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

[Anniebee]

My 'cat door' is just a very holy screen door. We used to leave it open, but all the chooks and Regina duck would just come in and trash the place...I put up a cardboard barrier which stopped Gina but not the chooks, so started leaving the door shut and the cats learned to jump through a hole in the fly screen. Im thinking the door must have been open a bit, because Im sure she's too fat to jump through the hole. That moment when I went to roll over to settle the possible 'cat' or 'kid' into a more comfortable position and felt claws digging into me is etched into my mind! I have also been thinking about how she found me and decided that was the spot to be....Doesnt matter which kid it is, they all find and jump on mum.

It never ceases to amaze me, how animals and birds can be so darned clever and inventive, when they want - what they want. !!!

I think they can actually, teach us hoomans a thing or three.

 

[Anniebee]

By bringing in another bird you bring in the risks of disease as well. Unless you plan to quarentine it for 6-8 weeks like you would any other new addition to the flock.

I would be pretty wary of anybody that didn't care enough about keeping their own flock safe from disease to be happy to "lend" you one.

Thank you appps .... that pretty much answers my question. ... Did not consider the possible introduction of disease to a flock of hens, from outside sources.

Easier to check the entire health of a stallion or bull, than it is to check a rooster.

Animals are animals - with ( hopefully ) fairly good health when offered for pro-creation - -- birds are very different, and fall much more easily prey to nasties to be introduced.

Thank you ..............

 

[Anniebee]

By bringing in another bird you bring in the risks of disease and pest such as lice and mites as well. Unless you plan to quarentine it for 6-8 weeks like you would any other new addition to the flock.

I would be pretty wary of anybody that didn't care enough about keeping their own flock safe from disease to be happy to "lend" you one.

Which is why buying fertile eggs is so popular and putting those under your hen instead. Bought eggs don't need to go in an incubator, I'm using one along with my broody as she is a bit of a runt lol and only just covers 5-6 eggs so it's somewhere for the rest of the dozen.

I know I am being difficult - -- but in buying fertile eggs - from an unknown rooster / hens source .... isn't that a bit of a risk ? With possible inherited nasties genetically ?

IF ( big IF at this stage ) I were to try hatching some new chicks for my tiny chicken farmlet out there, I think I would have to risk disobeying the Council - and get a rooster of good quality ( by reputation of the breeder ) ... kept separate to make sure he is the goods ( not sure if that would work though ) .... and then let him at my hens, broody or not. As long as they were squatting.

Then again, one doesn't know if an acquired rooster, ( and apparenty there are plenty of roosters available ) is going to be a brute, or a gentle caring boy who protects his flock.

The entire breeding, laying, hatching, broodys to use ( hopefully ), incubator options, fascinates me.....

I admit unashamedly, that I am reading all that is on BYC on this subject, with a view ..........a very distant view, admittedly, to having some new wee chicks one day..

Cheers again ...........

 

[MyHaven]

Fox about again

We all know foxes don't just go away, but I was surprised at 4.30 this morning to actually hear one. I heard it and didn't believe it - went out on the deck and heard it call clearly four times. It's hard to say but it sounded a street or so away. This is in the suburbs!! I'm going to fortify further - more steel. And bring them closer to the house. I know since it had a win weeks ago it will be back.

Of course the council Fox Manager wasn't at work at 4.30am.

I thought I might just let you all know they are still about as we can all forget the dangers of predators in the city sometimes.

 

[MyHaven]

Question ??? .... is it possible to ' hire ' a rooster to cover your laying chickens ?  .... Much the same as a stallion can be brought to a mare, for mating ? or vice versa.   

I only ask, as I am still considering one day having little chicks.    But can not have a rooster here - ( not permitted by council ).   Would  prefer to have a hen covered and produce fertile eggs, than do the incubator bit.

Does anyone know if this happens, or is possible ????

 

People on gumtree rent out there roosters. You'd have to check your area and the rooster.

 

[satay]

I know I am being difficult - -- but in buying fertile eggs - from an unknown rooster / hens source  .... isn't that a bit of a risk ?   With possible inherited nasties  genetically ?  

IF ( big IF at this stage ) I were to try hatching some new chicks for my tiny chicken farmlet out there, I think I would have to  risk disobeying the Council - and get a rooster of good quality ( by reputation of the breeder )  ... kept separate to make sure he is the goods ( not sure if that would work though ) .... and then let him at my hens, broody or not.  As long as they were squatting.  

Then again, one doesn't know if an acquired rooster, ( and apparenty there are plenty of roosters available  ) is going to be a brute, or a gentle caring boy who protects his flock.

The entire breeding, laying, hatching, broodys to use ( hopefully ), incubator options,  fascinates me.....

I admit unashamedly, that I am reading all that is on BYC on this subject, with a view ..........a very distant view, admittedly,  to having some new wee chicks one day..

Cheers again ........... 

I think buying eggs is a far safer option. With either eggs or a rooster there could be something genetically that does not show up til the chicks are born. I guess like humans you don't really know the things that could occur til you put two together. I have done both get a new roo and buy eggs, I am lucky having the space to keep new roos away from the rest of the flock. I watch them every day for any signs of illness and I would only get a new roo from someone I have met before and have seen their flock.

 

[satay]

Was interested in the comment to never wash the eggs. ....  

I realise that is for hatching good, healthy chicks and I understand that completely.  

 But - as far as eggs to be eaten ?? 

Despite the fact that I remove litter, and replace straw in their weird nesting area ( their choice btw )  .... I often find a 'dirty' egg ... from whatever.   ( I refuse to talk about chook woopsies again ).

Obviously, I cannot put eggs that are dirty into the refridgerator --- for health reasons.    So I wipe them with water soaked kitchen towelling, take off the nasties to have a nice clean egg, label the date laid and put them in the fridge.    I know I am removing the protective coating they spray - for the benefit of 'perhaps' eggs that are fertile.   Is that not advisable for edible eggs, as well ? 

If this is not a good thing to do for edible eggs, what else can I do ?     

I wash any dirty eating eggs.

 

[satay]

Ok here goes .... anyone here like mysteries ??? 

I lock my 3 chickens up between 5 and 7 pm at night.   All cool.
This evening, I go out and find Mindys' coop closed and locked  and no Mindy in there ????    BIG PANIC      


So, of course, my first thought was that hubby had just shut and locked the coop without checking if she was in there before hand  .... Grrrr     ... but he had not been near the coop --- whatsoever.   ... and I believed  that, considering the uproar over Miss Ruby dog tucking into chook offerings from their free ranging.   ( chookie things, not good for dogs, so I have been advised by a Vet nurse ).  Those 'delights' would not have taken Miss Ruby  or hubby anywhere near that coop.   Action all out in the garden.  

Found the poor wee darling Mindy lodged between two trees and settled for the night.???    Thing is, I open both coops for my chickens each day, and attach a thick rubber car-top elasticised band with hooks, to keep the doors open  ( in case of high winds that could slam them shut  ).  Which I did as normal this morning.  Something I do despite weather forecasts.  Wind might slam a door shut, but would not lock the bluddy thing.  
 
This evening, found not only the coop door closed, but the latch lock closed up tight.  So ( presumably ) poor little Mindy had been unable to feed and water herself before going to bed for the evening.   ( she always goes to bed with a full crop ).  Fixed that after I found her, by leaving all outside lights on, so's she would at least feed and drink.   And she was happy - and eventually roosted.  

So - ok - who has been in our back garden ?     .... ( both of us, from now on, will make sure the padlock is on the side gate at all times when it is not being used as access ) !! 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thing is, early this morning ( 1 a.m. ) an alarm was going off in the neighbourhood ... and no-one could find its' source, initially..    Several people out looking - fearfullly loud and insistent.  .   Finally, hubby and another neighbour found a smoke alarm - sitting in the middle of another neighbours' garden going off its' face. .... What could have set it off out there ?    And how could it continue without smoke ? ( they usually cut off when the smoke stops ).   A high grade smoke alarm too - which is no longer operative  !!!!!  ( not explaining that ).  

I suggested we advise the police.   Funny words from hubby " yeah, right - let's call the police to find out who locked Mindy out of her coop and who dropped a smoke alarm to go off in someone's mid garden last night " ?  ... which I had to laugh at ( although I was still upset ).  

Way too much weird stuff around here - much strange stuff been going on for ages.  

We are currently thinking about moving. !!!   

That is odd anni. But really creepy if someone has been in your back yard.

 

[satay]

So I've just youtubed candling and pretty sure ill be fine with that, looks simple enough after watching a few different clips. My question is actually probably a silly one considering the whole process lol. How do I get each egg out from under her to do so without interrupting her and the eggs? Do i just lift her up and take half out, candle them, put them back and take the other half out? If i do one at a time i wont know which ive done and which i havent. And if i do them all at once shell have no eggs left!

I plan on candling for the first time at day 7 or 8. I havent read anything about when to do it tho, do does this sound ok? And then how often should i do it? Each week? Thanks

You can also down load an app for your phone called I hatch chcikens. It shows exactly what to look for depending on the day you are candling and a great way to keep records of your hatches too.

 

[appps]

I know I am being difficult - -- but in buying fertile eggs - from an unknown rooster / hens source  .... isn't that a bit of a risk ?   With possible inherited nasties  genetically ?  

IF ( big IF at this stage ) I were to try hatching some new chicks for my tiny chicken farmlet out there, I think I would have to  risk disobeying the Council - and get a rooster of good quality ( by reputation of the breeder )  ... kept separate to make sure he is the goods ( not sure if that would work though ) .... and then let him at my hens, broody or not.  As long as they were squatting.  

Then again, one doesn't know if an acquired rooster, ( and apparenty there are plenty of roosters available  ) is going to be a brute, or a gentle caring boy who protects his flock.

The entire breeding, laying, hatching, broodys to use ( hopefully ), incubator options,  fascinates me.....

I admit unashamedly, that I am reading all that is on BYC on this subject, with a view ..........a very distant view, admittedly,  to having some new wee chicks one day..

Cheers again ........... 

There are definatly risks with eggs as well. I've only ever bought or will buy from someone known to have good bio security measures in place and a good healthy flock. It's one reason I've persevered with the breeder I have rather than just grabbing some eggs off gumtree.

In my case her stock actually has better genetics than my existing ones so it's improving rather than the opposite and really any genetics faults risk is no higher than is in your existing birds or the rooster you will buy as I doubt you got a genetic work up on those too? . You just need to buy good quality eggs from a good breeder.

Councils issues with roosters is the noise. You can always try a no crow collar, a friend of my sisters is having good results so far. You just have to be prepared to get rid of it if someone complains or the collar doesn't work long term.

As for the weird stuff That's a bit of a worry. Obviously someone has decided to start playing silly buggers in your neighbourhood.

If it's a hard wired smoke alarm it will go off "I believe" because it's lost it's power connection as a warning there could be a fire causing an electrical outage.

@RodneyRooster. People candle constantly out of curiosity not any actual need. You only need to candle once around 7-10 days to get rid of any clear eggs, eggs with a blood ring or eggs that started then quit. They can be your exploders and stinkers after a few weeks.

You can then candle again on day 18 as you remove them from their cradles and lay them in the bottom of the incubator ready for lockdown and hatching a few days later. Again you are looking for anything that has obviously stopped developing earlier somewhere along the way and is dead. A lot of the seasoned incubators don't even do this second candle I believe. I'm going to mark my air sack at this last candle so I can see it's pipping in the right spot but only because I know I've got a dodgy air cell.

Any other candling is pure curiosity and serves no purpose but to quench that ;-) and possibly introduce bacteria from your hands

There is also a school of thought that has constant candling, weighing and marking of air cells all the way through. I don't "think" any of our very successful hatchers in this thread use that method??

.