Just Me Living Life

Just cleaned the chicken run, dust bath, hen condo, chicken house, hen house, etc! I also got some a couple of bags of sand and some diatomaceous earth and got rid of the old dust bath mix, and put in a brand new dust bath mix. Just all purpose sand mixed with diatomaceous earth, which helps prevent mites and lice and other infestations.  After raking out the run area, I spread diatomaceous earth around and mixed it in with the sand. This too helps prevent infestations. They like to go in the dust bath rack to dust bath, and sometimes they prefer to dust bath in the sand in the run, too. So I went heavy with the diatomaceous earth in the areas that they tend to enjoy dust bathing in. I coated some frequently used surfaces with pure white food grade diatomaceous earth. That will kill mites and lice on those surfaces and when the hens step on these surfaces, including roosting bars, so they’ll end up with some of it on their feet as well. I also have a mite and lice spray for chicken...

All of my hens are starting to get settled in for the night. The new and old hens are getting along for the most part. Little arguments here and there but certainly no battles. Just the typical stuff even my older members do at times. No blood shed! Here’s my flock 24 hours after adding the new members! Enjoy! 

This little guy is trying to get away from the rain on my farmers porch. First on my table, then leaped to my chair!  Here’s a link to information about tree frogs, and a link to hear what they sound like.  Cumulatively, when there are hundreds of tree frogs around, it can be extremely noisy outside at night, once the sun starts to set, until sunrise. They are very vocal at night but not during the day, much like crickets. And they are most active August through mid-September. Some years are louder than others, depending on where they decide to hang out. I wonder if their overall population varies from one year to the next? It almost seems that way. Just like any wildlife,like the gypsy moths, for example. If your house blocks out sounds from outside relatively well, you're in luck! And when you open the door to go outside, you really notice how loud they are! And if you sleep with the windows open, hopefully all that noise doesn't bother you, or keep you awake at night! ...

A couple of weeks ago I built the new hen condo so I could accommodate more hens, Today I introduced some new members to the hen flock! I had 6 hens and added 5 more! I had a white leghorn (white eggs), red sexlink (brown eggs), 2 true blues (blue eggs), and 2 others that I don’t know what they are, LOL! They lay white eggs. Anyway, added 2 RI Reds (brown eggs), another white leghorn (white eggs), a barred rock (brown eggs) and an easter egger (blue eggs). I wanted 6 but the guy only had 5 left. This time of year it’s a bit more challenging to get chickens, especially hens. But I’m happy with my 11 hens. I’ll likely get a few more in the spring.  I usually put new hens in part of my chicken house (smaller one), with small run and sleeping area above, to keep them separated from the existing flock for a few days. The new and existing members can see one another and interact safely to become familiar with one another and then, when I think they’re ready, I reopen the chicken house to...

Married, Mother, GiGi, Pet Mom, Registered Nurse. I love motorcycling, kayaking, gardening, raising chickens, carpentry projects, country music, classic country music.    Pemi (chocolate lab) and Me Ozzy (black lab mix) Franny Motorcycling Fun!!   Dirt Biking Fun!!   4-Wheelin' Fun!! Kayaking Fun!! *MORE COMING SOON!!