EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[BantyChooks]

It's the same here if the pet is from the HS. They won't adopt out to a farm...it might mean the pet "might" go outside. So I don't support them. I've taken in a few housecats that have never seen outside and they lived a happy carefree life here. The last cat was called Casper because they never saw her in the house. She did my chores with me everyday. We loved her and she didn't bother my chicks at all.
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I don't really support humane societies either. I think they do good and have saved many animals from sad situations, but I also think they stoop to some pretty low levels to incriminate farmers that are, in fact, providing some of the best care out there for their stock.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I don't really support humane societies either. I think they do good and have saved many animals from sad situations, but I also think they stoop to some pretty low levels to incriminate farmers that are, in fact, providing some of the best care out there for their stock.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

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Oooh...I like your chicken! ANd did you steal our stay cat? The boy won't be happy if you took Steve Harvey. Dang tripster of a cat! Love to hug him...around the neck with a rope. What? Did I just say that out loud?

 

[BantyChooks]

Oooh...I like your chicken! ANd did you steal our stay cat? The boy won't be happy if you took Steve Harvey. Dang tripster of a cat! Love to hug him...around the neck with a rope. What? Did I just say that out loud?

Naw, that's my neighbour's kitty. Well-behaved around even little bantams, but a ferocious songbird murderer. Don't tell CC.

 

[Pensmaster]

Best too you, You need a place to stay come on over here...I can use help bathing chickens....

Love to come over and get the chickens ready for show.

 

[Jessimom]

We put out 1 cup of food per day for 4 barn cats. Only 2, out of our 4 cats, eat the food, and they catch mice/rats ALL the time. They don't eat them, they kill because they like to kill.
The problem I've had with barn cats if you don't offer another food source, is your chickens and small critters get tempting if they are easily accessible. I've had a barn cat kill half-grown and nearly fullsized red sex link chickens. If they get hungry, those chickens become their next target.

I have such a bad hawk problem that all my babies and bantams are FULLY enclosed. Even a small hole allowed a hawk to crawl in and kill my silkies. So, they are now secure. The teens on the other hand aren't so secure. We had a neighborhood cat come in and sit on a log and watch the hens for hours at a time. Never bothered them. Sadly, he disappeared about 6 months ago.

chicken and cats don't mix!

The folks at the pound are giving me cats that CURRENTLY live in the chicken coop. Again, they will only have access to the larger birds. Is there another reason we shouldn't mix them?



@Wickedchicken6 Hi! In all the cities surrounding me, there are thousands of wild bunnies. None that I've seen in my area though.

I've started feeding wet feed only. There is FAR, FAR less spilled on the ground. We bring in any feed un-eaten a little before dark. The hens do a good job of cleaning up after that. So, I don't think the rats are getting much food from us. But there are tons of places for them to breed. That's what I have my brother up here taking care of. He's been bringing my dog over every time he picks up a pallet or wire bale. Any rats that come out, the dog has been killing. I'm hoping the cats will actually go up in the tree where we see most of the rats.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I have such a bad hawk problem that all my babies and bantams are FULLY enclosed. Even a small hole allowed a hawk to crawl in and kill my silkies. So, they are now secure. The teens on the other hand aren't so secure. We had a neighborhood cat come in and sit on a log and watch the hens for hours at a time. Never bothered them. Sadly, he disappeared about 6 months ago.



The folks at the pound are giving me cats that CURRENTLY live in the chicken coop. Again, they will only have access to the larger birds. Is there another reason we shouldn't mix them?



@Wickedchicken6 Hi! In all the cities surrounding me, there are thousands of wild bunnies. None that I've seen in my area though.

I've started feeding wet feed only. There is FAR, FAR less spilled on the ground. We bring in any feed un-eaten a little before dark. The hens do a good job of cleaning up after that. So, I don't think the rats are getting much food from us. But there are tons of places for them to breed. That's what I have my brother up here taking care of. He's been bringing my dog over every time he picks up a pallet or wire bale. Any rats that come out, the dog has been killing. I'm hoping the cats will actually go up in the tree where we see most of the rats.

As you were saying you have more heat than cold...that's really good if wet feed works for the mess. I can't imagine bunnies would work for most people...I'm glad it seems to work here. (They're so cute) I taken note that the nearby cities have numerous rat traps out along buildings. They're SO nasty!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I use a lot of baling twine

I also use a lot of baler twine...lol.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I had a sudden death on one of my best hens I had shipped here last year. Just found her laying in the coop. Benny gave a good link for sudden death. Beats me though. Sorry for your loss.

The one black splash EE I was so excited to see that he was a rooster...flew into a wall stud and broke his neck a few weeks ago. It's so frustrating when the faves and picks die unexpectedly.

 

[Akrnaf2]

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