California-Southern

[PinkyLee]

That's good to know! Chickens float who would of thunk it.

 

[perchie.girl]

I am gonna add a big run with electric fence at my cabin. Then get a small coop for my house ... And get 4 chickens. If they don't work out I'll send them up to the cabin with my I gunieas. I don't have any place for the chickens to exercise except around the pool which is concrete. I have a little bit of dirt. Does anyone know are chickens water curious? If I let them walk the backyard will I find everyone dead in the pool from leaning over and taking a sip? I image a chicken would sink pretty fast.

Drinking water from the pool would not be good for them. I would imagine they couldnt reach it any way. BUT they do get startled for what ever reason and will flap up to get away... Where they land is important. I definately would make them a run space where if they fly up they cant get out.

Besides you dont want poo by the pool.....

I would make that run as far away from the pool as you can. One Cecal poo will convince you.

Odddly enough i found out chickens fload like ducks. You dont have to teach them they are born witb the instinct. So you may come out and have chickens swimming in your pool. I saw it on facebook the other day.

Chickens do float and can paddle long enough to get to land. But they dont float for long.

 

[PinkyLee]

Yeah who pooped in the pool??!! I was just worried if they got out or if I let them have a stroll. What's the best way to catch em? Herd them into a pen, that hook thing on their legs?

 

[Sylvester017]

Yeah who pooped in the pool??!! I was just worried if they got out or if I let them have a stroll. What's the best way to catch em? Herd them into a pen, that hook thing on their legs?

I have only 4 hens so herding my girls has been easy. A larger flock may require a 2nd or 3rd person to help surround poultry from behind and side and slowly walk behind them holding out your arms and softly saying "shoo, shoo". They'll automatically move with you behind them - works w/ chickens/ducks/geese - don't know about turkeys since we never had them. In the photo you can see some of the birds already starting to turn around as the 3 humans stand in their path getting ready to herd them. Learned this from my "farm girl" Mom in the dark skirt (late 1920's).




We never used cruel leg hooks, chicken nets, or chasing down running birds. Our chickens have come to trust our "herding" them and if they get into the garden we just open the gate and say "shoo" softly and they know to leave on their own. If one flies up onto the coop roof we approach slowly and gently take them off the roof. Some chickens are smart enough to know the places you don't want them and quickly understand their boundaries. When we had a gardener our girls would slowly meander into their run on their own initiative when they heard him start up the lawnmower. They really are creatures of habit. It takes patience to gain their trust and we have no problem with verbal commands that they've come to understand. But to each his own so whatever works for you and depending on your time and patience to work with your birds.

 

[perchie.girl]

Yeah who pooped in the pool??!! I was just worried if they got out or if I let them have a stroll. What's the best way to catch em? Herd them into a pen, that hook thing on their legs?

The best way is bribery.... and to condition them to come to a call for some sort of treat. Some people use a bell but I just holler Chick Chik Chick... and toss some scratch in the pen... Thats why to save scratch as a treat food.

The Hook is not cruel but I would only use it as a last resort. I use a walker one of those with wheels. So chasing chickens about isnt an option. I use a net when I "have" to catch one. You can buy a landing net at Walmart for about twelve bucks.

For herding the flock (in my case i had twenty or more to round up) I employ a chunk of PVC to extend my arm out. I can walk just not very fast or steady. But I walk along with the pipe extended Usually they like to keep together when one scurrys on the rest try to follow.

But by far the easiest is Bribery. Start while they are captive already.... every time you holler Chick Chick Chick or even say it.... Have some sort of treat to toss down... A little black oil sunflower seed, Scratch, Meal worms, Left over Chicken from KFC..... You never seen hilarity when a hen grabs a chicken legg and the rest try to chase her down for one. But... they will clean up a chicken or turkey carcass before you finally throw it away. Meat is Good for them.

deb

 

[sol2go]

Yeah who pooped in the pool??!! I was just worried if they got out or if I let them have a stroll. What's the best way to catch em? Herd them into a pen, that hook thing on their legs?

Lots of good advice today.

I will add even ducks sink in a pool if they get water logged, which is more likely to happen to young ones (and chickens) that can't fly back out. They will need a ramp (from a step?) to the pool deck so they can walk out. Or you chase them around with a pool net...and try to not fall in yourself. Hopefully this doesn't happen when you are packed to go to the airport...

While my chickens are carnivorous, I will add that my son who has a degree in bio-engineering advises against feeding bird meat to chickens due to possible disease transmission; he had a better term which I can't remember.

This is an old article, but who knew the industry feeds chicken "litter" to cows...
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/31/business/fi-feed31

 

[Chickalish]

I ordered and bought a bag of scratch and pecks organic cracked corn in the only available size. I am looking for someone local who'd like to split it. Half would be about $25 for 20 lbs.
I am in San Diego county.

 

[perchie.girl]

I ordered and bought a bag of scratch and pecks organic cracked corn in the only available size. I am looking for someone local who'd like to split it. Half would be about $25 for 20 lbs.
I am in San Diego county.

bag up half and keep it in the freezer... for later

 

[Phage]

 
[COLOR=333333]I ordered and bought a bag of scratch and pecks organic cracked corn in the only available size. I am looking for someone local who'd like to split it. Half would be about $25 for 20 lbs.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=333333]I am in San Diego county.[/COLOR]

bag up half and keep it in the freezer...  for later

X2

Wow I had no idea it was that expensive

 

[PinkyLee]

Sol2go - I just think it's weird to feed chickens - chicken. I have a question... At my lake I go to there is a sign that says not to allow your dogs to eat the raw trout. I am not sure if it's something In the slime off the fish or the water. But my question, can I feed Raw frozen trout to my gunieas ? Or can they pick at the scraps of our meal? I would think fish and fish bones would be healthy for em as a treat. My husband and I practice catch and release in the wild but sometimes when we fish the stocked lake your not allowed to throw anything back so we might have a surplus trout or two.