The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

by the way, I tried a homemade tick repellent today. Water and white vinegar. I don't think it works, I have ticks that congregrate on the screens around the south facing screen porch door, and I sprayed the screen and the wood trim. Didnt seem to bother them a bit!

It is nothing to get 6-12 ticks off each time I come in from the garden, and it is soo time consuming to strip, do a tick check, and check clothes inside and out before putting them back on or in the laundry.

I don't want to use deet.

 

[armorfirelady]

The top pic is the plastic fencing I put over the lattice to keep babies in and not in the yard. The 2nd pic is the fencing I have around my veggie garden where Lucy can take them. I think with the plants growing outside they won't sneak thru? I have one area by the main coop that I put fencing also since that goes into the yard also. The rest of he veggie garden where there are no plants growing goes into where the electric netting is. So hopefully they won't venture into there.

If she does hatch them before I leave on vacation the max they will be is 11 days old when I get back. I don't think they will venture far from momma. But she can teach them to forage in the veggie garden while I am gone.

My friend Paul is picking up the eggs from @sally8 in an hour I think he is as excited about babies as I am. Good think since he watches the girls when I am out of town. Plus he sends me daily coop updates while I am gone that are quite funny.

Lucy is currently sitting on her sisters eggs and I will leave them till Paul gives me the eggs tonight then move her onto them.

I'm curious for those who have broodies before. Twice she has been out in the yard foraging in the morning then gets and stays put for days. Is that what your broodies do? I know she will get off but she was probably out for half an hour. Of course there were no eggs in the nest either. Perhaps she figured the golf balls were not real?

 

[Leahs Mom]

My girl never stayed out that long. On a hot day maybe 5 min. at the most.

 

[Scott H]

@lalaland,
I heard Frontline dabbed on the back of the neck is good for ticks....
Seriously, that must be awful to do a tick check that often. I reacently read about a product you put on your cloths...see if I can remember where now.

 

[Kassaundra]

by the way, I tried a homemade tick repellent today. Water and white vinegar. I don't think it works, I have ticks that congregrate on the screens around the south facing screen porch door, and I sprayed the screen and the wood trim. Didnt seem to bother them a bit!

It is nothing to get 6-12 ticks off each time I come in from the garden, and it is soo time consuming to strip, do a tick check, and check clothes inside and out before putting them back on or in the laundry.

I don't want to use deet.

I agree about deet, especially on the skin, but maybe you could use the deet on just the clothing / shoes.


Never mind just read up a little on it, we don't have much of a tick problem here, so never really looked into it.

Take a look at this it might help

http://www.lymeneteurope.org/info/deet-versus-permethrin-as-a-tick-repellent

 

[Leahs Mom]

Getting ready to turn this:







Into a new chicken house.

Husband found it last year on the side of the road with a second small trailer bed for $100.


Had to cut the bolts

 

[Leahs Mom]

More to come.....

 

[Leahs Mom]

Essential oils to kill ticks:

http://www.ehow.com/list_6550945_essential-oils-kill-ticks.html





Be real careful using any essential oil around birds of any species unless very well diluted, however.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

More to come.....

LUCKY!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

There will be a lot of work to come. We've had it for the better part of a year...frustrating me with trying to find the time and energy...