What did you do with your flock today?

[Smokerbill]

I'm trying out an experiment. I went into the run and scooped a couple piles of fresh cecal poop with some dirt into a peanut jar lid. I added a little permethrin powder and mixed it in. I set it outside the run, in direct sunlight.

The flies are definitely going for it. I hope they all start dropping dead. I hate botflies!

And I thought about whether it would be harmful if the chickens happen to eat a permethrin-poisoned botfly. I don't think there'd be enough permethrin if the fly to cause any harm.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I went out and picked up the first egg of the day around 9:30AM, but I had to wait a few minutes to get it. The pullet was in the nest box, and I watched her go through the motions and contortions of egg laying. She was totally focused on being in the box and getting that egg out! After it dropped, she started to shift her focus to things outside the box, and then she moved on. It was a nice looking little egg! She didn't make a sound through the whole process.

Today's egg...
View attachment 3583270

Today's egg on left, three from yesterday...
View attachment 3583271


Thank you! Another nice thing about it is that I can close off the coop wall that's adjacent to the main run and create a separate living area, coop and run, for separating birds. I think I may need it if the cockerels start misbehaving.

View attachment 3583273

I need to do something to control the bot flies. They seem to congregate in the sunshine, so the chickens hide out under the coop to get away from them.

I wonder if mixing some permethrin powder into some nasty cecal poop would work to kill bot flies? I'd set it up high, out of the chicken's reach.

Maybe try a natural fly Repellent if you are lack luster with your trap.
Here the bot flies go after the horses legs and under chin. Where fly mask and leg wraps work pretty good for the most part, there is nothing like a good spritz of fly spray.
My dh is now making his home made fly spray with vinegar, water, touch of dish soap and only citronella oil. says it works great. Maybe that will help.

I like how you are thinking ahead with your flock. It is good to have spaces where you can easily separate. If nothing else, for YOUR peace.

 

[Smokerbill]

Maybe try a natural fly Repellent if you are lack luster with your trap.
Here the bot flies go after the horses legs and under chin. Where fly mask and leg wraps work pretty good for the most part, there is nothing like a good spritz of fly spray.
My dh is now making his home made fly spray with vinegar, water, touch of dish soap and only citronella oil. says it works great. Maybe that will help.

I like how you are thinking ahead with your flock. It is good to have spaces where you can easily separate. If nothing else, for YOUR peace.

I was mistaken calling them botflies. I'm pretty sure they are actually blowflies, also known as bottle flies. I think they can cause fly strike in chickens if the conditions are favorable for them. I'll keep the bait out for a few days and see if it decreases their numbers.

They were never in the main run, I think because it's always totally shaded. They seem to prefer being in bright sunlight.

I might try that spray. Thanks!

 

[TropicalBabies]

Good morning all and happy Thursday!
Weather up here is blustery but dry. Made it hard to sew last eve, as my machine is on front lanai, and not to mention electric being out for at least 4 hours, so I put it off untill today.... eh. Can do.

Mochi left the house early this morning and did not come back for breakfast. He's got me worried sick again. Spent a few hours calling and looking and thinking the worst. Chances are he is just enjoying a nice quiet place, away from me lol. Wish kitties did not make me worry so much

Doing my chicken check this morning i heard chicks beeping in coop. Think mom is ready to lay and they are keeping her company. She slept on the roost last eve and they did not follow. They slept in another nest. So, i guess they kind of missed each other ♡ she is a wonderful momma and loves her babies ♡

Some of my morning view. Blooming agapanthus and side of coop. Cleaning out debris and planting is on my is on my todo list.

A sea of Kahili ginger. The fragrance is insanely wonderful and the beauty of this flower unmatched- IMO.

 

[kurby22]

Okay guys…I made a rather significant assumption and I am feeling very dumb. I haven’t seen any of my d’Anvers ever go broody and they’re not known to be crazy broody breeds…so I got a bit lazy checking eggs in their coop.

These are the 23 eggs that are in various stages of development I guess I will be selling some babies in a couple weeks! Some are almost 10 days along Dumb I am!

 

[Nomadicus]

We managed to divide the very youngest from the may hatch from the March and April hatch today. We lost one and nearly another probably from bullying by a March hatch almost big enough for a fryer. We hatched out for the freezer those in March and April. No more store bought chicken for us now.

 

[ChicksnMore]

I went out and picked up the first egg of the day around 9:30AM, but I had to wait a few minutes to get it. The pullet was in the nest box, and I watched her go through the motions and contortions of egg laying. She was totally focused on being in the box and getting that egg out! After it dropped, she started to shift her focus to things outside the box, and then she moved on. It was a nice looking little egg! She didn't make a sound through the whole process.

Today's egg...
View attachment 3583270

Today's egg on left, three from yesterday...
View attachment 3583271


Thank you! Another nice thing about it is that I can close off the coop wall that's adjacent to the main run and create a separate living area, coop and run, for separating birds. I think I may need it if the cockerels start misbehaving.

View attachment 3583273

I need to do something to control the bot flies. They seem to congregate in the sunshine, so the chickens hide out under the coop to get away from them.

I wonder if mixing some permethrin powder into some nasty cecal poop would work to kill bot flies? I'd set it up high, out of the chicken's reach.

Talk about fresh eggs! Beautiful

 

[ChicksnMore]

Okay guys…I made a rather significant assumption and I am feeling very dumb. I haven’t seen any of my d’Anvers ever go broody and they’re not known to be crazy broody breeds…so I got a bit lazy checking eggs in their coop.

View attachment 3583607

These are the 23 eggs that are in various stages of development I guess I will be selling some babies in a couple weeks! Some are almost 10 days along Dumb I am!

Have to admit I've done that before too . My spangles are older and don't lay regular, plus they get fussy about egg collecting.Their nest boxes are on the ground because I move them around once in while too. So I get very lazy about checking their nests. But I do do a quick head count when I care for them and when I'm a hen short I empty the nests to feed to the peas.

 

[ChicksnMore]

We managed to divide the very youngest from the may hatch from the March and April hatch today. We lost one and nearly another probably from bullying by a March hatch almost big enough for a fryer. We hatched out for the freezer those in March and April. No more store bought chicken for us now.

Sorry to hear you lost some that way . But bet you learned a bit too. Sounds like you'll have a freezer full of the best chicken in town.

 

[ChicksnMore]

I'm trying out an experiment. I went into the run and scooped a couple piles of fresh cecal poop with some dirt into a peanut jar lid. I added a little permethrin powder and mixed it in. I set it outside the run, in direct sunlight.

The flies are definitely going for it. I hope they all start dropping dead. I hate botflies!

And I thought about whether it would be harmful if the chickens happen to eat a permethrin-poisoned botfly. I don't think there'd be enough permethrin if the fly to cause any harm.

View attachment 3583304

I'm very curious how that works out. Sounds good! Hope you keep us updated. Bot flies are horrible things...I'd be in a panic if I saw any on my property!