have to stya on top of them.

Anyone have ideas for leveling out the ground? Started using my metal rake but that's alot of work!! LOL

 

[foxygoober]

We have 9 tomato plants already growing. I also put in some cherry tomatos in the kids' garden. I can't believe how fast the squash are growing!! I need to put them into the garden, but I guess I'll have to wait until this cold front has passed. . .

Speaking of free-range and gardens-our hen dug out the raspberry plants ??? she leaves most stuff alone because she prefers to dig under the deck and behind the bushes. . .not sure what was up with scratching at the raspberry.

Who is going to the swap in Lauren's tomorrow? What time is it at? We have a egg hunt in the morning and a soccer game in the evening. If it's raining then we wont be doing either and I do have some chickens to swap-although I should figure out what they are first! I've been way busy in the gardens, working, and being a mom. I loose a lot of time in the chicken coop, but even hubby spends time with the birds

He's such an animal guy

I'm still working on getting a few more coops to serparate birds.

 

[foxygoober]

Quote:
What is organic DE? I know the organic part

 

[Joycats]

Quote:
What is organic DE? I know the organic part

Diatamacious Earth, food grade DE is sometimes used as a natural wormer. I've never used it on baby chicks before but I would worry about respiratory issues with them. DE is very fine and easily inhaled so be careful when you use it and wear gloves as it will dry your skin out instantly.

 

[snick]

I have never dusted with DE either...I use it in the nesting boxes and on the litter when I put new hay in...you did get the food quality and not the pool or pest kind?

I went out and sat in the garden this morning...watched the weeds grow

could you use a drag behind the mower to flatten it out...we cal it pasture surfing here...I have an old bedspring I pull behind the lawnmower to scatter the horse poop in the pasture...grandkids love to sit on it(don't tell their Mom) as I pull it around the pasture, their added weight really helps

Amy the little red frizzle I got from you has been put in the no nest pen...lol..she laid her first few eggs and now decided to go broody...She is very cute when she growls at me and ruffles her feathers...hopefully a few days in the pen with no nest will cause her to rethink her broodiness....

 

[foxygoober]

We moved 6 roosters to the big pen, with the meat chicks. . .I think they learned pretty fast not to peck at the birds twice their size! The other birds seem much happier. . .anyone want a few roos? Feather footed bantams and bare legged.

Here is the pen I took the roos out of. . .yup, still some boys in there! If you happen to know what kind these are, feel free to let me know!

Right now all three boys are pretending to sleep in a tent bed. It would be great if they all just fell asleep that way!!

 

[foxygoober]

My boys are now running around

I did get a few pictures of the ones we pulled out of the small pen, it is taking forever to download them (I am so not happy with Verizon)

We also have these in black, black with spots around the neck and a darker splotchy grey. . .sure ya don't want some roo's

 

[emptynester]

Quote:
If it was food grade DE, and the chicks were in a well ventilated area, then they should have been alright. I have read that you shouldn't inhale it, and probably wear gloves, but I don't and have not had a problem. Then again, I use it on my little and big chickens, coop, garden, yard, house, dogs, etc.

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

Quote:
If it was food grade DE, and the chicks were in a well ventilated area, then they should have been alright. I have read that you shouldn't inhale it, and probably wear gloves, but I don't and have not had a problem. Then again, I use it on my little and big chickens, coop, garden, yard, house, dogs, etc.

Yes it was food grade, I was outside, and You are right...it's supposed to be safe to dust your chickens with. After much research, the only thing I can figure out was maybe it did inhale some?!?!?! Lesson well learned the hard way Thankfully All others are OK