INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ShawnaScott]

Thanks for all the comforting words

Wow! I'm sorry for your loss. All that was done while you were catching the dogs? I'm stunned that your dogs are such efficient killers. I am at somewhat of a loss for words.

If you want the SLW & GLW roos back that you gave me, you're welcome to them. They are headed to freezer camp otherwise.

Again, sorry for your loss. You must be beside yourself with grief. I saw how you were with your feathered friends.

John

Thanks John, but those dang dogs only got my hens. All three rooster boys are still alive and kicking. One of the dogs is an American Bulldog/Pit mix (I posted pictures earlier on this thread) and she and Winnie got them cornered. Most were just severely injured, which was worse.

I am so sorry for your news. We are close to you. Would you like some of my birds?

Thank you, but I'm not sure I want chickens any more. I guess I'm just being sentimental, but after hand raising them and treating them like pets, and then seeing them die...It just makes me sad.

Yes that's terrible news, Shawna.

On another note, I always love it when the MIL shows up for an unannounced inspection. Keeps me on my toes.

Also, tho, I'd have a serious talk with my MIL about these visits. One way to stop them is to open the door when an unexpected/unwanted visitor arrives. Do that naked. It will stop unwanted visitors from coming over, especially if they just walk into the house!

Oh my!

Unfortunately that doesn't deter my MIL...I don't turn on the AC until it reaches 90 outside, so for the first part of the summer I mostly go around in a t-shirt and underwear. She will come over and then ASK ME to put on clothes. Like I should be ashamed to go about my house in that. I did have Zach have a talk with her about letting us know when she is coming so I can secure the dogs. She let me know that she "feels unwelcome" and "won't be coming back."

 

[Mother2Hens]

Quote: I have 2 we can donate. Roosters, that is.
"I keep pitchin' 'em, and you keep a-missin' 'em. Right over your head, boy."

Free rooster to anyone who knows who I'm quoting. Or maybe a free egg. Your choice.

John, Your flock prepared a special dessert for YOU to eat in honor of 10,000 posts: Dumpster Donuts!
Originally Posted by ShawnaScott
I have sad news to report. We got chicken wire up to prevent any more chicken Houdini's from escaping during the night, and we have been working on getting a temporary run/fence. In between those times we were letting the dogs out on a cable. Today my MIL came over unannounced and let one dog out, and as I scrambled to get her in before she took after the chickens, MIL came out and let a second dog out. I lost half my flock.

Shawna, What a horrible experience! -- for the chickens and for family harmony. So sorry for everyone.
TooFast~ Ah say Ah say, always loved Foghorn Leghorn! And my EE is named Roadrunner for obvious reasons.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Shawna posted: Thank you, but I'm not sure I want chickens any more. I guess I'm just being sentimental, but after hand raising them and treating them like pets, and then seeing them die...It just makes me sad.

Shawna, I felt like that when on the same weekend my Lavender's leg was injured and my BR had scaly leg mites. Although that's MUCH less traumatizing than your experience, I was feeling like chickens just have too many things that can go wrong. If I would have read my Chicken Health book before we got chickens a year ago, I'm sure we would not have chickens today. It definitely is more difficult when they are pets. However, when I look back over the past year, my chickens have brought me so much joy. As I mentioned before, I am outside with them every day no matter the weather and as a result, my mental and physical health has improved. Having chickens has also opened up a whole new world of learning about farm animals, farm to food, and different types of people. Everyone is different and has their own pros and cons, but I decided the the benefits of chickens outweighed the risk of dealing with illnesses, injuries, or tragic endings.

P.S. I was trying to think-- A couple of months ago, were you the one who had the humorous (to the readers) accounts of your MIL telling you that you shouldn't still have chicks in the house, etc., etc. as though she was a chicken expert?

Old Salt~ Since you inquired-- jchny is the one who will be doing the fermentation demo. She had explained it a while back, maybe before you joined.
jchny's Fermented Feed Instructions: go to Page 112 Post 1120
I'll be happy to see the process in person at the racinchickins event.

 

[irtehun]

does anyone on this thread Barnevelder chickens? They have become my wife's new obsession.


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[ShawnaScott]

Shawna posted: Thank you, but I'm not sure I want chickens any more. I guess I'm just being sentimental, but after hand raising them and treating them like pets, and then seeing them die...It just makes me sad.

Shawna, I felt like that when on the same weekend my Lavender's leg was injured and my BR had scaly leg mites. Although that's MUCH less traumatizing than your experience, I was feeling like chickens just have too many things that can go wrong. If I would have read my Chicken Health book before we got chickens a year ago, I'm sure we would not have chickens today. It definitely is more difficult when they are pets. However, when I look back over the past year, my chickens have brought me so much joy. As I mentioned before, I am outside with them every day no matter the weather and as a result, my mental and physical health has improved. Having chickens has also opened up a whole new world of learning about farm animals, farm to food, and different types of people. Everyone is different and has their own pros and cons, but I decided the the benefits of chickens outweighed the risk of dealing with illnesses, injuries, or tragic endings.

P.S. I was trying to think-- A couple of months ago, were you the one who had the humorous (to the readers) accounts of your MIL telling you that you shouldn't still have chicks in the house, etc., etc. as though she was a chicken expert?

Old Salt~ Since you inquired-- jchny is the one who will be doing the fermentation demo. She had explained it a while back, maybe before you joined.
jchny's Fermented Feed Instructions: go to Page 112 Post 1120
I'll be happy to see the process in person at the racinchickins event.

Oh yes, that have been me. My MIL has too many opinions for her own good. Or, rather, for my own good. Or my chicken's good. When she let out the two dogs yesterday, I almost got them back in. Winnie will listen if I use my "angry voice" but he has to know I'm not playing. So he'll lay down, but he'll still be wiggling and happy, but if I continue to point, he'll submit and come. But if I go towards him while he's still in "wiggle butt" mode, then he'll think I'm playing and run. He was laying down, but MIL apparently thought I wasn't doing a good enough job and said "Oh I'LL just get him in for you" and walked toward him.....then he ran.

I may end up getting more chickens, I do really enjoy having them, but I go on my honeymoon in 13 days and then I'll be gone for about a week, so I should hold off on introducing any new to my flock.

 

[pbirdhaven]

its not great having the never ending project looming over our heads, lol. I'm just so happy we can get to the business of just watching the chickens soon and playing in the garden.

Dream on! There's always a project with chickens!

 

[pbirdhaven]

Shawna, so tragic! It's hard when we get attached to them and lose them. I don't know who I would mutilate first, but probably the MIL before the dogs. Dogs are predators and chickens are prey animals, but MILs can be......

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I'm really sorry about your dog and hen. Is it possible that she will be ok even though she is laying interenally?

Unfortunately, internal laying can't be fixed. It's a glitch in their reproductive system that can't be reversed once it begins. All I can do is put off the inevitable. She is not my first internal layer and is further convincing me to get away from the more production bred breeds. I've already sworn off of sexlinks because I have lost five or six to internal laying. :/



If anyone wondered, we switched my dog to soft food under the suspicion that her teeth were hurting too much to eat hard food, and she's actually seeming a bit better now with food in her system. I still don't have high hopes about her prognosis, as she has always had problems stemming from being born with deformed kidneys.

My internal layer is getting around fine for now. Judging by past internal layers, I give her a month. The 8 year old hen that was a bit off has gotten better since the humidity dropped a bit, or so it feels. (I'm not sure if I mentioned her here or not.)

As if things haven't been crappy enough, the door fell of my Guinea aviary. Actually, it was one of those moments where I couldn't help but laugh at how lousy things have been. Ah, well, that's life.



Back to my hens, after about the third bale of straw we've had that was mostly comprised of chaff, I finally broke down and got a bale of pine shavings to use in the nests. My thought was that at least the shavings are consistently the same and they seem like they're more easily found year round. I just put them in one box to see how they'd go over and the girls hate it. :/ They don't even spare that nest a second glance. Any thoughts on how I can convince them to switch to shavings?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Oh, dear, deepest sympathies to you, Shawna! I'm so sorry for your losses! Best of luck with any future chickening endeavors!

 

[Old Salt 1945]

Alright, the eggs are in the mail. Should show up any month or 5 from today, let me know when they do. You know how snail mail is nowadays.


Now, for the bonus question:

Who is Foghorn Leghorn's personality/way of talking from? Who were the makers of FL making fun of?

Nah. I think I'll stick with the roosters.

The character of Foghorn Leghorn was directly inspired by the popular character of Senator Claghorn, a blustering Southern politician played by Kenny Delmar who was a regular character on the Fred Allen radio show. The rooster adopted many of Claghorn's catch phrases, such as "That's a joke, ah say, that's a joke, son." Delmar had based the character of Claghorn upon a Texas rancher who was fond of saying this.[1]
A leghorn is a breed of chicken, and foghorn describes the character's loud, overbearing voice.
According to Leonard Maltin the character's voice was also patterned after a hard-of-hearing West Coast-only radio character from the 1930s, known simply as The Sheriff, on a radio program called Blue Monday Jamboree.[2] The voice has similarities to that of another Mel Blanc voice: Yosemite Sam (a strictly Friz Freleng character).

Ain't wikipedia great?

John