NY chicken lover!!!!

[Cass]

Ahhh! The red color thing with chickens! Got it! Thanks so much for mentioning that! And my biggest worry was whether or not the nail polish would get into their system and cause problems. Never thought that they'd eat each other. At the fair they have the dye on them, so naturally, was thinking that painting their nails would be ok too. I didn't know they were descendants of T Rex! Yikes! Those little cannibals! Before the 3 chickens we had, and still have, 1 older cat.

Wow, having a horse would be awesome! They are very pretty animals. I can imagine lots of work! Don't they eat something like a bale of hay every day? How do you know what hay to feed them and what hay to put in the stalls for them to sleep on? Isn't it the same hay? I've often wondered, for a horse, or a cow or goat, what it would be like sleeping in your food. If it gets hungry it can just pluck a strand from its bedding? Oh, you probably think I'm clueless. It's ok because I really am. But am trying to learn all of this stuff as a crash course!

Thanks for the info!

They make special bedding for horses, if you want to pamper them...however straw is usually used as bedding and hay is fed to the animal. I am sure they try to eat their bedding, but since the hay is up where they can reach it easier they will usually go the easy route and eat the food, not the bedding.

Edited to add: Hey, I didn't know they used saw dust, but it does make sense. Now I learned something and can go to bed.

 

[Lynzi777]

Oh Lynzi! We are realizing that someday our little ones will have to go outside into the world! We are thinking of building the Cluckingham Palace only because it's too cute! But those hoop coops are really nice too! We have to have our chicks hanging out in style.

when it's a little warmer out. For right now, they seem happy in the tub.

Your lavender Roo is spectacular! Absolutely stunning bird.

I'm not saying throw them out into the snow tomorrow, I understand they are chicks still and raising chicks in the winter can be tough especially for a new chicken owner because it can be difficult to judge when is a good time to put them outside. But yes, eventually when it warms up I think they belong outside. They will love you for it and the best part is, because they know YOU are the food giver, they will run up to you every time you step outside because they will be expecting treats.

If you are going to build them any kind of home at all, build them a beautiful OUTDOOR coop and run. They will love walking in the grass everyday, they will keep a majority of the bugs away for you and most of all they will be HAPPY!

 

[JLaw]

sorry not chicken related but I have  to ask...Who here that lives out near Buffalo, plans on visiting the Buffalo Dinosaur BBQ??? It's due to open early February.

Havent heard of it. We are going to some chocolate thing on the 30th. A day after my b-day i get to treat the wife to it.

Hey whydobirds, take them out side for a bit and run around some toss some food on ground let them scratch some. Lol as for the vuccuming the birds id say no. But its not just the birds its when they dust bath that makes the most dust. Shavings break down as they do that and as they scratch.

 

[Cass]

like many peeps here I understand my chickens. I know what sound is what. I know from their sounds and actions what they want or what the problem is. No amount of schooling will teach that. Owning chickens, allowing them to be chickens and observing them is the only way. Let the chickens be chickens and they WILL teach you. Can't learn that in a book, in school or any other way.

However someone needs to tell them that. Those Urban chicken folk, I mean. (the chickens already know you are right

) So yes, there is a course on how to raise chickens. Free range or otherwise. Co-operative Extention in Vooresville runs one. Annie teaches it sometimes. (Annie, oh ANNIE, where are you?)

 

[Cass]

Wow, sorry to hear about the pipes! That has got to be a lot of work! That's a terrible fear with this freezing weather!
Your brooder sounds really good. Nice size too, not much bigger than a coffee table! Perfect! Isn't it nice to watch the birds right there in the living room? So convenient!
We bought a saw and are debating what type of "house" to make. We have thought of a multistory mall style to go up a wall. Something suitable for inside but are considering cleaning issues too. Like one of those hamster habitats but larger for chickens. We even considered getting them an exercise wheel.
I've been thinking on this "dust" concern. OK I wasn't going to say this on here, don't want people to think I don't know what I'm doing, so don't laugh. My dyson vacuum is way too strong to vacuum the birds, but was thinking that maybe I could get a small, less powerful vacuum with a gentle brush attachment to vacuum them. They are used to the vacuum and don't fuss around it at all at this point. Maybe this could resolve their dust or dandruff problems if they arise. Just don't want to wrinkle a feather. So far at 3 1/2 weeks we have no dust from the 3. S

Sorry, but I actually laughed. You birds are still on paper towels. I swear that a lot of the dust in brooders happens after wood chips are added.

You are probably not going to get your chicken to stand still to vacumn it. Nor is it really necessary....just build them a house outdoors and let the dust add to the soil.

I guess you would be really grossed out to know that household dust has millions of dead people skin pieces in it. People give off "dander" too....and dust mites eat the people dander. Also, if you are "allergic to dust" you are actually having an allergic reaction to the poo from the dust mites floating in the air.

So, spare the chickens the horror of the vacumn and run your vac nozzle over your hubby.

 

[Lynzi777]

Sorry, but I actually laughed. You birds are still on paper towels. I swear that a lot of the dust in brooders happens after wood chips are added.

You are probably not going to get your chicken to stand still to vacumn it. Nor is it really necessary....just build them a house outdoors and let the dust add to the soil.

I guess you would be really grossed out to know that household dust has millions of dead people skin pieces in it. People give off "dander" too....and dust mites eat the people dander. Also, if you are "allergic to dust" you are actually having an allergic reaction to the poo from the dust mites floating in the air.

So, spare the chickens the horror of the vacumn and run your vac nozzle over your hubby.

Not only that but I picture a vacuum, any vacuum (big or small), reeeeeeeallly stressing a bird out! Chickens are fragile in my opinion and from I've learned in the past they get stressed out over the smallest things. I would imagine trying to vacuum a bird will give it a heart attack!

 

[Cass]

Not only that but I picture a vacuum, any vacuum (big or small), reeeeeeeallly stressing a bird out! Chickens are fragile in my opinion and from I've learned in the past they get stressed out over the smallest things. I would imagine trying to vacuum a bird will give it a heart attack!

I would imagine the blood running from my hand when they fought me to get away from the vacumn would give ME a heart attack. I still have scars from being racked by a rabbit that got startled while I was holding it for the kids to pet. (From that point on, they were allowed to pet it while it was being held on the floor by me. Was too hard to clean myself up and supervise the kids, never wanted to do that again)

 

[Lynzi777]

I would imagine the blood running from my hand when they fought me to get away from the vacumn would give ME a heart attack. I still have scars from being racked by a rabbit that got startled while I was holding it for the kids to pet. (From that point on, they were allowed to pet it while it was being held on the floor by me. Was too hard to clean myself up and supervise the kids, never wanted to do that again)

Rabbits are the worst! You should see how I hold mine when I'm bringing them from cage to cage or in the house and back outside so the kids can play with them for a bit. I had scratches all over my arms last summer from them.

 

[JLaw]

I hate our rabbits. Biggest waste of space since no one holds them and they scratch the crap out of you when go to hold them. Kids dont play with them because of it. Drink, eat, and poo all they do.

 

[Lynzi777]

I hate our rabbits. Biggest waste of space since no one holds them and they scratch the crap out of you when go to hold them. Kids dont play with them because of it. Drink, eat, and poo all they do.

But their droppings make some of the best fertilizer if you have a garden....I don't so I'm with ya! Lol