Illinois...

[Molpet]

Does anyone have ideas on how to keep a dog from eating chicken feed? (I can't make the opening to the run any smaller or else the big orp roo won't be able to fit through the door.) The dog is a 65lb mix but he's athletic & agile & somehow squeezes through the chicken door. I have multiple feeders but the one getting emptied 1st is the simple bowl. When that's gone, the dog tips the auto feeder. UGH! It holds 30 lbs of feed! I had over twice the number of chickens during the summer & went through far less feed. The dog is the best hawk deterrent we have, but I can't afford for him to get sick on top of doubling our feed bill.

The Coopers Hawk moved on (for now), but I don't let the flock out unless the dog &/or I are outside. I let them stay out for a little while yesterday. Boy did they have fun! They were literally "frolicking." Flapping wings & stretching them as far out as they could go! Also running top speed (which isn't too fast b/c they're orps) & then popping up off the ground. So much fun to see them out enjoying life.

I put red pepper , the spice, in the feed..Keeps the dog out of the feed but he still eats the poops ... supposed to be good for chocks .. recommend dose is 1/4 teaspoon per bird... but less deters the dog and the chickens can't taste it..I just put a bunch in my 5 gal FF.. They sell packets for wild bird seed to keep rodents out but the human spice is cheaper usually.. I ended up buying 5lb containers from a restaurant supplier since I have too many birds to count.

Chicks are so adorable..Glad you take the chicks to schools and introduce to some potential crazy chicken people

 

[cavemanrich]

@Faraday40
Always keeping you in mind when I run across something interesting. Since your DD is into scientific methods, this may be something for her to consider as Science Project, 4H Project.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/unusual-ways-to-incubate-eggs.1212103/#post-19304958
I'm not suggesting getting a new pot, but if you can locate one from someone no longer using it, makes the project low budget.

 

[cavemanrich]

And while I'm here I would like to wish ALL HERE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40
Always keeping you in mind when I run across something interesting. Since your DD is into scientific methods, this may be something for her to consider as Science Project, 4H Project.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/unusual-ways-to-incubate-eggs.1212103/#post-19304958
I'm not suggesting getting a new pot, but if you can locate one from someone no longer using it, makes the project low budget.

Great Idea! I'm going to file that one away for future inspiration!
This year she's going to test eggshell strength of grocery store vs backyard eggs. (In other words, she's having fun building an egg-smasher. LOL)

For another project, she may decide to go further into animal training & teach a few chickens how to play piano. I'm sure it would do well at the fair & who wouldn't want to see piano-playing poultry or maybe even a "chick band"? (It depends if she gets the grant $ to pay for a used keyboard.)

And while I'm here I would like to wish ALL HERE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Is that your new coop?

 

[chickendreams24]

@Faraday40

I have a used keyboard if I can hunt up the box the cord is in. DD would be welcome to borrow it.

It's just an old little thing.

 

[Faraday40]

The Ups & Downs of our weekend:
I somehow managed to finish all the decorating, wrapping & baking yesterday. (A new first for me, since most years I'm using a hairdryer to finish my hand-painted ornaments or staying up 'til 2am Christmas Eve wrapping.) Instead of doing it all by myself, DH took Fri night & Sat off, so he could help. The kids were very worried on Fri because we didn't even have our tree up, so they were extremely helpful. LOL We don't have $ to buy many gifts this year, so my kitchen became Santa's workshop. I baked 27 loaves of bread for neighbors, teachers, & friends! (Mostly our family's traditional Stollen, but also Zucchini bread, Garden Herb bread, and Honey Butter bread.) I also baked another 6 large loaves of bread for tonight & tomorrow.

The bad news is that DD began complaining of a sore throat yesterday. She had no fever & went to dance & choir rehearsal. Last night she had a low fever with body aches & white streaks in her throat. She began vomiting around 1am and that's still going on. DS woke up with a sore throat. Guess we won't be going anywhere but the doc today. Thankfully we managed to get an appointment for this afternoon. Now I'm hoping for strep & not the flu!

Meanwhile, my poor sis fell on Thanksgiving & her hip has been getting worse. The x-ray didn't show anything broken, but now she can barely walk with a walker & cane. An MRI is scheduled for Wed. She lives with Dad, so he's been heating up TV dinners since she can't cook. We're supposed to go there tomorrow so I can cook for everyone. I'll have to wait & see what the kids have before making any plans. Dad is 89 and lives about 40 min away, so I may be cooking here & going solo. Neither one can afford to get sick.

 

[Molpet]

Glad everyone pitched in and helped.
Prayers that sis heals quickly. Good idea on keeping the kids away and not spreading it. Be sure to take nothing the kids have touched. Or consider staying home if it is the flu.

A cousin went to visit my parents in TX for a week at Christmas when she had a cold. My dad had emphysema and was on oxygen. Both parents caught the cold. My Dad died that Jan 4th from heart failure

My plans were cancelled because of a different cousin getting the flu yesterday. They had the flue shot. So it is going around

I put the thanksgiving chicks and mom in the new hoop coop last night. I figure w/ 3-5 " of snow predicted they would get lost.. they do not stay w/their mom, she was 60' away calling 'food' and I found 2 outside the 2x4 field fencing scratching away paying no attention yesterday. .. Right where the coyotes like to sit and look at the birds
I lured them into the bachelor coop and later into a pet carrier. They were not thrilled w/ me carting them a couple hundred ft to their new coop. The new coop has a large plastic pet crate in it for a nest. But it looked a lot like what they were moved in and was evil.
I heard them crying at dark.. she was up on the roost w/3 of the 8 and the others couldn't get up there. I took her and the roosts down and put her in the crate and held the door mostly closed to she would stay in but the chicks could get in... when they were in she decided to stay.. hope tonight it will go smoother.

 

[Faraday40]

they do not stay w/their mom, she was 60' away calling 'food' and I found 2 outside the 2x4 field fencing scratching away paying no attention yesterday. .. Right where the coyotes like to sit and look at the birds

.. hope tonight it will go smoother.

x2 Best to do what you can to prevent a Happy Coyote Christmas &/or chick-sicles.

My Sept 22 "chicks" are fully integrated into the flock - even though I only intend to keep ONE or none of them. It's the 2 Nov 30th chicks that have issues like yours. In my case, it's the new silkie mama. She no longer leaves them, but being at the bottom of the pecking order has its own challenges. They have a small wire cage in the inside run for safety, so they don't travel more than a few feet from it. I've been moving them into a nest box inside the coop at night. It's warmest in there. However, they're not going to it on their own at night. They do find their way back to their feed/water inside the cage each morning, but at 3 weeks, I expect them to do more.

Tried to get some pics, but they're very active.

This one below is more feisty, quick, & ventures out to steal food when I throw treats around. From hatch, I predicted female and still have that feeling.

The other one (in front) is my predicted male. Although less adventurous to wander outside of the cage without mama, he frequently stands like a male, is slightly larger, and slower to feather. Has tiny wattles developing.

Predicted female in front & male in back.

 

[Faraday40]

DH just got home with the kids. Both tested positive for strep. DD is crushed not to be able to sing tonight (10 hours of rehearsals). Poor girl can't stay awake for more than 30 min and is too sick to watch TV. (Stares at the screen but the TV is off. LOL) Fever was 101 at docs. Still vomiting! Doesn't even want to open presents.

DS is about a day behind. He's not his normal mischievous self, but does have enough strength to play on the computer and enough appetite to steal cookies. Hopefully the antibiotics will prevent him from falling apart like his sis.

Well, it will be a quiet Christmas at home for us.



From our flock to yours, Merry Christmas everyone!
(Last years' pics, since no one's looking very good right now)

 

[Molpet]

I am not sure when the barring is coming from.. none of the full BR were laying for a month when I set these eggs.. the 1/2 BR are black w/red/brown on their chest. The roo is a mix but has no visible barring, yet I am getting barred chicks.. even female barred chicks... one of the darker chicks looks like a girl. of course I couldn't get a good pic... evil camera
I can not get as close to mine...

I feel bad if I build their trust and then send them to freezer camp... felt like I betrayed the first CX, they were pulling on my shorts wanting treats when I was picking them up to 'do the deed' sure made catching them easy though.