***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[subhanalah]

I'm looking into getting a few button quail as pets, but can only find eggs online and no one locally. 
Unless I can buy an incubator that will literally do everything and only need to be checked on once a day when I get home from work for less than $100 (ha) I can't hatch them myself.
Anyone near the OKC area willing to consider hatching some for me for a fee? Probably wouldn't be for another couple months. 

I'm just east of the city, I can hatch them for you if you want me to. No fee, I love incubating!

 

[Poco Pollo]

Let's try it with the polish. The midget SLW and polish are older than ideal age for the procedure. I can get them to you Sunday. I have to be in Adair at noon to pick up a rabbit hutch. What's the earliest in the afternoon I could drop them off? I could swing by on my way home.

Come by on your way home. If you want me to meet you on Hwy 16, we can do that as well.

 

[SharkmanDan]

Another newbie question for my fellow Okies, to hopefully assist me, by answering.
We are now on our third day, of letting the chickens out, to "free range, by day". So far, getting them back in the enclosure, has been greatly aided, by the afternoon thundershowers. As the rains start! most of them seem to want to head for the enclosed pen. Last night, just the brown Leghorn, (Mrs. Brown, who lays lovely huevos-Take on Herman's Hermits song) gave us a little grief, about going back in. I was under the assumption, that they had a natural desire to "go home" around sundown, or a bit before. We really had to try to catch her, without much luck. (Both of us are disabled, and not so "fleet of foot"). Finally, I put a few obstacles out, to help guide her back in the enclosure.
Any advice, or just good information, on how to handle getting the genie, back in the bottle, so to speak, would be appreciated.

 

[huntseat]

Treats, like mealworms or cooked rice or watermelon or noodles can greatly aid the "training" of birds to go back to the bird barn at night. Mine will chase me down, so I have to have a running start to stay ahead of the mob. It also breaks their hearts when I am empty handed.

Some people ring a bell or shake a can of grain or make a call (my friend screams chicken b!tches at the top of her lungs, not a recommendation btw) to signal it's time to come in for treats/roost/lockup.

You may have a few that are slower learners than others but consistency will get the job done.

Good luck!

 

[TipihlowLadies]

Treats, like mealworms or cooked rice or watermelon or noodles can greatly aid the "training" of birds to go back to the bird barn at night. Mine will chase me down, so I have to have a running start to stay ahead of the mob. It also breaks their hearts when I am empty handed.

Some people ring a bell or shake a can of grain or make a call (my friend screams chicken b!tches at the top of her lungs, not a recommendation btw) to signal it's time to come in for treats/roost/lockup.

You may have a few that are slower learners than others but consistency will get the job done.

Good luck!

X 2 I use wild bird feed at night if you have a rooster all you need to do is get his attention and he will do the rest.

 

[Ksane]

Thank you to Lori for picking up the elderly mostly-blind Silkie pair from Robin and bringing them to me!! Robin, they're just gorgeous and so big Real calm and lap friendly also. I think the bigger one can see at least a bit because he made a beeline for the water as soon as he saw it. I'll get pictures tomorrow or Sunday. Thank you so much for them!

Right after that we picked up 500 lbs of chicken feed at Livestock Nutrition for only $125 total. He told me all that was in it and I forgot some of it, I'll find out. I know there's chopped corn, oats, soybean......that's all I remember. But that comes to only $12.50 per 50 lb bag so I'm thrilled. I'm not even sure how much feed I go through anymore, I'm thinking it's 1000 lbs/20 bags a month. I'm going to keep track this time. Whatever's in the stuff it's got the required calcium along with vitamins/minerals for layers. The birds LOVE it. So do I. Loose grains just seem a lot better than extruded plant protein pellets.
Makes you want to take a bite yourself, huh??

 

[Loriemarler]

Thank you to Lori for picking up the elderly mostly-blind Silkie pair from Robin and bringing them to me!! Robin, they're just gorgeous and so big Real calm and lap friendly also. I think the bigger one can see at least a bit because he made a beeline for the water as soon as he saw it. I'll get pictures tomorrow or Sunday. Thank you so much for them!

Right after that we picked up 500 lbs of chicken feed at Livestock Nutrition for only $125 total. He told me all that was in it and I forgot some of it, I'll find out. I know there's chopped corn, oats, soybean......that's all I remember. But that comes to only $12.50 per 50 lb bag so I'm thrilled. I'm not even sure how much feed I go through anymore, I'm thinking it's 1000 lbs/20 bags a month. I'm going to keep track this time. Whatever's in the stuff it's got the required calcium along with vitamins/minerals for layers. The birds LOVE it. So do I. Loose grains just seem a lot better than extruded plant protein pellets.
Makes you want to take a bite yourself, huh??

Your welcome!! It was a fun road trip. I got to meet Robin and Mitzi. And their chickens friendly husbands. When I got home the hen I picked up from Robin had laid an egg in her crate. The sweet thing. I was planning on quarantining her with her chicks but if she has started laying again I might need to seperate them.

Thank you Robin for such a beautiful little chicken family. They are settling in the bunny barn right now.

 

[Ksane]

Lorie, you can still keep the mama with the babies. There's no reason to separate them.

Does anyone know if there's an auction this weekend?

 

[lonnyandrinda]

X 2 I use wild bird feed at night if you have a rooster all you need to do is get his attention and he will do the rest.

X3. First thing first- KEEP THEM LOCKED UP FOR A FEW MORE DAYS. Each day, a couple of times a day, go out with treats- mealworms, scraps, oatmeal, birdseed, etc., shake the container and make your "treat call." For me, it's "Here, chickie chickie chickie!" in a high toned voice. They will learn to come running for treats. THEN a few days into this you can let them out, and when it's time for them to return give the can a shake and give your treat call.

@Ksane that feed looks awesome!

 

[artsyrobin]

Lorie, i'd go ahead and keep them together - mama will make it clear when she is done raising them, they actually will wean them.

It was great meeting you and the boys! How did the quail do?