The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I wonder if you could make a solution with WHITE VINEGAR and lavender oil (of just lavender oil alone if you have enough) and spray them. Be sure your feed bucket is closed of course.

Just a thought of something that might work naturally...

 

[Vigar49]

Does anybody have any ideas for a corner coop in a barn.

 

[aoxa]

I wonder if you could make a solution with WHITE VINEGAR and lavender oil (of just lavender oil alone if you have enough) and spray them. Be sure your feed bucket is closed of course.

Just a thought of something that might work naturally...

Maybe tea tree? I know that is good to get rid of fleas.. I love lavender. I use it often. It really helps our poodle in times of stress as well. She has a lot of anxiety during thunderstorms. It really helps (along with her thunder jacket LOL).

I will try it, and get back to you.

 

[MumsyII]

Just another thought about bugs in the grain. If you decide to go the route of 'do nothing' the bugs will continue to eat and lay eggs in the feed. Insects like the good part of the grain that you are paying good $ for. If you use the feed up quickly, the 'do nothing' approach is fine. If you are taking a week or more to use it up, you are feeding the insects the protein portion. And they will reproduce.

 

[armorfirelady]

I wonder if you could make a solution with WHITE VINEGAR and lavender oil (of just lavender oil alone if you have enough) and spray them.  Be sure your feed bucket is closed of course. 

Just a thought of something that might work naturally...

Maybe tea tree? I know that is good to get rid of fleas.. I love lavender. I use it often. It really helps our poodle in times of stress as well. She has a lot of anxiety during thunderstorms. It really helps (along with her thunder jacket LOL).

I will try it, and get back to you.

I have been using eucalyptus oil diluted in water to spray in the coop a few times a week. It has kept the flies and fruit flies down and smells nice. I've been spraying it on their roosts and some in the litter. It smells nice to me def only need a couple drops in a spray bottle tho.

 

[rowerjen]

I originally purchased 3 packs of tennis balls. I opened two up and filled the chamber with ammonia. I let the balls soak for 24 hours and placed them around my yard and in the attics of the coops. I have three tennis balls always soaking. I try to remember to replace them every three months. Racoons hate the smell and coyote and fox are not a fan of it either. It is in addition to a 6 foot fence around all of my coops. I live in a shrub/wooded area and my coops are in the back. You can't see into the woods and coyotes, coons and fox live here. Most of the neighbors have chickens, cats and dogs. Those are favorite snack foods of coyotes. Skunks like eggs and it really does not deter them. However they do not usually kill chickens.

I would love to try this, but I have a tennis ball crazed golden retriever (as if there is another kind)

.

 

[aoxa]

I have been using eucalyptus oil diluted in water to spray in the coop a few times a week. It has kept the flies and fruit flies down and smells nice. I've been spraying it on their roosts and some in the litter. It smells nice to me

def only need a couple drops in a spray bottle tho.

 

[armorfirelady]

So most of you guys like experiments or such. About 5 weeks ago I switched all the chickens (laying hens & pullets) to grower so I didn't have to feed the tots separate or worry about them getting into the layer feed.

My mom and I did a hen inspection today. It's been at least 8 weeks since we last did it. I figured with waiting so long my 4 PR would all have messy butts again like usual. I was pleasantly surprised to find clean butts!! Only one had a little mess. And their feathers were all grown in from last time I trimmed them. And the 2 with the worse prolapse don't show it at all anymore. I really think them being on layer feed since they were hatched was a major cause for their prolapse and messy butts. The lady I got them from had them on it so I continued with it. I really think the calcium so young caused it.

I can't wait till I switch them to all grains to see if it continues. At what age does everyone switch their chicks/pullets to all grains? The BR is 14 weeks old

ETA I let them all in the veggie garden today.they left the tomatoes alone but apparently green pumpkins taste good :/

 

[bruceh]

well been a busy summer for me had not much time to write. things are good on the home front. the heritage reds are doing well very very nice birds. the ameraucana are getting older and looking sharp. the layer flock is all molting. all is well. how is everyone?

 

[lazy gardener]

x3..it was a nice story to read..
hmm..free proteins..I have a huge bag of pasta that someone dropped off. It is filled with bugs so they could not sell it. I have not made it for the birds, I was thinking of feeding it dry for the bugs and they will not eat the pasta. I am not crazy about feeding pasta to my birds.
If it is not a long drive, give them a call and exchange the bags. You did not pay for old feed. The bug do not concern me.
Or you can spend more money and do this.
They do not always show with green eggs. Not even all EE's lay blues and greens. Some of those lay brown.
I originally purchased 3 packs of tennis balls. I opened two up and filled the chamber with ammonia. I let the balls soak for 24 hours and placed them around my yard and in the attics of the coops. I have three tennis balls always soaking. I try to remember to replace them every three months. Racoons hate the smell and coyote and fox are not a fan of it either. It is in addition to a 6 foot fence around all of my coops. I live in a shrub/wooded area and my coops are in the back. You can't see into the woods and coyotes, coons and fox live here. Most of the neighbors have chickens, cats and dogs. Those are favorite snack foods of coyotes. Skunks like eggs and it really does not deter them. However they do not usually kill chickens.

I agree... return the feed. You paid good money for feed. Fresh feed is not buggy. and they do degrade the nutrient of the feed.


So, clarify again for me... you fill the tennis ball tub with ammonia, and soak the balls in it? Then, how far apart do you put them on your property? How long does the ammonia smell last? do you hang them or set them on the ground?