Some feeds have it included, to manage insects in the feed before you buy it. I'd rather not buy old feed, or poorly stored feed, and can't get excited about the need for it anyway.
As @BigBlueHen53 mentioned, it's useless for anything when damp or wet, and it's also bad to inhale when dry...
About that sock with beef inside: I can picture many dogs just swallowing the whole thing, and then the foreign body surgery involved. Especially terrific at the ER on a weekend...
Mary
I have a good coop with a secure roofed run attached, it functions as a large coop. I do free range the flock when possible, and have had losses to predators occasionally. :fl None recently though. And the AI problem has the birds on lockdown when necessary too.
Mary
Agree, and more space would be better. Eleven birds, including a rooster, should have a minimum of 50 sq. ft. in their coop, and more would be better.
Then additional safe run space, with at least two feeders and two waterers in different locations. And fifteen or more feet of roosts.
Mary
Temperament is #1, and it's early times yet. 'Friendly' cockerels can become bad boys, because they are fearless and actually sizing you up as someone to push around later.
Do you have adult hens or roosters, or is this your first batch of chicks? Having adults around to 'civilize' cockerels...
Welcome!
I agree about buying fencing to manage them better, and the electrified poultry netting from Premier1 is a really good choice for you. Fencing is absolutely necessary, for your patio, the neighbors, and the safety of your birds!
As you've learned, chickens dig holes, eat plants, and...
I do know about them, concerning hay and livestock/ horses. Bad bugs!
They don't live here, at least so far, but getting hay from some other places can be a problem.
And I'm so glad your dog is okay!
Mary
Recently I bought six porcelain d'Uccles at a feed store, and it looks like four of them are cockerels. Figures, right? If anyone is looking for cute bantam boys, let me know!
Mary
I'd call them 'Belgian Booted Bantams' as they don't have muffs. And the near white chick without feathered...
What's hard is finding a flat nylon type collar with anything except those plastic (breakable!) locks. I still have one old collar, safety orange, with good hardware, if I need to use one, which is nearly never.
My story about idiots wanting to pet the cute doggy:
Years ago I found a middle...
I know that for bears, it's recommended that some meat/ bacon be attached to the electric fence, so the critter gets a nice zap in the mouth or nose.
Mary
You need shooting experience and training, don't just borrow a gun and hope for a good outcome!!!
Electric fencing will deter this cat, get it set up properly with a nice hot charger soonest!
And talk to your DNR about how close this cat is coming towards you and how unafraid it is, doesn't...
And the Herman Sprenger prong collars are by far the best ones! Our pointer broke his first prong collar, not a good thing, in the field, and I learned. Buy a good one!
Mary
I read this thread today, it's been a good fun read! Lots of good advice and interesting stories.
About transitioning to off lead at a distance: long ago I had experience training a Chessie for bird work, and a GSHP for field bird work. Different types of field work, but the transition from...
Good advice so far!
Our coop/ run combination is roofed, and built up to code for residential structures, because I'm in it and don't want suprises...
Please fix that run roof before winter, there's no way you will want to be out there at 2AM in a blizzard or ice storm trying to save it.
When...