Montana

[karlamaria]

Wow, things have been a little nuts around here! Ducky's nest is hatching out tonight, my broody hen is still on her next of 9 eggs, and we had our first pure Icelandic lamb born today! He's adorable: He's almost as big as the 2 week old Shetland/Icelandic ram and WAY bigger than the halfsie girl

. Oh that's adorable! Congrats, a new baby !

 

[karlamaria]

Doug:  I have 5 white leghorns -- they are a laying machine!!!!   I got them last April, and they were just starting to lay but there have been very few days since then that I have not gotten 5 white eggs.....   and the eggs are such a nice size, it's hard to believe that they come out of that small of a chicken.   They are a medium size hen, but big eggs!  the only issue I have with them is that they tend to be very nervous & flighty. ...  you can't get close to them.  But maybe if they were raised from chicks around you, they would be better.  Good luck with yours -- they will all learn what they're supposed to do. 

. I think it's just bred into them to be aloof. But there the best foragers I have ever seen. I can not wait to see the eggs! I'm just sad I may only get one pullet. I'm going to post pictures today some time, maybe you all can tell me what you think.

 

[ReneB]

RoyalT- that lamb is just to cute for words

Been crazy busy here- finally some nice weather that has us out and about.

Not much happening on the chicken front. I did finally cave and get my daughter a few ducklings, and I do believe I have created a monster. They are just the big white meat ducks for now- probably not the best pets, but unfortunately that was all that was available. I kind of wanted to make sure she was going to actually take an interest in them and it wasn't going to be one more chore for mom to do. So far, so good- she's obsessed with her little ducks. Might try to find a few more to add a little color in the duck pen

Hope you all are doing well!

 

[rookiefarmers]

Hi! New here! I live in the Bozeman area.
We have a mixed flock of 23 and we have 2 (maybe more) roos already. Crap! We are probably looking to rehome them. Other than that. Just learning as we go and I am SO thankful for this site!!!

 

[ReptileMom]

Welcome, Rookiefarmers!

I live in the 4 Corners area near Bozeman and have too many chickens!

Many different types... I guess I am at 78 now when I include the baby chicks I have hatched and am raising along with my adults. I suffer from the affliction known as 'Chicken Math'!!

Too many Roos is just one of the problems we all suffer from. I think I am going to have to take several over to a neighbor's place and he has said he would process them. I hate to do it, but it is hard to find homes for all the boys.

 

[rookiefarmers]

Holy cow!! That's a lot of birds! We wanted 24 layers but lost a bunch to some mystery illness and now have three roosters (maybe more). Ugh! I am between Manhattan and Belgrade. So not far from you! What breeds do you have? What are your favorites?

 

[DuginMT]

my chickens will not go in until it's getting dark, then they all head in. Maybe you could wait and see how late it is that they do go in , you might wait and see on them, mine refuse to go in until the sun is setting. Then there on the roosts and done for the day, I also have 2 that sleep on the floor at times, they are ok I let them decide. They do not sleep in the nest boxes so all is good.

You were right Karla! I waited until 9:30 to go check on them tonight. 10 were in the coop, two were perched on the threshold of the chicken door looking out, and one poor Americauna was pushing against the two chickens blocking the door to get in! The roundup was very easy tonight! I did have to help four up to the roost because it seems it was too dark in the coop for them to nail the landings on the roosts - they kept missing! Very proud of them though. No more nightly roundups, and just in time too as most were learning if they hid under the coop it was almost impossible to catch them!

Thanks again, and enjoy your little Icelandic and other youngsters!

 

[DuginMT]

Just finished lining the inside 14" of the edge of the run with 4" of soil cement, after locking the chicks in the coop with food and water. Those little buggers were trying to dig under the edge boards and were already 4" down in spots! Tomorrow when they try to dig there they will just be filing their nails!

 

[rookiefarmers]

Hi guys! OK. Here is my problem. We have a feral cat that I have seen now twice in the past 3 days... after 7each night and its stalking around my run! Thankfully I have been putting the girls away early so that my kids can help (they are new to coop and will not go in alone yet. I am totally freaked! The cat is the size of a large indoor ct but I have seen it killing gophers and eating them on my property. What do I do!?! I am new to all this so bear with me. I am thinking about killing it but gosh I am not into killing things! I just can not stand the thought of it getting my babies. Can you trap a feral cat!? How!?!? I am freaking out over here. :/

 

[karlamaria]

Hi guys! OK. Here is my problem. We have a feral cat that I have seen now twice in the past 3 days... after 7each night and its stalking around my run! Thankfully I have been putting the girls away early so that my kids can help (they are new to coop and will not go in alone yet. I am totally freaked! The cat is the size of a large indoor ct but I have seen it killing gophers and eating them on my property. What do I do!?! I am new to all this so bear with me. I am thinking about killing it but gosh I am not into killing things! I just can not stand the thought of it getting my babies. Can you trap a feral cat!? How!?!? I am freaking out over here. :/

either set a trap and then take it to the animal shelter, or feed it. There good mousers and if you feed it you could stop him from having to kill for his/her food. Sad to hear a cat eating gophers as its so hungry. I had many feral cats, I fed them and they became good mousers and we set up a nice dog house with straw in it and a carpet over the opening to house them. They have lived in my moms property 5 years now, and when she had my two astrolorps they never touched them. The chickens and cats drank out of the same wTer dish. The chickens are gone now, but the cats are still there fed by my dad or son every day.