Peter Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Having to stay at home. But I am quite happy in my garden with my ladies and a few good morning words over the garden wall from my neighbour. What more could I ask living in a small village in Northumberland by the river. I have attached some photos I took this morning. Peter 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Lovely pictures Peter, thanks for sharing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 That looks lovely. Good to see and enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Nice photos Is that moss you're using in in the nest box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 Hi Dr Chicken, yes it is. I dont have to cut the lawn any more as they eat all the 220 sq meters of it but I do have to use a electric rake on it to rake out the moss. I put it in the nest boxes as it is nice and soft for their bums. I change it every week. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 Dr Chicken, I also mix it with diatomaceous earth to help stop red mite. I always use a mask when using diatomaceous earth as it is very bad for your lungs Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Lovely photos. You have aubretia. Mine has now been dug up or chomped. Am so jealous! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Clever idea! A friend got quite a bad lung infection from Diatom, she had hundreds of chickens and houses so used lots of it - I always forget to use a mask if I’m honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted April 16, 2020 Author Share Posted April 16, 2020 Apart from putting it in the nest box I mix it in their mash dish every morning.Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Oh crikey Lewis! Must remember to because I do slap it around in there - and there are times when the wind blows it all around too. DM and Lewis - good warning! Bad enough with the stupid asthma, without making it worse. Plenty of patterns to make your own masks, I shall have a go at doing one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 It irritates all mucous membranes, so eyes and sometimes inside ears too. It can irritate chooks' airways too; one reason why it's sort of gone out of fashion lately. I use Buz Busters in the housing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 I'll have to look into Buz Busters. Never heard of it. I have a couple of tubs left of the diatom. Also have the Barriers red mite powder - niiiiice smell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 I think Buz Busters is 97% Diatom so same caution applies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 55 minutes ago, Lewis said: I think Buz Busters is 97% Diatom so same caution applies It doesn't fly around nearly as much as Diatom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 2 hours ago, Lewis said: I think Buz Busters is 97% Diatom so same caution applies Just checked this with the manufacturers - no Diatom whatsoever in Buz Busters 👍 I thought that was the case - they would have deliberately excluded any irritants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted April 17, 2020 Author Share Posted April 17, 2020 I put Diatom in with their food mix to stop worms can you do this with Buz Buster. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 I collect the moss which makes up at least 50% of my lawn to line hanging baskets. My OH keeps threatening to get rid of it and have a ‘proper’ lawn but I head him off! I love moss! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Peter said: I put Diatom in with their food mix to stop worms can you do this with Buz Buster. Peter Diatom doesn't stop worms Peter, that's an urban myth - you need to worm test and worm them with Flubenvet regularly. No, you can't use Buz Busters in feed - the active ingredient (Permethrin) is what kills the mites. It doesn't contain DE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 The moss is a good idea. Yesterday we put fresh wood shavings in the nest box for a 10 year old Wyandotte and when she came out her breathing was awful. Clearly the dust had irritated her airways and she was in a terrible state. Remembering your post I collected some dry moss and took out all the shavings. We left the pop-hole partially open overnight and thankfully this morning her breathing is fine. So thank you Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted April 18, 2020 Author Share Posted April 18, 2020 Pleased to be of help Beantree.Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted April 18, 2020 Author Share Posted April 18, 2020 Dogmother, I have read that it stops gut worms but not Throat worms "Gapeworm". Am I correct or you. I think the question is open. I have had no problems with worms but if I do, and get throat worms that is the chicken not me then I will do as you have told me and give them a dose of Flubenvet. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 There's no proof whatsoever that DE treats worms of any sort. If you haven't previously wormed with Flubenvet, then I would suggest (in line with the manufacturers recommendations) that you worm them once - Flubenvet pre-medicated pellets for 7 days, nothing else to eat and keeping them in the run as much as possible - leave a gap of 3 weeks, then repeat. That should give you a pretty clear baseline to go forward. After that, ever quarter, get a faecal testing kit from someone like Westgate Labs, and send off samples to see if your birds need worming. It is important to keep on top of parasites - lice, mites and worms - to keep your birds healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted April 19, 2020 Author Share Posted April 19, 2020 Thanks Dogmother I will look into it.Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 On 4/18/2020 at 11:43 AM, Peter said: Dogmother, I have read that it stops gut worms but not Throat worms "Gapeworm". Am I correct or you. I think the question is open. I have had no problems with worms but if I do, and get throat worms that is the chicken not me then I will do as you have told me and give them a dose of Flubenvet. Peter Unfortunately you don’t know if you’re chickens have worms until it’s too late. This is the case with all worms, gut or throat. So best to worm them with a registered wormer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 4 hours ago, Cat tails said: Unfortunately you don’t know if you’re chickens have worms until it’s too late. This is the case with all worms, gut or throat. So best to worm them with a registered wormer. Exactly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
