Maine

[CoopChick719]

my comets whipped out the tick population, snakes, frogs mice, and i watched them gang up on a squirrel, it barely got away,
i get them the seed block, and watched as a chipmunk sat on top eating,go off and come back filling its cheeks,
they didn't mind sharing with him and his wife,
but when it came to the squirrel ohh boy it was war,

I watched my 3 come running out of the woods playing keep away with a toad one time. It was hysterical. I'm sure the toad didn't see it that way. They had no fear. Wish they were here to help me with the rats!

 

[oldfartfarmer]

I watched my 3 come running out of the woods playing keep away with a toad one time. It was hysterical. I'm sure the toad didn't see it that way. They had no fear. Wish they were here to help me with the rats!

Luckily no rats yet, but I'm sure if i end up with some my dog will rid them, she's a small game hound,
if not I've got a 20 ga.

I've got pics from my night/game camera of deer,raccoons,possum,fox, coyote,and grrrr skunk,
and a minx
but not one comes into my back yard, i think its because of our two dogs, so ,,so far the chickens sleep good

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm hoping that this JR terrier mix will be a help for me with the chickens. She's not big enough to scare off any serious predators. But, I'm thinking that even her scent around the yard will help to keep some of the varmints away. If she can act as a hawk deterrent, she'll earn her keep. She's interested in the chickens, but I'm not going to let her close until I have her training well under way. Jack the roo hustles his ladies inside when ever he sees her. Funny, he could beat the tar out of her, but she is DOG! Therefore, avoid at all costs.

John, here's the link to my interview with a few pics of my birds. The black ones are my home bred sex links. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1013154/byc-member-interview-lazy-gardener

 

[buckabucka]

Today I discovered that some kind of rodent had cleaned out the bait station. It is not near the chicken run where I've been having problems, but in the hoop house. Last year all my winter greens were devoured by rodents, so I put this bait in there last fall for prevention. It was still untouched just a couple weeks ago, but now it is gone. It has been so warm this year that I am still eating salads out of the hoop house, - a real treat!

I don't know about Crossbeak. Around noontime, I was giving up on her. She vomited up her medicine twice and refuses all food and treats. This appears to be a particularly bad case of sour crop. She is quite alert, and looks interested in food, but won't touch it. Right about the time I was planning her funeral, I read about a weird concoction made with cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, lemon and water that supposedly helps with sour crop. I syringe fed it to her. Now she is trying to eat (I say trying because her beak is pretty bad, -eating is difficult even on a good day). I don't have any idea if she will survive, but she doesn't appear to be ready to give up just yet....

 

[diana507]

Today noticed that my girls must of got into a little tiff. One of them has some skin hanging off one of her wattles. Tomorrow I will have to remove her, clean it up and probably blu kote it and put her back in. She keeps shaking her head I think from the piece of skin hanging. Should I leave it on there or try and take it off?

 

[oldfartfarmer]

I'm hoping that this JR terrier mix will be a help for me with the chickens. She's not big enough to scare off any serious predators. But, I'm thinking that even her scent around the yard will help to keep some of the varmints away. If she can act as a hawk deterrent, she'll earn her keep. She's interested in the chickens, but I'm not going to let her close until I have her training well under way. Jack the roo hustles his ladies inside when ever he sees her. Funny, he could beat the tar out of her, but she is DOG! Therefore, avoid at all costs.

John, here's the link to my interview with a few pics of my birds. The black ones are my home bred sex links. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1013154/byc-member-interview-lazy-gardener

I brought my dog into the coop with me, id only had the pullets-comets for two days,
i held her collar, and let everybody calm down, she sniffed some chicken butt, and feathers,
then the chickens just ignored her and went to scratching, bessy, my dog kept wanting to know what they were digging for,

later in the week when i let them out, they ran to bessy and kept following her around the yard,
her "cool" place under the back deck when she went to lay down was invaded by 6 chickens, they took over her prime sleeping spot,
i think she took them in as her pups, and things got too comfy for her, lol,,more than she expected they follow her everywhere,

a year later they still run to her, and she will do a run at them once in awhile but has never tried to hurt them,
I've seen them plop down next to her on the deck and fall asleep in a big pile,

she was VERY upset when i tossed a ham bone into there pen,,OMG they went crazy over it,
she sat on the other side and whimpered and cried,,
I got attitude from her all day,



thanks for the link tried to hunt it down yesterday, couldn't find it,

 

[buckabucka]

Today noticed that my girls must of got into a little tiff. One of them has some skin hanging off one of her wattles. Tomorrow I will have to remove her, clean it up and probably blu kote it and put her back in. She keeps shaking her head I think from the piece of skin hanging. Should I leave it on there or try and take it off?

I might see how well attached it is an just leave it, if removing it will cause more bleeding. When mine get a small blood spot on comb or wattles, usually others leave it alone (since it is a red area) and it scabs over quickly on it's own. I purchased bluekote after bumping into it when my chickens were new. It has been a life saver many times.

Cute dog story, oldfartfarmer.

 

[lazy gardener]

I brought my dog into the coop with me, id only had the pullets-comets for two days,
i held her collar, and let everybody calm down, she sniffed some chicken butt, and feathers,
then the chickens just ignored her and went to scratching, bessy, my dog kept wanting to know what they were digging for,

later in the week when i let them out, they ran to bessy and kept following her around the yard,
her "cool" place under the back deck when she went to lay down was invaded by 6 chickens, they took over her prime sleeping spot,
i think she took them in as her pups, and things got too comfy for her, lol,,more than she expected they follow her everywhere,

a year later they still run to her, and she will do a run at them once in awhile but has never tried to hurt them,
I've seen them plop down next to her on the deck and fall asleep in a big pile,

she was VERY upset when i tossed a ham bone into there pen,,OMG they went crazy over it,
she sat on the other side and whimpered and cried,,
I got attitude from her all day,



thanks for the link tried to hunt it down yesterday, couldn't find it,

How old was Bessie when she was introduced? Was she a new dog to you at that time? I am so hoping that this pup will be a success story for me instead of a "likes to kill chickens" story.

 

[oldfartfarmer]

How old was Bessie when she was introduced? Was she a new dog to you at that time? I am so hoping that this pup will be a success story for me instead of a "likes to kill chickens" story.

she was 2 1/2 so not a puppy, but still a teenager, BUT I taught her what NO means,
and what OWW means, (kids say OWWW when nipped or bit) so she DOES NOT BITE
she has grabbed a chicken by its neck, and lifted it up,,,as soon as it squeaked she dropped it,
she has had her moments, in the first year, but a NO from me a few times, got her over it,
maybe i was lucky and she saw them more her pups than food or chasing,
she does go nuts chasing squirrels, but I've always encouraged her too
she sits in the driveway and watches the deer walk through our woods,,THANK GOD,, she looked to me once for permission,,
i gave a firm mean growling NOOOOO,,they walk through our woods morning and evening and bed down back there,
she leaves them be,
but like i told my G?F the first time i see her chasing them she's going down,,,Maine has no quams with this nor do i, won't stand for it,
and yes i love her to death,
she's my warning if I'm going to have an attack as she feels it before i do, and sleeps by my side or at my feet

its up to you not the pup to teach her,
me i teach my dogs the old fashion way, and I've had three in the last 30 yrs that could have been seeing eye dogs,
I love my dog more than most humans, but a dog is only as good as its master, dogs are not people, and do need firm training,

saying awww bad doggie won't cut it, its gonna poop on the floor again,
grabbing its nose and cramming its mouth full,,and a good firm smack, a firm toss out into the yard,,,will teach it, some quicker than others
as puppies i wind my dogs up into a lather in a corner, picking on them, as PUPS, then put my hand in there mouths, saying OWWWW and NO,,
i had little kids,,i tormented them like a kid would,,, none of my dogs ever bit a human, not that i didn't get my nicks in the training, but thats different, they learn,
NO biting, my one daughter when first walking would lead my now gone dog, around the house with her finger in its nose, it was harder to teach my daughter to not do that than it was to teach the dog not to bite her

my dog knows, if it bites my chickens, ill bite her,
besides
she knows where her scrambled eggs come from,


whew,sorry for my rant,,
forgot to ask what type of dog do you have?

 

[barkersbirds]

Does anyone know where I can get some young ducklings asap? I have a day-old Mallard single hatchling that needs some company desperately. Willing to consider other breeds and will drive to pick up most anywhere in New England. Please let me know if you know of any options.

Thanks!