Flyin' High!

 Yesterday evening I sold our last "pre-built" hen house over the phone.  The gentleman called after seeing our photo ad and had questions about the features our design had to offer.  He loved the photos of the coop, and was looking to upgrade from the covered tarp and box he kept his hens in, wanting something more substantial for the winter this year.  He was more than satisfied with the answers I gave him, since we not only BUILD  the houses - we actually own the hens that LIVE in the prototype.  I believe this is important, in order to come up with the best design possible for the health of the birds, and the ease for the poultry owner.  Time-tested, not just Time-invested.  That's the KEY.

While driving along an old highway this past weekend, we noticed a sign that said "Chicken Coops 4 Sale"; and off to the side of their driveway were a few cute looking coops displayed.  They sort of looked like cabins, but made out of rows of furring strips.  They were unpainted, as we prefer to sell our hen houses, so you could see the construction clearly from a 'drive-by viewing'.  These, to my mind, were more decorative than useful houses for poultry to live in...more like doll houses.  One was up on a saw horse, and I would guess it would work well for 2 hens, but there were no nest boxes easily accessible for the coop keeper to collect those eggs.  My back could not take that, for egg collection OR for cleaning!  I hope they were insulated for our Michigan Winters!  Because the houses were not built off the ground, the first heavy snow might all but bury those hens in those little cabin-igloos!  I'm sure the asking price was worth the invested time the hobbyist had put into building them, but were they tested over time?  I don't know.  We were only driving by.

 The "hubbs" tells me I'm a great sales person!  I like to think so - but in reality, this hen house basically sells itself with the cute design AND the thought process that went into construction.  I just explain the features, the "whys" and the "hows comes" of each little thing we've tweaked on it.  It makes my "job" so much easier!  I know the new owners will adore their new hen house when we deliver it this coming weekend!

the ChickenWrangler

Bug Me Not....

This is getting to be the time of year when it's essential to prepare for the winter season and get rid of what may BUG your chickens.  There are all sorts of annoyances for poultry, and some may seek to destroy your flock of birds.  Red mites are one of those creepy crawly little creeps!  I've not had that happen with my girls yet (knock on wood!), but they are blood suckers and drain the life right out of your hens by feasting on their blood and leaving poultry anemic, causing eventual death.  Red mites like to hide in corners and the underside of roosts - and they will scatter in groups if bright lights are shown on them.

Scaly Leg Mites are another horror - they are painful for the birds and will get under the skin and lift the scales as they burrow in for their feast.  The toes and legs of the chicken will have a flaky or moldy appearance, where they should be smooth and healthy looking.
 
Lice (no picture this time!) can also be a concern.  These are usually easy to see if you part the feathers down to the skin under the wing and vent areas, but if the bird is highly infested, you can see them crawling on top of the feathers as well; there will be noticeable "group movement"!  UGGGH!

These are just a few of the bugs to be treating your flock for before winter sets in.  Prevention is the best medicine.  I treat my hens with powder and do a wing clip this time of year.  I'd rather do it while its still pleasant out, and again in the spring, than to have to treat in dead of winter.  I had brought in new hens last winter and had to treat the entire flock because of something the new girls brought in because I was too trusting of the person I bought the 2 hens from and didn't ask enough of the right questions.  I don't want to go through THAT again!!!   
TIP:  It's always best to isolate new layers for a few weeks, worming them and treating them for parasites, before introducing them to your healthy birds!

I've heard a good thing to use year round is called Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth.  Has anyone had any experiences using it?  Here is some information I found on the web...click on the link below and scroll towards the bottom of the page.  This could be a very useful product for more than just hens! 

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (Fossil Shell Flour)

 Taking Care of Business -
the Chicken Wrangler

Egg Recall and Bio-security

By now most everyone has heard of the recall of over half a billion eggs due to Salmonella, which has caused illness in probably over 1,000 people.  The eggs being recalled have been sold under the name brands of Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, Sunny Meadow, Wholesome Farms and West Creek.  According to reports on the news, the affected eggs were packaged anywhere from April through August of this year.  That's a long stretch!

I explained to my girls that because of the recall, they might be forced into "Overtime Production".  They immediately stopped dead in their little chicken tracks, with shocked looks written all over their little hen faces!  Lizzy (front left of photo above) reminded me that they only lay one egg per 24 hour period - but perhaps if I provided extra treats of melon and peas, they just MIGHT be able to do an egg every 22 hours.... "Don't rush PERFECTION", she added!  We'll find out shortly if the recall increases customer demand.  It might necessitate adding a few new "working girls" to the flock!

Neglecting Bio-security Rules at the battery egg  farms is apparently the cause of the issues at the Iowa farm.  Different rules apply when it comes to large operations and the backyard poultry owner.  Large farms require disposable foot gear slid on over shoes or boots, changeable for each separate building housing poultry.  Visitors must be supplied with overalls and boots by the farm owner before entering the poultry areas.  New hens should never be mixed in a previously established poultry housing unit. Sanitized water must be supplied for the birds in each unit.  Birds must not be stressed and the numbers of hens living in each size cage must be enforced to government standards.  And, cleanliness of pens and buildings, vaccinations, and rodent control are some things that are always of importance.

For us "Backyard Coop Keepers" who do not own astronomical amounts of hens, certain rules and common sense apply.  Clean water, feed stored in rodent-proof containers, and clean dry bedding are the basics.  Moldy or wet feed should be removed as soon as discovered.  It is always best not to mix ages of hens, since the young ones might get picked on by the older girls, and as an added note, not all breeds of hens will get along, so when introducing hens, be sure to take care and keep a sharp eye out for bullying and hen pecking!  Another caveat - do not borrow or share poultry tools with other poultry owners. Infections can be unknowingly spread that way.

I enjoy interaction with my girls, and when I clean the nest boxes every day, they can hardly wait for the new paper shreds to be added to the shavings!  The main hen house floor gets debris and dampness removed, so flys are not attracted.  It only takes a minute to clear the mess from last evenings Roost Fest, change the "sheets" in the nest boxes, and to replenish the oyster shell calcium and grit in their bowls and trays.  Our hen house is manageable and I don't have to ever stoop down for chores or egg collection!  I have time to give the girls the "once over" to be sure no one is hurt or ill, and time to scatter some seeds for their entertainment!  Cleaning down to the bare bones of the house is done once a week, when everything is dusted for bugs and the shavings are replenished with fresh smelling pine!  Sometimes I even add chopped lavender to the mix - it makes it somewhat of a SPA ATMOSPHERE - and lavender is good snacking for the hens, as well!


Happy Hens mean Healthy Eggs!

Urban Chickens Voted Out of Town!

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – The push to allow chickens in Grand Rapids has hit a road block. On Tuesday night, city commissioners in Grand Rapids voted against an ordinance that would have made it legal for residents to have a chicken coop in their backyard. Many people want to raise chickens to have their own food source, but as many people began to move out of the country and into the suburbs, chickens were outlawed in many areas. Recently, there's been a renewed energy to bring them back, but that idea was shot down in Grand Rapids Tuesday night. “Urban chickens just aren't wanted in Grand Rapids,” said Walt Gutowski, President of the Grand Rapids City Commission, “at least for most people.”

Lets PARTY!

This was a pretty sad news report for chicken lovers in our area, and the word is out that no counter-proposals will be made.  I don't believe that folks have anything against the hens themselves.  The big questions not answered are how to ensure that unwanted guests (mice/rats) would be controlled, and odors might be upsetting to neighbors.  And if the commissioners think those are the toughest concerns, they haven't figured out exactly how to appoint "Chicken Police" to be sure all chickens are removed from the city!!! 

Chicken Police

Odors would certainly be of concern, but chicken coops are not smelly if they are taken care of properly.  Our hen house is cleaned out completely once a week, and nest boxes are cleaned daily.  I take care to powder the house when it is cleaned, to prevent lice and mites in the building or on the roosts.  The chicken run is raked every couple of days, and if a person does not have a garden compost area, the used litter and debris can be bagged and tagged for trash pick up services.

Cuckoo Maran Hen

I believe in taking proper care of my animals, but the fact does remain that many folks just WOULDN'T.  Excuses would range from loss of interest, ignorance of poultry care, not enough time, and pure laziness.  I'm sure there are more.  So, perhaps in the grand scheme of things, the protection of other city dwellers and the chickens themselves  (not to mention the Complaint Department!) the best answer to the proposal has been chosen.

Hen House for Rent!

And, what do the folks do with the chickens they must now re-home?  WELL-L-L-L---the "hubbs" thinks we should open a boarding house for hapless hens!