California - Northern

[alibra]

Meet my new best friend, Roo Roo. He's a little swedish flower hen cockerel. He got a sore on his legs, so we separated him to a cage to get better, & now he likes people, not other chickens. He follows me around. He's so sweet.

 

[chiqita]

What is it with the fires?? It didn't seem so wet we should have a ton of underbrush.

My vet friend has sutured up 2 hens and one rooster ( he died right after could not walk so I figured he only had a slim chance anyway) and went to get more sutures for new girl who's tail is almost severed. This poultry pain spray I have is amazing. They are staying still for the sutures.
Tomorrow I am getting vetrynican spray and penicillin for the survivors. Ebony showed up too now.

He thinks I looks like it was a 40-50 lb dog from the wounds. I bet someone dumped one on the street today.
Thank you all for your generous offers. We are gong to build covered pens this weekend and see how safe we can make things. Then I will go from there because I never want to see that again!!!

 

[chiqita]

Meet my new best friend, Roo Roo. He's a little swedish flower hen cockerel. He got a sore on his legs, so we separated him to a cage to get better, & now he likes people, not other chickens. He follows me around. He's so sweet.

You are roo roos women's!! He is very cute!

 

[Grandmas Basket]

Thanks to all re: first egg yesterday. Even 'tho I dropped it from about a foot up, the yolk stayed intact. I was stunned at first, then amazed at how yellow and beautiful the yolk looked perched on the rocks. Hope tomorrow to have another egg and vow to carefully get future eggs inside intact.

Best wishes to all survivors, be it from predators, illness, or fires. This venue is invaluable in providing compassion and support. Being a safe place to vent is tremendous.

That Clover fire sounds menacing. The area it is burning is populated. With people trapped, it puts other fires into perspective. My DH was in Walnut Grove late this afternoon and could clearly see red glow on Mt.Diablo. Hope the weather changes soon.

I have a question about what I'm feeding my pullets. My DH is a Celiac and we have layer feed in a big auto feeder he made, so when I am away he does not have to get exposed to any possible wheat/gluten grains. I just got to thinking about his allergy to oysters. He broke out when making the oyster shell PVC feeder when handling it empty after we tested his design. The chickens scatter the oyster shell pretty well in the sand floor of their pen. I don't want DH exposed to it as he reacts fairly quickly. I am kicking myself for not thinking about this before. I go back to Santa Cruz to tend my granddaughter next week. Is there any good alternative for calcium so I can get rid of the oyster shells? Many thanks for any advice.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Quote:

that is awful!

ok, sorry for the blow by blow, but orlando ( sorry neighbors) has returned! Now if sugar comes back !
The wild turkeys are also freaked out, and the flock that lives next doors mamma is trying to find all her babies. I wonder if they got a visit too.

Yay for Orlando's return (sorry neighbors) Sounds like something terrorized the neighborhood!

I just heard from Megan. She says the fire is headed away from the ranch. The owners are still there and checking on the animals. That's good news!

Hooray for good news about Megan's ranch - I had one come close to where I lived - and I moved out shortly thereafter... I wouldn't have been able to get out if the fire went the other way.

Quote: Whoo Hoo - Keys in hand and whew!

What is it with the fires?? It didn't seem so wet we should have a ton of underbrush.

My vet friend has sutured up 2 hens and one rooster ( he died right after could not walk so I figured he only had a slim chance anyway) and went to get more sutures for new girl who's tail is almost severed. This poultry pain spray I have is amazing. They are staying still for the sutures.
Tomorrow I am getting vetrynican spray and penicillin for the survivors. Ebony showed up too now.

He thinks I looks like it was a 40-50 lb dog from the wounds. I bet someone dumped one on the street today.
Thank you all for your generous offers. We are gong to build covered pens this weekend and see how safe we can make things. Then I will go from there because I never want to see that again!!!

I am glad you figured out what did that - and its not a predator that is protected. I am sure you have already alerted animal control and all your neighbors - it sounds like that dog needs to be gotten rid of as soon as possible.

I have just returned to civilization (of the internet kind) after a two week stint of teaching in the back of beyond. Minimal cell service, no internet, amazing how you miss things that are so new to humanity. I didn't miss the traffic, or the smell of smoke every morning - but it is still good to be home again. Took two days to catch up, congrats on all the wins at shows and the first eggs. I think my Lavender AMs and Lavender/Splits may be laying, I found some green eggs and my EEs all lay blue eggs

Oh well, they are "a work in progress" still. Also came home to 5 Silkie chicks, some only days old. Silly Silkie broodies!

 

[Grandmas Basket]

What is it with the fires?? It didn't seem so wet we should have a ton of underbrush.

My vet friend has sutured up 2 hens and one rooster ( he died right after could not walk so I figured he only had a slim chance anyway) and went to get more sutures for new girl who's tail is almost severed. This poultry pain spray I have is amazing. They are staying still for the sutures.
Tomorrow I am getting vetrynican spray and penicillin for the survivors. Ebony showed up too now.

He thinks I looks like it was a 40-50 lb dog from the wounds. I bet someone dumped one on the street today.
Thank you all for your generous offers. We are gong to build covered pens this weekend and see how safe we can make things. Then I will go from there because I never want to see that again!!!

Thank you for sharing your ghastly experience. Your lessons learned could help one of us prevent a similar attack. Irresponsible pet owners are everywhere. I don't trust my own small terrier with my girls yet. Even supervised as he used to get way too focused on the birds. Now he relaxes beside their pen, but I don't trust that some instinct might kick in and then I'd fault myself should I not keep them separated. It is a bit of a pain, and I'd like to have everyone get along, but am hesitant to take any chances. Maybe with time. With no rooster, I need to fill that role LOL

 

[gryeyes]

Some folks smash egg shells instead of using oyster shell calcium.

Since your girls are just now starting to lay, they don't really need it YET. No problem in the interim.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Thanks to all re: first egg yesterday. Even 'tho I dropped it from about a foot up, the yolk stayed intact. I was stunned at first, then amazed at how yellow and beautiful the yolk looked perched on the rocks. Hope tomorrow to have another egg and vow to carefully get future eggs inside intact.

Best wishes to all survivors, be it from predators, illness, or fires. This venue is invaluable in providing compassion and support. Being a safe place to vent is tremendous.

That Clover fire sounds menacing. The area it is burning is populated. With people trapped, it puts other fires into perspective. My DH was in Walnut Grove late this afternoon and could clearly see red glow on Mt.Diablo. Hope the weather changes soon.

I have a question about what I'm feeding my pullets. My DH is a Celiac and we have layer feed in a big auto feeder he made, so when I am away he does not have to get exposed to any possible wheat/gluten grains. I just got to thinking about his allergy to oysters. He broke out when making the oyster shell PVC feeder when handling it empty after we tested his design. The chickens scatter the oyster shell pretty well in the sand floor of their pen. I don't want DH exposed to it as he reacts fairly quickly. I am kicking myself for not thinking about this before. I go back to Santa Cruz to tend my granddaughter next week. Is there any good alternative for calcium so I can get rid of the oyster shells? Many thanks for any advice.

There is an excellent substitute that you have available after your girls start laying - your own egg shells. After you crack the eggs feed the shells back to the chickens crushed up a bit. If you are concerned about them eating the eggs you can put them in the sun until they are really crunchy and mash them up smaller, they look very similar to oyster shells that way. I have fed them to my birds by just crushing the shells and have had only one egg eater, and that was because one hen was 11 years old and her shells were not thick enough any more and the egg was being crushed when the next bird went to lay an egg - so whoever that was ate the mess - but not her own or the other eggs.

 

[AlpineButterfly]

First egg, ever!!!! e Light brown. Perfectly formed. About 2/3 size of regular egg. I'm thinking this must be from my bantam Cochin. Also ready to lay are my CL and Norwegian. All 3 pullets are about 22 weeks old. I was TOO excited when I found this egg this morning in the nest box! Here's the same egg where it landed after I bumped the egg and accidentally shelled it while giving the pullets a celebratory treat. In the future, I vow to carefully carry the egg inside and put it in a carton before celebrating. My reputation as a bit of a klutz is well earned. n th

Congrats on the egg! Sorry you didn't get a chance to try it, but at least you have pictures!

 

[Grandmas Basket]

Ha ha! That would be funny to see.

I can off topic you too! I got the keys to the house today. Finally. Whew! And I hear the government changed the rules today for certain loans and you don't have to wait the two-three years after a foreclosure or short sale to buy again.

Congrats on keys in hand. When can you move in? Are you doing any work before you get in? Good luck with the move.