Wild Acres
4686 Grandview Flats Rd N V0E 1B5 Armstrong, BC, Canada

...the idea of hiring out her flock to brighten video calls by briefly having them butt in as a surprise. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-55887368...

GROWING MANGEL BEETS FOR CHICKENS (aka fodder beets) Mangels are highly nutritious, easy to produce, can grow to immense sizes (up to 20 pounds), and store well; making them a good substitute for fresh greens in winter. Chickens love them, and they can be hung in the coop to provide both food and a wintertime pecking distraction. Something fun to grow for the chickens :) https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/growing-mangel-beets-/

Are you planning on buying some seeds and plants for your chickens? This is a pretty good list. Make sure you fence off the plants while they are establishing themselves or the chickens will scratch them up. We find that adding some fine straw for mulch around the seeds helps to retain moisture and more seeds will germinate. https://thehomesteadinghippy.com/top-10-plants-to-grow-for/

https://modernfarmer.com//be-prepared-for-a-possible-see/

https://savvygardening.com/flowers-that-attract-pollinator/

https://www.communitychickens.com/green-tea-zbw2012ztil/

Winter Chicken Disease to Watch for: Aspergillosis (Fungal Pneumonia) Two weeks ago, a flock of backyard layer pullets were admitted for physical examination. ...A couple of the pullets were showing signs of respiratory distress. They were open-mouth breathing with extended neck. One of the hens was very lethargic and had purple comb (sign of cyanosis - lack of oxygen) . This particular hen was euthanized humanely and an in-house necropsy was performed. The most significant necropsy findings were in the lungs and the air sacs. There were multiple pale yellow plaques/nodules attached firmly to the lungs and also throughout the air sacs (photos will be posted in the comment section for those of you who are interested - warning: necropsy pictures). Such lesions cause severe damage to the gaseous exchange system of the hen thus she was showing signs of severe respiratory distress. The samples were submitted to the lab for fungal culture to confirm Aspergillosis - fungal infection. Aspergillosis is fungal infection; Aspergillus, this fungal species can form spores and stay dormant in the environment for a long period of time given idea conditions. The lower respiratory system of the birds is most susceptible to fungal infection. We usually see fungal pneumonia more often in the fall/winter months of the year for the following reasons: - Increased humidity in the coop with more rainfall and tight ventilation. - Higher humidity favours the growth of aspergillosis in the feed, manure, and the environment. - Tighter ventilation can contribute to poor air quality with more ammonia and dust/dander build up --> damage to the lining of the respiratory tracts. - Exposure to cold temperatures and drafts can also impair ciliary function of the respiratory tracts, making the birds more susceptible to secondary infection. The control and prevention of fungal infection revolves around proper coop management: - Make sure the coop is well-ventilated to remove excessive moisture and ammonia efficiently - Avoid the use of straw beddings that tend to retain excessive moisture. - Check feed storage (and feeding pens) routinely for signs of mold and dampness. Wet/moldy feed should not be fed to chickens (or any other animals). - Water acidification: the use of apple cider vinegar in the drinking water can help to reduce the growth of fungal spores and disease-causing bacterial in the crops. Providing proper nutrition is always the basic to any disease prevention.

The simple life is better :) https://www.youtube.com/watch

Happy Halloween!

Fixing Respiratory Problems in the Flock and other Helpful Hints If your birds are having respiratory problems then you need to open the windows and dry up the coop or clean it out. Chickens and especially chicks have respiratory problems as soon as the humidity and or ammonia levels are too high. The damp and cold weather makes it harder to keep the chicken coop dry in the winter. Even in the colder weather your chickens need fresh air to breathe. We leave windows open and ...even run fans if they are available. For the floor litter we put down Diatomaceous Earth, then sand and add shavings on top to keep the coop as dry as possible. If you have some wood ashes add that to the sand as well as it keeps the bugs to a minimum and helps with digestion. Areas around waterers that are kept inside can be a problem. Keep them clean and elevated off the floor, out of the dirty litter and poop. I add DE and clean shavings regularly around those areas to dry it up. I also add DE to the feed, especially for the younger birds to keep the ammonia smell down and dry the litter/poop. It acts as grit too and they enjoy it. We add apple cider vinegar daily to the waterers (only in plastic waterers) to keep their health up as well as Electrovite or chicken vitamins when they are stressed or the weather is changing. I have also been adding kelp powder a few times a week since the cold weather hit. We add grains such as cracked corn, wheat and sunflower seed mixed with grit and oyster shell into their regular feed. You can increase their protein to keep their energy and body temperature up. I also give suet to them in winter and sometimes I give garlic powder or fresh garlic cloves. Separate the sick birds from the flock immediately and give them a heat lamp and dry bedding. Increase their protein, vitamins and minerals. Keeping it dry is the main thing and watch out for drafts too.

This is a movie worth watching. It will make you think about farming, your family and your future in a whole new way. https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81321999