This message is from: "Anneli Sundkvist" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
When I worked in the fjord-camp we had several couples of swallows nesting in the barn every summer. It was fun to see the young ones grow larger and larger. I also heard that it means luck to have swallow nests. We never had any problems with lice bothering the horses, the cat or us. Vivan said that bird lice do bite humans but will not settle down on us, and that's my experience too. After helping a neighbor slaughter chickens and turkeys one fall, me, my boyfriend and our dog (a Komondor - MUCH hair:o) were full of turkey and chicken lice, but the shower took care of them and they didn't come back. I think most lice will stick to one species. Fleas are different. Regards Anneli ***************************************************** Anneli Sundkvist Department of Archaeology & Ancient History Uppsala University St. Eriks Torg 5 S-753 10 Uppsala Sweden Phone: +46-18-4712082 (dept.) +46-18-553627 (home) ----- Original Message ----- From: Jon & Mary Ofjord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 6:01 AM Subject: Feeding grain & Barn Swallows > This message is from: Jon & Mary Ofjord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Denise wrote:>.....like purina strategy. it's not too hot." > > One of the boarders at our stable has us feed Purina Strategy to her horse. > It is listed at 14% crude protien-same as most sweet feeds, along with 6% > fat. The first ingredient on the label is "Processed grain > by-products"....just what the heck is THAT????? Plus, the stuff molds > quickly if any falls on the stall floor. We have to go in the stall and dig > out the moldy stuff on the floor every couple days. UGH! I wouldn't feed > it to my horses!!!!! Purina suggests feeding 1/2% of body weight to mature, > idle horses, so a 1000 lb horse would eat 5 pounds? Plus hay,of course. > Our Fjords would look like balloons on those rations. They look like > balloons anyhow. Our vet calls them turnips. > > I have a question for any of you out there who have barns. Do you allow > barn swallows to nest in the barn? We just put up our new barn (If you > build it, they will come) and almost immediately a couple barn swallows > started putting up a nest over one of the lights above the stalls. I > knocked down the nest every day for about a week and they have now put up > another nest in a less vulnerable area. I have heard that the birds can > carry lice that can fall onto horses and cause problems, not to mention > the droppings on everything.Is this true, or have the old wives been > telling tales again? I realize the birds do a great service by eating > insects, but does that benefit outweigh the potential problems? Any advice > anyone???? .......and just where did these birds live before we put up the > barn? > > Mary O. > North Coast Equestrian Center > Grand Marais, Minnesota > > >
