Maine

[kinsey228]

The only things I have caught in my traps are skunks, neighbors cat and a bobcat. Not exactly the things I wanted to trap. I was so dismayed to see the skunk the first time. But because it keeps happening I have a good method, once it's killed (in the trap). Make sure you're wearing long pants, tucked into socks, and a hoodie with the hood up. Two pairs of disposable gloves, one under and one over the sleeves of the hoodie. Bag skunk in thick trash bag. Put outer pair of gloves in another thick bag, bag skunk again. Repeat with last pair of gloves. Dispose of skunk. Go inside, wash clothes immediately in hot hot water with Fels Naptha laundry soap. Soak them, too. It may take 2-3 washes with the Fels-Naptha. Go immediately to shower. Also use Fels-Naptha on your skin and hair.

My husband actually when he smelled what the skunk had done. It looks like I am going to be scrubbing the shed tomorrow. Yay me.

 

[lazy gardener]

I second this. I love Blue Seal. They just changed the names (so I'll use the old names, but your dealer can determine which it's equivalent to now) but I use the Chick N Game Bird Starter which has 22% protein for newly hatched birds. They do great on it. I also use Turkey Grower (18%) for my adult birds and I mix in some layer pellets (with 16%, lower protein) in the summer to give them some more calcium. I think my birds look good on this regimen, and I'm overall happy with it.

Just got back from Virginia (dad was sick in hospital). Flew an 8 passenger Cessna into and out of Augusta. I'm not sure there's enough alcohol in the world to have me do that again. While it was convenient to my house and decently priced and very quick (and a good view), I really didn't enjoy back-spooning the copilot and thinking that we were all going to die the last half of the trip.

So sorry to hear that your Dad has been sick. I hope he's doing better.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'll have to check out the Blue Seal feed sometime. Is that something you find at Agway?

I do not like small planes either, SCG. In fact, I get nervous on big planes too, but small planes are worse. The first time, I took Ativan, which was helpful, but I felt tired and nauseous upon reaching my destination. On the way home, I went drug-free, but I think I left claw marks in the arm rest.

15 years later, I used a tiny piece of that ancient leftover Ativan to calm my equally ancient cat when she died of old age at home.

Put me on any plane going any where any time, and I think I've won the lottery! I love to fly.

 

[CoopChick719]

WARNING TO ALL NEWBIES WHO ARE STARTING CHICKS THIS YEAR, WITH MYSELF AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. CHICK STARTER IS NOT THE SAME AS CHICK STARTER AND GROWER. Without knowing the difference, I bought "starter and grower" which has 4% less protein, and I'm guessing that the overall nutrient level is inferior to starter. I almost lost a little chick, but luckily caught the issue in time, and thanks to all of the wonderful info on BYC, was able to save the chick. Sunday night when I went down to check the babies, I found one of the Doms laying off in a corner, looking half dead. I picked it up and it was unconsious. I was able to revive it, and tucked it back under the lamp, expecting to find it dead the next morning. Amazingly, it was still alive, but demonstrating neurological issues. It couldn't hold it's head up, it's toes were curled in spasm, and it's head kept pulling forward and tucking between it's legs. When it tried to move, it would run backwards with head tucked between legs until it ran into something, then it would fall down unconsious. After research, I started Vitamin E, multi-vits, and baby bird hand feeding formula. Yesterday, I had to hold it up to feed it, today, it demanded to perch on my finger to be fed. I don't consider it cured yet, but hold out hope for a full recovery. LONG STORY SHORT, BEWARE OF FEED THAT DOESN'T MEET ALL OF THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF YOUR CHICKS.

Thank you for the warning. I've been using this for my chicks the 5 week olds have been fine. Just got 8 chicks from TSC so will keep an eye on them.

Well, hubby wasn't AS mad as I thought he was going to be about the 15 extra eggs. So today 4 Wheaten Marans, 3 Ameraucana, 3 Olive egger, 2 Blue Marans, 2 Welsummer and 1 Cuckoo Marans eggs are settling getting ready for the incubator, and whatever my girls lay today will be going in. Probably some EE and Barred rocks. At least I'll be ready for April's swaps

Glad to hear hubby wasn't too mad on the extra eggs! Mine (the man who didn't want chickens) called me at work Friday to tell me that TSC had chicks, they were awfully cute and did I want to ride up with him to take a look after work. He then found the cat carrier upstairs in the garage, "just in case I brought some home". I decided on 3 Red sex-links & 3 White leghorns--all pullets. He was looking at the bantams and said "Are those 2 grayish-white ones Silkies? Well, you might as well get them too. If they turn out to be roosters, you're only out a $1.89 each."

Who is this man and what has he done with my husband?

HI all....We moved into Casco from Colorado a few years ago...and have just bought our first chicks to add to our farm menagerie. Just wanted to say hi and hope you will all be patient with us as we re-learn the world of chickens.

geoaware! I hope learn as much as I have from the wonderful people on this thread.

I second this. I love Blue Seal. They just changed the names (so I'll use the old names, but your dealer can determine which it's equivalent to now) but I use the Chick N Game Bird Starter which has 22% protein for newly hatched birds. They do great on it. I also use Turkey Grower (18%) for my adult birds and I mix in some layer pellets (with 16%, lower protein) in the summer to give them some more calcium. I think my birds look good on this regimen, and I'm overall happy with it.

Just got back from Virginia (dad was sick in hospital). Flew an 8 passenger Cessna into and out of Augusta. I'm not sure there's enough alcohol in the world to have me do that again. While it was convenient to my house and decently priced and very quick (and a good view), I really didn't enjoy back-spooning the copilot and thinking that we were all going to die the last half of the trip.

Thanks for the info on Blue Seal, SCG. Sorry to hear about your dad.

I hope you didn't kill it in the trap. usually if you wait until morning they are so sleepy you can cover the cage with a blanket, move it and then release it far away.

Good to know hoppy! DH saw a skunk in my front flower garden early a.m. as he was leaving for work. The neighbors keep their trash in their garage that has no door. We usually "hear" the skunks going through it in the summer time. I worry the dogs will meet up with one when we take them out at night!

 

[farmerfogg]

Just had my first cull yesterday. No amount of research on the subject could have prepared me on how difficult it is to do, physical and emotional. Yesterday was a rough day for me.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Just had my first cull yesterday. No amount of research on the subject could have prepared me on how difficult it is to do, physical and emotional. Yesterday was a rough day for me.

And it never gets easier.

 

[EthenNoah]

Hello, I know I asked this befor but I couldn't remember who had them, I'm looking for Cochins around the houlton area.

 

[pellepeterson]

Just had my first cull yesterday. No amount of research on the subject could have prepared me on how difficult it is to do, physical and emotional. Yesterday was a rough day for me.

Very sorry for you. I can only tell you that It is never easy, only gets easier. In my line of work I unfortunately see it all the time, It is never easy, but each time you learn how to deal with it a little differently, and the stress level does not rise as much.

Smile and love your babes that made it!

Best of luck, sorry for your loss

 

[buckabucka]

A few weeks ago we had some interesting tracks in the snow that came out of the woods. We could not identify them. In the book, it looked like gray squirrel tracks only much bigger, and this thing walked a long ways (as opposed to hopping and jumping). Since we see tracks a lot, but never any animals, we finally got a game cam. We were excited to look at our first photos, but all they turned out to be is DH emptying the sap buckets!

Yesterday, we had another strange event. The chickens were out free-ranging and I saw them all suddenly running towards the house. Most of the time, they are just running, but I did see one of the roosters look to the sky. When I went outside, there was a large pile of gray feathers on the lawn. 6 of my hens are gray, but all hens were present. The head roo did lead everyone back to the coop, which is also strange behavior (I usually can't get them to go in). Do hawks attack and fail to do damage ever? Everyone appeared to be fine. I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't let them out today...

 

[ashandvine]

Just got back from Virginia (dad was sick in hospital). Flew an 8 passenger Cessna into and out of Augusta. I'm not sure there's enough alcohol in the world to have me do that again. While it was convenient to my house and decently priced and very quick (and a good view), I really didn't enjoy back-spooning the copilot and thinking that we were all going to die the last half of the trip.

LOL

I hope you didn't kill it in the trap. usually if you wait until morning they are so sleepy you can cover the cage with a blanket, move it and then release it far away.

2

Don't listen to SCG regarding killing. Not necessary and you still take risks with the smell. My dad used to trap these and raccoons to relocate them because our neighbor threatened to kill them all. IDK how this happened. My dad is not a loving kind of man, but he did feel they were only doing their job and we had to share the space so he put out a trap and caught coon and skunk after coon and skunk. He was never ever sprayed. He moved slowly and quietly and we kids got to see some wildlife up close. It was awesome. There was only every one meany-- a huge coon that only had one eye. You could see it had to be a mean cuss to survive that long so we felt badly for it. I teach my kids that if they kill it they eat it. SCG? How did that skunk taste??

Put me on any plane going any where any time, and I think I've won the lottery! I love to fly.

We have another thing in common! My first flight at 16 was in a Sesna. I guess SCG wouldn't enjoy an ultralight huh?