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

[Anniebee]

I've got mine out today in their little run, never thought to worry about snakes. Haven't seen any around yet.
I put a kitty litter tray full of white sand in with them. Thought they would enjoy scratching and dust bathing in it. Didn't add the DE. But instead they ate it!!! Is this normal chick behaviour? Hope they don't get sick from it . Have since removed it.

I had to laugh locknest4 .... they probably thought the white sand, might be good for some crop grinding up bizzo. ... And it well could be. Wouldn't think it would hurt them - not considering the dirt they eat, tiny stones and garbage they swallow, and other 'goodies' they find in the garden or run, which are gross !! Clean white sand ( as long it didn't have any chemicals in it for some reason ), while not exactly what you expected them to use it for, was probably a big new treat .... ah --- new FOOD !! ... They are quite hopeless.

That'll teach ya to have lovely thoughts for chicken comfort !! .... I don't think they do 'human ideas of comfort' .... my poor Miss Ruby dog was blamed for digging up a garden today --- wasn't her, it was little Mindy Araucana in a new garden bed, sun and dust bathing. Darn near ruined our tiny new rose bush. So hubby learned yet another lesson in 'chook keeping' today. !!! ( he's not exactly into chickens ) ... And now I have to protect the new rose bush for when Mindy is out and about again.

They are all so precious, gorgeous to watch ... and bluddy awful at times - aren't they ?

Cheers ........

 

[RodneyRooster]

Thanks AB, nope no theories as yet, i was actually thinking of asking a vet today so thanks, think i will! Nope no fould smell and it was thick as, tried cracking it into a glass but i wouldnt even slide out!

I agree with the sand post, long as no chemicals, should be fine itd be good grit.

As for the snake repellers yes some people swear by them and some say they dont work. We got a specific brand someone we know in queensland swear by but we honestly havent put them out (got them for last summer lol) have been meaning to this week, not sure if hubby has yet.

Ah! For those of u who dont want broodies tell them to come for vacation and teach my chooks! Lol

Hope every who has them is enjoying their little fluffballs!

 

[Anniebee]

Thanks Fancy. I really don't mind having the snake around. I will just make sure I am far more careful that he/she isn't able to get into the tractors. The snake is tiny compared to the ones I have in the house. So would not be able to eat anything bigger than a few day old Belgian. I should have had my camera out when I saw her to take a picture. She was very full on chicken.

Sorry satay ... but I simply have to ask .??? .... " the snake is tiny compared to the one's I have in the house " .... um - you have red-bellied snakes in your house ? Do you keep them as pets inside a large glass crate ? and feed them 'things' ? If so, I respect that - to each her own.

Am neither one way or the other about snakes myself - am not scared of them, but respect them, that they will defend, seek food, and bite - which can be nasty.

Although it is not permitted I know --- I would kill a brown or tiger if I found one menacing about my property, looking to kill. My Narranderra friend is utterly horrified by this thought ... and she's the one with the snake repellent electrical gadgets, to protect her hand raised joeys. I respect snakes, admire them - they do what they have to do - but when it comes to them, or me and my animals / chickens ---- its no contest. Something has to go - permanently. It would be the snake, if possible.

Anniebee ....

 

[Anniebee]

I don't understand why people would get rid of hens by throwing them over fences when it's so easy to rehome them. In my opinion people like that shouldn't be allowed to have animals, there could be dogs on the other side of the fence or a pool they could fall into.

Glad you could rehome them so quickly cwrite.

Totally agree V1cky .... something very wrong with some people. .... They should be reported, but that opens a new can of worms, doesn't it - unpleasantness in the neighbourhood.

Quite disgusting really - when there are so many ways, so many would love to have those chickens. Only takes a little time and effort.

Cheers ....

 

[devinandfeather]

 

[Anniebee]

They are beautiful ... lovely photographs ... and Mumma looks soooo happy.

Well done .....

 

[Anniebee]

To Fancychooklady .... re the possible favus my Molly RIR might have had.

To begin with, I brought her inside and wiped away as much of the gunky stuff on her comb this evening, with olive oil swabs. It had changed from scaly to sores of some kind - dark in colour.

Wiping those away ( what a job THAT was !! ) .... each tiny bit of dark scab also brought the tiniest bit of blood with it ... scabs, when removed will bleed slightly - so I am thinking she had scabs from pecks and bites from her bestest friend !!!

Will check tomorrow morning and see if the now much clearer and cleaner comb, is still entact with no further 'scarring'. Remains to be seen what Mandy does to her - overnight !!

Meantime, Molly RIR has ( I noticed today ) taken up top position again in the two hen household ... and good on her. Mandy is a renowned bully.

If there is anything further, I will go to the next step - an anti-fungal such as Canestan or Hydrozole.

Many thanks again for your help with this.

Cheers .........

 

[devinandfeather]

They are beautiful ... lovely photographs ... and Mumma looks soooo happy.   

Well done ..... 

Thanks I wonder why there are white chicks do you have any explanations

 

[Anniebee]

Thanks AB, nope no theories as yet, i was actually thinking of asking a vet today so thanks, think i will! Nope no fould smell and it was thick as, tried cracking it into a glass but i wouldnt even slide out!

I agree with the sand post, long as no chemicals, should be fine itd be good grit.

As for the snake repellers yes some people swear by them and some say they dont work. We got a specific brand someone we know in queensland swear by but we honestly havent put them out (got them for last summer lol) have been meaning to this week, not sure if hubby has yet.

Ah! For those of u who dont want broodies tell them to come for vacation and teach my chooks! Lol

Hope every who has them is enjoying their little fluffballs!

That is really really strange. I hope you can find out what the heck it was inside that egg ?? ... and let us all know. I would be very interested, myself.

Love the little fluff-balls that others show here .... I'd love to do that, but have nowhere to put them - or let them grow properly.... perhaps it is just as well, with hubby who 'does not do chooks' ... he loves to look at them - period. ( AND - he does talk to them at least !! ).

I could see him go quite crazy with all those little darlings waddling around all areas - with his entire garden made over into more chicken pens !! I think we'd have to remake a room entirely for in house chickens. Not joking.

 

[locknest4]

I've got mine out today in their little run, never thought to worry about snakes. Haven't seen any around yet.

I put a kitty litter tray full of white sand in with them. Thought they would enjoy scratching and dust bathing in it. Didn't add the DE. But instead they ate it!!! Is this normal chick behaviour? Hope they don't get sick from it . Have since removed it.

I had to laugh locknest4 .... they probably thought the white sand,  might be good for some crop grinding up bizzo.  ... And it well could be.    Wouldn't think it would hurt them - not considering the dirt they eat, tiny stones and garbage  they swallow, and other 'goodies' they find in the garden or run,  which are gross !!   Clean white sand ( as long it didn't have any chemicals in it for some reason ), while not exactly what you expected them to use it for, was probably a big new treat .... ah --- new FOOD !!      ... They are quite hopeless. 

That'll teach ya to have lovely thoughts for chicken comfort !!   .... I don't think they do 'human ideas of comfort' .... my poor Miss Ruby dog was blamed for digging up a garden today --- wasn't her, it was little Mindy Araucana in a new garden bed, sun and dust bathing.  Darn near ruined our tiny new rose bush.    So hubby learned yet another lesson in 'chook keeping' today. !!!  ( he's not exactly into chickens )   ...  And now I have to protect the new rose bush for when Mindy is out and about again. 

They are all so precious, gorgeous to watch ... and bluddy awful at times - aren't they ? 

Cheers ........ 

In our early chicken owning days we were so besotted with our chickens that we let them have the run of our property, which is 3/4 of an acre. They did their chicken dances every where, even trying (repeatedly) to get into the house (they already owned under the house). Of coarse where the chickens went so did their poop. Pretty soon we had large divots in the lawn, poo on the veranda, our outdoor table and chairs, and the veranda railing (their perching place of preference) was a mess! The crunch finally came when they really took to the rose bushes! I did read that to protect your rose bushes and rose gardens, some people get fly wire to lay around on the soil surrounding the bushes. It's blends in with the soil, let's water through and most importantly Stops the chooks scratching around the bushes. Unable to find enough for all our bushes, our chooks were soon confined to just a third of the yard, which we reckon is still pretty good going

As to the sand eating, they were really chowing into it but they all seem to have survived ok. Might hold off on giving it to them again tho. They can enjoy the dirt in the big run when they finally move out of the brooder and into the coop