Recent content by Cathy R.

  1. Cathy R.

    whole olives?

    I lost my first 2 hens to eating olives. The necropsy revealed 33 pits in one, which blocked her intestines. They lost weight and were only eating grass and grit at the end. I only have one olive tree and it is a distance from the chicken's yard but I do let them out in mine to forage. I raked...
  2. Cathy R.

    good books

    A neighbor recommended "The Egg and I", which I ordered from my local book store. First published in 1945, it's a humorous memoir by American author Betty MacDonald about her adventures as a young wife on a chicken farm on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. It's a light read. Enjoy!
  3. Cathy R.

    What should a newbie start with?

    You don't say how large your household is. I'm single and started with 2 point of lay hens (about 6 months old) and have always had more eggs than I know what to do with. When I lost one of the hens I got a 10-week old and a 6 month old. It was quite a bit of work keeping the young one separated...
  4. Cathy R.

    Hello from San Diego, CA

  5. Cathy R.

    How do I introduce my dog and cat to my chickens?

    Good Dogs!
  6. Cathy R.

    How do I introduce my dog and cat to my chickens?

    My dog is 10 and knows the leave it command. But she is a herder so is naturally interested in the flock. She's only had 1 cat to herd all these years, so I'm guessing will be eager to adopt the hens as her flock. If she can relax around them that would be ideal. Otherwise when they are loose in...
  7. Cathy R.

    How do I introduce my dog and cat to my chickens?

    I think the cat is likely to avoid them, given their size and activity. He is a hunter but of lizards and mice. The hens will be larger in size than he though not as heavy. My dog is a herder so I'm hoping she will adopt this flock and be a protector. I will go slow in introducing them and...
  8. Cathy R.

    Hello from San Diego, CA

    (1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens? I had a small flock of 5 Leghorns and 1 Rhode Island Red growing up in 4-H. (2) How many chickens do you have right now? I'm getting 2 pullets this month from Dare 2 Dream Farm in Lompoc CA! (3) What breeds do you have? 1 Barred...
  9. Cathy R.

    How do I introduce my dog and cat to my chickens?

    Adorable! Good dog!
  10. Cathy R.

    How do I introduce my dog and cat to my chickens?

    Yes treats are magic. The birds will be about 20 weeks so big, which I think will help.
  11. Cathy R.

    Sand, Mulch, DG or ?

    Thanks. How often do you sug
  12. Cathy R.

    How do I introduce my dog and cat to my chickens?

    Hi, I have a 10 year old Australian Shepherd who's pretty active and a 12 year old tabby cat who has skills as a hunter. Rose, my dog, has seen chickens in my neighborhood as we walk around and is interested but never on the other side of the fence with them. How do you recommend I introduce...
  13. Cathy R.

    Sand, Mulch, DG or ?

    Hi, I'm getting two hens soon and I'm preparing a part of my yard for the coop, their run and a small, secure enclosure when they're not roaming in the yard. Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens suggests 2" of sand as a good base for the pen. I looked online and Quikcrete, a manufacturer of sand...
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