[Jacob-list] flies

[D&K OBERLEF]

We had one chick at our other farm that got left behind when the flock was
moved down to the garden (they lived in a portable pen for the summer.)
This little survivor refused to be caught and instead shacked up with the
sheep.  It spent it's days riding around on their backs.  When threatened in
any way it would dart around and through all those black hooves.  Impossible
to catch either for us or that hungry fox.  We thoroughly enjoyed the
antics.

Here at this place we built a short chicken run that connects the coop and
the sheep pasture.  Early afternoon (we find most of the eggs are laid in
the coop this way) we open the small opening and the chickens come pouring
out cackling and happy with the roosters dancing about and flirting with the
hens. They scratch around finding who knows what and gulping down insects.
By sundown, they are all back in the coop and we close the door.

Happy to hear they like ticks!  Since moving here a year and a half ago, we
have seen more dog ticks than we can count. Any other tricks to get rid of
them would be highly appreciated.  Hope the chickens help. Katrina Lefever






>We have a few hens and a rooster who roam freely in one of our pastures -
>the four foot high woven wire fence contains them, and when they do
>decide to explore our dog threatens them fearfully and they opt to return
>to safety (if they get into my flower beds I threaten them fearfully
>too!!!)    They do a WONDERFUL job of eating fly larvae and eggs, and
>even occasionally picking stuff out of the fleeces on the sheep, who
>don't seem to mind that kind of grooming at all.  We have a small roost
>in the shed for them to roost on at night (predators have not been a
>problem and  foxes and racoons abound around here),  we use five gallon
>buckets for nesting boxes (bucket is placed horizontally with end screwed
>into wall a short distance from the floor) with a small piece of wood
>across the opening of the bucket to keep in the straw and eggs.  Mounted
>on the wall by the roost we have a hopper-type, self-feed kind of rabbit
>feeder for the chicken pellets - the chickens have to fly up onto the
>roost to eat - this eliminates the sheep eating their food, which they
>love to do, by the way.  We also provide grit, occasional oyster flakes
>and cracked corn, and by placing an old tire by the water bucket for them
>to stand on, they can drink there with the sheep.    These little red
>hens lay wonderful brown eggs, and definitely help with flies &
>ticks....not to mention the beauty of a very proud New Hampshire Red
>rooster strutting around with his harem.  (Incidentally, chickens are
>subject to coccidiosis, but it is specie  specific - the strain of
>coccidia chickens are vulnerable to is a different strain than attacks
>lambs, as per my vet.....and most range-raised chickens are much
>healthier than housed chickens.)
>
>Sue Martin
>Stonecroft Manor
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