Consolidated Kansas

[ashncarson]

That's a tough one HEChicken because you pretty much negated any breed I have now or have had. Making sure they're chicken safe is a hard one too because there are so many breeds that will go after birds or animals if given the chance. What about a mini border collie, they usually do all right with animals, they do try to herd them usually though. You're right about Terriers, I have a Yorkshire Terrier I could never trust among my birds. They were actually bred to catch rats on ships. I would just go to the AKC web site & read about breeds & see what you can come up with.

Yeah for sure not a yorkie, as mine is as well (possible a mix) but we did learn this week that he HATES water guns He will now come in the house when he is called!

 

[lizzyGSR]

Just because you said bladder I would stick with the guess of a boy. I still think I'd do better in person. I had a doctor tell me once that due to heart rate I was having a boy. It was my second daughter. That was before ultrasounds. Either way I am sure it will be a wonderful sweet baby and I can't wait to see pictures. Speaking of pictures. Where are the final nursery ones??

Ummm... Well, I don't have any. Mainly because the nursery isn't finished yet. The dresser that we plan to use to store things hasn't been cleaned up and painted yet. Until it gets cleaned up and painted, the rest of the room is in major disarray. There are still a couple of pieces of the nursery set that I"d like to make, but the organizing of the nursery (and packing of bags) needs to come first...

So much to do!

 

[HEChicken]

Some feed questions.... my six oldest birds are now clear of the 18 week hurdle, so I can put them on layer rations (according to my Chickens for Dummies book).

However, my three new birds are younger, the two barred rocks are around 16 weeks, and my legbar is only 12 weeks. If I put two kinds of feed out will they naturally pick the right kind? From what I've read, I don't want the younger girls on layer rations yet. True?

I saw elsewhere that I can leave them on grower feed and put our extra sources of calcium (was that it?) for them. I've had oyster shell out for them in a separate container for the past month. Somebody is eating it as it goes down pretty consistently. Is this the best option? Does it hurt my older girls to be doing the grower feed with oyster shell?

I know it's not ideal to have different ages like this but it's what I've got and I'm trying to figure out the best way to take care of all of them. Right now, they're separate, but in a week or two I'll start the integration process. I guess worse case scenario is I don't rehome the new birds and let them keep sleeping in the shed till they all hit the 18 week age. That would be mid-November. I don't mind letting them out each morning and putting them up each evening, but I was really liking the auto-door that did all that.

Oh goodness. About the only time I don't have a mixed flock is at the end of winter, before I've started hatching for the spring. When the ages are mixed, it is completely appropriate to feed grower with calcium on the side. I've been known to switch to layer when there are still a few young ones in the flock if I start getting soft shelled eggs, as it seems like they don't always partake of the extra shell like they should. I figure if only 10% or less of the flock is under-age, its not worth having the rest of them not getting what they need, so I switch then. Most of the time I am growing out some young ones for meat anyway, so it doesn't really matter if they get too much calcium when they are young since they're not going to live long anyway. In your situation, in an ideal world you would feed grower until the 12-week old is 16 weeks but if it were me I'd probably switch to layer now, since keeping them all on grower just for the one bird wouldn't be worth it to me. But there is no really wrong answer - as you go, you may change how you do things multiple times.

From my experience most small dogs are hyper and nervous...which means they would also be more aggressive toward chickens etc. I'd probably look for a small mixed breed who acts calmer and not so hyper. Sometimes the cross breeding brings out the best of both worlds.


I had a busy afternoon. Had a doctor appointment then went to visit my Dad. I have to laugh and tell. He went to the bathroom after waking up from a nap. After 30 minutes or so I had to go in to check on him. He had fallen asleep on the "thrown." He seemed in really good spirits today for a change. He was talking about women. He hasn't done that for a long time. I figure if he is doing that, by God's miracle he may live a while longer. We never expected him to be here this long. I feel so happy.

It sounds like your dad is doing great! Thanks for pointing that out about little dogs. What we have now is working so well - I should probably just stick with that. A friend of mine had to put her dog to sleep a week ago because he had cancer and I think I am mourning mode for her and that is what made me start wanting to add another to our family. But - that really doesn't make sense so I should just give it some time.

 

[HEChicken]

Danz the "baby" turkeys led me a dance tonight. I let them out for the first time and initially the RP's were bullying them but I tempted the RP's into the hoop coop and closed the door and that let the babies explore without being hassled. After an hour or so, the RP's came back out and by then were ready to let the little ones alone. So they had a great time exploring and I figured when it grew dark they would return to their pen but they seemed to know that the main coop is where they are supposed to be, except they didn't know where to find the door so kept going around and around it as the light faded. Finally, I was able to catch them one by one as they grew too confused to continue circling, and stopped to find somewhere to roost for the night. So now they are all back in their pen. I want them to stay there at night for awhile as I have gamebird starter in there for them that is 28% protein, and having purchased it, I want them to get the maximum value from it. So for now they'll still spend the majority of the day there and just come out at the end of the day. I am comforted that they seemed to understand the main coop is the place to be though - it doesn't look like transitioning is going to be that difficult.

 

[sharol]

HEChicken, my daughter has a pug who completely ignored her chickens when she had them. He would smell their butts, but never made a move to hurt them, and pugs are the original lapdogs. You have to be sure they don't overeat (or they get really fat and unhealthy), but otherwise they are really interesting little dogs. They do have some breathing issues sometimes if their noses are too short, but you can look for one (or a a cross breed like a puggle (pug/poodle) that might avoid that problem. They are pretty independent, and fairly hard to train in obedience, but a pug mix might be just the thing for you.

 

[HEChicken]

HEChicken, my daughter has a pug who completely ignored her chickens when she had them. He would smell their butts, but never made a move to hurt them, and pugs are the original lapdogs. You have to be sure they don't overeat (or they get really fat and unhealthy), but otherwise they are really interesting little dogs. They do have some breathing issues sometimes if their noses are too short, but you can look for one (or a a cross breed like a puggle (pug/poodle) that might avoid that problem. They are pretty independent, and fairly hard to train in obedience, but a pug mix might be just the thing for you.

Thanks Sharol! I never realized that's what a puggle is! And I've always been partial to poodles, so that does sound like a good fit.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

I had a rather scary weekend.  I spent most of it in the hospital.  I was out enjoying the local fall festival on Saturday when I started bleeding.  I went to the ER, and they took me to the OB ward, where I stayed until Sunday afternoon.  They kept me for observation and waited on the ultrasound tech to get back from her out-of-town trip.  I had a follow-up appointment with my doctor this morning and ended up spending most of the day in town.  Isn't it amazing how a short doctor's visit turns into an all day endeavor?!?  Anyway, Baby and I are both fine.  The doctor thinks it was a partial placental abruption, which probably fixed itself before I ever got to the hospital.  The doctors at the hospital were just being extremely cautious because it could've (apparently) been a lot worse.  However, I am now under orders to "take it easy" and to reduce my level of activity (not easy when you live on a farm and have animals to take care of).  My poor DH gets to take the slack...  The doctor thought that the chances of the placental abruption happening again were pretty low but wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could to avoid it (even though they don't know what causes them).  He also mentioned that, if it were to happen again, they would probably just go ahead and deliver Baby.  That was kind of a shock, in and of itself, because I keep telling myself I've got 5 weeks to get ready.  The doctor said that Baby could be here as early as next week.  Kinda scary!  I'd better finish getting things ready for Baby and get my bags packed for the hospital!  I was really missing my laptop this weekend when I was in the hospital...  I feel rather kind of lost without being able to hop on the internet.   

Lizzy, please take it easy for the next few weeks. Put your feet up or lay in bed on your left side. That's what I was told to do when my water broke at 34 weeks. Don't forget to stay hydrated. I had only bathroom privilege, nothing else. I managed to stall another 2 weeks for the baby. You can do it. Your baby just needs a bit more time in utero before he or she sees this beautiful world.

 

[sharol]

Thanks Sharol! I never realized that's what a puggle is! And I've always been partial to poodles, so that does sound like a good fit.

 

[ashncarson]

That would be a pugapoo to some Or to me, just a mutt, as my dogs are

 

[sharol]

That would be a pugapoo to some Or to me, just a mutt, as my dogs are

It does sound like a decent combination if it got the best of both breeds.