Surviving Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

There's no-see ums in Canada. They draw blood without hardly a notice..then you have blood running down your legs or neck and you itch like crazy all of a sudden. a horrible insect.

We're excited to get you north Jerry. It's raining up here now...but the last two days have been gorgeous. Weather is a perfect 70 something. Breezes. We've had plenty of rain so you'll find plenty of water, no dusty roads, and probably a nice mosquito hatch. Good news though that the dragon flies are also hatched.

Okay I will share because it is a learning point for all. I have a silkie, Dixie in a mixed flock of large birds. After a couple messages with Destiny who breeds these birds. She says she does not recommend silkies with large birds in a mixed flock. Silkies with their crests have vaulted skulls and holes in the skull etc. She sent me a photo to illustrate this. I have a suspicion that one of my large hens was asserting herself with some scratch or something and nailed Dixie on her head in a vital area. She now has neurological symptoms. A head bobble. I noticed while on lunch at 1:00. Her neck would lay down..head bobble. What it is is brain swelling. I'm sick. She is a 4 year old feisty hen who has done well for herself until now. This occured while free ranging. When I got home from work. I gave her oil from a vitamin E capsule. She had a good dose of vitamins from a Merricks boost in the water founts this morning. It may have been a blessing in disguise that I started that today. IDK... I will give her a few days to readjust...hopefully have the swelling go down. I will also tell you all that the bobble seemed noticably less this evening. (about 4 hours later) So I'm keeping my hopes high that this will will go away with time. Will keep up with Vit E oil and vitamins in water to give her the best chance over these next few days.

 

[I Love Layers]

That sucks! My silkies are never picked on by the bigger hens or roosters... I get lucky in ways like this a lot though..

 

[I Love Layers]

Left side of Cochin coop. View from above

Left side view from pophole. I will eventually put a run out the side I am taking a picture from

Left side view going into the right side

Ride side view to left side, bottom floor. The right side will not have a pophole,

Right side above view.

 

[duluthralphie]

Got 3 1/2 inches of rain in some places around here . Getting ready to hit us again . Tornado warnings in nearby areas . Not here . We had a couple of 94 degree days now rain and back to 90's in a day or 2 . Hate heat and humidity . Getting closer to my trip north . Time to enjoy the Northern weather .

Been picking raspberries . Got chiggers while picking . You would not know about those . Not common here but we do get a few . They love hot dry weather . More of a southern pest . Itch something fierce . No see ums . Need to spray my socks next time .

Watch the skies!! and take care if yourself..

I know all about them..Went to Jamaica returned with chiggers building freeway tunnels in my butt from sitting on the sand.. I guess sitting on the sand is a no no.. I hurt from the back of my knees to my.....

 

[Cebarmlds]

Bogtown, I'm so sorry for Dixie I hope she can recover.

 

[Siggie]

Rise and shine fellow chicken lovers! I actually got a morning off...what to do, what to do???? Coffee first....

Bogtown, I am so sorry for your troubles you are having, my heart hurt when I read your latest with Dixie

I hope she recovers quickly. You might try to feed her some fresh herbs as well. There are several with anti inflammatory properties that may help. If you aren't already familiar with them, PM me and I can give you a list.


How difficult is it to integrate adult hens into say my flock of 8 week olds? My neighbors son has 8 great layers (he lives in city limits of Duluth) and doesn't like having chicken poop in the yard (has 2 small children) says they can't play outside due to the poop. Should I take them? He says they are very friendly with kids AND pets.

 

[duluthralphie]

SIGGIE!!!


You really got me this morning. I was enjoying my coffee, I posted on another thread, knowing Ivie would be sleeping in late again and I would secure my spot as the first poster. I was even listening to the WWD prattle on and I did a really good jib of seeming to be interested in what she said. Never for a second did I expect you to sneak in and grab the first post of the day...



It just came out of left field. wow,, Nice Job!




You have the room I would take the chickens, but can you quarantine them somewhere for 3-4 weeks? I have extra buildings, so I have places to do that. Many people do not. It might be fine, but you never know. If you do not quarantine just know one flock might have a bug that could kill the other. You have to decide if it is worth the risk. I do a similar thing with my turkeys and chickens, I keep them together. The State poultry board people think that is risky because of cross species diseases. I tell them I am willing to accept that risk so I continue doing it. I know I could lose all my turkeys or chickens because of it. But I accept that. I also know I could get wiped out by a piece of debris falling off the space station. I take that risk..

I have a cage inside my coop with its own run I use to put new birds into the flock with. I put the new birds in the separate run/cage and let them work their pecking order out through the wire of the cage. After a couple weeks I let them mingle. It works for me.

 

[duluthralphie]

BC, I am so sorry for Dixie's injury. I would have never given that a second thought either. That means I will need a separate pen if I get a fufu. I know my brother keeps silkies with his normal birds and has never had that problem. I am going to call him today and tell his liberal Ivy league butt how dumb he is for doing that. I love any chance I get to call him dumb........

I am thinking I might have to get some Vikings Bobble heads and take the helmets off and strap them to my Fufu's, when I get them.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Thank you I love layers, dandelioness, cluckies, Erli and siggie.

For sure grab those city hens. You'll need to look them over for mites and lice. Watch them for illness. They say a week of seperation to be sure. Then let them go and sort it out. The newer hens will be on the young ones territory so things will balance out as it is sorted I would say as for pecking order.

 

[I Love Layers]

Ugh! I have to give my Cochins a bath today! And my mom isn't home to help me!