Off Grid Homestead Daily Life: Extreme Heat, Chicken Troubles and Baby Hedgehogs

[@constancestine1020]

Get some diatomaceous earth put in a child’s plastic swimming pool under cover from any rain so the chickens can dust themselves in it to kill the mites. Shortly their feathers will return. Good luck, love your videos!❤❤❤❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

I'm going to try this and mix it with sand and soil 😊 x

[@douglaspearce1187]

We had a few chickens and my daughter used it. Works a treat. ​@@FrankieOffGrid

[@kdclothes]

That really helps a lot

[@cathrinmueller986]

On Amazon Germany DE is called Kieselgur. Comes in 500g plastic jars.

[@lisas5404]

Yes totally agree DE in the dust bath, nesting boxes will help. Basically once the chickens get the earth on them it scratches the surfaces of the mites which dehydrate them and they die. Some people recommend garlic water in the chickens diet to help prevent mites. It won't stop them but it may help reduce them. If it wasn't so warm I would also say vaseline on their legs as it's meant to help suffocate the mites.

[@AleeshaSattva]

I loooooove everything from the chicken cam... to the baby hedgehog. You two are the sweetest humans...

[@libbyanderson3752]

In Australia where water is very often scarce we used to place a few rocks around young fruit trees . The condensation slowly filtered down into the roots. Absolutely loved your video today. Totally calming and peaceful. You work so well together. Love your honesty. Don’t ever doubt what you are doing. It probably at times Carissa is scary and worrisome for you but believe me in the world as it is today you are certainly in the right place at the right time. Just love one another and enjoy the tranquility . Your menagerie of animals is a delight. Hugs from Australia.

[@michelledoan5061]

I think some of your artwork on the chicken house would be fabulous. Hi from Australia 🇦🇺

[@wilcarcottagewaubra]

As well as thoroughly cleaning the coop, you should scrub down the perches and then after they have dried you can spray the perches on all sides with a surface spray making sure you spray any crevices and where the perches join the walls. At the same time you can treat each chicken with an ivermectin (or even frontline spray for dogs if that is easier to get hold of) Just a couple drops directly on the skin under each wing.

[@ronguille9721]

Did you buy builders lime or garden lime? It should be agricultural (garden) lime for mite treatment. Builders lime is grey, garden lime is chalk white. Getting a 4 litrehand pump sprayer to do the hen house would be easier than hand painting it on. You could even spray the chicken run areas which would have mites as well. There are many other uses for a pump sprayer around the house and garden.

[@FiuMcFadyen]

Wonderful to see freshly showered Diogo …. and Frankie cooling off on the couch …..

[@LorraineinAustralia]

Beautiful as usual.. Those pups are the most fortunate babies, having their own lounge, no matter the weather 😂😂 Sending love💕💕💕💕🌸🌸🌸🌸

[@LeisaStroud-df4yj]

The lime drops to the bottom of the bucket so you’ve got to stir it every time you wet your brush + you’ve got to use a brush to apply it.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Yep we noticed this towards the end. I'm gonna look for a big paintbrush for the next layer, thanks for the top :) x

[@Neilhuny]

Yep, paintbrush for the win - always use a big one. Ditto stir before use, ditto use several layers

[@shellydunn9710]

One of the other videos I watch put diatomaceous earth and some dirt in a kiddie swimming pool and the chickens have been taking baths in it themselves.

[@wilcarcottagewaubra]

To help chickens regrow feathers you can give them a can of cat food each week (something with seafood in it sardines etc) The extra protein helps them regrow their feathers and the added amino acids etc help with their health while they are run down. Just the cheap cans of cat food is fine, however, I have found that mine aren't fussed with the tuna based ones.

[@SueBroadbent-v4x]

Twice yearly worming mash really helps our chickens, we are in sub-tropical Australia so also deal with lots of parasites on our hens. At the start of winter and summer ( but you can do it any time) we fast the chickens from breakfast, cook up finely chopped garlic, chilli, ginger, turmeric, paprika bring to a simmer in a litre of milk then sit overnight. In the morning warm the milk again, add it to their mash and feed to chickens. Would always see an immediate improvement in their feathers, combs etc and massive reduction in mites. I will see if I can find the recipe…

[@debramairs7806]

I think the foggies have another pet to their family... one baby hedgehog. I am gutted everytime your videos come to an end xxxx ❤❤❤❤

[@FiuMcFadyen]

I simply love watching your animals in the morning ….it’s so relaxing watching the cats chomping breakfast or playfully chasing each other ….thank you for including them in the video …..this beautiful video as usual ❤❤❤❤

[@faithvansanden82]

The baby hedgehog so cute and a great video as always x

[@sitrepSNAFU]

When I lived in Thailand, I had a bungalow on the edge of the jungle. My favourite time of the day was about 4:30am onwards. It would be cooler, though still warm, and I would watch the world come alive. It was so quiet when it was dark, but all the birds would start to fuss as soon as the glow appeared on the horizon. I am sure they were celebrating the new day. I intend to live somewhere in the countryside later on, to repeat those days. You have to be asleep by 9pm though! :)

[@magicwendy210]

great video, there's something about the music at the beginning that always calms me, you have used it many times it feels like your signature piece of music ☺hope the chickens get better soon, the baby hedgehog is so cute 🥰

[@ritafoster4958]

Good morning Carissa and Iwan! Your chooks are trying so hard to be helpful in the coop, as Carissa is trying to clean it! Made me laugh! They love you. I hope your efforts to kill those mites work. As always your photography is beautiful and the music is wonderful! I think you’ve made a new friend in the wee baby hedgehog. It is adorable! Great episode, I feel as though I’ve just spent some peaceful time with my friends. Thank you and be well. ❤️😘🇨🇦

[@murielneve7974]

how lovely of you to care for the hedgehog as well as your own brood of animals.

[@Syntella]

I definitely can attest to the use of diotmatious earth, to get rid of your chicken mites. Not only do I put it out for the chickens to dust bathe in, I rub down their roosts, the walls and nesting areas with it. It's great because a little bit goes a long ways. ❤

[@Toomanydogs7]

I love hearing the chicken Darwin is just fine and I can hear you over him so don't worry about it. I'm glad you got the lights under control❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

She's so funny and loud. I think the microphone did a good job of picking up my voice over hers, it was much louder for me I was glad when I came to edit that it wasn't as loud on camera!

[@JTTW1455]

The land looks so lovely in the early morning.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

It's so worth getting out of bed for :) x

[@AbigailGerlach-zt1sh]

Hello from a rainy (finally) Colorado! Your garden at sunrise seems so tranquil and welcoming. I read, once upon a time, that it was efficacious to spray down the walls and floors of the coop with a strong disinfectant about every three months or so. This would cut down on bacteria, annoying chicken diseases and any human germs that might collect in chick coops. With the mites, spraying more often would be better! I make gallons of sun tea every summer. I mix it with the usual lemon, mint, peaches, blackberries, or raspberries for a bit of a change up. Of course, I also go through ice like I was actually living in the arctic north. I'm still looking forward to the first snow (kidding/not kidding). Stay cool and enjoy the gardens, various animals, and the lovely sunsets.

[@shelleycorcoran9514]

Hey guys, just a tip! I think you need to use a paint brush to get that lime wash into all the mortar cracks, nooks and crannies to make a good seal against mites and lice ❤

[@melinda5777]

Wonderful video! Loved all of it! Thanks for helping LUKE The Man😎 Have an Awesome Birthday!❤❤

[@cynwalts771]

How wonderful a resident Hedgehog, lucky guys. The chooks will be fine with all that tlc.

[@janettaschoonbeesmith7134]

You can covered the floor with ash of ourburned wood. You can also throw the ash of the outburned wood where the chickens is on their ground. This protect them from all sorts of lice.

[@DreamofaHive]

Hedgehogs tend to do a "circuit" and return to areas where they have found food so you could make a feeding station and put a shallow dish of water and some food in the same place and they should start coming every night around the same time. (I used to watch a hedgehog youtube channel hahaha) Loved seeing the hedgehog unroll to the delight of some fresh food. You have probably had loads of tips from people but just in case i used to spray my chickens legs and buts with a spray bottle filled with a teaspoon of neem oil and water.

[@sgrvtl7183]

Oh my your dogs are so funny!‼️ Sleeping -konked out in the sofa❗️minute 28…..All spread out and truly relaxing‼️

[@brigid6609]

I love seeing how you love all animals and how much you are doing for the chickens. The paint is meant to smear all over any little nook and cranny where a mite can hide (a bit like bed bugs) so if they are homeless they will die. So if you have a paint that fills in the bits on the stones it should be ok. or make the paint thicker so it will fill it in without you needing to render. Another job oh my..

[@AnneHeyns]

Lovely cats, Lovely footage of the sun, good to have a water filter♥

[@kevinnye5132]

That White tea preparation does away with the notion of “ let’s have a quick cuppa “ blimey Euan I would be as dehydrated as the tea leaves 😂.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

It's so worth the slow process though, I'll make sure we prepare it well in advance before we invite you over for a cuppa Kevin, wouldn't want you getting dehydrated in this heat! x

[@kevinnye5132]

@@FrankieOffGrid 😂 thank you 🙏🏻

[@bennyhill4228]

I think you guys are doing just fine, love your vlogs, Thank you.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much! 😊 Glad you like them, thanks for watching :) x

[@Toomanydogs7]

Poor little hedgehog you're such a little angels to them look at him eating.❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

They're one of our favourite animals, so happy to have them on the land :) they're so sweet

[@PaulBlake-x6s]

Edifying - soul mind food - blessed bee[s]

[@ritamailheau771]

As I am sure you know, your garden is looking so beautiful. Wow! Just a reminder of the importance of patience and consistency.

[@1dkappe]

Loved the Frankie water purification testimonial.😂

[@jackieprice239]

I use a pedal feeder for my chickens to stop wild birds from eating their food and it helped a lot.

[@deborahlee8135]

Wormwood is also beneficial for chickens if you can grow that. In the heat, it's nice to give frozen blocks of ice (about 2 litres) with frozen veg inside, like corn for them to peck at. Or watermelon 😊 love chicken cam 😂 The citrus could do wi t h less competition from grasses around their base, then mulched. Hedgie is sooo cute, never seen one before ❤

[@quakkapoowa453]

Put lime down in the litter and anywhere the chickens dust bath. Mites will live in the woodwork too. But dust everything with diatomacious earth specially in where they dust bath

[@SunraeSkatimunggr]

The water filter is small enough to leave room for a small dog or cat...another selling point :)

[@jaysmith8199]

Using a roller on concrete blocks is hard work. Better with a brush, then you can get into all the holes in the concrete 😊 Also, I noticed holes in the mortar on the outside. Needs to be filled!

[@ritagodinho2004]

Podem colocar chão de cimento e assim podem passar com a mangueira para ajudar a lavar Também colocar um "alguidar" com areia seca e limpa para os banhos das galinhas ❤ Força 😊 Coragem

[@elisavaz429]

I'm no expert, but I think that for that purpose, you should be using the natural lime, the powder that bubbles when you mix with water. That one is industrial, used for construction. The natural one is pure white. Love your channel ❤

[@lynnemac1402]

Lovely video, I hope everything you have done sorts out the mite issue for the chickens. I love the positions Diogo and Frankie sleep in, I miss watching my dog sleep and the positions he got in. Didnt look like Diogo liked a shower anymore than my dog did lol Frankie was so cute laying under the sink lol. The baby hedgehog footage was so adorable they are so cute x

[@AlyenasKitchen]

Thank you for teaching us about bird care. The mister is such a nice treat for them too!! Hopefully the mite problem is finished too!😊🌸🌺

[@seagaivo8513]

It's very sweet the way you treat all animals so well and with so much care, even the little bees in their leaf homes❤

[@jennywalsh479]

You both so look after your animals so well and love it. I think the chooks will appreciate all the work you have put into making their house mite free etc. glad your water is ok to drink from the tap.Baby hedgehog is beautiful..👍🏻😀

[@carolyndewstow8787]

Of you put the mite powder into a container big enough for them to get into themselves yr problem will be solved make sure the container is in the shade where it will stay dry from rain it works really well

[@joeykottnitz4831]

Good evening Carissa and Iwan, thankyou for this video. I enjoy the way you treat and speak to your animals. You do amazing on your farm. I enjoy to see what you achieve on the farm. Love you😊❤❤

[@Lupina-mp5ck]

You have done so much. So happy to see how much you care about your chicks❤A friend of mine put diatomaceous earth in a spray bottle, mixed it with water and spray the whole coop. It‘s better to cover everything and the dust don‘t come into your lungs

[@suedale1865]

Diago fox perfume 🤪 if the smell lingers rub Tomato Ketchup around the area before washing leave half hour & rinse off works a treat ( Old Norfolk farmer gave me this tip ) my old Fox Terrier was a little devil for searching out & rubbing Fox Poo j& I tried lots of things to rid the smell & Ketchup ( cheap brand best ) worked I hope the lime wash works to rid the mites You are such an animal loving couple Thank you from any animals & creatures 💜💙

[@susanyates4233]

I love the colour of your troursers at the beginning.

[@lynnes698]

the chicken waterer is in the sunlight, they don't like to drink hot water. the nesting box is under the roosting bars, it's making another thing to clean.

[@JudySnyder-dv5ld]

This was another lovely video. All the animals seem so happy and you are good caretakers.

[@soniawoolley366]

Get some Diatomaceous Earth (food grade) - you can use it for all the animals and soils. Animals - if they have fleas, rub it through their coats. Very fine silica, acts like glass to any mites, fleas etc etc. I also feed it to my animals in the morning in their food. You only need a small amount ...

[@oomwat6101]

Lime is great, particularly for antibacterial/microbial reasons ... but for the outside Titianium Dioxide is king (almost any white paint) - not only does it reflect the incoming heat, but it also radiates the internal heat more efficiently than any other surface - which should keep the chucks cooler in the blistering summer heat!

[@johnglenham4099]

Got my two new style t’shirts well pleased,got to get my granddaughter long haired sausage.

[@flowersflowers473]

To prevent PPE from fogging up - wash the glasses in dish soap, rinse gentlly, let dry - the idea is that you leave a thin film of soap on the glass. This will repel water and reduce fogging considerably. I use this trick on my swim goggles and it works a treat!

[@Aotruba]

Hope chickens are getting better. All pets are adorable in this video 🐈😻🐶🐶❤ Awww Baby hedgehog❤ Beautiful sunset! I hope hedgehog survives🙏💗🙏

[@rosita6124]

Loved the video as always, but particulary loved the music you choose to use ❤

[@LifebyBertie]

Thanks guys, what a beautiful moment in time again. I hope the chickens will do well very soon and that baby hedgehog was sooooo sweet. I might wanna check out that tea, you ship everywhere am I right? I've worked on a few occasions with self-mixing lime-paint or wash and the ratio's where so to say, slightly different then yours Iwan. You normally mix 1 kg of lime-powder to 1.2 / 1.5 ltr of water and you add the powder to the water bit by bit while mixing. I hope this helps. Have a great week!!! Cheers Bert 🙏🏻❤

[@CatherineOgilvie-k6z]

Oh my goodness! You're going to be crawling with red mites after that clear out 😬. I find after cleaning, I spray everything with a mixture of dish soap, oil and water helps. But I also dowse my chooks in diatomaceous earth. Good luck ❤

[@spiderbush129]

Diatomaceous earth is the answer, if you want us to send you some ask away, great stuff Arlene and Spider

[@racebanning6390]

Foggyland... Always a tranquil place to visit on a cool saturday morning, and a coffee. 💙❄️💙❄️Be blessed 🙏🙏🙏 John 3:16

[@carolbulmer8253]

Hi, Carissa and Iwan. I hope that lime washing the chicken coop gets rid of the pesky mites. See you next week.❤❤

[@susangranger3089]

Beautiful Video, so calming to watch. 🐕🐓🦮😾 xx

[@manjularamanujan3624]

In India Lime is used to paint entire living area. It’s keeps the building cool & also great to control insect, mite & termite infestation.

[@dinisberinguilho]

Good morning from Lisboa ❤

[@adbc8213]

That little hedgehog!!! 💚

[@jwthrussell8786]

Caught this in good time! Beautiful ! Thank goodness the garden is picking up there! Lovely colour that Tee you’re wearing today

[@anitamoolman168]

Love they way your dogs sleep on the sofa

[@rachelfrees1268]

The Hedgehog eating was the best. Hope the mites have been taken care of. Take care in the heat.❤

[@Winnie-hq5hs]

Thanks so much for another lovely video❤ I hope the chickens will soon be free of mites. And what a cute hedgehog! Frankie and Diogo sure like a nice nap in the sofa😊

[@pramaccra3106]

I have watched just under 2 minutes of this video and so far I am loving these scenes you captured. They look like some masters paintings. You have to sell these pictures. They are amazing. Serene. Soothing. Comforting. I am just lost for words to describe them.

[@irislozinsky3960]

Those dogs of yours are some lucky little guys! I feel so sorry for your chickens with the heat and mites! Hope all you are doing helps!!

[@maryroberts8566]

I see you had the delivery that you were waiting on can you not begin until Uncle Nick has time to come over ? I’m glad to see you dive into cleaning up the garden and getting the chickens taken of ..The music is lovely

[@RevGerryRM]

Yes, the lime wash is white, that my dad used as I was growing up. 💕

[@DaGaspo]

Blessings 💜🙏💜

[@channiere]

And this weeks fashionista award goes to Clarissa in her lime painting number 😂😂😂😂😂

[@janebaldry3111]

Do you guys ever get to sit on the couch? I love the way the dogs stretch out as big as they can & lie on their backs.

[@leekent3325]

Hi there, I am new to your channel and I am looking forward to watching your videos.

[@eldrinod]

Awww, that cute hedgehog ❤️

[@BrittaLoetsch]

Red mites do not like temperatures above 60 degrees C and you can clean the perches and nests with boiling water. You can also use a steam jet.

[@alro8345]

One of my favorite KZbin rs couple, wishing you a happy, & successful life 🙏

[@paulinewilson613]

Loved the little hedgehog xxx

[@bertieboo]

Add apple cider vinegar to the water for your chickens, its a fab tonic plus it helps deter mites, worms etc ❤❤❤

[@escapetoruralwales]

We used to have hens. We had a serious problem one summer. We think like you say the problem is that they’re inside a block building and the mites can hide and lay their eggs in the little cracks of the blocks. Long term I’d recommend rendering it fully. so they have nowhere to hide. Line wash should work. Maybe the alkaline of the line will kill them. One thing we did was use a blow torch and ran it all around the walls to kill the larvae. You have to be quite meticulous with it but of course don’t hold it on the walls for too long. Also do it on any wood that’s in there. Try this once a week for the next 4 weeks. Lastly for the hens, use 2 pipettes of dog flea/mite drops in a 1 litre spray bottle and spray under the birds wings and all around them. Also spray in the nest bedding and even around the coop itself and in the cracks of the blocks. Repeat monthly that monthly. Good luck

[@escapetoruralwales]

Oh, and for the hens. Feed them their egg shells back. That will help for feather growth.

[@hope4lisi]

Just love your videos and those dogs are a riot ❤

[@lindavasa7519]

A feed that’s high in protein around 20% will help to grow their feathers back. You can also supplement with meal worms and sunflower seeds to increase their protein intake. And yes for the diatomaceous earth… food grade for the mites. They can dust bath in it too

[@judyannludchawefoyagao8278]

Hmmm, interesting about the lime thing on the chicken coop. I am thinking, may be spray the coop with the same mix (lime and water) every week? That way it could sink in the walls or something? Anyway, i feel inspired watching you take care of your chickens and wildlife (God! I teared up watching you follow that hedgehog to feed it!) because I kept thinking that you take care of them way better than some parents take care of their kids,😊❤😊❤😊

[@lydiamitchell6814]

6 to 8 inches of dirt , sand, wood ash and diatomaceous earth in a tub… works every time! Equal parts, but a cup of DE is plenty, mix well and keep out of the rain. Clean out floor, sprinkle with barn lime.. (if not barn lime it can burn animals feet)…and diatomaceous earth. Lay fresh bedding! It works for us!

[@captpain1]

All that beautiful sun, try making sun tea, glass pitcher tea, and fill with water let sit in the sun to brew. Then you can warm in kettle or chill 😊 So what name for the ground hog. I vote Pat the hedgehog ❤

[@rickeylucero3955]

A great hack is to put a PC of PVC 2 inch diameter pipe next to trees. Dig it down about 8 inches. And water through the pipe. This uses less water and all the water goes to the roots. 😊

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

This is the happiest I’ve saw of Carissa in months, if not years. ❤️❤️❤️

[@ritafoster4958]

Good morning, my sweet Jimmy! Hope you’re well and happy! ❤️😘

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

@@ritafoster4958 hello RITA!!! I’m good. Exhausted watching news footage this week of the riots. But, it’s hopefully brought many of us together. How’re you this week?❤️❤️❤️xxx

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

KZbin deleted my reply to you, Rita. 😂🤦❤️

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

Rita, I’ve been very busy this week following the unrest in England and Belfast. Shower of k’hunts. At least they brought us more together. 😉❤️❤️❤️xxx

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Jimmy! :D I hope that doesn't mean you usually think I'm miserable! But I'm definitely feeling quite content at the mo x

[@gillianfahey6464]

Leafy greens, root vegetables and fruit add extra health benefits and keep chickens happy also ❤

[@ricardolandsman9465]

Hi guys. Ok you like natural remedies. I got a few for you. Might be long. First you have pine trees. Pick the leaves and put them down as bedding. Helps with fleas and mights. As well as the rosemary mint and lavender. Also your ash. You need to make sure there is som activated charcoal in their food. It's a natural antibiotic origanum as well good for all birds all the anti property's. I have ducks and they get these things regularly ❤❤

[@nanou7314]

Thanks for another beautiful video. Love your hat Carissa. I think you must have got builder's lime instead of the "usual" lime that's used to whitewash walls. We lime washed a wall here in Ireland and it was really white, and when you mixed it, it was really pasty (and a pain to apply, because it's thick and you're trying to fill holes in the wall with it). Your lime will probably do the same job, but I don't know if the concentration is enough in the builder's one, and the real white of the other one looks good (like the houses in Greece etc.) and it probably would keep the coop cooler inside too (more reflective). If it's not too expensive you could try and find that one some day, and you'll probably find a use for the builder's one, I see in other renovation videos it's very much used to point stone work. The pets are adorable.

[@JudyAnderson-ek3he]

I have to tell you that I love the music you put with your videos and I enjoy your beautiful scenery.

[@AlongThePathsOfNature]

I love the hedgehogs (ouriço-cacheiro)! 😍 @AlongThePathsOfNature

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Us too! They're sooooo sweet (Diogo also loves (shouting at) them)