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[Indyshent]

More chicks hatching every day

It's doubly great because the puppy's killed a few. She always seems to after the favorites, so I can't even think I might like one. She dragged another one inside yesterday. Drives me crazy and really doesn't help the yucky tummies at our house

Going to put up some more chicken wire around the chain link fencing to try keeping the bitties from popping out after I get home from classes today.

Everyone has been sick here since Saturday. Lots of barfing at random intervals. Blech.

Been pondering names for the one poult that's hatched so far. Thinking I'll name it Pox or some such in a more Viking tradition to ward the bitty from evil spirits that way. Finding something this dog won't eat is really hard though. Not even sure what emojis to use here because even joking about it is depressing and frustrating. I'm sure this microbiology course I'm taking will furnish lots of great Viking-style terrible baby names for this supremely dinky, Houdini-like, invisibility-cloak-wearing, possibly time-traveling poult.

 

[Faraday40]

Here are some pics of the current fencing:

On one side, the actual fence is OK but there are some areas along the bottom that have gaps. Plus the area under that gate is maybe 6".

The other side has a very poor fence. This is the one I'm sure the fox is running through.

The bottom of this old fence is a few inches off the ground, so chicks & some bantams can slip under it. They usually choose not to and stay near the flock. There are 3 places that a med hen or smaller orp can slip under.

It may be simpler, easier & cheaper to replace this 250' portion of fence. However, I'm not sure if it would keep out a fox. I'm guessing he's determined because he returned after I scared him off one night & even returned during daylight.

Has anyone tried these methods? Are they successful?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071X4BYX3/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ALQ11E4K41EGN&psc=1
or
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MRGZ0KK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATLPOUSTVTHOI&psc=1

 

[Faraday40]

While I was out there, my laced orp chicks (11 wks old) were posing for me. They know they're beautiful, so how could I not take their pics?

Do you see my unofficial chicken guard on duty in the background?

 

[Nyla]

I love your pictures of the Laced Orps! When I had chickens I always wanted a Silver Laced Orp. But never found anyone with them till after I sold all my chickens!
But Beautiful none the less! Best wishes with the fox problem! I once had a raccoon intruder attack my new Muscovy's @ellymayRans sold and shipped to me. Since that attack I've made sure to get Male Muscovy's that are mean to other animals but they are nice to humans. Haven't had a problem since. -Knocks on wood-

While I was out there, my laced orp chicks (11 wks old) were posing for me. They know they're beautiful, so how could I not take their pics?View attachment 1130872 View attachment 1130873
Do you see my unofficial chicken guard on duty in the background?

 

[kanina]

While I was out there, my laced orp chicks (11 wks old) were posing for me. They know they're beautiful, so how could I not take their pics?View attachment 1130872 View attachment 1130873
Do you see my unofficial chicken guard on duty in the background?

Absolutely gorgeous! I really enjoy laced birds. I didn't care for my Wyandottes, but I'm still on the fence about adding some BLRWs to my flock eventually.

We've integrated the little ones in with the big girls. They keep to themselves and don't use their safety area, no matter how many times I put them in it. Went out last night and put them in the house with everyone else since they're sleeping outside to find that everyone is sleeping in the nesting boxes like I suspected. This weekend, possibly tonight I'm putting up what I hope is their new coop, just need to figure out how to work it just right. Any suggestions on breaking them of sleeping in the boxes?

Also looking for a good place to get some straw locally. Noblesville-Muncie area.

 

[Leahs Mom]

You can always put temporary covers to block the nest boxes at night then just open them up during the day.

 

[Faraday40]

So far we have no fox losses but everything I read is making me scared & believe it's only a matter of time before the fox eats one of my babies. I have a lot of protection during the night and must trust my dog to do a good job during the day.

The pullet inside (a blue buff Colombian) is healing up great. I really thought that I would have to put her down. So happy that she's OK. At this rate, I might even be able to put her back with her friends on Monday.

I'll just have to look at her from this side for a while.

 

[Faraday40]

You can always put temporary covers to block the nest boxes at night then just open them up during the day.

That's what I do. New additions always want to sleep in the nest boxes & I really hate poopy eggs. It usually takes me about a week to break them of sleeping in the nest boxes. (Exception being a broody hen, of course.)

 

[hbrown322]

Absolutely gorgeous! I really enjoy laced birds. I didn't care for my Wyandottes, but I'm still on the fence about adding some BLRWs to my flock eventually.

We've integrated the little ones in with the big girls. They keep to themselves and don't use their safety area, no matter how many times I put them in it. Went out last night and put them in the house with everyone else since they're sleeping outside to find that everyone is sleeping in the nesting boxes like I suspected. This weekend, possibly tonight I'm putting up what I hope is their new coop, just need to figure out how to work it just right. Any suggestions on breaking them of sleeping in the boxes?

Also looking for a good place to get some straw locally. Noblesville-Muncie area.

My newly integrated chicks haven't figured out that the henhouse is their bed/safe zone. Every night I had to put up a block on the nest boxes & the coop door to keep them from running out.
This morning I blocked off half of the hen house with chicken wire, and put food and water in there. The littles will spend the next week or so blocked off learning that the coop is where they should sleep at night!

 

[Indyshent]

One of the chicks was shrink-wrapped and really wore itself out prior to being left behind in the nest. Been trying to warm it up in my shirt some today. Saved a hatch mate of its from the dog a few minutes ago. Ugh.

Anybody else tried Connections Academy? Really hoping I can get the kids to settle into the groove soon.

Hoping I can see someone in Martinsville about a pair of turkeys. The RP hen is the same one from several prior ads, I think, and I've wanted her for ages. Jake's lonely with his only gal still setting.

***Update*** The chick just died.