Michigan

[teeville5]

Ok, DH is bugging me to ask something. We have a blue kiddie pool near our pole barn that is filled with water and decaying leaves and has duckweed and watercress floating in it. Every morning when the chickens are let out, they all flock to this pool and drink from it before doing anything else. They have water in the coop with them so they are not suffering from lack of water, but this is what they do first thing. They drink from it all day long so we refill it if it gets low, but DH wants to know if anyone knows why they are so attracted to the pool and its water. A simple 'because they want to' from me isn't cutting it with him. So, is there some possible nutrient from the stuff in it they need? Are they possibly just having some mosquito larvae soup to start their day?

 

[ladyfeather]

Daughter of Eve: Sorry to hear it. Sending some restful vibes your way.

Teeville: Maybe? I know that every time I put new water in for my chicks they come running even if they didn't look thirsty.


Right now my largest chick is doing something really, really odd. "She" is stretching her neck with her beak open as if to yawn or crow. I searched it on BYC and a few people said its normal and others mentioned gape worm. Now I am off to check out gape worm to freak myself out :/

 

[ladyfeather]

Other than Storey's book on chickens are there any other books I should have? None that I have read so far have blown me away with their information.

I had to add food to the feeder for the first time today and the lady at TSC was a bit shocked. Before now they didn't finish it before I took it apart to clean it and add more food. It was nearly empty this afternoon. I am going to take it as a really good sign.
My largest is still doing that yawn/neck stretch thing. I picked her up and she peeped perfectly well. I poked where I figured her crop should be and she went nuts so I wonder if a piece of bedding is either caught in there or she's just sensitive. She's otherwise alert, eating, drinking, moving around. She's always watching me and poking her head in my direction.

 

[Juise]

Good morning all, I'm off to bed.

 

[keyt1969]

Just wanted to give you a little advice. I'd suggest not letting your chickens near that pool. We have 5 call ducks and 4 of them can't live with the bigger ducks because they get trampled on so they live with the chickens. We had one of those kiddie pools in there and one chicken drowned from trying to get water (same case, there was water in the barn AND in the run). So we put bricks in the middle and one day we were gone all day and came back to 2 drowned chickens. Some aren't smart enough to get out, even with something in the middle. Their wings get wet and they just sit there. When I got home 1 was teetering on survival so I brought her in the house, dried her up and she just never got back to herself.

This was the smallest kiddie pool I've seen so it's not like the water was that deep because the calls are really small so they don't require a lot of water. The chickens could stand but they still drowned.

The summer before we had a much bigger pool in there but the calls couldn't get in it so I'll be building a separate enclosure for them.

 

[keyt1969]

So I know i haven't been posting here much. I haven't been doing well but March 21 my first grandchild was born. His name is Carson and he was 7lbs 12 oz, 22 inches!!


My son Chance, his long time girlfriend Lauren and Carson the day he was born


Carson dressed out to go home


My son looking a bit sleepy the first night Carson is home =)

Just wanted to share =)

 

[Mom 2em All]

my silkies started trying to be broody in January! LOL silly birds didn't realize it's too cold to be having chickies outside!

Jen, my frizzle sat and hatched chicks out on December 15th! They did fine..I was nervous, but Momma Hen kept them warm and dry.

Ok, DH is bugging me to ask something. We have a blue kiddie pool near our pole barn that is filled with water and decaying leaves and has duckweed and watercress floating in it. Every morning when the chickens are let out, they all flock to this pool and drink from it before doing anything else. They have water in the coop with them so they are not suffering from lack of water, but this is what they do first thing. They drink from it all day long so we refill it if it gets low, but DH wants to know if anyone knows why they are so attracted to the pool and its water. A simple 'because they want to' from me isn't cutting it with him. So, is there some possible nutrient from the stuff in it they need? Are they possibly just having some mosquito larvae soup to start their day?

I think its because chickens are creatures of habit, and not all that smart. Probably started out with one hen deciding to take a drink. My chickens do the same thing with our nasty swamp pond.

We had one of those kiddie pools in there and one chicken drowned from trying to get water (same case, there was water in the barn AND in the run). So we put bricks in the middle and one day we were gone all day and came back to 2 drowned chickens.

I lost a couple chickens to drowning in the duck pool before, as well. I dont think they realize they cant stand on the water surface. Or see the reflection of the stuff around the pool and think its solid.

 

[Opa]

When you look at the number of posts that amass it just a few hours, it's a good thing that I wake early. It gives me the opportunity to read all the posts before more are added. Sometimes I've commented on a post, without quoting, and before I get it posted several others have come in. Usually not a lot going on this time of morning.

I hope the frost that is predicted doesn't occur. My apple trees just erupted into full bloom and freezing temperatures can't be good for them. Heavy frost has stunted their output for several years running and it would be nice if this year if doesn't happen.

My old dog is still sleeping and it is almost impossible to tell if she is breathing or not. It has been rather sad to watch her diminish this past year. She sometimes has difficulty jumping up onto the couch and when that happens she gives me one of those "hey can I get some help here" looks. Occasionally she will have a brief burst of energy that reminds me of how she was for so many years but it is usually just a brief glimpse. Most of her time is spent sleeping. She is 16 years old and I had decided that as long as she isn't in any type of distress I wouldn't take any type of proactive steps and pray that she just go quietly. However, last night Hope discovered a large abscess has developed on the upper jaw gum line. So I guess today some decisions will have to be made.

One a brighter note. Keyt congratulations on the beautiful grandchild.

 

[NovaAman]

Good Morning!

We got the frost here in some places Opa..

Keyt, congrats on the grandbaby. Also, hope you feel more up to snuff soon. (Don't actually mess with snuff though, hehee)

I checked on Mama Leila and the new dottes. They are all doing good. I was worried there may have been some damage I didn't notice after Skatter went ballistic, but all seems well. She is still sitting on the two silkie eggs. I hope to have them hatch today, tomorrow at the latest. Other wise, I will be improvising a quick incubator to finish them off. They are 1 day over due, but seemed to be alive when I looked at them last night, so not to worried. I am not going to allow Leila to brood again till July at least. I will be feeding her fattening up foods. I also think I will get her some of that plumage feed. She is looking a bit ratty... LOL. Poor Belle Mai was in the nest box where she normally sleeps with Leila. I felt so bad, she looks so lonely. She does not roost like her siblings do. Even Black Poofy Head, who is her full sibling roosts up with the faverolle chick, who's not been named yet, and the the other rooster, who's not been named either. He's going to be dinner at the end of May, so I figured why bother. I have only named a few of the chuckles also. Hawkarella... Jace thinks she looks like a hawk. Rock the rooster. I think he is a faverolle/marans cross, and Roopert, the other faverolle roo cross... Mostly I just haven't been inspired to name them yet. BUT I digress from the original subject... Proof that a tired mind will ramble. OR, proof that I suffer ADD along with my minor bi-polar issues. LOL.

Anyway, off to nap. Have a crap shoot of a day today. I have to try and get that dang lawn mower started. I hope it doesn't give me to much of a head ache. I have someone coming to smoke over the craftsman this week. Hope we will be able to figure out its problem. I have a feeling that what ever gas is in it right now will be bad. Maybe I should just sell it and get a new one... Sure would be nice to have it running to get the lawn mowed at a faster clip than the 3 hours walking behind my manual propelled mower takes. Actually, an hour less than that. The chickens and the ducks have decimated a large part of the growing area. YAH! lol.

I also want to get part of the fence moved from the area the dog have. I had nearly 50 in tips on my check this week. I am going to put it to good use, and buy that 100 ft roll of fencing they have at both TSC and FFH for 49 bucks. Or was is a 50ft roll.. I think it was the 50ft roll. Well, anyway, I can just run it strait up the back yard 15 feet out from the swing set and fort. That'll cut 20-30 feet by 50 plus feet off the dogs area, and give me another area to put a silkie coop and covered run. I don't feel like having my silkies picked off by the hawks this year... I don't know... just a thought.

 

[chickflick]

Congrats, Keyt! Hope you feel better soon. Got to go and sit for my grand daughter. Have a good day, all.