NY chicken lover!!!!

[PhoredaBurds]

For the long term, global warming makes me nervous. But in the short term, it's really nice to be able to start weeding the perennial beds in February. The chickens seem to really appreciate the sun and grass as well.

Regarding older cats, I'm sorry to hear of thyroid issues they are having. Hope they respond to the meds they are on. Regarding younger cats, anyone have ideas on how to help fat cats lose weigh w/o throwing them into kidney failure? I've got 2 overweight rescue cats whom I'm concerned about how their health will be affected in the future. Any suggestions?

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Control calories and fat
Feed cats highly digestible, meat-based foods. ...
Increase the proportion of canned and raw foods in the cat's daily diet. ...
Feed a dry food properly formulated for weight loss. ...
Measure food and feed smaller, more frequent meals. ...
Find out if the cat prefers mouse-, bird-, or bug-shaped toys.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Thanks! I hadn't thought of increasing the amount of canned food, but will try. Couldn't get them to eat raw food. The dry food they're on right now is Natural Balance Fat Cat reduced calorie food. Think you're right about measuring and giving the dry to them in meals rather that leaving it out. I've been resisting that method bc my fat orange cat paces the house meowing all night when he can see the bottom of his bowl. The fat calico eats bits of cardboard when she can find it and her bowl is empty. Might create mutiny, but will try the measure & limit method. They have tons of toys of all shapes which they like to scatter throughout the house, lol. Thanks for the suggestions! Wish bariatric surgery was available for cats, lol. Two of my 3 would never make at your house as they are too fat & slow to catch live healthy mice. The third one is a good mouser who will sometimes catch mice & bring them to the other cats live for them to play with. Crazy cats.

 

[tao chick]

@horsekeeper The great weather today meant I was out making a nice little quarantine area for when I get the birds from you. I still have to work on securing it, but I will definitely be ready for pickup on Wednesday.

The other benefit of building out this part of the barn is it will hold a larger brooder area. While I'm only doing one hatch this year, I'm hoping to fill my bator - so up to 95 eggs.

I thought I had an egg thief or my hens weren't laying. Today I found a stash of 22 eggs - many broken and I wasn't sure how old they were so i tossed them.

Here is my pullet laying Olive eggs: Wheaten Ameraucana over Black Copper Marans:

 

[cutipatooti]

A raw natural diet is really good for cats (and dogs). But since most don't do that canned food is best for cats. It does not have much carbs in it. My cat became diabetic so I went to an all can diet and completely reversed it.

On another note it was nice enough to get my silkies out for the first time today. I put them on the black top because there is still snow and the grass that is showing is to wet.

Hope everyone's kitties feel better.

 

[horsekeeper]

@horsekeeper The great weather today meant I was out making a nice little quarantine area for when I get the birds from you. I still have to work on securing it, but I will definitely be ready for pickup on Wednesday.

The other benefit of building out this part of the barn is it will hold a larger brooder area. While I'm only doing one hatch this year, I'm hoping to fill my bator - so up to 95 eggs.

I thought I had an egg thief or my hens weren't laying. Today I found a stash of 22 eggs - many broken and I wasn't sure how old they were so i tossed them.

Here is my pullet laying Olive eggs: Wheaten Ameraucana over Black Copper Marans:

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Thanks! I hadn't thought of increasing the amount of canned food, but will try. Couldn't get them to eat raw food. The dry food they're on right now is Natural Balance Fat Cat reduced calorie food. Think you're right about measuring and giving the dry to them in meals rather that leaving it out. I've been resisting that method bc my fat orange cat paces the house meowing all night when he can see the bottom of his bowl. The fat calico eats bits of cardboard when she can find it and her bowl is empty. Might create mutiny, but will try the measure & limit method. They have tons of toys of all shapes which they like to scatter throughout the house, lol. Thanks for the suggestions! Wish bariatric surgery was available for cats, lol. Two of my 3 would never make at your house as they are too fat & slow to catch live healthy mice. The third one is a good mouser who will sometimes catch mice & bring them to the other cats live for them to play with. Crazy cats.

the cat hubby had when we met didn't last long after we moved here. He ended up with crs (can't remember squat) not thyroid problems. He thought the litter box was bed and my kitchen was litter box. He was 15 when he had to retire.

 

[Lapeerian]

My now-fat evil orange cat gets purina gentle formula dry food free choice, because otherwise at feeding time they both would gulp down dinner then throw up all over. And the old black and white cat with hyperthyroidism gets that plus a small amount of canned food, whatever he will finish as we watch him. Otherwise evil orange comes in and hogs down the can food. Really need to get rid of the orange cat, he has been ****** off ever since I brought home a human baby. Human child is now 6. Hisses at child, dog, people, hides most of the time, takes out his anger on all the woodwork in the house when no one is around. Don't want to stress out the old black cat though, not that they interact much.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

A raw natural diet is really good for cats (and dogs). But since most don't do that canned food is best for cats. It does not have much carbs in it. My cat became diabetic so I went to an all can diet and completely reversed it.

Hope everyone's kitties feel better.

Thanks for the suggestion. We will try that.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

the cat hubby had when we met didn't last long after we moved here. He ended up with crs (can't remember squat) not thyroid problems. He thought the litter box was bed and my kitchen was litter box. He was 15 when he had to retire.

Ugh. It's miserable when they forget what the litter box is for!