The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[salt and pepper]

I use pine wood shaving, DL with some wood ash in it. Works for me

I hate pine shavings sooooooo much, but am looking into sand, since I think it should be pretty hard for any little bugs to live in there, Starting to think it's baby spiders, since there are cobwebs in the corners of the coop, maybe they are just dropping in? lol.

 

[stonykill]

I hate pine shavings sooooooo much, but am looking into sand, since I think it should be pretty hard for any little bugs to live in there, Starting to think it's baby spiders, since there are cobwebs in the corners of the coop, maybe they are just dropping in? lol.

to each their own I guess. I have 9 coops full of DL pine shavings.

 

[armorfirelady]

I have 2 questions I'd appreciate your feedback on:
What is white washing?
Also, do you all use DE? I'm not sure if that's a good option for me, cuz I've read (alot) that we're not supposed to breathe it in because it can be damaging to our lungs and the chickens lungs. Seems like an unnecessary risk. Aren't there (safer) alternatives to DE?

White washing is a mixture of stuff used on coops to seal them/kill bad things
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...keeping-thread-ots-welcome/1800#post_10160376
See post 1805 for the recipe by pigeon guy. I have never white washed my coops. One less than a year old & the other is a hoop coop. But I know others on here have.

Never used DE or other chemicals ever. I use deep litter method which is shavings, leaves, grass, pine needle.....whatever I find for free to put in the coop. I use wood ash as a mite/lice preventive & various herbs for good immunity in the birds & preventive for worms & pests

 

[salt and pepper]

to each their own I guess. I have 9 coops full of DL pine shavings.

I have yet to find a bedding that I really like, shaving were a pain, straw might be why I have mites, hay was too dusty, ceder is bad for them.... Going to try sand soon, maybe I'll like that What's really confusing me is that the birds show no signs of having mites, I just see them in the coop, the birds are perfectly fine though, I'm thinking about just letting nature take it's course.

 

[starlingdaly]

Ooooo! I just thought! Maybe my rooster is trying to woo my younger pullets. ;D
WHICH COULD MEAN EGGS SOON!!!!!

I use DE but only in specific applications. I occasionally add it to the chooks dust bath areas and I make a mini dust bath for the babies with some in it. Probably 10% DE for the wee ones.
I do also add it to the dry food in an airtight bucket to prevent bugs and caking.
No respiratory issues thus far, with me of the chooks.
I do not add it to the coop because I use the deep litter method and want those beneficial bacteria to thrive!

 

[Mumsy]

to each their own I guess. I have 9 coops full of DL pine shavings.

X2

My DL is one part pine shavings, one part local grass hay. In the winter I add peat moss and yard leaves.

I put piles of wood ash in different places around my property. We have a wood burning stove in the house and two outside fire place pits plus the burn pile for brush. I sift a large bucket of fine ash and use it to individually dust birds on occasion. I've had one bird with heavy mite infestation in the past eight months and cured it with frequent wood ash dusting's and Nu Stock on the bum. Haven't seen a mite on my place since. I won't use straw and only use local grass hay from farms without poultry. Got a load coming tomorrow that cost me $2 a bale. I use Neem oil on the roosts and wood surfaces a few times a year. I think DE is a waste of money for use with poultry and except for use in preserving flour and rice bug free long term I don't buy it.

I don't use pesticides or herbicides near, around, or on my flock or in my gardens or orchard. If there are chickens or fruits and vegetables that can't be raised without poison then I don't want those chickens or fruits and vegetables on my place or on my table.

 

[salt and pepper]

X2

My DL is one part pine shavings, one part local grass hay. In the winter I add peat moss and yard leaves.

I put piles of wood ash in different places around my property. We have a wood burning stove in the house and two outside fire place pits plus the burn pile for brush. I sift a large bucket of fine ash and use it to individually dust birds on occasion. I've had one bird with heavy mite infestation in the past eight months and cured it with frequent wood ash dusting's and Nu Stock on the bum. Haven't seen a mite on my place since. I won't use straw and only use local grass hay from farms without poultry. Got a load coming tomorrow that cost me $2 a bale. I use Neem oil on the roosts and wood surfaces a few times a year. I think DE is a waste of money for use with poultry and except for use in preserving flour and rice bug free long term I don't buy it.

I don't use pesticides or herbicides near, around, or on my flock or in my gardens or orchard. If there are chickens or fruits and vegetables that can't be raised without poison then I don't want those chickens or fruits and vegetables on my place or on my table.

That's why I'm confused, I can't find anything on my birds, and they're acting fine. I don;t want to use any chemicals, or buy anything more if my birds are perfectly fine. I have more frontline, and will re dose next month, I think I'll just leave it alone, and see what happens, I've tried everything I can think of.

 

[TipihlowLadies]

I have some friends that lost everything in tornado all but one hen killed. I,m going to keep the hen till they rebuild. Should I quaranteen her in sick bay or just separated in coop brooder so she has some company. Appreciate any and all advice on this subject.

 

[Sally8]

Coop has mites again.... What is a fool proof way of getting rid of them? I've tried DE, permethrin ( powder, and spray ) and frontline, and nothing has worked!!! Does anyone have an idea what to use???? Thought it had to do with bedding, but they had mite no matter what, so I went back to straw, since I HATE shavings. Almost thinking they're baby spiders, because my chickens show NO signs of being ill, I just see little brown bugs in the coop.

When I saw that we had mites back a few years ago, I was told by several people that if you live where (wild) birds fly over, mites can drop off of them as they fly over. Birds nests, straw, pretty much anywhere. I think ours started with me storing straw under a birds nest. (Not on purpose) I think the key is, control. Just like with worms. When you do get a handle on it then provide them with a good dusting area and a clean (of mites) roosting environment. I used to think it was the pine shavings too but now realize they are very easy to get. I love my deep litter

 

[salt and pepper]

When I saw that we had mites back a few years ago, I was told by several people that if you live where (wild) birds fly over, mites can drop off of them as they fly over. Birds nests, straw, pretty much anywhere. I think ours started with me storing straw under a birds nest. (Not on purpose) I think the key is, control. Just like with worms. When you do get a handle on it then provide them with a good dusting area and a clean (of mites) roosting environment. I used to think it was the pine shavings too but now realize they are very easy to get. I love my deep litter

Yeah I know of at least of three bird nests within 400 square feet of my coops, that and we have a lot of berry bushes/ trees, around it as well. It under control, as long as I clean my coop regularly, as none of the birds are having trouble with them, and happily go into the coop at night, thanks for the advice, and I'll make sure that it doesn't get out of hand.