Bring your "Howdy's" here!

[Punk-Rock_Chicken]

Quote:
Just blame the smell on your dog...works for me when I pee my pants!

Man, I crack myself up!!

 

[Opa]

Well as an old man that doesn't "love" his chickens I don't want to spend any time with a bird that isn't 100%. birds with crossed beaks are just to much work. They have difficulty feeding, requiring the feed to be deeper when they can move their head sideways and bill the food out. This wastes alot of feed. Quite often in spite of your best efforts they don't make it. It's better to cull them immediately. Birds are wonderful creatures but in spite of what some people this their "love" for us is based upon food. I have some really nice birds, some are calmer than others, some tolerant handling, others don't. I enjoy them for what they are and don't attach any deep feelings to them. The reality is that if you are going to raise chickens you are going to lose some.

Bluemoon you mentioned that you wondered if the turtle the dogs caught might have been a snapping turtle. Snapping turtle can retract into their shell. Nor would you have been able to pick it up safely.

 

[Punk-Rock_Chicken]

Did she send picks? You are buying them sight-unseen? Be careful!

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

I should say, I'm going to go SEE them next week. If all goes well they're coming home with me. What should I look for/stay away from?

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Quote:
Hmmm. What are the chances that this is something the chick can be alright with? I imagine, that like other deformities and disabilities, there are varying degrees? She said s/he's had no trouble so far, if this is true when would I start to see problems? I don't know... It doesn't bother me if it looks funny, as long as it's happy and not in pain. If it's not going to be a huge issue, I'm fine with it. I'll love it just the same.

 

[Punk-Rock_Chicken]

Quote:
I think Opa could answer this the best.... I'm with him though. If it's not 100%, I don't want it. I like my chickens, but I don't want one I have to give round the clock care. I think it would have a hard time competing with the other birds and not do to well.

 

[Punk-Rock_Chicken]

If it were going to be the only bird or one of two, then maybe. But if you are going to have a flock I would suggest no. Chickens (I'm learning) are RUTHLESS to each other.

 

[Bluemoon420]

Quote:
Not sure what kind of turtle it was, but it was terrified

When I was a kid I put my finger in front of a snapping turtle at Plymouth Rock (I think that same turtle is still there) on a school trip. It missed, I kept my finger. I did get yelled at by my teacher

She told my Dad when we got back, which my Dad's response was....Yeah, she likes to test limits. He told my teacher I stuck pennies in the wall outlets to see what it felt like. darn kid.

I was a handful

Bluemoon

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

I did a few searches on here and on google. It seems that a lot of people have chickens with this issue that DON'T become a big problem. They have to accomodate them with deeper feeders or food that's easier to eat, etc. Doesn't sound like a hassle to me. Maybe it will become a problem, who knows. But I think it's only fair to give this bird a good chance. If I take him/her and he/she has a limited quality of life because of this, well then I'll do the right thing by the bird. But I'm not going to jump the gun and assume the chick is miserable just because it was born a bit different. I'm a sucker for the underdog, what can I say.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Quote:
Just blame the smell on your dog...works for me when I pee my pants!

Man, I crack myself up!!

HAHA! How on earth did I miss this?!