***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Ksane]

Silly Question, I have a Buff Orpington that likes to randomly make a "laughing sound". what does that mean? Shes the only one that makes that noise so far? Is she laughing? or is she trying to say something? Thanks!

They make a laughing sound when they sneeze, could she be sneezing?

 

[emach0301]

its a literallya haaaa-haaa- ha- ha ha. I dont think shes sneezing! Its sounds like a parrot trying to imitate a humans "ha-ha-ha-ha!!

 

[MacGuyver]

They make a laughing sound when they sneeze, could she be sneezing?

That was my first thought.

 

[emach0301]

well, if shes snezzing, she does it ALOT!!! I'll pay more attention next time and see if I can tell if shes really sneezing. What do you guys use to line your coop beddings?

 

[jcatblum]

Mitzi snakes can climb tress so yes they will climb your walls. My nesting boxes are 4 ft off the ground & the snakes are more than happy to work there into the nest boxes. Sorry you are battling the snakes. Stupid stupid snakes!!!! I used to not mind snakes so much but they really have become a thorn in my side. The deer netting has done more for us than every other trick we have tried. I LOVE deer netting!!!!

Saw the weatherman was saying nice things earlier today. Hope we really do stay below 100 for a few days! My garden & birds would appreciate it VERY much!

 

[NanaKat]

Nanakat, the 12 pint jars have been "canned" to seal them. (a couple teaspoons of oxine to prevent cootie growth) They work as a "heat sink". The water inside heats up to incubator temps and helps maintain the heat to prevent temp fluctuations. By maintaining heat, the thermostat doesn't have to work as hard either. One last benefit, if there is a power outage, and we've had a few lately, it will help hold temps until the power comes back on.

Smart idea!

Quote:

Kass - I incubated the jars for six hours. Did I need to wait longer?

Nanakat - Are the jars of boiling water covered with lids or just open? Do the jars need to be refilled with boiling water at any point?

Can snakes climb 6' walls or fences? If so could deer netting be draped somehow on the outside walls of a coop to stop them?
A snake got through chicken wire into a pen and killed my beautiful 3 mo old Bantam Cochin boy. It tried to swallow him and couldn't so spit him out. It didn't bother the other 6 youngsters in there, why? I thought a snake small enough to fit through chicken wire wouldn't be able to kill a chick. Obviously I was wrong

I'm going to reline the 4x8 pen that little group was in with hardware cloth before they go back in there. But my Brahama & Ameraucana teenagers in their yard are going to have to be locked inside their coop at night, which I haven't done because of the heat. But can snakes climb the 6' tall walls of the coop and get in through the vented areas at the top? Also, are snakes scared of light? If I leave the light on all night in their coop, will that do any good?
BFrancis posted a link (tongs.com) for snake tongs. I just spent $100 on a pair of them.
The war is on.

If a snake can get it's head thru a hole, the whole body can follow. They can climb brick walls. We have watched one climb tup the bricks using the little concrete indentions for support and it got on the window ledge. Also saw a snake climbing up a door jab...looked like it was going for the door knob.
Lights haven't stopped snakes in my hen house. Brooder lights don't deter them either.

Mitzi snakes can climb tress so yes they will climb your walls. My nesting boxes are 4 ft off the ground & the snakes are more than happy to work there into the nest boxes. Sorry you are battling the snakes. Stupid stupid snakes!!!! I used to not mind snakes so much but they really have become a thorn in my side. The deer netting has done more for us than every other trick we have tried. I LOVE deer netting!!!!

Saw the weatherman was saying nice things earlier today. Hope we really do stay below 100 for a few days! My garden & birds would appreciate it VERY much!

May have to invest in some deer netting. Looking forward to some cooler temps even if it is just a few degrees.

Son in law gave me a portable puppy pen made of eight 2 x 2.5 foot panels about 16 linear feet. I'm going to attach it to an existing pen and then cover it and use it for a day pen for some of the younger chicks.
Lost a dark blue Cochin baby. It was inside under a swamp cooler and was fine this morning....running and playing and eatting and drinking.

 

[Kassaundra]

well, if shes snezzing, she does it ALOT!!! I'll pay more attention next time and see if I can tell if shes really sneezing. What do you guys use to line your coop beddings?

We put sand we get from a local river bank on the bottom, then anything formerly green and free from our yard (chipped wood from yard trees and bushes, spent garden plants that I don't want to put in the mulch pile, runner grass roots, lawn clippings after they have had a chance to cool, etc...)

 

[emach0301]

okay, I was using some shavings for now, I was using hay, but found out that it got nasty really fast, and became really stinky after a while...

 

[emtdeb2001]

Ok all, I need help. I had some polish eggs in the incubator and they were coming along 2 pipped and one even zipped then the chicks died! Is it something I am doing wrong? I have hatched chicks from the roo before but not these hens. I was wondering if it was to much or to little moisture? Thanks for any advice

 

[emtdeb2001]

I have 2 red pyle babies that she could have is she wants to come get them. They are about 3 months old. pretty sure one pullet and one roo