The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[ChickChickChicky]

Anyone have a natural way to get rid of the gnats in my houseplants?

Refer to this webpage for several methods of getting rid of fungus gnats in soil http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/houseplt/msg1116482032419.html

 

[stonykill]

Yes - almost exactly that age. Please enlighten me on this point. Is there a heart condition or something that hits at this age, and if so, why??

I knew it. My experience is when a chicken either just drops dead or lasts 1 day from healthy to sick it happens at right around the 10 month mark. I have seen it happen a few times. Heck out of 40 or so chickens a year I let get that age a few just drop dead at that age. Out of seemingly nowhere. i only opened up 1. And I opened him up to eat as I knew the day before he was perfectly healthy. There was a lot of blood around his heart and his heart felt funny. Not as firm as they usually feel. So I'm assuming he died of a heart attack.

I would not sweat the rest of your flock. UNLESS you just added him and didn't do the isolation thing, then add 1 bird to him weeks later. But I'm sure that isn't the case

 

[Ashdoes]

I sprayed all my plants, and all the windows with soapy water, and already have a decreased population of gnats. I'm going to do some rearranging and hopefully that'll help more.

Patiently waiting for Stony to tell us how he knew how old BDMs Roo was......

 

[RedRidge]

Patiently waiting for Stony to tell us how he knew how old BDMs Roo was......

Yeah... me too...
Now I'm anxious for vet report too...

 

[Ashdoes]

Wow, like a ticking time bomb you hope puts itself out. I hope for BDMs sake Stony is right, and it's not something that will harm her whole flock.

 

[stonykill]

Wow, like a ticking time bomb you hope puts itself out. I hope for BDMs sake Stony is right, and it's not something that will harm her whole flock.

like I said I see a few die every year at the same age for no reason. I would not even in the least be concerned for the flock and save money.

 

[stonykill]

ok, let me ask Leigh a few questions. Did you hatch this guy yourself? If so, no worries


If you bought him from where and for how long have you had him? Since a chick or as a big pretty boy?

 

[RedRidge]

OK... so sorry it happened this way for Leigh, but very excited that the eggs are coming to TN!
I will keep everyone informed about how the hatching goes... be prepared... I love taking pics.
I've wanted some SF for quite some time and this was just door opening I needed... hubby is gonna think I've totally lost my mind.

Oh well... I just tell him... "Hey, you're the one who married me"

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yay, RR!

 

[Child of Noah]

What in the world are gnats?

I only say that because no one I have ever met in person has used the term 'gnats' I have only heard it on Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Don't judge me.

Do you mean fruit flies?

I am so judging you for watching Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (and watching it enough to collect new vocabulary from it).
Some people call them No-See-'Ums? (although that sounds even more hick) I am certain you have them in NB.

I lost my roo, Gunnar.

Monday he was fine and today he passed away on the ride to the veterinarian.

Yesterday he became a bit lethargic and disoriented. No respiratory symptoms - clear eyes/nose... but last night the top of his comb started turning a purple/black color... and today he died.

I'm pretty torn up over this, not to mention worried about the rest of my flock... and I won't have answers for a couple days. (These will be the longest couple days in history!)

I took this picture of him on Sunday... picture of health.

That is a majestic bird. I am very sorry for your loss.