South Carolina

[Jetiki]

I have it in one shaded corner they are free to come and go from it as they please. I haven't seen them get completely soaked, the floor is wet but I have them in a big backyard sized run so I haven't really paid attention to how wet the run gets. Ok here's pics from Today been running since 8:30 Am


From the outside looking in

just a little pooling

birds under it

The Wettest bird

Karen in Gaffney

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

It is not as wet as I would have thought. I will have to track one of those down...will add it to my shopping list for this weekend ... If the silkies don't like it, I am sure my layers will, and if they don't....there are always ducks!


I LOL'd at the wettest bird being a silkie......sheesh. I do have one that likes to dunk his head when it gets hot. He seems to be the only one though.

 

[DickGJ]

Quote:
How do you keep grass in your run? I only have 16 birds and my run is 12 x 40'...the run has been stripped completely of every blade of grass. I've tried making elevated grass beds 2'x12' with 1" fencing over top to try and keep them only feeding on the grass that pokes through the screen/fencing. However, the amount of chicken poop dropped in those areas seems to be killing the grass. All that said, what do most folks use as a "base" cover for the run? I've heard some folks use sand, pine nuggets, mulch, gravel...all I have is sandy dirt at this point and they keep digging more holes for dust bathing and the dirt seems to be disappearing...I've got to add something (maybe just more dirt). I'm going to look into some sort of mister. Is that set up of yours just a regular garden hose on shower/spray or what?

 

[Jetiki]

The purple squggly thing is a mister I got at Home Depot last year for $10 its connected to a normal hose. As for the grass its this short spreading grass stuff that they haven't seem to kill yet, they've been out there for about a year so they have tried to kill it. They have about 1/4 to a 1/3 of a acre to roam around and there are currently 30 birds and I have a 3 hens and there babies that have yet to come out.


Karen in Gaffney

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Geebz

I have a 10x20 run - I plan on using sand in that........ gonna have to do something. Since we have been clearing off, it is mostly sticks & red clay now.

I think someone sent me their flies

 

[pinkwindsong]

Quote:
The misters make my birds happier and more comfortable to heck with making more humidity, mother nature makes more of that when it rains especially those 10 minute rain showers in the middle of the afternoon. I am really not worried about that, the mister I have really doesn't use that much water, less than washing a car, or watering the garden and if its in the shade it doesn't evaporate that fast.

Karen in gaffney

thanks you Karen..
I was really getting so hum bug comments. I was starting to feel stupid.. shoot even if just keeps me cool while Im with them, I love being with my birds.. they are so calming to me, I feel my blood pressure drop when they surround me.. I adore going out and giving goodies.. everyday,, if not several times a day.... Im on so much medicine for my back and blood pressure, the heat is killing me.. so many of the meds say stay out of the sun.. avoid heat.. Hellooooo we had a 4 day spring and now were right into summer.. and on top of that.. Im a fat girl.. ahhahahah..


Im so glad you posted.. its nice meeting a new friend..

)O(
Pink

 

[pinkwindsong]

when I finish my coop with 10x10 run.. should I put sand in it.. I was thinking of like a sand box or should they have dirt. grass really doesn't grow under my pagoda which is where they're going... how important is sand to them..

my oldest are 11 weeks old now.. my youngest are at 5 weeks.. since the majority of them are older I bought a bag of Starter//finsher today.. ( they were out of reg chick starter.. ) I hope its ok my reg guy that helps me wasn't there today.. any'hooo when do I start adding grit and or oyster shells.. I want to make sure I do my SC birds proud...

One more question and Ill go... my little Polish crested was hatched on April 11th.. he is still very small I don't notice him growing at all. hes eating and active follows my EE pullet everywhere... he also is very docile.. is that a normal trait for polish ? maybe hes a she? he doesn't act masculine at all like my other little roos did right away? maybe he needs something hes not getting now?

blessing and smiles to all
)O(
Pink

 

[pinkwindsong]

Quote:
where can i get ivermectin.. is it the same bottle I get for my horses. ? how do i use it? I want to keep my little flockers happy and healthy

)O(
PInk

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

This fat girl will be hogging the mister!

IDK about the sand.....just started reading about using it in the run....was going to use river screenings, still may go back to that.......however I am NOT looking foward to shoveling out the runs once a year and replacing with fresh stuff. Considering our weather right now, maintenance is going to play a big factor in what we use.

Your chicks.......a little grit offered free choice is good. I start offering it at about 8 weeks. Oyster shell you don't have to offer it until they actually start laying.


Ivermectin.........probably is same as horses......from TSC. I use a needle-less syringe and put ONE drop under each wing. I use the needle to pull up a syringe full then remove the needle to administer it.

Amy uses something different, but I have not tried that yet. I cannot remember what she said it was ...... I should have written it down!

Just always use ivermectin because that is what we have on hand from goats and horses.

This last time I picked up ivermectin pour on for cattle. I use it the same way.........just a DROP per bantam.

I use 3-4 drops for my large girls..one on back of neck, and one under each wing.


ETA: Joy may know about the polish... she has some ....if he is a boy, he may just be feathering in slower than girls do.

 

[Larkspur88]

Ivermectin will also work for earmites...

But you didn't hear that from me. I wouldn't try it on your cat/dog unless you are willing to try risks. It's a good way to treat those pesky strays with earmites though that come around your other cats. I think it is the same concept of just a couple drops rubbed in well in both ears. It's a riskier drug to you than those prescribed by your vet though so I wouldn't recommend it on your poodle or something but throwing the info out there for that barn cat you guys may have and aren't concerned about hearing damage if you use the drug incorrectly.


But I didn't think about using it on my chickens for lice. Would I still only put a drop under a wing? I think I'm going to treat with the sevin dust. I Just can't see buying ivermectin if it's in a big bottle or container. At least I know the other stuff will get multipurpose use here