California - Northern

[PetRock]

I've had a rough week, but been thoroughly enjoying everyone's chicks, ducklings, coops, and stories, so thanks for the pleasant distractions!

My 7-year old Italian Greyhound was diagnosed with acute kidney failure last Tuesday and given about a month to live. Apparently her kidneys are congenitally abnormal, but up until very recently her bloodwork was looking just fine and no one had considered doing the expensive ultrasound that they discovered the abnormality with. I "rescued" her from a backyard breeder on Craigslist 4 years ago, and I'm a bit curious how much the woman knew and didn't tell me. Regardless, I've been doing all sorts of research and trying everything to extend this little dog's life. I just can't imagine coming home and not being greeted at the front door by a wagging tail! I know you're all chicken people, but if anyone has had a dog with kidney failure and knows any tricks, I'd love to hear them.

In chicken-related news, I've been awakened early the last two days by predators in the backyard pestering my chicks! (They're about...3 months old and fully grown, so not really "chicks"). Yesterday I heard some clucking and peeked out to see a cat in the yard, which my tiniest Sebright hen was walking TOWARDS with murder in her eyes. Kayle is the pluckiest little thing, honestly. I sprinted out to intervene in pajamas and underwear, clapping and yelling. Good thing none of the neighbors were up early to see! This morning I heard my chickens complaining before I even let them out of their coop for the day, and kind of rolled my eyes as I peeked out the window, thinking the chicks were being a bit dramatic for 7 am. There were two MASSIVE crows hopping circles and flying around the coop, totally terrifying my babies! Of course, I had to run back out and chase them off in my pajamas again. I swear, if there is a raccoon or a snake or something out there at 7 am tomorrow morning, I won't even be surprised. It's just been that kind of week.

So sorry that you have had a rough week and that your poor dog has such serious health problems.

We had 2 crows land in our trees a couple of days ago. All the birds froze in place including the 5 week old chicks. Has anyone had crows go after chicks? I actually like having the crows around. I have never seen them land in our yard but have seen them tag team hawks and drive them away from the area.

We had our first wild predator attack a few nights ago. I shut the girls up a little early because they were all in the coop already. At least I thought they were all in there! At 1:30 in the morning, we heard a chicken scream and loud, frantic clucking. Our bedroom window is the closest window to the coop. DH jumped out of bed and saw a chicken run from the side yard to the closed run. I ran out in the yard and found one of my Speckled Sussex by the side of the run. This particular bird was broody raised and an excellent forager. Unfortunately, she forages by herself all over the yard and is usually one of the last birds to go into the coop at night. She was very upset to say the least but a quick check just showed some missing feathers. I stuffed her in the coop and went back to bed. In the morning, I noticed that she was missing her tail feathers. She was acting off that day so I checked her closer and parted her feathers all over. She had a bald spot on her back where I guess her tail feathers were and 2 gashes right above that underneath her back feathers. One was deep and still open. I put Vetericyn on the wound and the next day, it was looking much better and she was back to acting almost normal. We have lots of wild critters that roam through our neighborhood at night. We have had raccoon, skunks, and opossums in our back yard. I am guessing that one of those got her while she was sleeping. So, Skittles is one lucky girl and I think that she has learned her lesson. She is getting into the coop way early in the evening and not ranging far and wide by herself!

 

[HighNDryFarm]

I've had a rough week, but been thoroughly enjoying everyone's chicks, ducklings, coops, and stories, so thanks for the pleasant distractions!

My 7-year old Italian Greyhound was diagnosed with acute kidney failure last Tuesday and given about a month to live. Apparently her kidneys are congenitally abnormal, but up until very recently her bloodwork was looking just fine and no one had considered doing the expensive ultrasound that they discovered the abnormality with. I "rescued" her from a backyard breeder on Craigslist 4 years ago, and I'm a bit curious how much the woman knew and didn't tell me. Regardless, I've been doing all sorts of research and trying everything to extend this little dog's life. I just can't imagine coming home and not being greeted at the front door by a wagging tail! I know you're all chicken people, but if anyone has had a dog with kidney failure and knows any tricks, I'd love to hear them.

I'm so sorry about your bad news. Wish I could offer something, I'd go with the vitamins recommended.

So sorry that you have had a rough week and that your poor dog has such serious health problems.

We had 2 crows land in our trees a couple of days ago. All the birds froze in place including the 5 week old chicks. Has anyone had crows go after chicks? I actually like having the crows around. I have never seen them land in our yard but have seen them tag team hawks and drive them away from the area.

We had our first wild predator attack a few nights ago. I shut the girls up a little early because they were all in the coop already. At least I thought they were all in there! At 1:30 in the morning, we heard a chicken scream and loud, frantic clucking. Our bedroom window is the closest window to the coop. DH jumped out of bed and saw a chicken run from the side yard to the closed run. I ran out in the yard and found one of my Speckled Sussex by the side of the run. This particular bird was broody raised and an excellent forager. Unfortunately, she forages by herself all over the yard and is usually one of the last birds to go into the coop at night. She was very upset to say the least but a quick check just showed some missing feathers. I stuffed her in the coop and went back to bed. In the morning, I noticed that she was missing her tail feathers. She was acting off that day so I checked her closer and parted her feathers all over. She had a bald spot on her back where I guess her tail feathers were and 2 gashes right above that underneath her back feathers. One was deep and still open. I put Vetericyn on the wound and the next day, it was looking much better and she was back to acting almost normal. We have lots of wild critters that roam through our neighborhood at night. We have had raccoon, skunks, and opossums in our back yard. I am guessing that one of those got her while she was sleeping. So, Skittles is one lucky girl and I think that she has learned her lesson. She is getting into the coop way early in the evening and not ranging far and wide by herself!

I think the crows are more interested in the food then the chickens and I agree they usually chase off the hawks because they usually have a nest.

I've also locked the straglers out before! I'm glad she's doing OK. It can be pretty traumatic for them when they come that close to a predator. I had one chicken lay a egg without a shell the next day and she wouldn't come out of the coop without me right there for a week.

 

[ronott1]

I've also locked the straglers out before! I'm glad she's doing OK. It can be pretty traumatic for them when they come that close to a predator. I had one chicken lay a egg without a shell the next day and she wouldn't come out of the coop without me right there for a week.

Crows are more of a scavenger--I would not worry about them.

My biggest problem lately has been rats. They are very bad this year. I finally have them under control now.....

 

[HighNDryFarm]

OK, so my eggs are going into lockdown today and I go over to remove the turner and prepare to do my thing and there's a FLY in the incubator!!!!! Yesterday I saw one flying around and land on the incubator and within a second, found the little tiny air vent!! This vent is the size of the head of pencil eraser! I opened the bator and shooed it out and then find it inside again today! With this weather changing so much it's brought a crop of flies! YUCK! All those germs on my eggs!

 

[debs_flock]

All of my coops are dirt floor with wire over to protect from predators and then more dirt and straw on top. But I want raised houses when we rebuild them all very soon. The linoleum is a good idea but don't they slip?

As said by others, I keep a deep layer of pine shavings over the vinyl and change it out 1-2 times per year (and by I, I mean DH, that's why he gets away with the poor shopping skills, LOL).

I'm thinking 2 girls and 2 boys? I have one that is really dark, and that is reddish brown, and two golden brown.

I was going to say Jason would be the expert, but looks like three boys and a girl to me.

I've had a rough week, but been thoroughly enjoying everyone's chicks, ducklings, coops, and stories, so thanks for the pleasant distractions!

My 7-year old Italian Greyhound was diagnosed with acute kidney failure last Tuesday and given about a month to live. Apparently her kidneys are congenitally abnormal, but up until very recently her bloodwork was looking just fine and no one had considered doing the expensive ultrasound that they discovered the abnormality with. I "rescued" her from a backyard breeder on Craigslist 4 years ago, and I'm a bit curious how much the woman knew and didn't tell me. Regardless, I've been doing all sorts of research and trying everything to extend this little dog's life. I just can't imagine coming home and not being greeted at the front door by a wagging tail! I know you're all chicken people, but if anyone has had a dog with kidney failure and knows any tricks, I'd love to hear them.

In chicken-related news, I've been awakened early the last two days by predators in the backyard pestering my chicks! (They're about...3 months old and fully grown, so not really "chicks"). Yesterday I heard some clucking and peeked out to see a cat in the yard, which my tiniest Sebright hen was walking TOWARDS with murder in her eyes. Kayle is the pluckiest little thing, honestly. I sprinted out to intervene in pajamas and underwear, clapping and yelling. Good thing none of the neighbors were up early to see! This morning I heard my chickens complaining before I even let them out of their coop for the day, and kind of rolled my eyes as I peeked out the window, thinking the chicks were being a bit dramatic for 7 am. There were two MASSIVE crows hopping circles and flying around the coop, totally terrifying my babies! Of course, I had to run back out and chase them off in my pajamas again. I swear, if there is a raccoon or a snake or something out there at 7 am tomorrow morning, I won't even be surprised. It's just been that kind of week.

I don't have an answer for you, just wanted to say how much I loved my Iggies when I was showing them.

And it's amazing how EVERYTHING thinks our chickens are dinner.

When my son was showing in 4H, he had a bird escape while we were prepping for the fair. The next morning at daylight that chicken showed up on the deck off my bedroom door. I didn't want to have it disappear again, so ran out to herd it into the house through my open door. I can still picture me doing it.............PJ's and undies would have been great covering.................that was not how I had been sleeping, LOL Good thing we were in the country with NO neighbors!

Quote:
I do have a few girls growing out from the last hatch and five eggs in lockdown right now (plus the chick that hatched yesterday).

 

[PetRock]

Crows are more of a scavenger--I would not worry about them.

My biggest problem lately has been rats. They are very bad this year. I finally have them under control now.....

How did you take care of the rats? I went out in the backyard last night at around dusk and something scurried under the wood pile. It was bigger than a mouse and scurried so I'm thinking rat. We do have roof rats in this area. I smelled skunk a couple hours later but I'm not sure if skunk scurry?!

 

[debs_flock]

OK, so my eggs are going into lockdown today and I go over to remove the turner and prepare to do my thing and there's a FLY in the incubator!!!!! Yesterday I saw one flying around and land on the incubator and within a second, found the little tiny air vent!! This vent is the size of the head of pencil eraser! I opened the bator and shooed it out and then find it inside again today! With this weather changing so much it's brought a crop of flies! YUCK! All those germs on my eggs!

Despite our best efforts, I'm sure they're pretty germy when they go into the incubator to start with. And they've had nearly three weeks to get a good culture going under optimal conditions. The fly would annoy me too though.

The flies have been terrible, I think I'm going to try the Fly Predators. We have just too many animals, the fly traps aren't doing it this year.

 

[ronott1]

How did you take care of the rats? I went out in the backyard last night at around dusk and something scurried under the wood pile. It was bigger than a mouse and scurried so I'm thinking rat. We do have roof rats in this area. I smelled skunk a couple hours later but I'm not sure if skunk scurry?!

I tried traps--no joy...

. I tried a bate that is vitamin D based and causes a toxic overload and is not poisonous if the dead rats are eaten....They did not eat it.

. I bought a rat zapper and it works but too slowly....Only get one every couple of days. I finally picked up Tomcat liquid bait. It is a second generation Anti-coagulant and rats cannot resist drinking it! It is listed as a Medium dangerous poison and is slightly toxic if the rat is eaten. It can be treated with vitamin K so is not as bad as the worst one--that one has not treatment. I put out a little cup in a place that cats can't get to it and they were drinking a cup a day of it....

. I do have to make sure the rats do not die where the chickens can get them. I also take the feed in at night and have all the feed in covered trash cans. I should be able to keep them under control with the Rat Zapper now.

 

[Parkmule]

Crows are more of a scavenger--I would not worry about them.

My biggest problem lately has been rats. They are very bad this year. I finally have them under control now.....

I have watched crows and ravens hunt squirrels and they will happily take a chick. They are not hunters, but they will grab what they can.

 

[MossyoakLane]

Crows are more of a scavenger--I would not worry about them.

My biggest problem lately has been rats. They are very bad this year. I finally have them under control now.....

We have never had rats before this year.. This year....we are seeing them during daylight hours! I thought it was because our neighbor behind us finally cut back their jungle of a yard after 8 years. Maybe it's just a bad year for them.

How did you take care of the rats? I went out in the backyard last night at around dusk and something scurried under the wood pile. It was bigger than a mouse and scurried so I'm thinking rat. We do have roof rats in this area. I smelled skunk a couple hours later but I'm not sure if skunk scurry?!

I was going to ask the same thing!

I tried traps--no joy...

. I tried a bate that is vitamin D based and causes a toxic overload and is not poisonous if the dead rats are eaten....They did not eat it.

. I bought a rat zapper and it works but too slowly....Only get one every couple of days. I finally picked up Tomcat liquid bait. It is a second generation Anti-coagulant and rats cannot resist drinking it! It is listed as a Medium dangerous poison and is slightly toxic if the rat is eaten. It can be treated with vitamin K so is not as bad as the worst one--that one has not treatment. I put out a little cup in a place that cats can't get to it and they were drinking a cup a day of it....

. I do have to make sure the rats do not die where the chickens can get them. I also take the feed in at night and have all the feed in covered trash cans. I should be able to keep them under control with the Rat Zapper now.

We tried traps....and caught a lizard. We just put out some of the Tomcat bait stations. The liquid makes me very nervous. I have a very small dog, and we have cats, so I chose the bait station.