Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[Anniebee]

Here's the link for directions. It works!!!

5 Gallon Bucket Mouse Trap - YouTube

What an ingenious way of trapping mice. .... thank you for the link.

Would it work for rats ? ... they are so much heavier and smarter ( I think ) ....

Have no doubt that it works well. Would have to fill with water though, as rats could climb the sides of that bucket fairly easily, I would think.

Worth a try for sure ... will think about that one, when our Victorian rats return ( which they will ). !!!

Cheers - and thanks.

 

[appps]

An nine, I think it's more that they don't breed true to type than they don't breed.

 

[Kleonaptra]

Kleonpatra ....

Loved the pics you have just posted. What a very handsome lot of birds. ... I gather you keep your beautiful ducks, separate from the chickens ?

Again, so sorry about your loss of Sheena. ... you have had a lot to contend with recently, sad to say.

My girls squat if anything comes near them - me, hubby or Miss Ruby - and none of us wish to pick them up !! Movement ? Rooster ? Yippee ? .... seems to be all that is considered. Horny little girls they are !! Mind you, they have never had a husband !!

so perhaps have figured they are missing out on something or other !! ??

I think the cuddle bit for your roo is a great idea, and particularly as appps suggested - face him backwards. .. Sounds a good way to put him in his place, not to mention divert his attention ? Poor little beggar, being so confused. But not confused enough to not jump everything after additions to the flock, barr one ( Gertrude the beeach ) !!

As per your friends' advice, he might well see you as 'his' girl as well - which, you being so much bigger than him, must mess with his poor head, big time. No wonder he attacks and crows at you !!

... trying to fathom it all.

Do your isa-browns produce fertile eggs to be incubated or hatched under the chicken (s), after the deed is done ? ... Was under the impression that isa-browns are hybrids and do not readily produce in a fertile way at all ? ... I may have my wires crossed on that one ?

Would very much like to hear the story of the 'roo and the boot' also ... sounds intriguing, and most likely very funny. !!

Cheers .......

My Shiela has squatted and gone broody at the faintest whiff of a crow from surrounding properties. Thats why Im surprised she didnt immediately throw herself on the ground in front of him. After he got with her a few times today, she strutted about him as if to say "Well, Im not that easy you know!" Hes a bit shy, I think. Adolescent still. Which is why Ive decided to go a bit easy on him.

Ive trained colts for years. I have a beautiful stallion Ive been with since the day he was born. Breeding males need adequate space, females....And understanding, with a soft touch and a firm hand.

After my initial post of trouble, I realized. hes a poor young teenager who's favourite girlfriend got horribly murdered, leaving him with his bestie tom boy and 2 older ladies that scared the living crap out of him. Oh, and we got rid of his brother, wry tail, even though Roo didnt know it, their play fights were about to become very serious. But all he knew was his brother disappeared. And to top it all off, his mommy/friend/ protector had started acting all weird and distant.....I realized. Oh. Crap. Ive isolated him! I preach about not isolating stallions. Growing up every one I ever saw was confined, solitary....And mad. My stallion is kept with a companion at all times and always has been, and any time we were at a cross roads, I chose to be his friend rather than his enemy. Work with me to protect your herd/flock. Love me, dont fight me. So. Lets see how my method works. After the dog, who I tried soo hard for, Im a bit exhausted with animals that promise me everything and then screw me over. Is it wrong that when he is being very difficult I get just a bit hungry?

Do the isa browns produce fertile eggs, no friggin idea. A couple of years ago I just got a couple of chickens. Now I have 4 chickens a roo and 3 little chooks....Im supposed to be breeding ducks. Ive gotten quite good at ducks. So. Im sure Shiela will go broody any minute. Penny and Megan are still young so I doubt they will. The Trude? Who knows! When I find out, I'll have plenty of pics!

 

[Kleonaptra]

Oh, no I dont keep them seperate...Should I? My big shed is getting very small. I put perches up high and boxes low and the chooks go up and roost and the ducks stay low. If we need to put them away during the day, roo and a couple of girls stay out as they can climb up into the garage to get safe from foxes or what not. I have plans to renovate an old stable for pigeons, there would be plenty of room for chooks too.

 

[Anniebee]

It's snowing again !

Heard about that on TV this evening. !!
My son Craig is now in Hobart, doing his thing at the Royal Hobart Hospital to learn to be a 'lay surgical assistant' ( ye gods ) ...

... prior to going back to Antarctica in mid October. His 2nd deployment. So I doubt that the snowy conditions would worry him - he probably is delighted with it all !!

Take care with the black ice, and everything else that goes with snowy / icy conditions.

Cheers .......

 

[Kleonaptra]

THE TALE OF THE ROO AND THE MYSTERIOUS BOOT

Yesterday after arriving home from the markets and getting everyone (Horses, chooks, ducks, pigeons, cats, horses humans) settled I decided to sit on the back step with a cuppa and watch my birds. As I sat down I raised one leg to sit it across the other but didnt quite make it and left it settled across the ankle.

Im happily watching my birds and the Roo Beast is on his way down to check out what Im doing. Suddenly he snaps his head up, looks right at my feet, and charges. Hes so fast, and Im so completely mystified as to what hes doing, that I just sit there while he belines at me, launches....And attacks my ankle. And I mean attacks. Grabs on and pecks like crazy.

I get up screaming, trying not to upset my cup of tea, "You crazy freakin roo what the hell" I wave my free arm, stomp a bit, say what the hell, all of that.

He is standing there, paying very little attention to me, looking at my ankle. Really looking. Looking so hard it starts to freak me out a bit. His body language is clear. "I get it, I get it. That stuff is all a seperate issue ok? I SAW SOMETHING..."

So I look. I cant see anything. Muttering about crazy freakin birds I sit down again, Roo wanders around, looking at other things, compulsively checking my ankle.

After he moves off I cross my legs again, only to have him come screaming back over and attack my ankle again. Thats it, Im thinking, my Roo has snapped. Thats it, chicken dinner time. I fight him off and try to sit back again. What ever Im gonna do, Im finishing my cup of tea first.

Something about his body language is all wrong. This is not a male attacking for a pecking order or challenge reason. I just cant figure it out. Frowning now with the need to get to the bottom of it, I sit back again and go to cross my ankles.

He goes for me again. "I see it! I see it!" hes practically screaming.

And thats when I realize. When I lift my leg to cross it over the other one, its pulling up my jeans to show the top of my boot. And I am wearing redbacks. And Roo is trying to eat the 'spider' on the tag.

 

[Anniebee]

My Shiela has squatted and gone broody at the faintest whiff of a crow from surrounding properties. Thats why Im surprised she didnt immediately throw herself on the ground in front of him. After he got with her a few times today, she strutted about him as if to say "Well, Im not that easy you know!" Hes a bit shy, I think. Adolescent still. Which is why Ive decided to go a bit easy on him.

Ive trained colts for years. I have a beautiful stallion Ive been with since the day he was born. Breeding males need adequate space, females....And understanding, with a soft touch and a firm hand.

After my initial post of trouble, I realized. hes a poor young teenager who's favourite girlfriend got horribly murdered, leaving him with his bestie tom boy and 2 older ladies that scared the living crap out of him. Oh, and we got rid of his brother, wry tail, even though Roo didnt know it, their play fights were about to become very serious. But all he knew was his brother disappeared. And to top it all off, his mommy/friend/ protector had started acting all weird and distant.....I realized. Oh. Crap. Ive isolated him! I preach about not isolating stallions. Growing up every one I ever saw was confined, solitary....And mad. My stallion is kept with a companion at all times and always has been, and any time we were at a cross roads, I chose to be his friend rather than his enemy. Work with me to protect your herd/flock. Love me, dont fight me. So. Lets see how my method works. After the dog, who I tried soo hard for, Im a bit exhausted with animals that promise me everything and then screw me over. Is it wrong that when he is being very difficult I get just a bit hungry?

Do the isa browns produce fertile eggs, no friggin idea. A couple of years ago I just got a couple of chickens. Now I have 4 chickens a roo and 3 little chooks....Im supposed to be breeding ducks. Ive gotten quite good at ducks. So. Im sure Shiela will go broody any minute. Penny and Megan are still young so I doubt they will. The Trude? Who knows! When I find out, I'll have plenty of pics!

Thanks for your great reply - fun comments about the crows - and how Sheila will squat for them as well ...

Gentle and firm - absolutely for young colts in particular ( indeed all young horses ) - they learn good manners that way, but I would still stay out of stallions' way when mares are in oestrus - anywhere !! They "sniff the wind" and get all bent out of shape for their arranged ( or not ) 'weddings'. .... what can I say ????????? ... always preferable to have horse companions ... sometimes a gelded small pony is good, other times not so much. Gather you might have a gelding in with your stallion - or a much older mare who would probably discourage his advances ? ... or even a goat or sheep - horses certainly need company.

I have to wonder if your roo knows his favourite girl met an untimely demise ? ... I often think we don't give enough credit to their brain-power and 'reasoning' ( for want of a better word ) ... chickens can certainly be taught a number of things by us - which never ceases to amaze me. So they must have 'something'' up top.

I hear you - give him time - he will settle down and do his thing according to the way the girls want it to be ? ( I hope ). ... and no it is not wrong to become frustrated - we all do - but we get past it eventually, and always for the sake of the animal or bird concerned. ... Look at training puppies to piddle and woopsie in the right place ??

.... it's a nightmare for a short while.

Cheers -

 

[Fancychooklady]

Heard about that on TV this evening. !!  
My son Craig is now in Hobart, doing his thing at the Royal Hobart Hospital to learn to be a 'lay surgical assistant' ( ye gods ) ...   ... prior to going back to Antarctica in mid October.  His 2nd deployment.   So I doubt that the snowy conditions would worry him - he probably is delighted with it all !!  

Take care with the black ice, and everything else that goes with snowy / icy conditions. 

Cheers ....... 

Hubby works at the royal, he just made it through at 6 am this morning , then they closed the pass. We are currently getting an ' Antarctic blast ' . The black ice took another truck out on the pass , no school again.

 

[Anniebee]

THE TALE OF THE ROO AND THE MYSTERIOUS BOOT

Yesterday after arriving home from the markets and getting everyone (Horses, chooks, ducks, pigeons, cats, horses humans) settled I decided to sit on the back step with a cuppa and watch my birds. As I sat down I raised one leg to sit it across the other but didnt quite make it and left it settled across the ankle.

Im happily watching my birds and the Roo Beast is on his way down to check out what Im doing. Suddenly he snaps his head up, looks right at my feet, and charges. Hes so fast, and Im so completely mystified as to what hes doing, that I just sit there while he belines at me, launches....And attacks my ankle. And I mean attacks. Grabs on and pecks like crazy.

I get up screaming, trying not to upset my cup of tea, "You crazy freakin roo what the hell" I wave my free arm, stomp a bit, say what the hell, all of that.

He is standing there, paying very little attention to me, looking at my ankle. Really looking. Looking so hard it starts to freak me out a bit. His body language is clear. "I get it, I get it. That stuff is all a seperate issue ok? I SAW SOMETHING..."

So I look. I cant see anything. Muttering about crazy freakin birds I sit down again, Roo wanders around, looking at other things, compulsively checking my ankle.

After he moves off I cross my legs again, only to have him come screaming back over and attack my ankle again. Thats it, Im thinking, my Roo has snapped. Thats it, chicken dinner time. I fight him off and try to sit back again. What ever Im gonna do, Im finishing my cup of tea first.

Something about his body language is all wrong. This is not a male attacking for a pecking order or challenge reason. I just cant figure it out. Frowning now with the need to get to the bottom of it, I sit back again and go to cross my ankles.

He goes for me again. "I see it! I see it!" hes practically screaming.

And thats when I realize. When I lift my leg to cross it over the other one, its pulling up my jeans to show the top of my boot. And I am wearing redbacks. And Roo is trying to eat the 'spider' on the tag.

Well - that'll larn ya - to be careful of what footwear you choose, next time outside with your cuppa .........

A very funny story - and just goes to show - they have got some 'thinking power' up top there.

Apart from your roo recognising an art inspired spider ( which in itself is remarkable when you think about it ) am wondering if any red colour is something a chicken cannot resist. Found that out the hard way, during summer, wearing sandals and bright red nail polish on toes. .... Two of my 3 had a real go at them - pecking feverishly, me yelling a lot and getting the hell out of there. Put some shoes on, and no more problems !! I didn't take too much notice of it at the time, just thought they were having a bit of fun - but since your story, have had to have a rethink.

Thanks so much for taking the time to tell the story ...

Ciao now ......

 

[Kleonaptra]

Thanks for your great reply - fun comments about the crows - and how Sheila will squat for them as well ...

Gentle and firm - absolutely for young colts in particular ( indeed all young horses ) - they learn good manners that way, but I would still stay out of stallions' way when mares are in oestrus - anywhere !! They "sniff the wind" and get all bent out of shape for their arranged ( or not ) 'weddings'. .... what can I say ????????? ... always preferable to have horse companions ... sometimes a gelded small pony is good, other times not so much. Gather you might have a gelding in with your stallion - or a much older mare who would probably discourage his advances ? ... or even a goat or sheep - horses certainly need company.

I have to wonder if your roo knows his favourite girl met an untimely demise ? ... I often think we don't give enough credit to their brain-power and 'reasoning' ( for want of a better word ) ... chickens can certainly be taught a number of things by us - which never ceases to amaze me. So they must have 'something'' up top.

I hear you - give him time - he will settle down and do his thing according to the way the girls want it to be ? ( I hope ). ... and no it is not wrong to become frustrated - we all do - but we get past it eventually, and always for the sake of the animal or bird concerned. ... Look at training puppies to piddle and woopsie in the right place ??

.... it's a nightmare for a short while.

Cheers -

Ah....I meant crow as in she can hear the roosters. She's never squatted for an actual crow - but my muscovy duck has. She didnt like ducks. Until we got Lelouche. Got some funny pics of that....Try telling a love struck duck it doesnt work if shes on top!

Im a breeder I always have been. Ive only ever handled stallions in breeding season - until I got my own, that is. And I firmly believe stallions only get 'bent out of shape' like that because they dont keep the ladies. My boy has never behaved like most of the stallions I saw on big studs, he knows he will protect his lady right through pregnancy and play with his foal. The majority of their agression is for that protective phase, we just blame the sexual drive. Okay, Im stopping now. You got me started, but I am going to stop......He was raised by a gelding, his brother. When we lost him suddenly, we got the mare. I'd like them to have a colt (shes due now) so we can geld it and he can have a male companion again then I wont have to worry about breeding for awhile, but that I will have to wait and see.

(On facebook we are Crescent Moon Lodge and Halfway House, lots of pics)

Oh chickens are smart. Really smart. I used to hand raise and train birds, chickens can reason. I think my boys just young and anxious....If I get into too much trouble I can just call The Trude. She's rescued me more than once.