What do you wish you had known before you got your chickens

[Farmer Viola]

I purchased a used coop .. I am new with chickens and have not received them. but now I am worried about my coop, how do I know if my coop has mites or ticks? How do I treat it as if it does just to be safe for my girls that are coming soon ??

you can fumigate the coop by burning cayenne pepper. wood can be sealed with a few coats of paint on the interior of the coop.

I have also treated wood in the run/outdoor area with neem oil, a natural insecticide, diluted in vegetable oil and rubbed into the wood.

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[hosspak]

I purchased a used coop .. I am new with chickens and have not received them. but now I am worried about my coop, how do I know if my coop has mites or ticks? How do I treat it as if it does just to be safe for my girls that are coming soon ??

No chickens yet???? Spray it with the strongest stuff you can get and let dry completely. Then when you set it up dust it with Non med DE and refresh whenever you clean the coop and the area...have fun with your new flock when you get then...

 

[marchick]

I've got to say the one thing I wish I knew before I got chickens IS HOW ADDICTIVE THEY ARE and how they have me wrapped around their little toe.Bambi my 1 year old EE will jump into my open arms just to cuddle...I know I've gone overboard!

She is so cute though.

 

[RoKdHen]

Me too

 

[PrimroseMom1]

No chickens yet???? Spray it with the strongest stuff you can get and let dry completely. Then when you set it up dust it with Non med DE and refresh whenever you clean the coop and the area...have fun with your new flock when you get then...

Sevin dust as well

 

[hbhoffman]

Just read the entire thread this morning. ... really wish I knew how addicting it would be to read BYC threads! I stay up late reading, wake up excited to read but then comes the kicker: I want to go to the feed store an hour away to buy what I read like blue kote or copper sulfate or winter rye seeds or... But then comes debate over the type of fencing or more chickens or type of feeders or _____ ! I also laugh about more reading the posts! Thank you all!

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Just read the entire thread this morning. ... really wish I knew how addicting it would be to read BYC threads! I stay up late reading, wake up excited to read but then comes the kicker: I want to go to the feed store an hour away to buy what I read like blue kote or copper sulfate or winter rye seeds or... But then comes debate over the type of fencing or more chickens or type of feeders or _____ ! I also laugh about more reading the posts! Thank you all!

Yep. Better than a good novel. I do the same thing. Lol

 

[hbhoffman]

Any chance that rats hate cayenne pepper too? Can you do the same thing in their holes? Hate pepper but despise rats more.

 

[Farmer Viola]

Any chance that rats hate cayenne pepper too? Can you do the same thing in their holes? Hate pepper but despise rats more.

here is some information on cayenne fumigation via burning
Quote: read more: http://www.localharvest.org/blog/44912/entry/cayenne_the_disinfectant

 

[breezyschicks]

Just read the entire thread this morning. ... really wish I knew how addicting it would be to read BYC threads! I stay up late reading, wake up excited to read but then comes the kicker: I want to go to the feed store an hour away to buy what I read like blue kote or copper sulfate or winter rye seeds or... But then comes debate over the type of fencing or more chickens or type of feeders or _____ ! I also laugh about more reading the posts! Thank you all!

This is so true! Ive been using my sons tablet so much my hubby broke down and got me my own! Guess staying up all hours reading byc posts isn't the worst

I wish I would have found this site BEFORE I got my chicks! I'm catching up to speed now. Wish I had been a little more choosy in my breed selection, and knew not to buy pullets from TSC...pretty sure 4 of my 7 "girls" are roos...I could write a book on what I wish I knew...but I do know it's crazy addictive/fulfilling at the same time! And I absolutely love this site, so much info and chicken crazy people!!