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

[IamSamSam]

Fred is beautiful - handsome.   .... and with such clean TOES.   He's on concrete so that explains that I guess. .... my girls muddle around in mud !! - part of the time.   Love the dog in the background too ... is he/she contemplating a run at Fred ?   

I doubt it. 

Lovely boy you have there. 

Cheers ...... 

Thanks mate. Sam (He) is well behaved and is a flock protector Freds feet are clean because their coop run is straw over the mud so their feet stay dry. And they free range 2/3 day on grass !

 

[appps]

How do you sterilize your incubators? Can I just use regular disinfectant? Wondered about the fumes remaining?

 

[Fancychooklady]

How do you sterilize your incubators? Can I just use regular disinfectant? Wondered about the fumes remaining?

I just use regular household bleach. Just make sure it's drys out before using.

 

[devinandfeather]

Everything is going to plan so far my Plymouth hen is due next week along with my Goslings in the 1st batch 2 to go. And now my oeg hen is sitting on 10 eggs so awesome and my Wyandotte cross is laying her first egg as I am typing so exciting babies are you g to be everywhere

 

[MyHaven]

Be sure to do this BEFORE you put in the electric wires! 

Lmao

 

[Anniebee]

Thanks mate. Sam (He) is well behaved and is a flock protector Freds feet are clean because their coop run is straw over the mud so their feet stay dry. And they free range 2/3 day on grass !

Thanks for the reply IamSamSam ....

My girls' coop run, I endeavour to keep covered with straw - but the ladies scratch it all aside to look for young worms and heaven knows what else. ... Result ? .... Filthy feet ( and up their legs too ). Free ranging helps clean them off a bit - and there's lovely new spring grass aplenty. ... They free range 3 - 4 days a week for a couple of hours. Do their thing, and then come back to be near their coop ( and Miss Ruby and me - just in case ). They really are big sooks.

My little ( Mindy ) Araucana loves to dust bathe in mud !!

... somehow she manages to scratch it up into her feathers ... Result ? ..... a half black chicken who is usually white and coffee sprinkle coloured. Soooo ---- I fluff as much of the mud out of her by hand and towel in the laundry, park her inside in the ( now unused - lost our beloved last cat 18 months back ) cat carrying basket ( Mindy loves it - gets straight in with no second invitation ) ... to dry off and drop the rest of the dried mud bits onto paper. All the time she ' talks' incessantly to Miss Ruby dog, while inside in the cat crate. And Miss Ruby talks back.

Is there such a thing as an 'indoor chicken' ????

.... I don't have a 'flock protector - no roosters for my girls. What they don't know about, won't bother them !!

Take care ..

AB

 

[Anniebee]

Love both your photos sjturner79 .... this one here, is gorgeous with little one on Mums' back.

I often think chickens help us to remain sane and in one piece !! -- if you know what I mean. Just watching their antics, and funny ways, is so peaceful.

And observing how good the mums can be. ( not that I have any 'Mums' so I miss out on that - but what my girls do daily, is enough ).

Cheers -

 

[Anniebee]

Hey Guy,

We had to take Mr Rooster to Hertiage Hen to drop him off today. We had gotten a complaint about his crowing which we new was possible. We still have speckles. They seemed really great, knowledge all their chickens were healthy looking and I felt much better about how honest he was about what would happen to him. Apparently they work with farms all over and hell be checked out and then if he's breeding they will begin looking for a home.

My wife was just as upset about the prospect because we got the birds as chicks and we didn't want to make them someone else's problem and MR rooster was her baby while speckles was mine. It was sad but I came home and got to give all my girls a pat.

I did something wrong here !! .... post is next one down. !!!!

 

[Anniebee]

Hey Guy,

We had to take Mr Rooster to Hertiage Hen to drop him off today. We had gotten a complaint about his crowing which we new was possible. We still have speckles. They seemed really great, knowledge all their chickens were healthy looking and I felt much better about how honest he was about what would happen to him. Apparently they work with farms all over and hell be checked out and then if he's breeding they will begin looking for a home.

My wife was just as upset about the prospect because we got the birds as chicks and we didn't want to make them someone else's problem and MR rooster was her baby while speckles was mine. It was sad but I came home and got to give all my girls a pat.

Sad as it is Slagasse --- it is great to know that Mr. Rooster has gone to a good and caring home, where he will be properly cared for & perhaps placed with someone who wants a good stud rooster.

I have an Araucana who 'crows'. So far, no-one has complained .... she only lets forth with the crow several times a day, and never ever in the early mornings.

She likes to 'sleep in' - by preference.

Cheers --- AB.

 

[Anniebee]

The adults are silent, only making small squeaky murmers we wouldn't hear and that they only make to each other. The - pups? Cubs? Kittens? Make a very creepy bark/yowl which freaks everyone out. Combine it with male peacock call in a dark moonless night and you've got every creepy bunyip story there is. The young ones will bawl when even slightly surprised, so at least I always know where they are.
And yeah, big fox surprised me too. Id seen lady vixen a couple of times and so had hubby, first time I saw big guy my mum had come to visit and left the gate open. My flock free ranges over the quater acre house block and I didn't hurry to shut the gate. When I did head down that way there he was, in the misty drizzle, bold as brass, standing in the middle of the driveway watching my birds. Terrifying! I had never thought to guard the street front, as I knew little fox was out the back.
As for the pee? Don't think it works. Hubby has often relieved himself along the fence lines from sheer laziness while out working, and it didn't deter them...and when I tried it for a week it actually seemed to attract them!

Um - coff ... Kleonpatra ....

The few things I have read about human urine and foxes, have indicated that women should not try it - it is indeed an attraction to foxes. ??

.... Something in the male urine is apparently a deterrent. Perhaps female urine contains hormones / pheromones that promise oestrus ? Have also read pros and cons about the entire urine vs foxes, situation.

Strange how silent they all are here. Have heard the yowl / bark weird noise of red foxes in England. Peacock sounds are very strange, until one gets to know that is all it is .... A reliable visitor freak out for sure. " What the haill was that" ?

Gates ?? .... I am normally a calm person, but if someone leaves a gate open - on a big property, or even on our own small area - I turn into a total she-devil. It is not pretty.

Adamant about gates being closed at ALL times. .... but then, that's just me and my half country background.

Cheers ---