Texas

[topdycke]

Sunday (or Monday) is 'the' day for silkie chicks!

I'll find out Sunday morning how the hatching is going.

I think I am going to get this cute hutch for my coop. No modifications necessary except for a perch and nest box. Maybe a bit more ventilation at the top. I have a coupon code to get it for less. I'm going to paint it to match my trim and might need to sturdy it up some too.

Not to discourage you but those are really really small. If you plan on bantys or serama you could fit what they say but 2 standard chickens would be a crowd in them. My feed store had similar ones set up (think beagle-sized doghouse) and they are cute and for a couple of birds in a urban yard they might work for a while.

 

[Brookshire11]

Very cute! Are we saying 'yes to the coop'???

You rub it on their legs. It will suffocate the mites plus get rid of the dry scales. Usually takes one application. In the winter time, if you live in the COLD region, put it on the rooster's comb and wattle to prevent frostbite.

Lisa

Would something like coconut oil work? Or does it HAVE to be castor?
Can I do it as kind of a preventative? I have coconut oil at home and wouldn't mind slathering them up tonight.
I'm going to have to bone up on this mite thing.

 

[hensfortherapy]

Very cute!  Are we saying 'yes to the coop'???

You rub it on their legs.  It will suffocate the mites plus get rid of the dry scales.  Usually takes one application.  In the winter time, if you live in the COLD region, put it on the rooster's comb and wattle to prevent frostbite.

Lisa

Somewhere I read mineral oil works. I have never tried it though. Knock on wood, my hens have not had mites. I think the fact that they take dust baths helps.

 

[TexasLisa]

Would something like coconut oil work? Or does it HAVE to be castor?
Can I do it as kind of a preventative? I have coconut oil at home and wouldn't mind slathering them up tonight.
I'm going to have to bone up on this mite thing.

Here is an interesting site on mites:

http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/07/crying-fowl-it-might-be-mites.html

Lisa

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Not to discourage you but those are really really small. If you plan on bantys or serama you could fit what they say but 2 standard chickens would be a crowd in them. My feed store had similar ones set up (think beagle-sized doghouse) and they are cute and for a couple of birds in a urban yard they might work for a while.

This is for tiny silkies. So it will work.

 

[hensfortherapy]

I planted a small garden today. I have been working on this raised bed for over a year. Adding the chicken poo which is usually mixed in sand and leaf mulch over time and turning. I had intended to plant strawberries, but that will be next year. Pumpkin already coming up in it cause that's where I threw the Halloween pumpkin. I planted sunflowers and daisies to see if I can grow them for my daughter's wedding. We'll see. Thought it would be worth a try. The girls are alittle perturbed with me because it is one of their favorite scratching spots and I put a 10x10 dog kennel around it to keep the deer and chickens out. They let me know they were not happy.

 

[jajeanpierre]

have you tried overstock.com Search pet houses. They have 10% off coupons all of the time. We bought this one, and paid about $156 and used it for a brooder. Its more right now but you can sign up for email alerts for products you like to let you know when they drop.

That looks really cute! Did you buy that one? Was it put together with bolts and screws or with staples? I want something like that for my bantam Cochins and this looks a lot nicer than my little dog-house I converted.

 

[magpiesing]

Here are my new babies. Checked them this morning. All are bright eyed, no dirty butts. Gave them their first bowl of scrambled egg and cooked oats this morning. At first they didn't know what to do, then one of the marans pecked a bit off the side. It wasn't long after the others saw him and soon everyone was at it. Playing keep away with bits of egg.

This is going to be their new home in a few days. Gonna keep them in the crate for 3-4 days since I can keep the crate in our little barn for now. Hubby's working on it. Still needs wire and a wall and hinges.
It will hold them for a couple of weeks, then I have this 5ft round fiber glass ring thats about 2 feet high. That will go in the chicken house but covered until the big girls get use to them. By then, if all goes well they should be about 6 weeks old.

 

[hensfortherapy]

Here are my new babies. Checked them this morning. All are bright eyed, no dirty butts. Gave them their first bowl of scrambled egg and cooked oats this morning. At first they didn't know what to do, then one of the marans pecked a bit off the side. It wasn't long after the others saw him and soon everyone was at it. Playing keep away with bits of egg. This is going to be their new home in a few days. Gonna keep them in the crate for 3-4 days since I can keep the crate in our little barn for now. Hubby's working on it. Still needs wire and a wall and hinges. It will hold them for a couple of weeks, then I have this 5ft round fiber glass ring thats about 2 feet high. That will go in the chicken house but covered until the big girls get use to them. By then, if all goes well they should be about 6 weeks old.

The babies are so cute. Still waiting on one of my girls to go broody.

 

[hensfortherapy]

All this talk about mites has me all itchy. Had to go out and check my girls. I feel lucky they don't appear to have any and yes I had my glasses on.