New chickens - first egg!
One very small egg, the same size as the bantams normally lay, but much much
darker. I'm guessing it's from the nera, as it's not speckled, and I think speckledy Mo should be laying speckled eggs. I presume they will get progressively larger as she gets established. Oddly, bluebell seems to be laying slightly speckley eggs atm, although Nick thinks it's to do with the grit she's eating, and nothing to worry about. I need to try not to think too much about the relationship between what a chicken eats and the eggs we get, it makes me feel slightly less egg-friendly at times. :-/ -- |
New chickens - first egg!
wrote:
One very small egg, the same size as the bantams normally lay, but much much darker. I'm guessing it's from the nera, as it's not speckled, and I think speckledy Mo should be laying speckled eggs. I presume they will get progressively larger as she gets established. Congrats, its great when they do this, we've had 3 hens in our eglu for about 3-4 months now and they are great, they're 9 months old and laying lovely and ones a bova nera, (dark brown egg, occasionally there are speckles on it too) Oddly, bluebell seems to be laying slightly speckley eggs atm, although Nick thinks it's to do with the grit she's eating, and nothing to worry about. I need to try not to think too much about the relationship between what a chicken eats and the eggs we get, it makes me feel slightly less egg-friendly at times. :-/ Good advice LOL, in fact what's worse than this is when you're Golden Retriever is being friendly and licks your face after just coming in from the garden, and you notice that the chicken poo you were going to clean up a minute ago has dissappeared!! -- Donnie |
New chickens - first egg!
Donnie wrote:
Congrats, its great when they do this, we've had 3 hens in our eglu for about 3-4 months now and they are great, they're 9 months old and laying lovely and ones a bova nera, (dark brown egg, occasionally there are speckles on it too) Although on the slight down side, Nick has just found an infestation of red spider mite thingies, and has nipped out to see what he can do with them. Don't know if they came in with the 2 new birds, or if they were already there (or if they've come in from the wild since the new ones). Good advice LOL, in fact what's worse than this is when you're Golden Retriever is being friendly and licks your face after just coming in from the garden, and you notice that the chicken poo you were going to clean up a minute ago has dissappeared!! Eyww. Although actually, having seen what dogs lick most of the time ... |
New chickens - first egg!
|
New chickens - first egg!
"Janet" wrote in message ... In article , says... Although on the slight down side, Nick has just found an infestation of red spider mite thingies, and has nipped out to see what he can do with them. Don't know if they came in with the 2 new birds, or if they were already there (or if they've come in from the wild since the new ones). You'll need to dust the hens with an appropriate insecticide (especially in the "armpits" under their wings) ~That is pointless against red mite. They hide in the crevices of your henhouse, come out overnight to feast on hens and are back before you are up. and the henhouse (especially cracks, nooks and crannies like the ends of perches). Yes, that is where they hide. for a couple of days after dusting you should discard the eggs. Dusting will not get rid of red mite so you can ignore this advice. Whenever you introduce new birds it's always worth inspecting for mites/lice and dusting them,to avoid infecting a clean flock. I agree. Red mite is a different thing, though. Most hen keepers will get red mite in the summer hiding in the crevices. They do not like phenol though. I'm successful at the moment by using 50% Dettol in a spray bottle into those crevices. It needs to be done 3 times at weekly intervals to interfere with their breeding process. Red mites cannot survive that. Or so I've found. |
New chickens - first egg!
|
New chickens - first egg!
Christina Websell wrote:
You'll need to dust the hens with an appropriate insecticide (especially in the "armpits" under their wings) ~That is pointless against red mite. They hide in the crevices of your henhouse, come out overnight to feast on hens and are back before you are up. Nick actually noticed during the middle of the night, and spent an hour in darkness dusting everything in sight. The garden stinks, the red mite dust powdery stuff is incredibly sickly smelling! for a couple of days after dusting you should discard the eggs. Dusting will not get rid of red mite so you can ignore this advice. But now they're dusted, presumably we should follow it? I'll get Nick to check what the bottle says. It would be a shame to lose the first 2 eggs of the new chicken. :-( Whenever you introduce new birds it's always worth inspecting for mites/lice and dusting them,to avoid infecting a clean flock. I agree. Red mite is a different thing, though. Most hen keepers will get red mite in the summer hiding in the crevices. They do not like phenol though. I'm successful at the moment by using 50% Dettol in a spray bottle into those crevices. It needs to be done 3 times at weekly intervals to interfere with their breeding process. Red mites cannot survive that. Or so I've found. Sounds good. Nick wants to take the whole thing apart and disinfect it and re-roof it, so if he can do that later this week then give them anotehr go a week or so later, that timetable works quite well for me! |
New chickens - first egg!
Janet wrote:
Here you are, Vicky; scroll down to read the instructions and for the smaller size. http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acata..._mite_Powder_5 _Kg.html Ta. Will pass it on to Nick - when there is a problem they are very definitely /his/ chickens! - although he did buy something already today, presumably something similar. |
New chickens - first egg!
Vicki, I had a massive infestation of red mite last summer - and I do mean
MASSIVE. In the heat of summer the numbers seemed to explode between one visit to the hen house and the next one. Due to a fox attack, I was down on hen numbers and only had to treat a couple of hens, but in response to the mite infestation those poor girls abandoned both houses and were trying to sleep outside in thier night yard on a perch I'd put there so they could sun themselves. I went into the main house and felt all these things crawling on me - they were falling from the rafters and I also had them on my trouser legs. Yes, they are supposed to be nocturnal but that didn't stop the nasty blighters getting on my during a hot sunny morning. I thought they were baby spiders but they weren't. Talk about a case of the screaming creeps! I walked straight into the shower fully clothed (and wearing my watch) and stripped under the running water. But to the hens and what I did there - I don't like using chemicals anywhere on this farm but after extensive reading on the subject in my poultry books and magazines, I did the following: 1) dismantled second house entirely - still not replaced but will be. 2) raked out both yards and then swept bare earth with a broom - all sweepings went to tip - did not compost any of it. 3) borrowed coop and put this in the day yard (which is about a quarter of an acre so I could put the coop a long way from the old house) then took hens out of night yard/night house at night and treated them using the light from a torch with Pestene Powder (active ingredients Suplhur 50g/kg and Rotenone 10g/kg). I'd also treated the hay in the nest of this coop with the same powder and added fire ash in a big tub so they could dust bath and added the Pestene Powder to that too. (Sally mentioned diatomaceous earth and the ash acts like that, but for diatomaceous earth to be effective, it has to be very fine and here it costs a small fortuen to buy - ash seems to work). The hens went from looking miserable to looking good. 4) Blasted the remaining hen house with a pressure washer and left it to dry for a couple of days. 5) Sprayed hen house (nooks, crannies, roof (inside and out), perches and floor) with Malaban Wash (active ingredient Maldison at 200g/L). Sprayed once then left for recommended period and repeated spray. Left hens out in day yard overnighting in their coop for a few weeks. It worked, but it took a lot of effort and was a stinking rotten, filthy job. Better a bit of effort than my poor hens looking miserable and me feeling that crawling on the skin. |
New chickens - first egg!
FarmI ask@itshall be given wrote:
Vicki, I had a massive infestation of red mite last summer - and I do mean MASSIVE. In the heat of summer the numbers seemed to explode between one (big snip) Thank you. I'll forward it all on to Nick and he can work out what he wants to do. I know what you mean about the crawlies. I've only seen one or two of them, and I'm itching all over! |
New chickens - first egg!
"Janet" wrote in message ... In article , says... "Janet" wrote in message ... In article , says... Although on the slight down side, Nick has just found an infestation of red spider mite thingies, and has nipped out to see what he can do with them. Don't know if they came in with the 2 new birds, or if they were already there (or if they've come in from the wild since the new ones). You'll need to dust the hens with an appropriate insecticide (especially in the "armpits" under their wings) ~That is pointless against red mite. They hide in the crevices of your henhouse, come out overnight to feast on hens and are back before you are up. When the mites come out at night,to bite the roosting chicken that has been dusted, the mites will die. That was the advice of our vet That has not been my experience. Redmites need serious insecticide |
New chickens - first egg!
Christina Websell wrote:
When the mites come out at night,to bite the roosting chicken that has been dusted, the mites will die. That was the advice of our vet That has not been my experience. Redmites need serious insecticide Well, Nick has dusted them and neem oiled them (my were the chickens unhappy with that!) and we took the torch out to see what was going on. As far as we can tell, there is definitely a cut in numbers, and there are a lot of dead looking ones. But they are by no means gone. |
New chickens - first egg!
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message ... Vicki, I had a massive infestation of red mite last summer - and I do mean MASSIVE. In the heat of summer the numbers seemed to explode between one visit to the hen house and the next one. Due to a fox attack, I was down on hen numbers and only had to treat a couple of hens, but in response to the mite infestation those poor girls abandoned both houses and were trying to sleep outside in thier night yard on a perch I'd put there so they could sun themselves. I went into the main house and felt all these things crawling on me - they were falling from the rafters and I also had them on my trouser legs. Yes, they are supposed to be nocturnal but that didn't stop the nasty blighters getting on my during a hot sunny morning. I thought they were baby spiders but they weren't. Talk about a case of the screaming creeps! I walked straight into the shower fully clothed (and wearing my watch) and stripped under the running water. But to the hens and what I did there - I don't like using chemicals anywhere on this farm but after extensive reading on the subject in my poultry books and magazines, I did the following: 1) dismantled second house entirely - still not replaced but will be. 2) raked out both yards and then swept bare earth with a broom - all sweepings went to tip - did not compost any of it. 3) borrowed coop and put this in the day yard (which is about a quarter of an acre so I could put the coop a long way from the old house) then took hens out of night yard/night house at night and treated them using the light from a torch with Pestene Powder (active ingredients Suplhur 50g/kg and Rotenone 10g/kg). I'd also treated the hay in the nest of this coop with the same powder and added fire ash in a big tub so they could dust bath and added the Pestene Powder to that too. (Sally mentioned diatomaceous earth and the ash acts like that, but for diatomaceous earth to be effective, it has to be very fine and here it costs a small fortuen to buy - ash seems to work). The hens went from looking miserable to looking good. 4) Blasted the remaining hen house with a pressure washer and left it to dry for a couple of days. 5) Sprayed hen house (nooks, crannies, roof (inside and out), perches and floor) with Malaban Wash (active ingredient Maldison at 200g/L). Sprayed once then left for recommended period and repeated spray. Left hens out in day yard overnighting in their coop for a few weeks. It worked, but it took a lot of effort and was a stinking rotten, filthy job. Better a bit of effort than my poor hens looking miserable and me feeling that crawling on the skin. Overkill. |
New chickens - first egg!
"Christina Websell" wrote in message
... "FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message ... Vicki, I had a massive infestation of red mite last summer - and I do mean MASSIVE. In the heat of summer the numbers seemed to explode between one visit to the hen house and the next one. Due to a fox attack, I was down on hen numbers and only had to treat a couple of hens, but in response to the mite infestation those poor girls abandoned both houses and were trying to sleep outside in thier night yard on a perch I'd put there so they could sun themselves. I went into the main house and felt all these things crawling on me - they were falling from the rafters and I also had them on my trouser legs. Yes, they are supposed to be nocturnal but that didn't stop the nasty blighters getting on my during a hot sunny morning. I thought they were baby spiders but they weren't. Talk about a case of the screaming creeps! I walked straight into the shower fully clothed (and wearing my watch) and stripped under the running water. But to the hens and what I did there - I don't like using chemicals anywhere on this farm but after extensive reading on the subject in my poultry books and magazines, I did the following: 1) dismantled second house entirely - still not replaced but will be. 2) raked out both yards and then swept bare earth with a broom - all sweepings went to tip - did not compost any of it. 3) borrowed coop and put this in the day yard (which is about a quarter of an acre so I could put the coop a long way from the old house) then took hens out of night yard/night house at night and treated them using the light from a torch with Pestene Powder (active ingredients Suplhur 50g/kg and Rotenone 10g/kg). I'd also treated the hay in the nest of this coop with the same powder and added fire ash in a big tub so they could dust bath and added the Pestene Powder to that too. (Sally mentioned diatomaceous earth and the ash acts like that, but for diatomaceous earth to be effective, it has to be very fine and here it costs a small fortuen to buy - ash seems to work). The hens went from looking miserable to looking good. 4) Blasted the remaining hen house with a pressure washer and left it to dry for a couple of days. 5) Sprayed hen house (nooks, crannies, roof (inside and out), perches and floor) with Malaban Wash (active ingredient Maldison at 200g/L). Sprayed once then left for recommended period and repeated spray. Left hens out in day yard overnighting in their coop for a few weeks. It worked, but it took a lot of effort and was a stinking rotten, filthy job. Better a bit of effort than my poor hens looking miserable and me feeling that crawling on the skin. Overkill. You wouldn't say that if you'd ever had a serious Red mite infestation. |
New chickens - first egg!
|
New chickens - first egg!
Sally Thompson wrote:
Well, Nick has dusted them and neem oiled them (my were the chickens unhappy with that!) and we took the torch out to see what was going on. As far as we can tell, there is definitely a cut in numbers, and there are a lot of dead looking ones. But they are by no means gone. Vicky, the point is that if you only dust the birds, it is only the mites which land /on the birds/ which will be killed, you will do nothing to break the breeding cycle. Not all mites will come out to feed every night, they can live a long time away from food (ie your hens). Oh, sorry, I in no way meant to imply that he was only doing the birds! he has caked the house in dust, and has sprayed neem oil all over the place. You really have to do the house thoroughly and frequently with an appropriate insecticide; and I have also found that steam cleaning is brilliant /in addition/ to the insecticide. That is why I originally said (rather briefly!), steam clean first (borrow one if necessary), then pressure spray with Poultry Shield (or try Tina's suggestion of Dettol, which I have no personal experience with). Then when all is dry, add Diatom to the perches and crannies, and dust the birds. Yes, the plan is to take the whole thing apart and to steam clean and/or dettol (I think Nick said Jeyes fluid, actually, but I guess they have the same effect!) - it's just not been possible to do it so far due to various things, which is unfortunate for the birds, but we are trying to make them as comfortable as possible without having to totally rip their home apart more than is necessary! -- |
New chickens - first egg!
In article ,
Judith in France wrote: Oh dear, red spider mites are awful things. My neighbour keeps hens, free range, commercially. She has two sets of hen houses and each year she rotates her stock so that 1 set is left unoccupied for a year. She seeems to have little trouble with mites etc. I suppose this might be a bit difficult for private use. Thankfully my hens remained mite free. The only hen that might suffer from red spider mite is a fat one :-) More seriously, red spider mite is a plant parasite; fowl mites are different. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
New chickens - first egg!
wrote in message ... Sally Thompson wrote: Well, Nick has dusted them and neem oiled them (my were the chickens unhappy with that!) and we took the torch out to see what was going on. As far as we can tell, there is definitely a cut in numbers, and there are a lot of dead looking ones. But they are by no means gone. Vicky, the point is that if you only dust the birds, it is only the mites which land /on the birds/ which will be killed, you will do nothing to break the breeding cycle. Not all mites will come out to feed every night, they can live a long time away from food (ie your hens). Oh, sorry, I in no way meant to imply that he was only doing the birds! he has caked the house in dust, and has sprayed neem oil all over the place. You really have to do the house thoroughly and frequently with an appropriate insecticide; and I have also found that steam cleaning is brilliant /in addition/ to the insecticide. That is why I originally said (rather briefly!), steam clean first (borrow one if necessary), then pressure spray with Poultry Shield (or try Tina's suggestion of Dettol, which I have no personal experience with). Then when all is dry, add Diatom to the perches and crannies, and dust the birds. It's my first try with 50% dettol solution, seem to be working. Yes, the plan is to take the whole thing apart and to steam clean and/or dettol (I think Nick said Jeyes fluid, actually, but I guess they have the same effect!) No, no, no. Never Jeyes Fluid. It's very toxic for animals and birds. |
New chickens - first egg!
Christina Websell wrote:
It's my first try with 50% dettol solution, seem to be working. Nick just did a late night blitz with the steam cleaner then neem oiled the birds and the nest box again. Apparently all 6 are trying to force their way into the little daytime 'nest' in the main run. Yes, the plan is to take the whole thing apart and to steam clean and/or dettol (I think Nick said Jeyes fluid, actually, but I guess they have the same effect!) No, no, no. Never Jeyes Fluid. It's very toxic for animals and birds. Presumably the idea was to wash it off afterwards. But I shall pass it on. He /says/ he couldn't see any after the steam cleaning (and it's been getting so bad they've been swarming out in the daylight!). I guess now we wait and see after a few days if there's any more hatching out. Ick, I'm all itchy again now! |
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