Getting rid of freeloaders

One of the greatest threats to the health of poultry is mites – bird mites.

If birds are allowed to enter and roam the chook run area it’s likely you will end with with a mite infestation, this is particularly so in the summer months. This is one of the reasons why I built a annex extension onto the chook run.

Fortunately chooks are programmed to get rid of their freeloaders – they dust.

Speckles and Lilly, the new Pekins about 20 weeks old and been with us for about one month now. On the right is Misty and Ruby, they are Wyandotte’s about three years old.

We have had a lot of rain lately but they are able to still dust in dry soft dirt under the garden gazebo. This is one reason why I haven’t paved that area yet.

ALDI: Ceramic Fan Heater $19.99

Older kid was over one evening and spotted the heater, turned it on and checked it out. Nice heater…so she took it home. We do have central heating but sometimes you like a bit extra, we have other Tangi’s so not to worry.

Last week ALDI had heaters including a similar ceramic like the one we once owned.

• 1800W ceramic fan heater with oscillating function
• Adjustable thermostat
• Fan only setting
• Safety tip over switch
• Overheat protection

The latest offering of this type of heater all seem to have the oscillating feature, wonder what they will come up with for next year.

Anyway it works well, just need to hide it when not in use…

Cold miserable morning – sleep in

We have two dogs and three cats, now that winter is more or less here they are not that keen some mornings to get moving. Morning of Tuesday 24th of May was particularly quiet?

 

Pixie in the main bedroom.

Chook run – removing temporary divider

When we came home with the new Pekins (Speckles and Lilly) early in May I partitioned off one end of the main chook run to separate them from the older resident’s -  Misty and Ruby (Wyandotte’s).

This gives them their own space for a few weeks  (with water, feed and their own sleeping quarters) to get used to their new surroundings and for the older ones to accept the newcomers.

Another printer purchase

Had to purchase another printer!

The Canon MP640 which is not even 12 months old has a blocked print head. Tried all the usual things even used an ultrasonic cleaner – no go. So off to the market and purchased a Canon iP4850 for $98 bucks – not bad. This is a photo printer with 1pl droplets and without all the extra user stuff to keep the price down. No display of any kind, no card readers, copy or scan. It will do printable DVD/CD media and duplex.

So I got what I was after for less that $100, a printer that will print excellent 4 x 6 photos and has a 2-way paper feed, A4 in the tray and photo paper at the rear. I must remember to print something a couple of times to keep the nozzles flowing!




I have been using this beast for a couple of week now and very happy with the purchase. Prints lovely photos on ALDI photo paper, and the prints come quickly. Paper handling is superb.

Sign for the front door

Made up a little sign to place near the front door.

Speckles & Lilly photos

They are very friendly, iwe sit down to take a break from what I am doing they will look to hop on my lap. It’s best to have the tea towel handy in case they poop.

Lilly top and Speckles.