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Post by annieyokie on Oct 5, 2009 21:01:03 GMT 8
:DI always candle mine at about day 6,and mark any questionable eggs.Check those again at day10 or 11. Ive just sold all my light Sussex breeders ,I only have chicks at the moment .,sorry I hoping to get in to Plymouth Rocks instead. About worming .I treat my birds regulary with a herb mix and once a month add dried garlic to there feed and water to keep up the protection.I haven't had lice or other insect problems yet ,I Sprinkle neem powder (herb) around the cages from time to time ,throw some wormwood leaves around occasionally.I also spray the roost swith WD40 2 times a year a year (this is non toxic and prevents lice movement I believe it is made of a orange oil mix ,not sure !!)
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Post by andrewh on Oct 6, 2009 8:31:14 GMT 8
Annie yolkie.
I have been using wormwood and tansy in the henhouse as well.(tansy keeps flys away) I put cider vinegar in the water sometimes as well. I'll get some dried garlic and put that in as you advise.
The herb mix is that homemade or bought I bought some herb mix for poultry from Knights stockfeed the other other day. I also feed them Comfry leaves which they took a while to eat but are really good for general health in moderation. I have comfry growing all over as I use it in a foul smelling liquid manure for my veggie patch and garden.
regards
Andrew h
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Post by annieyokie on Oct 6, 2009 9:01:16 GMT 8
We make a herb mix in our clinic for our people patients (Wormwood,Fennel,black walnut hull,clove,) I give it to us, the chooks and dogs as well. Must try Tansy ,great idea. How do you make the comfry smelly mix for plants?The comfry oil I use stinks .(good stuff though)I will have to plant some and tansy. Annie
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Post by andrewh on Oct 6, 2009 13:20:00 GMT 8
Liquid fertiliser:I put alot of comfry leaves, stinging nettles and dandelion if around in an old plastic dustbin cover with water and rot for two weeks. sometimes I soak a bag of manure in as well by suspending it. Every few days I push and stir the leaves to get them all rotted down. I then put in some liquid molasses and airate the liquid for two days to get a bacterial bloom for the microbes in the soil to feed on. the molasses also puts off some criters a bit including nematodes. I live close to other houses so put it on at dusk with no wind, the first time i sprayed it around midday and all the neighbours were a bit unhappy about its smell its that bad!!
The tansy is strictly for putting off the flys and not taken internally I also put a few Eucalypt branches in the hen house. Rue is another good one for getting rid of flys but I have had limited success growing it, it also causes a reaction to skin.
The comfrey is an alkaloid so listed as toxic but Iam sure ok in small amounts people used to eat the leaves cooked. It has a high amount of calcium and other minerals. I started off with a small amount and just divided it out and now have loads everywhere
regards andrew h
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Post by annieyokie on Oct 7, 2009 10:37:28 GMT 8
Sounds like a great mix ,Watch out neighbors !! Eucalyptus leaves are a good idea .I sometimes spray a water Eucalyptus mix on their hay .Im weary as to what strength essensual oils you can use with chooks .
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Post by andrewh on Oct 10, 2009 16:39:59 GMT 8
Six days have gone and all but 2 eggs look fertile. I dropped one and cracked the shell. it was one of the fertile ones the membrane is okay and no shell was lost but it is cracked whats the chances of it surviving or should i get rid of it?
Also have put some bantam eggs under a large Langshan will they hatch earlier. 1. because of the larger hen? 2. becuase they are Bantam eggs?
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 10, 2009 17:38:44 GMT 8
I would put some candle wax or some micorpore tape over the crack. It can still make it, just keep an eye on it though. Bantam eggs usually have a 20 - 21 day incubation period, it is usually only a matter of hours earlier than the larger eggs.
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Post by annieyokie on Oct 10, 2009 20:08:24 GMT 8
:DI agree with fluffychook .In my last batch i cracked one egg and left it in the incubator ,not expecting it to hatch but it did no problems .I might add it was at day 17 when I cracked it .Im sure if it is sealed along the crack its got a chance.
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Post by andrewh on Oct 11, 2009 19:23:03 GMT 8
thanks fluffy chook and annieyolkie
I'll leave it in and see . I'll put some micropore on tomorrow when aquired.
thanks again everyone is so helpfull on this website
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