***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

What a day. Just removed 2 big rat snakes from the coop. No wonder my girls are trying to lay in the flower beds! Got 19 babies from Meyer Hatchery on Wednesday. Lots of little blue and lavender butts. I may needs some help with breeds later.

Right now I’m really concerned about the tiny salmon favorelle they sent. She’s half the size of the others and is not as active. Her little crop seems empty though she did eat and drink when we got her out of the shipping box. I’ve been giving her sugar water today to try to get her to perk up. She is not a bantam. Meyer doesn’t have that breed as a bantam. For now, I’m letting her stay under the heat cave with the others. She seems stressed when alone. My daughter is already attached and we don’t want to lose her, but I told her there is probably a reason she is so tiny. Many of you are more experienced chicken nurses than I am. @NanaKat, @artsyrobin any advice?

Sorry about the baby. I use Nutri-Drench in the water containers. 1/2 tsp per quart of water. It helps the new chicks because it is absorbed in the mouth and crop.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

Sorry about the baby. I use Nutri-Drench in the water containers. 1/2 tsp per quart of water. It helps the new chicks because it is absorbed in the mouth and crop.

I'll have to get some for future issues. Completely forgot I do have some powdered chicken electrolytes with probiotics to mix into water. I think there was something wrong with the little thing. So tiny but her wing feathers were more developed than the others. Probably from the late hatch special and I bet her size made hatching harder.

 

[Mya05]

Hey, I'm new to this group, and fairly new to this site. Late March we decided to try raising chickens, mostly at the behest of our 10 year old daughter. We originally purchased 3 chicks from the co-op, after I was assured they were all female. Unfortunately, we lost the smallest chick a month later. Poop kept sticking to and drying on her butt, and I did my best to help her, but it wasn't enough. As the other two matured, I started questioning if the largest of the two was truly a hen or not. I asked on a thread about chicken sex and breed, and the consensus was that it was a rooster, so I guess we'll eventually be adding to our flock
He has already shown himself to be a great protector of our hen. He is always alert, keeping one eye on the sky. About a week ago while my daughter was out with the chickens, a small hawk attempted to get our hen, she ran under the table, and our rooster had to be held back by my daughter. He apparently thought he could take on the hawk We also have a 70lb. Pit mix who did try to eat the surviving hen when she was still bite sized. She is fine, but the rooster apparently remembers the attack, because whenever he sees our dog or hears the jingle of her tags, he stands up, fluffs his feathers, and is ready to fight. Our dog has no clue she is being challenged, and basically ignores the chickens now. I'm hoping the rooster stays friendly towards us, he has been hand raised, fed, and my daughter scoops him up at every opportunity. His breed, Australorp, is supposed to be one of the gentler roosters according to Google. We will have to see how it goes.

Tried to upload pictures for them for 20 minutes or so, don't know why it is failing to upload. I will try again tomorrow.

 

[Mya05]

Hey, I'm new to this group, and fairly new to this site. Late March we decided to try raising chickens, mostly at the behest of our 10 year old daughter. We originally purchased 3 chicks from the co-op, after I was assured they were all female. Unfortunately, we lost the smallest chick a month later. Poop kept sticking to and drying on her butt, and I did my best to help her, but it wasn't enough. As the other two matured, I started questioning if the largest of the two was truly a hen or not. I asked on a thread about chicken sex and breed, and the consensus was that it was a rooster, so I guess we'll eventually be adding to our flock
He has already shown himself to be a great protector of our hen. He is always alert, keeping one eye on the sky. About a week ago while my daughter was out with the chickens, a small hawk attempted to get our hen, she ran under the table, and our rooster had to be held back by my daughter. He apparently thought he could take on the hawk We also have a 70lb. Pit mix who did try to eat the surviving hen when she was still bite sized. She is fine, but the rooster apparently remembers the attack, because whenever he sees our dog or hears the jingle of her tags, he stands up, fluffs his feathers, and is ready to fight. Our dog has no clue she is being challenged, and basically ignores the chickens now. I'm hoping the rooster stays friendly towards us, he has been hand raised, fed, and my daughter scoops him up at every opportunity. His breed, Australorp, is supposed to be one of the gentler roosters according to Google. We will have to see how it goes.

Tried to upload pictures for them for 20 minutes or so, don't know why it is failing to upload. I will try again tomorrow.

Just saw that one picture managed to upload...so I decided to try again with another picture.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

No roosters for sure in my babies so far, although the 2 polish babies had very different looking crests.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

Great rainstorm today, huh? Tomatoes are loving it.

This thread is way too quiet. I miss you guys!

 

[NanaKat]

I've been swamped with the remodel, the cattle, hatching and caring for 400 chicks, some family health issues and my garden.

Generating activity on our thread has been slow....but hopefully will pick up soon.

Miss you all too!

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

School letting out in person has allowed me to start my garden on time for once. I've never had this much success with beefsteak tomatoes!. My son is at the family Ily compound near Ada working and apparently fishing. Hope everybody is well!

ATTACH=full]2244365[/ATTACH]

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

This has really been the year of the snakes! I knew the temporary run for the babies wasn't 100% secure, but letting them have some freedom was a risk worth taking. Found this in with them with my little blue laced red Wyandotte inside. Found out my snake grabber is dual purpose. Bludgeon to death and then extract!

The fool in the coop waiting for the girls to come lay eggs gets a pass for now. My girls have volunteered to lay right by my front porch and I've decided to encourage it. I can't keep snakes out of the coop if I'm letting them free range.

I'm going to go back with wire and duct tape and make some more adjustments on the playpen. Got some more work done on the new coop floor. This adds some urgency!

Anybody use 1 inch hardware cloth on coops and runs? Our local hardware store sells 50 foot rolls of 4 foot height for $43. I think 19 gauge. Seems like a steal if the holes are small enough! They may have some in stock tomorrow.

Plus I have 2 new soccer goal nets I found at goodwill. Maybe i can wrap them around and tangle up any other snakes that come after my babies.

How about you guys @artsyrobin, @NanaKat, @Pennys Mama, and others? Seeing more snakes?

 

[NanaKat]

School letting out in person has allowed me to start my garden on time for once. I've never had this much success with beefsteak tomatoes!. My son is at the family Ily compound near Ada working and apparently fishing. Hope everybody is well! View attachment 2244366View attachment 2244367
ATTACH=full]2244365[/ATTACH]

Lovely tomatoes and WOW what a bass!

This has really been the year of the snakes! I knew the temporary run for the babies wasn't 100% secure, but letting them have some freedom was a risk worth taking. Found this in with them with my little blue laced red Wyandotte inside. Found out my snake grabber is dual purpose. Bludgeon to death and then extract!

The fool in the coop waiting for the girls to come lay eggs gets a pass for now. My girls have volunteered to lay right by my front porch and I've decided to encourage it. I can't keep snakes out of the coop if I'm letting them free range.

I'm going to go back with wire and duct tape and make some more adjustments on the playpen. Got some more work done on the new coop floor. This adds some urgency!

Anybody use 1 inch hardware cloth on coops and runs? Our local hardware store sells 50 foot rolls of 4 foot height for $43. I think 19 gauge. Seems like a steal if the holes are small enough! They may have some in stock tomorrow.

Plus I have 2 new soccer goal nets I found at goodwill. Maybe i can wrap them around and tangle up any other snakes that come after my babies.

How about you guys @artsyrobin, @NanaKat, @Pennys Mama, and others? Seeing more snakes?
View attachment 2244985View attachment 2244979View attachment 2244985View attachment 2244988

I have used hardware wire in 1/2 inch by 1 inch successfully. Also topped the pens with 2" by 4" X 4' and then covered those with shade cloth...keeps the big predators out.
1 inch chicken wire won't keep out snakes....if the head can go thru the body can too.

Yes, I have killed two 4' plus long egg swallowing snakes ... Caught one in the breed pen in the act!


And this one near the chicken run scoping out the 3 week old chicks.


A snake in the garden is great because of the field mice, voles and gophers...even the wild rabbits. But enter the pens, coops or runs and snakes learn the hard way the eggs and chickens are MINE!
I keep limb lopers handy and carry a flashlight to the hen house now...reached in a nest box too many times to gather up eggs and felt the slippery hide of a snake. OFF with their heads!