Nevadans?

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:

 

[2seth2]

Haha you mean they were "chicken" of it?

 

[americanvalkyrie]

A few weeks ago, I mentioned how Oh'no, our dog who has never really acted like a dog, has been hanging out in the chicken coop. I don't think she was eating the food... I think that was Tater, who had cayenne pepper on her whiskers as evidence. I really think she was hanging out with her peeps. Whenever I check for eggs, she goes into the coop with me to check. Oh'no likes enclosed areas, but never used her Dogloo after I got it, until I painted it and put straw inside, and the chickens started using it. Now she wants it. When I feed the chickens their scratch or veggie scraps, she gathers with the chickens and eats alongside them. She'll eat whatever they're eating. She's always been curious about the chicks, especially when they're crying or scared. Today, I took one out and put it in her reach, since they're older now and less fragile. She cleaned it just like a little puppy. I had to tell her to stop after awhile, because this chicken obviously wasn't appreciating the doggy treatment. Now I'm wondering how well she would mother a newly hatched baby, if she would let it cuddle up in her fur.

Tater guards the yard. Oh'no is just another chicken.

 

[sherylreno]

Love it Ron, that was a really good one!

I only use straw. I did put sand in the laying boxes about a month ago but I'm going to take that out tomorrow because it really packs down. The chickens don't seem to like the sand. They keep putting more straw into the layer's boxes and end up putting their poo in there and then I must clean it out over and over again. I much rather just take out the sand and leave the straw only then they won't be doing that anymore.

 

[NevadaRon]

Sheryl I though the video of the ducks in the bathtub was great! I had shown the pictures of the ducks when they were little to a couple of people then I showed them the video and they can't believe it's the same ducks - they're so big!

 

[chicharomirinda]

Love it Ron, that was a really good one!

I only use straw. I did put sand in the laying boxes about a month ago but I'm going to take that out tomorrow because it really packs down. The chickens don't seem to like the sand. They keep putting more straw into the layer's boxes and end up putting their poo in there and then I must clean it out over and over again. I much rather just take out the sand and leave the straw only then they won't be doing that anymore.

I've been using both shavings and straw in the coop. Maybe I should switch to just straw. Does the straw absorb pretty good? I bet it will compost better than shavings. I have straw out in the run and they love kicking that around. I haven't had any odor problems. If it does rain things dry out pretty quickly. I will be putting in poop boards under the roosts soon so I have more room for food and water under there. I have read about putting DE and sand on the poop board only for easy scooping so I may try that.

 

[chicharomirinda]

A few weeks ago, I mentioned how Oh'no, our dog who has never really acted like a dog, has been hanging out in the chicken coop. I don't think she was eating the food... I think that was Tater, who had cayenne pepper on her whiskers as evidence. I really think she was hanging out with her peeps. Whenever I check for eggs, she goes into the coop with me to check. Oh'no likes enclosed areas, but never used her Dogloo after I got it, until I painted it and put straw inside, and the chickens started using it. Now she wants it. When I feed the chickens their scratch or veggie scraps, she gathers with the chickens and eats alongside them. She'll eat whatever they're eating. She's always been curious about the chicks, especially when they're crying or scared. Today, I took one out and put it in her reach, since they're older now and less fragile. She cleaned it just like a little puppy. I had to tell her to stop after awhile, because this chicken obviously wasn't appreciating the doggy treatment. Now I'm wondering how well she would mother a newly hatched baby, if she would let it cuddle up in her fur.

Tater guards the yard. Oh'no is just another chicken.

Now if Oh'no starts laying eggs, you'll really be on to something!

 

[NevadaRon]

 

[SunnyDawn]

I've tried the straw as litter but it got slimy when we got a lot of snow the year before last when the chickens were dragging it into the coop. Snow sticks to their feet and feathers and just makes it such a mess. This has been such a mild winter it feels like we haven't had to deal with much of anything this year. It's been really nice. I still used straw in my nest boxes though. I like it for nesting material. I never thought to use sand in a nest. I can't imagine that it went over very well.

Right now I have the grass/hay mix in the nest boxes and they love that but it is so expensive I will likely go back to straw when it's gone. I've also tried shavings and shredded paper in the nests but didn't like them at all. The shavings don't stay put in the nest so they leave the egg without any cushioning and the paper stuck to everything! The eggs needed a lot more cleaning when I used paper. Of course marans have that dark paint on their eggs, and they are so wet when they are first laid, that just makes it so much worse.

 

[SunnyDawn]

LOL Ron! You and I posted the same response to Missy and Elizabeth's post.

I was still typing when you posted. hee hee hee *sorry I'm easily amused this morning*