Chickens don't lay eggs in trees, do they?

[denim deb]

I looked all over yesterday, and cannot find anyplace where they may be laying. So, I plan on working on the "roof" today. I'm going to be putting up netting to keep them from flying out, but high enough up so that they can still roost in the lower branches of the oak. And, as soon as I get the chance, the new house will be made. I've seen a couple of rats in there, and I don't really want them. The calf house has a pallet for a floor, and the dumb rats dig under it. I cannot get it out, otherwise it would be gone. And, while I'm working on getting them contained, I'm going to get something I can use as a treat. I'll call them when I put it down so they get used to getting it. Then, once I'm done, I'll let them out when I'm there, then call them for their treat when I leave so I can shut them up. This way, I know I'm getting any eggs they may be laying.

 

[ssbs]

Yeah, if you've got rats under their house I guarantee thats where your eggs are going.

 

[denim deb]

I saw a rat today. It ran out of their pen, into a large stack of round bales.

I did get some BOSS today to see how my birds like it. They're not sure, but my horse sure does love it!

 

[denim deb]

I am NOT very happy right about now. One thing I had noticed about the other chickens on the farm was that, given a chance, they'd lay their eggs in some small houses my friend has for her rabbits. So, I found one that wasn't being used, and put it in w/my girls. I added some hay, and a golf ball. Angel has decided that she likes this, and it's not unusual to see her in there. (No egg so far, wondering if I'll have to wait until next year to start getting eggs again.

)

Since Monday was a holiday, and I was pretty much assured of not having anyone around to bother me, I decided to spend as much time as I could putting up the netting. Quite literally, it took me hours, and I wasn't done. As mentioned, there's 2 oak trees in there, and my birds roost in one. My goal was to have the netting high enough so that they could still get into the lower branches of the tree. I did not go home on Monday until AFTER they roosted for the night. I wanted to make sure they could get in the tree, and since I had some ropes strung up for support, see if I needed to add more, or move them. I knew I wouldn't have time yesterday to do anything-I had a chiropractor and an allergist appointment in the afternoon. My plan was to finish on Wednesday.

I stopped at the farm yesterday on my way to work. I wanted to be sure that they made it out of the tree ok. Since I didn't have it finished, I was afraid that if they came out of the tree at the wrong angle, they'd land on top of the netting, and maybe get stuck in it. Wanda was down. The other 3 were having some trouble figuring it out. I was able to grab one of my girls, and get her down. The other flew down into the pen, and Ralph ended up outside. So, I went and chased him around for a couple of minutes until I was able to grab him, and put him in. But, I was pretty sure that w/how I had it set, they would NOT be able to get out, so I went to work.

I got back to the farm at just shortly b4 noon. And I cannot even begin to tell you how upset I was. There in MY chicken pen is the other woman who owns hens. (I'll call her NLK) She is under the impression that she needs to feed my chickens since Wanda has a severe crooked beak. I DON'T NEED HER TO DO THIS!!!!!! I am capable of caring for my own chickens. She's heavier than I am, and since I didn't have the netting all done, it was hard to open the gate. I'm 125 lbs, and had no problem getting in the pen. She's around 250, and couldn't get in. So, she TOOK DOWN ALL OF MY NETTING!!!!!!! I was livid. Not only did she take it down, but she also moved ropes, and started putting the netting back up the way SHE thought it should go. She never asked me. I was hot. Not only did she take it all down, but since she didn't have the time to put it up the way that she thought it should go, she just left it on the ground. B4 I left, I took down everything that she put up. I put it all in my truck, as well as the rest of the netting that I had. I now have to start all over again. So, today, instead of finishing it like I had planned, I have to start all over again.

 

[bywaterdog]

You are way too nice, I would have accused her of stealing my chickens eggs. Perhaps that would have upset her enough to stay away.
Did you tell her to MYOB?

 

[denim deb]

Quote:
I know she's not stealing my eggs because she's getting eggs from her chickens. But, I did tell her that she does not need to feed my chickens. She is under the impression that she's "helping" me. But, if she really wanted to help me, there is plenty of other stuff that needs to be done. And, I've told her b4 about stuff that needs to be done. She doesn't do it.

It's like ever since she lost her horse (no job, chose to rehome her horse instead of getting any job she could to pay for her), she's more interested in the chickens.

I am about to the point of making some major changes. I have 3 horses. I don't pay my friend (UL) any money for having them there. Instead, I do basic care for a certain number of her horses . It is cheaper for me than doing self care any place else, and UL is happy w/the arrangement. NLK is supposed to help w/the care in exchange for being allowed to ride. The horses have a run in, instead of stalls. But, that still needs to be cleaned out from time to time. Plus, since the pastures are a bit small, to control flies and parasites, I try to keep the pastures picked the best I can. All of this I could use help on. But, NLK is not doing any of that. Quite truthfully, I honestly don't know what she does do while I'm at work besides going over in another pasture and playing w/the 3 foals on the property.

So, I have decided that I am going to start cleaning a certain area of the farm weekly. This is an area that I can close off if need be. The run in has 2 sides to it. This side is almost set up as stalls, and it wouldn't take much for me to make it into stalls, plus I'd be able to have it so that no horse gets stuck in a stall in case on of my horses decides to go for another one of them. I have it all figured out, and will start on that next week. And, if NLK does not start to pull her weight, I will close my 3 horses in there. I will start paying UL money, and do self care for my guys. Then, if NLK wants to care for the others, she can and she can keep that area as clean as she chooses. I'm about done.

 

[denim deb]

Well, she apologized yesterday. She left me a note. But, even w/her apology, she doesn't admit that I have the right to do things my way. She wasn't happy that I took down what she did and thinks that I should have called her to discuss ideas. Not going to happen. Plus, she's moved more of the ropes around.

I was going to work on it yesterday, but didn't for a couple of reasons.

1. I cut my finger on a chainsaw at work yesterday. While it's not too bad (didn't need to go to the ER), it is painful, and I would have had trouble doing the netting like this.

2. The netting is easier to work w/straight from the roll-instead of having it in a crumple heap like she left it. I don't have enough left to start all over, and they didn't have any left in the TSC closest to me. So, I have to run to another one today.

3. I didn't have enough time to finish it all anyway. And, there was no way I was going to leave it partially done. I'll work on it Sunday and Monday cuz I know she won't be out then. Then, when she gets there on Tuesday, she'll be presented w/a finished project.