***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[chickenoob]

Alright, Okie list... Total chicken newbie from Tulsa here. My first ever group of chicks is 3 weeks old. So who all lives around Tulsa? Anyone here have Barred Rocks, Dominiques, and / or Cuckoo Marans?

 

[Kyzmette]

In the original pen I had, the dachsund went under it. I built a small temporary pen until I could get a permanent one finished and the chickens learned how to go over it so they could free range. For a while that wasn't a problem because the neighbors were keeping the dog tied up when it was outside, but recently the dog attacks started up again on rainy days. I've confronted the neighbors but she swears it's not them, because he's waiting until she goes to work to let the dog out, so she won't know.

The new pen has a trench dug around the perimeter which has been lined with chicken wire. The tposts were set into the trench. After the fence is complete I plan on setting some raccoon traps into the base of it. If I catch a dachsund in one, the neighbors won't get it back.

 

[Kyzmette]

Hi Chickenoob! I'm in Skiatook and work in Tulsa. Apparently I will soon be the owner of Copper Black Marans, as the fabulous Shelbydog got them for me as a birthday prezzie! I have a Barred Rock chick, but no fancy flock yet. I do have some Silver Grey Dorking eggs in the bator, though.

 

[shelbydog]

Always into something

 

[chickenoob]

Congrats Kyzmette on the BCM! I wanted some of those and some SGDs too but couldn't find any. Would still be interested. Would like to come see your setup sometime! If you're ever out in Broken Arrow you can give me a buzz at 720 then 8 9 1 and 9 4 3 0

 

[Kyzmette]

Oh heck, I don't have a setup yet. I'm still new to chicken ownership.

 

[NanaKat]

Kyzmette, sounds like your setup is almost finished. Sounds pretty predator proof. Good fences make good neighbors too. I'd photograph the dachshund outside when she isn't home so she learns what hubby is doing.

We have had a huge Hooker's hawk circling over the pasture and have seen it dive bomb gophers, mice and a rabbit north of the pond where runoff has flushed the tunnels. It better keep to the pasture.

 

[TRUE5]

Alright, Okie list... Total chicken newbie from Tulsa here. My first ever group of chicks is 3 weeks old. So who all lives around Tulsa? Anyone here have Barred Rocks, Dominiques, and / or Cuckoo Marans?

I have one barred rock. She is young with a personality of an old lady. Pecks sometimes when I try to pet her and if any other hens are distressed she comes running all concerned. She's a great layer too. I love her despite her acting crazy elderly.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I am not far from T-town. Just 30 min. I have four hens. A HUGE black sex link, barred rock, rhode island red, white ameraucana and our rooster we are borrowing is a cinnamon queen. We are borrowing from our neighbor who has 60+ chickens until our little lavender orpington roo grows up. We have just gotten two silkies (7 weeks old) and five lavender orpingtons (3 weeks old). We had 3 silkies but one showed it was a boy so he went to our neighbor. I might have to give the other two away as well because my hubby considers them as a full size chicken (they are bantams) and that limits me to what breeds I can add as he has limited me to 8 hens. Not a happy situation in the True household. We have only had our chickens for a week or so. I think. I lost track of time.

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.

I'm sorry but, eyeball balloons???

I can only imagine my friends coming over and seeing a bunch of those everywhere. And I of course would over do it. HAHA! I will try a few CDs definitely. Thank you so much for the tip! Oh those dogs. Ugh. One came over again this afternoon so I just went ahead and put the chickens back in their pen. I don't want to chance it until I get my husband to get my rifle out. That or I just might get my bow out. Either way it is NOT getting my chickens! I am determined.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have a barred patterned NN young boy who is a bit of a mystery to me, hatched from my chickens eggs, but I have (had) no barred birds and didn't know I even had any genetics in the flock.

 

[mjgigax]

I just got back from Newcastle, a lot of nice birds there. I didn't pay attention to prices much as we were yacking with Muesky and Elwood. I saw an absolutely beautiful Royal Palm tom go for 51.00.
I bought a little Coronation Sussex pullet kind of on a whim. I know they are hard to find and think they are beautiful. I understand they are calm and friendly birds.