The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[stonykill]

That's the thing about it, as much as the hawks sent me into ALERT, they were so beautiful while they were landing. As much as I like my chickens, the wild life out here is pretty awesome. So It's up to us to protect what we can to live in the middle of it. Yes, they were here first, but we are here now so we will all just have to adapt.

if it kills my chickens it is dead. That is my rule

This year 13 raccoon's, 3 possum, 1 fox and 1 bobcat under my belt. The cat killed 2 weasels. I have a friend coming by to trap so the predators become more than vulture food

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Look them over carefully, particularly near the vent and do it at night....mites are more active at night. They lay their eggs at the base of the feathers, so if you see greyish white clumps at the base of the feathers around the vent, that's mite eggs.

Get a large basin, fill it full of fine, silty ashes and lay them on their backs in the ashes and then scoop up the ashes and work them in deep under the feathers, under the wings and into every crevice, even up on the head. Try to avoid getting it in their eyes but chickens have a nictating membrane that will protect their eyes, so just go easy and don't worry too much about it all. Hold on to their feet and turn them on their sides and work all the ashes into their backs and base of tail, spread their legs and work it into all the feathers on their legs.

That's how I did these adult birds and it only took one or two applications. I think that was largely due to the fact that, at the same time, I applied NuStock to the nit eggs around the vent. I found three chickens two days later that still had some mites and at that time I applied the NuStock around their vents and did a minimal dusting of the ashes again and just on the belly and under the wings.

It worked like a charm.

You can also place some ashes in the nest boxes to repel any mites hiding there. I'd treat the roosts with Neem oil, NuStock or garlic/water spray.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We are new to the site and chickens. We have three month old chickens and are learning so much from this site. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. We have some wood ash, and see that you mention ash bathing. How do you do this? I put the wood ash in a bowl in the run, and the chicks aren't interested. Do I just rub it in? Thanks for your help!

 

[Beekissed]

I wonder the same thing. My young LSGD is a young one, only a year and a half, but he is amazing so far. Anything he sees me with, or taking care of, he watches out for. I have trained him to put them into the run, and also am trying to get him to keep them out of the horse barn. Don't want poop in my expensive hay, or all over the floor of the isle. He gets a bit too exuberant when I ask him to "move them" out of the barn, but he will walk methodically to put them in the run... funny.

Yesterday while he was watching them eat some raisens that had dried out, I was thinking the same thing,, I wonder if he realizes that a fox could run out at them at any moment. I don't know if he understands that yet, that they could be in danger. I know if that stray gun dog who terrorizes them comes by, he gets insane, but as far as predetors,, who knows. I hope his precense, and the urine that he marks all over the perimiter of our property is a good deterent. We shall see.....Good luck with your Corgi, they are very smart wonderful herding dogs... put her to work!

Sounds like a great dog!!! And so very pretty! BCs are supposed to be the most intelligent breed out there and the ones that I have known were certainly living up to their reputation. Versatile, quick, loyal and smart...who could ask for more?

 

[Pullet Surprise]

if it kills my chickens it is dead. That is my rule

This year 13 raccoon's, 3 possum, 1 fox and 1 bobcat under my belt. The cat killed 2 weasels. I have a friend coming by to trap so the predators become more than vulture food

Oh yes, don't get me wrong...if it harms my chickens, well then it screwed up and it's gone. We have a large population of turkey vultures and 400 acres of nothing but pines behind us.....

 

[Melabella]

Sounds like a great dog!!! And so very pretty! BCs are supposed to be the most intelligent breed out there and the ones that I have known were certainly living up to their reputation. Versatile, quick, loyal and smart...who could ask for more?

Thank you, he is a wonderful dog.. I wish I had more for him to do. He is actually an English Shepherd. The most wonderful companion, guardian, livestock dog out there in my opinion. BC's herd predetorially, crouched down. English Shepherds herd upright, loose eyed, and what I like about them, they are not so frenetic about working. They are prefered by cattle and cow ranchers, as they don't stress the cows.. Don't get me wrong, they are serious machines, but also can turn off, and lay at your feet. THey are ever watchful, whatever you hold dear, they protect and gaurd. He is my amazing boy.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

He's beutiful !

 

[Miss Lydia]

He really is gorgeous.

 

[stonykill]

he is a handsome boy. English Shepherds are fantastic dogs. He reminds me of a friends Australian Shepherd

 

[LOVEIGEE]

Oh Bee....How will I ever catch up.......13 chickens in the back....3 parrots in the house....4 dogs, 1 cat, 2 aquariums....Try to feed fresh to all of them......by the time I could ever read this, I'm so tired, I crash........Put Red (the one I PM'd you about) in the basement.....think she has pendulous crop.....following Speckled Hen's advise on forum. Bought some olive leaf extract......hoping for the best. So much GREAT information......OVERLOAD on the brain..........Love you so much!