Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Free Ranging Chickens May Not Be The Best Method For Raising Backyard
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Predator Control - Don't let Your Chicken Become a Predator's Dinner
Predator proofing your coop against animals is as individual as each chicken coop is different. Here at Blue Star Ranch in Austin Texas we help our customers BEFORE break ins occur in your coop. Some animal proofing works for some chicken owners, but it may not work for you. In MOST cases you may have to try several of these methods and or a combination of methods to see what is best for your coop to prevent predators.
In ALL cases building the BEST and STRONGEST coop and predator
proofing your coop BEFORE you get started is the best way to have chickens in the morning. Remember, predators may still try to get into your coop.
Predator Control In & Out Of The Coop
Predator proofing your coop against animals is as individual as each chicken coop is different. Here at Blue Star Ranch in Austin Texas we help our customers BEFORE break ins occur in your coop. Some animal proofing works for some chicken owners, but it may not work for you. In MOST cases you may have to try several of these methods and or a combination of methods to see what is best for your coop to prevent predators.
In ALL cases building the BEST and STRONGEST coop and predatorproofing your coop BEFORE you get started is the best way to have chickens in the morning. Remember, predators may still try to get into your coop.
Remember, hungry predators have been around for millions of years.
Available Coop Cameras With Cell Phone Alert
If adult chickens are missing from your coop but there are no other signs of disturbance exist, the predator probably is a dog, a coyote, a fox, a bobcat, a hawk, or an owl. These predators typically are able to kill, pick up, and carry off an adult chicken. Hawks typically take chickens during the day, whereas owls take them during the night.
There are not too many things to stop a very hungry critter from eating your chickens if you free range.
Especially if you are new to chickens - build a predator proof coop (and keep chickens inside for protection) as the BEST solution to prevent the loss of chickens from free ranging.
If adult chickens are missing but no other signs of disturbance exist, the predator probably is a dog, a coyote, a fox, a bobcat, a hawk, or an owl. These predators typically are able to kill, pick up, and carry off an adult chicken. Hawks typically take chickens during the day, whereas owls take them during the night.
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"Eggciting Deals Lay Ahead"
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Coop and Next Box Cleaning - Hospitals & Restaurants Use Ultraviolet Lights - Clean Your Coop Like the Pros - High Ozone Sterilizer for Coops
Coop and Next Box Cleaning - Hospitals & Restaurants
Use Ultraviolet Lights - Clean Your Coop Like the Pros
High Ozone Sterilizer for Coops
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| Buy ultraviolet lights - www.cheepchickenstore.com |
Hospitals are using ultraviolet lights to kill super bugs in patients rooms for 100% sanitation. Homes, restaurants, schools and now chicken coops are using the powerful cleaning and sanitation that only pure ultraviolet light can achieve.
We at Cheep Chicken Store have many sizes of coop sterilizers available for sale at large discount pricing. These ultraviolet lights can be used to kill many germs and super bugs. Along with keeping your family safe from diseases. See below:
Diseases shared between people and poultry include:
- Bird flu, Avian influenza. Avian influenza is a virus whose natural hosts include many species of waterfowl. ...
- Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter spp.) ...
- E. coli (Escherichia coli) ...
- Salmonellosis (Salmonella spp.) ...
- West Nile virus (WNV)
Coop ultraviolet sterilizers come in hand held, battery or electric models. UV light is portable and powerful and will kill all dangerous germs and super bugs if applied correctly.
Other applications and uses for UV lights are
- Nest box cleaning
- Counter cleaning in kitchens
- Sanitize all collected eggs
- Sanitize for poultry meat and slaughter preparation
- Room area clean and sanitize
- Water and food systems cleaning
- Feed room, tools and supply cleaning
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Top Dangers For Baby Chicks | Please Read this Page For Healthy Chicks
Do you want healthy baby chicks?
Then please READ this!
Too many people that buy baby chicks also pick up a bag of TOXIC wood shavings (really it is!) The wood shavings have toxic poisons in the wood. Chicks that eat small pieces of wood can DIE. Some chick owners can use magazines or news paper. (ink and chemicals are not good for chicks either......Or other pet shavings are recycled and bleached rags or paper particles.
Too many people that buy baby chicks also pick up a bag of TOXIC wood shavings (really it is!) The wood shavings have toxic poisons in the wood. Chicks that eat small pieces of wood can DIE. Some chick owners can use magazines or news paper. (ink and chemicals are not good for chicks either......Or other pet shavings are recycled and bleached rags or paper particles.
(some people get lucky and do not lose chicks but most will have sick chicks and never know why.....)
I know why!
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| Blue Star Ranch Austin Texas |
This is how we raise chicks at Blue Star Ranch in Austin Texas. Baby chicks need: sunlight, dirt, or garden soil, green clover or grass and some type of organic matter (decayed garden compost or manure) in order to establish a natural immunity to bad bacteria. A chickens gut system NEEDS balanced good bacteria!
DO NOT BUY BAGS OF COMPOST AT GARDEN CENTERS THEY CONTAIN BUG SPRAY!To all new chicken owners: Baby chicks also need SUNLIGHT!You can keep chicks on a dark shelf in the barn or in your bathroom... but chicks that are 'eggsposed" to a bit of early morning or late afternoon sunlight with proper bedding and grass, dirt soil will be much healthier than the chicks grown in storage tubs on a dark shelf in your laundry room with toxic wood shavings and using a light bulb!
Lets think about the health and happiness of our tiny friends.
I won't use "fowl" language here....
I won't use "fowl" language here....
Surprise! Chickens are BIRDS. So use a bird cage for your brooder instead of a plastic tub. Plastic tubs do not provide enough airflow. Save money and your new baby chicks health by providing them with a BETTER brooding start than a plastic bucket or wood box. Keep the chicks in here for about 3 - 5 weeks for the perfect start!
No more toxic wood chips or poisonous pet bedding
A medium to large sized finch or parakeet cage (with small enough wire at the bottom) is PERFECT FOR RAISING ABOUT 4 TO 8 CHICKS - (more than this amount of chicks you will need a different brooder system.)
No more toxic wood chips or poisonous pet bedding
A medium to large sized finch or parakeet cage (with small enough wire at the bottom) is PERFECT FOR RAISING ABOUT 4 TO 8 CHICKS - (more than this amount of chicks you will need a different brooder system.)
And its "cheep cheep" too.. There are lots of styles of pre made bird cages from about $10 / $20 up (get some for almost free at the SPCA or animal shelter!)
You can put your brooder light or small fan/heater nearby the cage or clamp to side of cage. This way you can see your chicks even better AND the chicks will have better ventilation. (chicks need proper HEAT 95 degrees and AIR FLOW!)
Top Dangers For Baby Chicks:
1) Too much handling
Chicks are too tiny to be played with!
2) Too hot/cold/ poor ventilation
Chicks need fresh air circulation and proper temperature (90-95 degrees)
3) Your pet dogs/cats
Your pets may hurt your chickens
4) Not using proper bedding
Pet shavings and pre-bagged material not healthy! - Use natural garden compost.
5) Wrong kind food
Bantams and small chicks need almost powdered or finely crushed feed commercial feeds are too big for them to eat!
6) String! or small objects like plastic toys - Keep away from chicks.
7) Smothering in corners of bedding area to find comfortable area to sleep and trampling and smothering on top of each other.
8) Bad bacteria from wet or soiled bedding.
Friday, June 15, 2018
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses in Chicken Coops
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses
in Chicken Coops
Understand that chickens outside of their coops are walking on the ground and can pick up disease from birds that fly overhead or winds that blow bacteria. Be sure to use safe health practices when handling your chickens. ALL Vets will say that your chickens are carriers of bacteria of one type of another. Its TRUE all chickens carry LOTS of bacteria! Many kinds.
Here at Blue Star Ranch hydrogen peroxide is in use in most of our pens to cut down on disease and illness in the flocks.
To our baby chick pens which we use kennel flooring to remove waste and sand I spray the chicks directly with a fine mist of 3% HP and also add some to the water and a small amount of HP to the flooring.
This H202 really eliminates Coccidiosis as well as other diseases in poultry.
What are the symptoms?
Coccidiosis works quickly as the incubation period is only about eight days. Symptoms can present either gradually or suddenly – it’s not uncommon for a chicken to appear fine one day and very sick or even dead the next. The most common symptom you might notice is blood or mucous in the droppings. However, don’t get this confused with caecal droppings chickens shed naturally that is also brown/red in color. While you can take an educated guess as to whether or not your chicken’s poop is indicating coccidiosis, only your vet can provide certainty by performing an analysis on dropping samples.
Also note, blood in poop is not necessarily always a symptom, so also look out for:
- Weak, listless looking chickens not moving around much
- Huddling together as if cold
- Pale comb and skin
- A loss of appetite
- Ruffled feathers
- Weight loss
- Baby chicks failing to grow
- Inconsistent egg laying – or not at all
Thursday, June 14, 2018
What is Chicken Fever.....? And I Bet Your Chickens Gave it to You
What is Chicken Fever.....?
And I Bet Your Chickens Gave it to You
Actually do not worry. Chicken Fever is NOT a disease. That is unless its a disease to want more and more chickens to add to your coop.
Over the years at Blue Star Ranch I can see the "Chicken Fever" look in peoples eyes when they come to see chickens for their first flock. Most of the time, customers are glassy eyed and say...... "my coop holds 3 chickens but I really want 5!"
And then the "disease" begins. Some people call it chicken math... when one chicken leads to another and another and then even more.
Be sure to build your coop TWICE or THREE TIMES bigger than you want for the 3 chickens that will soon become twelve fluffy friends before you can say "poached egg"
I have see wives that ACTUALLY buy chickens BEFORE the coop is finished in order to hurry up the husbands even faster. (now I'm not saying that there wasn't encouragement here LOL)
Further, I want it to go on record that it should be a CRIME to sell chickens in public where children can see baby chicks and just won't let parents leave without a few, (or 6 or 8 !)
So be prepared when you start your chicken flock for a big case of "chicken fever!"
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
How to Be Prepared For Your Own Chicken Business & Make $$$ Really!
How to Be Prepared For Your Own Chicken Business & Make $$$$ Really!
Raising chickens for our family has been well.... "my nest egg" for our families future. Raising chickens is a secure business model for steady income. There is a steep learning curve to raising chickens and running a business at the same time. So are you thinking about entering the field of agriculture? You must have a secret desire to work hard in all kinds of weather from dawn to dusk seven days a week, AND be broke at the same time! Seriously, raising a flock of chickens IS hard work. BUT with experience raising chickens can be profitable.
To get started for the first 3 years or so until you can get automated machines plan on a 10 hour day working in one form or another for your poultry farm by; purchasing, growing or delivering feed to chickens and or constant repair of your coop is actually common place if you want a great coop and healthy chickens. Not to mention the accounting aspect.
To get started for the first 3 years or so until you can get automated machines plan on a 10 hour day working in one form or another for your poultry farm by; purchasing, growing or delivering feed to chickens and or constant repair of your coop is actually common place if you want a great coop and healthy chickens. Not to mention the accounting aspect.
Join local poultry clubs or forums to meet people in your same field. Consider spending time helping poor or a charity.
If you "breed" chickens, will you have a market for roosters? Many people plan on breeding but forget the time, money, space and food that lots of roosters can cost your business.
Consider joining market days or garden clubs in your areas and meet like minded nature enthusiasts.
You MUST have a predator control plan in place before starting your chicken business.
Think of profits in "pennies" not dollars as much of your income will go right back into your business.
Shop "Cheep Chicken Store" 80 % Off of Everything
Unless your barn, coop or buildings are equipped for year round production (indoors) do not try to raise chicks in winter or late fall or a cold spring because cold wet weather is not good for the chicken business.
If you want to increase you business, treat customers right, sell them only quality chickens, and always tell the truth. Your business will grow on its own!
Which Predator Control Is Best For Your Coop? Below are a few of the most common methods for predator control. Included are the "pros and cons" of using each method. There are no "perfect solutions" for your coop, without testing several methods to see which works best for your coop.
Predator proofing your coop against animals is as individual as each chicken coop is different.. Some animal proofing works for some chicken owners, but it may not work for you. In MOST cases you may have to try several of these methods and or a combination of methods to see what is best for your coop to prevent predators.
In ALL cases building the BEST and STRONGEST coop and predator proofing your coop BEFORE you get started is the best way to have chickens in the morning. Remember, predators may still try to get into your coop.
Remember, just because you do not find dead chickens in the coop does not mean that there are possible break ins that can happen every night. Predators are STILL there looking for a way inside. So check your coops for any openings BEFORE break ins and before your chickens are a raccoons dinner!
At least once a week check your coop for predators trying to open a small hole usually in the corner top or bottom of your pen/run or coop
Follow up page next report: Chicken death: What killed your chickens?
This is How to Barter with Chickens & Eggs for Profit
This is How to Barter with Chickens & Eggs for Profit
Over the years in raising chickens I have discovered that chickens, eggs and baby chicks are a real valuable commodity. Chickens cannot be replaced with technology and therefore actually retain their value. Even as much as real “money.” One chicken can produce hundreds of dollars in eggs and be used for meat at the end of productivity. A small flock will produce very valuable fertilizer for your garden.
So why barter? Why not? There are lots of things that you can get by trading that is worth MORE than money. Usually if you are a good horse trader (or chicken trader) you will come out far ahead in swapping and make regular trading partners for almost everything you want or need.
Most of the time my trading skills award me more than I ever hoped for or even needed.
Bartering is even older than money and a real useful skill to learn and to pass on to your family.
We at Blue Star Ranch in Austin Texas will trade for almost anything we need or want of value. Garage sale items, groceries, pet foods, frozen foods, movies/dvds, hay, firewood, home made items soaps, candles or crafts, or services from your business, farm labor, lawn mowing, garden items, tools, electronics, video games, working appliances, furniture, clothes or any storage or unwanted items.
Craig's List is the BEST place to put free advertisements for barter.
Be sure the items that you barter are useful to you or someone that you know who can use them. Its not a good idea to trade for garage sale left overs or you will have a lifetime supply of plastic lids and junk you do not need.
One year for Christmas we traded chickens with a lady who closed down her toy store. Now my grandson DID get ELEVEN toy remote helicopters that year, ha! and the kids had a Christmas that they will NEVER forget with a huge toy haul. I have received more kitchen appliances than a restaurant can ever use, clothes for my family, shoes, boots, art work, antiques, you NAME it. Anything you want or need. Plan your ads and just wait for the stuff to be delivered to you from very eager people that otherwise may not have money to pay for chickens and eggs.
I've traded for 1/2 a slaughtered frozen calf, vegetables, home canned foods, soaps and such!
There is even a saying that I am famous for repeating that makes the family GGRRROOOAAANNN when I say the phrase:
"I traded chickens for that!"
My family SWEARS that one day this saying will be on my tombstone. (I am currently seeking a funeral home that needs chickens for an eager sales person LOL)
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