***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Tony O]

Kass or Coral,

The fermented grains seem to be going well. It has sourdough bread smell. On the second day I actually wanted to put some in a bowl and pour milk on b/c it has such a sweet and yummy smell. I need to see if this would be good for the horses. I'm sure it is. But......now I'm not sure why I'm using a 2 bucket system. I have to leave the grains in the water 24/7, right? Is the 2 bucket idea is so you can take the inner bucket out to where the chickens are and scoop feed out??? B/c I just been scooping right out the bucket into another container to take outside. I feel like I drilled holes in this bucket for nothing. In a day or 2 I need to put new grain in to start it cooking. I need to find something sturdy to stir with so I can get the new grains stirred into the bottom.

I only use the single bucket w/out any holes. Have 5 buckets lined up, using one a day. Carry the oldest bucket out to feed, and leave some in the bottom to start the next batch with. Re-fill and start over. Works for me.

 

[NanaKat]

Friend said foliage tour on I-40 not impressive but the Gore exit towards Tenkiller was beautiful.

Hope everyone enjoys the auction in Newcastle.

Coyotes are horrible here. So far the pens and the screens for the coops at night have been enough of a deterrent lately. One yote is still marking territory around the pens but hasn't been able to get a meal. Hubby wants to set the steel traps. I think it might be better to sit in a parked truck and pick the criminal off...don't know when it is making its rounds, wary critter.

Katie1500, sorry to hear about your loss.

 

[TRUE5]

Had a possum outside one night, then an owl that was super close to the house because I know it was casing the coop. Then we have a dog on the loose in our neighborhood that has already killed 30 of our neighbors chickens. Our coop can't be dug into and they are secure at night but during the day I have seen a hawk and the dog. How do you all keep preditors at bay? I am so afraid that the dog may come around when I am not watching. I do watch my chickens while they free range but I can't watch them all day long. Ugh! I really don't want to have to burry a dog.

 

[Kassaundra]

Nanakat are you and your hubby on the road to gastric recovery?

I think my husband and I are going to take the Talemena Drive on Wend.

 

[Kyzmette]

@katie1500, I'm so sad to hear of your loss. I'm about ready to go manhandle a dog on my neighbor's property in broad daylight, they have me so twisted about how they're letting it maul my chookies, so I definitely sympathize.

Somebody mentioned good poducts to stop bloodloss. I have one that was mauled two days ago, and I just found a hole she's been bleeding from, fresh blood on her thigh. I just put her on duramycin and am hand watering her. She was eating but today she seems very listless. I hope I didn't find it too late. What are good blood staunching items?

Hopefully the new dachsund-proof pen will be done this weekend.

 

[artsyrobin]

@katie1500, I'm so sad to hear of your loss. I'm about ready to go manhandle a dog on my neighbor's property in broad daylight, they have me so twisted about how they're letting it maul my chookies, so I definitely sympathize.

Somebody mentioned good poducts to stop bloodloss. I have one that was mauled two days ago, and I just found a hole she's been bleeding from, fresh blood on her thigh. I just put her on duramycin and am hand watering her. She was eating but today she seems very listless. I hope I didn't find it too late. What are good blood staunching items?

Hopefully the new dachsund-proof pen will be done this weekend.

in an emergency you can always use flour- also possiblly give her some rooster booster- how is the dog getting in to the chickens?

 

[artsyrobin]

i just tossed in crumble and scratch with acv water, and mix it up, stir it a couple times a day and it will start bubbling, they get a few scoops in the afternoon then i add more crumble, scratch and water for the next day- lots of people don't like the smell, smells like sourdough starter to me...the chickens love it

 

[NanaKat]

Nanakat are you and your hubby on the road to gastric recovery?

I think my husband and I are going to take the Talemena Drive on Wend.

Hope you enjoy the drive.

Thanks for asking. I'm doing better finally, but hubby had a slight relapse with nausea thru the night. At least he understands labor pains now. I actually lost 15 pounds and have not gained any back....yet. Food still does not taste right.

 

[ChickenManTN]

Lead is the only cure I know of for feral chicken-dogs, unless you could catch him and find a home for a wild dog. I think it would be easier to dig a hole.

On hawks, I have had GREAT success with hanging CDs. My chicken run is a 32 ft. diameter circle. When I first put the chickens out there I lost three in the first two days (they were about five weeks old at the time.) I attached a piece of coat hanger wire to the top of each fence post and hung a CD from each wire with fishing line. If the CD was painted on one side, I put two back to back. That was almost three months ago and I haven't lost a chicken since. I suggest using strong fishing line, or string. Yesterday the wind blew most of the CDs down. While I was out rehanging them today I saw all the chickens scurry under the house. Sure enough there was a hawk cruising over slowly, flying low. Evidently he had started zeroing when the deterrent was gone. After I rehung them I noticed the hawk cruising over, farther away each time, and then he left us alone. Evidently they are afraid of flashy objects and things that look like huge eyeballs (people sell big eyeball balloons as hawk deterrents) so I guess the CD is a double-whammy. The only drawback is that it does look a little redneck. Okay maybe more than a little, but it seems to work.

 

[bardies]

NEWCASTLE AUCTION - went in early, and already there wwere a bunch of guineas, and possibly some quail or chukar youngsters - also, one young peacock/hen? No tail.
Mitzi see you there for sure - bring the brinsea!
Hope to see some others from this list - I will be wearing tie dye.

Kim