California - Northern

[PetRock]

I used to sprout grains for my flock. I had five large buckets. Four of the buckets had holes all up the sides for drainage. Day 1, I would soak the grains in the first bucket. Day 2, I would dump the grains into the second bucket to drain and rinse them with the hose once or twice. First bucket would be filled with fresh grains to soak. Day 3, dump the initial grain into third bucket and rinse. Bucket #1 is dumped into bucket #2 and rinsed. Fresh grains are set to soak in bucket #1. Keep repeating this process, moving the grain each day to the next bucket. On day 5, feed the now sprouted grains from that bucket.

I quit doing this because it was labor intensive, grains were slow to sprout in cold weather and tended to mold or go bad in hot weather if not rinsed many times a day. My birds didn't seem to benefit from it. They sure enjoyed the sprouts, though.

I was having problems with mold when I was trying to grow fodder with an 8 day process. With sprouting, I haven't had that problem but the process is now only 3-4 days. I don't have a large number of birds here in town so the small containers work for now. They aren't very pretty sitting on my counter next to the sink but that's okay with me. It does take 15 min twice a day to rinse them. I don't mind the morning because it is part of my routine but I don't like it when I forget at night and have to get back up to rinse grains.

 

[PetRock]

I'm so sorry about your lamb! I can't even imagine how it would feel to come upon that. I agree that a cat is probably to blame. We've had a terrible time with bobcats this year, and they are very stealthy and, I've heard, their whole idea is to do things as quickly and quietly as possible. When we lose a chicken to a coyote there's usually a commotion and a huge trail of feathers... with a bobcat not so much. We actually watched one sit by our porch and seem to analyze the situation (before Mark killed it). If it was smaller maybe it couldn't drag the lamb away? I'm not sure how big a three month old lamb is. We had both our full grown Pekin ducks taken overnight without a commotion or feather trail or anything, and the male duck was big and mean, but I suppose at night they thought they were safe in their enclosure.

We adopted a dog to try and help out with the predators during the day, but we didn't realize she was pregnant when we got her! She's wonderful. She had four puppies and two have gone off to their new homes - Zooweemama took one! Here are the two we still have. We are keeping the brindle one (Bear) and my cousin is taking Gilbert, the black one. They're such amazing dogs. It was so cool to see her give birth. We are getting her spayed, though. We think the dad was some sort of Mastiff (as does the vet).

Gilbert and Bear (this was a few weeks ago, they're 8 weeks now)


Here's mama (eta She had longer hair but we had her shaved before she delivered)

What cute puppies! And the bottom pic is adorable! I love pics of kids and their pets!

 

[alibra]

I'm so sorry about your lamb! I can't even imagine how it would feel to come upon that. I agree that a cat is probably to blame. We've had a terrible time with bobcats this year, and they are very stealthy and, I've heard, their whole idea is to do things as quickly and quietly as possible. When we lose a chicken to a coyote there's usually a commotion and a huge trail of feathers... with a bobcat not so much. We actually watched one sit by our porch and seem to analyze the situation (before Mark killed it). If it was smaller maybe it couldn't drag the lamb away? I'm not sure how big a three month old lamb is. We had both our full grown Pekin ducks taken overnight without a commotion or feather trail or anything, and the male duck was big and mean, but I suppose at night they thought they were safe in their enclosure. We adopted a dog to try and help out with the predators during the day, but we didn't realize she was pregnant when we got her! She's wonderful. She had four puppies and two have gone off to their new homes - Zooweemama took one! Here are the two we still have. We are keeping the brindle one (Bear) and my cousin is taking Gilbert, the black one. They're such amazing dogs. It was so cool to see her give birth. We are getting her spayed, though. We think the dad was some sort of Mastiff (as does the vet). Gilbert and Bear (this was a few weeks ago, they're 8 weeks now) Here's mama (eta She had longer hair but we had her shaved before she delivered)

Soooo cute!

 

[alibra]

Guess who got the stomach flu!!! Had to run out of art class!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
I'm so sorry about your lamb! I can't even imagine how it would feel to come upon that. I agree that a cat is probably to blame. We've had a terrible time with bobcats this year, and they are very stealthy and, I've heard, their whole idea is to do things as quickly and quietly as possible. When we lose a chicken to a coyote there's usually a commotion and a huge trail of feathers... with a bobcat not so much. We actually watched one sit by our porch and seem to analyze the situation (before Mark killed it). If it was smaller maybe it couldn't drag the lamb away? I'm not sure how big a three month old lamb is. We had both our full grown Pekin ducks taken overnight without a commotion or feather trail or anything, and the male duck was big and mean, but I suppose at night they thought they were safe in their enclosure.

We adopted a dog to try and help out with the predators during the day, but we didn't realize she was pregnant when we got her! She's wonderful. She had four puppies and two have gone off to their new homes - Zooweemama took one! Here are the two we still have. We are keeping the brindle one (Bear) and my cousin is taking Gilbert, the black one. They're such amazing dogs. It was so cool to see her give birth. We are getting her spayed, though. We think the dad was some sort of Mastiff (as does the vet).

Gilbert and Bear (this was a few weeks ago, they're 8 weeks now)


Here's mama (eta She had longer hair but we had her shaved before she delivered)
Adorable! They look like little bears. Mom looks like she has Great Dane in her?

Guess who got the stomach flu!!! Had to run out of art class!

Oh yuck, get some rest!

I'm battling something, don't know what it is though.

 

[tommysgirl]

I have a question about growing out cockerels. I have decided that I am going to give processing a go and will start with boys in this latest hatch if there are any. So that's not a big deal or anything since there are just three babies and I have extra space for them. But I am anticipating that in the future I will have more boys particularly if I order st. runs of chicks like I am planning to do. So I will need Camp Kenmore like Deb has and I don't know the best set up for dual purpose boys. I saw this http://www.the-design-eye.com/2013/05/40-diy-chicken-coop/ but it doesn't offer roosts or enough night time security for dual purpose boys so what do your grow out pens look like? Also what about boys of different ages? I am picturing hatches happening from March to October and boys of multiple ages living together but will that work? We don't have the space to build multiple Camp Kenmores.

Help Please!

 

[juststruttin]

Another repost from my FB page and non chicken related. I am hoping Laura @lawatt or someone might have insight on what we are dealing with. No chickens (all cooped for night) were harmed.

A horrific sight this morning, the first predator attack on our sheep. A just weaned, 3 month old lamb found with 4 puncture wounds in her throat. Tail off and internal organs ripped out internally from the rear of the body. The rest of the body left intact. The other lamb in the pen was untouched. Pen is field fenced, 4 feet high. Close enough to the house that we should have heard any commotion. What kind of animal would leave a carcass like this?

It may be a dog or a pack of dogs. We had dogs kill our sheep and goats one night. A total of 4 were killed and left intact which is why we assumed they were dogs.
Domestic dogs kill for sport not food.

We called the humane society and they confirmed that it was likely dogs and then said they think they know whose dogs did it. However, they would not divulge that info to us, nor were they willing to speak with the owners without proof. I don't understand why they told us whose dogs they suspected if they were not going to do anything about it. Ten years later and I am still steaming when talking about it.

You might want to call your local humane society to see if any of your neighbors have lost livestock. Hopefully your humane society will be more helpful than ours.

 

[PetRock]

Here is another good Pita Pinta/Austuriana article with lots of pics: http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/07E04A04.pdf

Great pics on this site too but it is all in Spanish. http://migallinero.webcindario.com/LA PITA PINTA 1995- 2003.pdf

 

[juststruttin]

I have a question about growing out cockerels. I have decided that I am going to give processing a go and will start with boys in this latest hatch if there are any. So that's not a big deal or anything since there are just three babies and I have extra space for them. But I am anticipating that in the future I will have more boys particularly if I order st. runs of chicks like I am planning to do. So I will need Camp Kenmore like Deb has and I don't know the best set up for dual purpose boys. I saw this http://www.the-design-eye.com/2013/05/40-diy-chicken-coop/ but it doesn't offer roosts or enough night time security for dual purpose boys so what do your grow out pens look like? Also what about boys of different ages? I am picturing hatches happening from March to October and boys of multiple ages living together but will that work? We don't have the space to build multiple Camp Kenmores.

Help Please!

Great design. I love how they did the corners. My brain is now buzzing as I have been planning to build a tractor for my rabbits and this looks great.

I think this type of pen is great for Cornish X since they are processed at 8-9 weeks. Not sure it will work as well for a heritage birds since they are typically processed at 4-6 months and will definitely want to roost. Perhaps you could install some low roosts so they are at least off the ground but still have a little head room.

As far a security, you could put a wire skirt around the bottom to keep animals from digging in under the panels.

I would be really surprised if you could build that tractor for $40. Hardware cloth and lumber is a fortune!

 

[Deerling]

Adorable! They look like little bears. Mom looks like she has Great Dane in her?

We've been told she is a pure German Shepard, and her size and coat would lead me to believe that is probably true. When's she's fluffy she looks much more like a GSD. She's so good with the kids, especially my two year old son. She follows him around outside and plays in the dirt with him. We think she's only about one. She was abandoned at a nearby horse ranch by one of their seasonal workers.

Deann, that is so frustrating! Maybe they mentioned it because they were also frustrated by their inability to do anything? I don't know. It would still infuriate me as well. They definitely should have. How are your current goats doing? My heart stopped for a second when you said something had killed your goats. Mark thought it sounded more like a coyote that killed the lamb, as well.