NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Sorry for your loss. I know what it's like.
I Lost a whole batch of eggs to incubator overheating.

Like, over 60 eggs worth!
Then, Monday morning, I found the brooder area that had 70 chicks less than a week earlier, was EMPTY! No chicks anywhere!

I'd noticed some were missing Saturday morning, but of course, I came to Chickenstock, was busy Sunday, so no time to investigate. I'm pretty sure it was rats, since I caught one in the brooder area the next day. I'd already trapped quite a few, so why all of a sudden they decided to take the chicks is beyond me. If it had been another type of predator, it would have gotten the bigger chicks with more "meat" on them.

Thankfully, the chicks from Susieq were ok, as I had them inside "temporarily".

Its' a shame you didn't take precautions.. I do not allow rodents to endure but am on my guard setting traps continuously whether I see them or not.

Anyone who keeps livestock or pets can expect rodents since there is feed to attract them.

I suggest a battery of prevention. Snap traps, sticky traps and cats or dogs.

Rats and mice carry diseases such as Salmonella.

Funny I had a dream about mice last night. I expect I'll be working to catch up when I get home from AK. My DD won't deal with them.

I hope you don't get anymore chicks until you have a proper and safe place to keep them, and have dealt with those rats.

 

[myfivegirls]

@rancher hicks thank you for your input.
I've been setting traps for awhile now, even before the incident. I set them Every night & spring them in the morning, as I already caught one hen! Thankfully, she's ok. This morning, they were all empty. But will continue b/c it's better to be pro-active.
The crazy thing is I've had chicks in the "brooder barn" for months now & no issues. There was evidence that there was vermin around, hence why I've been setting traps.

Cats - won't work as dad doesn't like them indoors & we're by the road, so they'd not last long if only outdoors. My dog is a terrier but wouldn't be effective as a hunter.

I did made the brooder area more secure as there was some holes I'd found they'd chewed through wood! But, the current youngest batch of chicks are still inside for now & I will put a few out at first to make sure they'll be ok.

 

[akaruby]

I'm sorry for everyone's losses, never is easy. I really am a hatching addict! Just bought CCL eggs and polish eggs.

 

[Gramma Chick]

I'm sorry for everyone's losses, never is easy. I really am a hatching addict! Just bought CCL eggs and polish egg

I put a curb on that problem by waiting for a broody to do it

 

[akaruby]

I put a curb on that problem by waiting for a broody to do it

True that's a good way to do it. I've had only one hen go broody. She hatched out 4, but she left them and didn't want to care for them. Maybe it's a first time broody thing?

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Its' a shame you didn't take precautions.. I do not allow rodents to endure but am on my guard setting traps continuously whether I see them or not. 

Anyone who keeps livestock or pets can expect rodents since there is feed to attract them. 

I suggest a battery of prevention. Snap traps, sticky traps and cats or dogs. 

Rats and mice carry diseases such as Salmonella. 

Funny I had a dream about mice last night. I expect I'll be working to catch up when I get home from AK. My DD won't deal with them. 

I hope you don't get anymore chicks until you have a proper and safe place to keep them, and have dealt with those rats. 

it's a shame you are so judgmental about how others house their birds. She is a fantastic flock owner and a good person.

It's a shame your not younger so you can come show us all the proper way to care for and protect our flocks.

 

[myfivegirls]

Quote:
Thanks Chicken Girl, but I understood where Rancher was coming from & his style of communicating. I didn't see it as judgmental, just trying to help.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Thanks Chicken Girl, but I understood where Rancher was coming from & his style of communicating. I didn't see it as judgmental, just trying to help.

I just don't like how he assumes none of us are capable. There is a proper way and then there is his way.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
He feels like I do I think... My Chickens are my grand- children...I try to take all precautions I can for them .
He has seen alot of people who dont take care of their chickens ....then wonder why they dont have any ..
I think he over reacts about chickens dieing ...I do with babies dieing
I think we all can do more to help our chickens / grand chickens ..Sometimes we just dont see it in time ..
Too Many Variables
I thought I was going to lose little Patootie today ....He wouldnt wake up or eat ....think it is a upper respiratory infection
So I decided to start him on Antibiotics - amoxicillin..
I dont know the chick dose so I just took 1 tablet added water cut up raisins , chick food ..I gave it to him 2 times so far ...
he is back eating & running around ..and tweeting .
bedding seems to bother him so they are on newspapers for now
Stay Cool !

 

[Metella]

Gramma: That would be a good excuse if MyFiveChickens was new to the thread - but we all know she has even developed her own breed. Well - you guys go ahead and accept bad behavior - he has been doing this to established members for YEARS. Past my tolerance level. Glad she didn't take offense. We all are here to learn and share and support, I have nearly busted my bank to get my set up as predator proof as I can - and I think you all know how attached I can be to my chickens when Colo had to be euthanized. I can fuss as good as any mother hen over them all, and I still know there can wire fatigue, a log falling on a fence - many things that can happen before we can see or fix them ... so advice is always welcome - but accusations and assumptions of sloth are not. Non-perfect life circumstances are also no excuse for bad public behavior. But we disagree, and that is OK ! I wouldn't have posted but to just answer you with a differing opinion - and I do respect your stance on it.

I finally have a broody this year .... anyone have experience taking eggs from an incubator and slipping them under a broody ? Wondering because I don't really incubate and this one seems to have a less than 50% hatch rate trying both dry and wet and fan and no fan .... it is an even and low number in it all - and ALL the eggs are fertile - and about 95% start .....

Phodora - the Emily egg is developing !!! ha ha It is like a little surprise birthday gift ... wondering what color mix is going to come out - really crossing my fingers that THAT egg hatches - that is why I was really asking about transferring the eggs - since my broodies have a 99% success rate.