Kentucky people

[Mojo Chick'n]

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I do use DE but haven't put any down in awhile. It had gotten so dusty, with the deep litter and the DE, I was figuring I had enough there. When I clean the coop out, I'll put down fresh DE though, and fresh litter (only one bag though

)

I finally got enough litter in the lower coop to even out the floor

took 4 bags per coop cell, but it is pretty even now - not a slope so much anymore.

speaking of which, I need to go turn out lights - I forgot to do that earlier

be back.

meri

 

[shelleyd2008]

I wonder if there is another kind of bedding that you could get that wouldn't be as dusty. I don't know aanything around here, but maybe you could find some crushed corn cobs or shredded newspaper? I don't know, just some suggestions!

You could always put some sand in there, it wouldn't have as much dust. Or maybe put sand down and then litter on top, so the sand could filter the wet stuff away?

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Maybe - but this time of year the sand would be wet when I got it (it is outside stored at L&S).

I'm thinking if I can kill the mold spores with the oxine (and it is supposed to kill them) then even if it gets a bit wet, I can just dose with oxine twice a month or so until spring, then I can add in the sand when it is drier out. I need more sand for the run in the spring, anyway.

I can even mist the chickens' faces with the oxine, so they inhale it and it will kill the spores inside of them (if there are any).

another poss. for the mold is the feed - I still get the M&W feed, and who knows, maybe they got a bad batch of corn or something and it ended up in the feed - just waiting for dampness to make it toxic?

I don't know, I'm just guessing at stuff, now.

meri

 

[cthrash1]

Well Meri, I don't think I'll be stopping on my way to moms, but will still stop on my way back with the eggs. After doing our running and going to my MILs to clean her house we came home to find our chickens massacred...Two dogs supposedly from down the street had a field day in our backyard.

All we have left are Raoul(with no tail), Belle, Sheila, Nutmeg, both Porcelains, one BTW Jap, Anna, Little Bit, Little Man, Terminator, 2 Millie girls, Lucytoo, and the guinea. And the ducks were not bothered. Ron,who doesn't like my chicken hobby to start with, told me to just keep the chicks I have in the brooder(SHOCK).

We lost Bess, Brandywine, Bandaid, Helen, the two Ameraucanas, two Millies, All my Cochins except Lucytoo, both my blue Silkies, an EE, one of the BTW Jap babies, and that is all I can remember right now, we picked up close to 20 birds off the field I think it was. Poor Layne just sat in the middle of it all and cried.

I am just heartbroken...Poor Lucy was so scared that she kept running from me till she realized who I was and then ran straight into my leg, she couldn't get up on me fast enough. The guinea even let me pick him up to put him on the perch in the coop.

Ron feels just awful about it because the neighbor told him she saw a dog in the yard and two of our chickens were up by her house. He ran the chickens back to the coop and didn't see or hear anything so he left to pick up his meds. Now he feels he should have stayed because we never have chickens that far from the coop and he knew that was odd.

I showed him how much space I'm going to fence in and that I was going to go ahead and buy the fencing and get it done, and he told me instead to use the chainlink we have stored at my moms. It's only 4ft tall but it is much stronger than the chicken wire so hopefully that will protect the rest of the flock.


Cindy, who is extremely depressed tonight

 

[shelleyd2008]

Yeah, I haven't had any of mine get sick from the feed, but I still buy chick starter for my birds

But I know dad has gotten feed for his pigeons before that had bugs all in it, so who knows? But that's good that the oxine won't hurt the chickens. I was wondering how you would disinfect the coop with all the birds still in there!

Oh before I forget, there is a Mork & Mindy marathon on Sci-Fi tomorrow, just thought everyone should know

But there's also a spongebob, or something stupid like that, marathon as well, so I'm sure I won't be watching Mork & Mindy!!

Did I tell everyone one of my A&M's is crowing already?? He is in a time-out cage, cause the other one is either a girl or a weaker male (I'm thinking girl

) and the crower was pecking the other one's head. So he had to get seperated. It is very comical sounding though! Cristian about dies laughing every time he hears it!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Oh no Cindy!! That's terrible!!

Poor Layne! I feel so bad for you guys! Stupid dogs

I love dogs, but stuff like that makes me want to

We have some white silkie babies you cna have if you want. We have too many babies as it is. I'm sure Cris would not mind letting his 'feather chickens' go to another little boy that lost his! I will make sure and save any babies from those eggs you brought over so you can get some decendants. I'mm not sure whose eggs you brought, but you are welcome to any of them.
But that is just sickening. It would be different if the birds were eaten, not any better mind you just different. But for them to be killed for sport? That's awful!
Tell Layne that I am so sorry he lost his babies (and you too).

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Oh my God!!! That sucks SOOOO bad, I'm so sorry Cindy !!!!!

Do you want BC and the little Jap back? When ya stop by Friday (or am I still meeting you in town?) you can take em home with ya.

I would SO be going dog hunting, right now!!

That is one thing that worries me about free ranging. My chickens know enough to run from other animals, but they aren't that afraid of dogs, because they know my dogs won't harm them.

My neighbor has lost his flock to neighbor dogs Twice - second time he shot one dog In His Coop!! If I ever saw a stray dog here, I don't care whose dog it is, it's a dead dog. I won't call them, I won't bother starting a war, but the dog won't be able to be on my property again.

I'm so mad for you and Layne, the poor little guy, he must be devastated.

People who can't take proper care of their dogs ought to be flogged!! (and then put in jail)

eta - I told Bruce what happened, he said to tell you he's sorry too, and he asked me if Raoul survived - he knows how much ya love that roo.

meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I'd be afraid that 4 foot tall wouldn't be high enough to keep a determined dog out.

Maybe you can make it seem higher with something added to the top - like razor wire and electric shock probes.

meri

 

[cthrash1]

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LOL I seriously thought about hooking up a solar electric fence to the whole chain link, but am afraid I'd find BBQ chicken next to it.

Yes Raoul survived minus his tail...Cortni would have been devistated to lose him, she cried over Brown Sugar(her partridge Cochin) as it was. Raoul and Little Man were found up under the neighbors deck. I was so proud of Ron...I never thought he noticed our chickens...Then he said, "Well, I bet Raoul took a big chunk out of those dogs, he's so protective" My jaw dropped when he said that...He must've been sneaky peeking on our chickies.

ETA: We really can't afford anything more than chicken wire so Ron figured the chain link would be better.

 

[FrChuckW]

Cindy,

I am so sorry to hear of this. It seems to be happening more and more to people who keep chickens and have irresponsible neighbors. I don't have any chickens at the moment, if I did I would be among the first to offer to replace them for you and your boy. However I will be placing an order for one of the Rainbow Layer specials from either Ideal or MM and you are more than welcome to come and get some of the extra chicks, as I won't be able to keep all 25 of them due to city regulations.

If you do use the 4 foot chain link fencing you can also raise it up by taking PVC pipes and place them over the poles and then secure the fencing to them. Then you can use the cross bars to secure the wire across the top part at the bottom. I would also take cinder blocks and place the along the bottom of the run. If you lay them on their side and fill them with some dirt you can plant flowers in them in the spring.

Again I am so sorry to hear about your loss.