***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Ksane]

This thread should be renamed OKIE ENABLERS LIST - 'Pick Your Poison!'

I love this list so much. Everyone is so generous with their time, their knowledge & their expertise and ides. All the how-to's, the get-togethers, Capon clinics....this list amazes me.

My new coop! He built it in his shop and he's gonna move it this weekend out to the pen. He's gonna put the nesting boxes against the walls just inside the door way. I can't wait to get more hens!

Dang!! He gets Husband Of The year award for that!! It's just beautiful!

 

[ashtree]

I know how you feel about the rabbits. Kass needs a whoopin' for the can of worms she's opened here

I researched rabbits and it seems Holland Lops are only 2-3 lbs vs Mini Lops that are 6 lbs. OMG they're adorable! Then my husband informs me he's always wanted rabbits but didn't say anything because I'm the one who'd have their day to day care. I'll be sure to whoop him when I'm done with Kass.
I've been using these storage cubes to make 2 1/2' x 2 1/2' Serama cages for awhile now and they work awesome. I just ordered more to make Channing (my favorite Serama boy) a 5' x 5' cage since he's got 2 little hens now. I decorate them with fake ivy and plants. I need to find some small fake trees. The floors I make are that plastic egg crate stuff so poop and food falls right through to the tray underneath, the birds stay clean all the time and there's that nice smelling scooping cat litter in the bottom of the trays so it honestly smells very good. ANYWAY....my point......these storage cubes & corrugated plastic sheeting (Home Depot online has both) is used for indoor rabbit and guinea pig cages. @ashtree if your son got a couple mini rabbits one of these cages would work just perfect in his room. And the bunnies can have a litter box in his enclosure also. I'll post an example, you can see tons more ideas at
https://www.google.com/search?q=sto...BLtetyAS6kYLwAw&ved=0CEUQ7Ak&biw=1024&bih=649
I remember you were talking about getting him a rabbit and I just know he'd be so excited to be able to keep it/them in his room.

I love this idea, but you should see how small our house is. I won't post it, because I think it would freak people out to know how many we fit in a small space. Let me just say 1000sq feet would be like a mansion. I feel like I need to add I keep a SUPER clean house. Its pretty much what I do 80% of the day. We've just learned to be a super cozy bunch.

That being said, floor space for a bunny is impossible. I really want to find a working situation for outdoors. I have the hutch, just no run, so looking for ideas on how to keep them from digging out.

This thread should be renamed OKIE ENABLERS LIST - 'Pick Your Poison!'

you are really not kidding.

My new coop! He built it in his shop and he's gonna move it this weekend out to the pen. He's gonna put the nesting boxes against the walls just inside the door way. I can't wait to get more hens!

Your husband kicked butt! I fully intend on showing my husband these pictures. Im trying to design something for silkies, and I think this would be perfect, Im finding my city coops probably won't cut it in predator land. I have a duck coop ( YEA @Ksane for making sure I have ducks for it) and a random coop for the cochins/d'uccle/ and all the others. but I need a good one for silkies. I also have one set up for guineas. We have all the materials, just need the time, oh and the guineas!

Also, I am wanting to get another dog. I love our pyrenees and he will be in the fenced in area with the goats and ducks, but I need a dog thats good with chickens, won't wander if not fenced, and is protective of and good with children. I envision them walking trails in the back of the property and want a dog that will go with them without a leash for protection and company. Any ideas? Our pyrenees will do what pyrenees do….wander aimlessly and quickly

Of course we're not getting the goats right away because I dont want to take on too much too quickly, but I would like to get a puppy sooner rather than later to start training.

Also what do folks do about feral cats? There are 4 kittens running around the property being fed by the current house sitter.

They apparently have the mama and still haven't fixed her, the kittens are friendly enough. I like the idea of maybe catching, neutering, and keeping 1, but 4??? Thats a bit more than I want to take on. Id like to have a good little rodent hunter. I already have an older cat that goes in and out but he's not very good at catching anything that moves. He's worked hard for retirement tho.

Edited to add the duck/goat area is over an acre fenced, so I dont think it will be torturous for the pyrenees. Is is possible he's outgrown the whole running and taking off thing? He's over 2 now, I just know he used to bolt anytime our gate was open, he was actually hit by a car a few months ago, so Im pretty nervous about just letting him freely roam.

 

[Kyzmette]

@ashtree My dog, Jewels, is a shepherd/pit mix that does everything you mentioned and more. When I go to bed at night and she's inside, she sleeps in the doorway. When she sleeps outside, she's draped across the porch steps. When I wander off in the brush to pick berries, she's two steps ahead of me if she knows the path, and going in circles around me if she doesn't. When she was younger I taught her to stay on the property and now she refuses to leave it.

And best of all... when my oldest grandbaby was just a few weeks old, I took her outside to soak up some fresh air while I gardened. I set her in her chair and Jewels laid down next to her. Shortly after, my mom's dog, a large husky named Blue, came over to check out the newcomer. I knew he wouldn't hurt the baby, but I was right there on pins and needles during the introduction. Only the introduction didn't happen, because as Blue approached the baby chair, Jewels got up and walked about six feet out to greet him, nose to nose. He started to walk around her, and she repositioned herself, still nose to nose, still between him and the baby chair. Every step he took, she was right there, walking in circles around that baby chair with him. Eventually he gave up and ambled away, but Jewels never did let him anywhere near that baby.

 

[artsyrobin]

day started well with a scammer hitting our bank account- hubs is down there getting it fixed.... bank is advancing us some money till they get it straightened out- love that bank- didn't expect that

had a great dinner with Coral and Dusti, nothing better than a meal and chicken chat!

 

[ashtree]

@ashtree My dog, Jewels, is a shepherd/pit mix that does everything you mentioned and more. When I go to bed at night and she's inside, she sleeps in the doorway. When she sleeps outside, she's draped across the porch steps. When I wander off in the brush to pick berries, she's two steps ahead of me if she knows the path, and going in circles around me if she doesn't. When she was younger I taught her to stay on the property and now she refuses to leave it.

And best of all... when my oldest grandbaby was just a few weeks old, I took her outside to soak up some fresh air while I gardened. I set her in her chair and Jewels laid down next to her. Shortly after, my mom's dog, a large husky named Blue, came over to check out the newcomer. I knew he wouldn't hurt the baby, but I was right there on pins and needles during the introduction. Only the introduction didn't happen, because as Blue approached the baby chair, Jewels got up and walked about six feet out to greet him, nose to nose. He started to walk around her, and she repositioned herself, still nose to nose, still between him and the baby chair. Every step he took, she was right there, walking in circles around that baby chair with him. Eventually he gave up and ambled away, but Jewels never did let him anywhere near that baby.

Wow. That sounds like an amazing dog. I need 1 of those. I think I might try for a good sized mutt. With proper training I feel like a mutt might be perfect

 

[ashtree]

day started well with a scammer hitting our bank account- hubs is down there getting it fixed.... bank is advancing us some money till they get it straightened out- love that bank- didn't expect that

had a great dinner with Coral and Dusti, nothing better than a meal and chicken chat!

That is so awful. I'm glad the bank is being awesome but what stress that must cause! So sorry you're going thro this

 

[subhanalah]

This thread should be renamed OKIE ENABLERS LIST - 'Pick Your Poison!'

Hahaha

Wow. That sounds like an amazing dog. I need 1 of those. I think I might try for a good sized mutt. With proper training I feel like a mutt might be perfect

Are you looking for a good mutt that will run the property and always come back? Have I got the dog for you! She knows sit, lay down, stay, leave it, she sits for her food and leaves it on the ground until you tell her to take it.
Haven't worked with her too much around the animals, but she could be trained if she got enough exercise!

 

[ashtree]

Hahaha
Are you looking for a good mutt that will run the property and always come back? Have I got the dog for you! She knows sit, lay down, stay, leave it, she sits for her food and leaves it on the ground until you tell her to take it.
Haven't worked with her too much around the animals, but she could be trained if she got enough exercise!

I think I have to start with a puppy because I'm incredibly nervous around full grown dogs. I used to work at a kennel with trained guard dogs and was never the least bit scared, but my son has been bit 3 times and now I find myself super anxious around dogs. I'm fine with the Pyrenees because I raised him up.

 

[HeyBigRhondaq]

@NanaKat There is a long list of possible breeds, but you are guaranteed 8 different ones. I really don't care what breeds they are. I wanted a variety...still trying to get to know different breeds and have found I actually like some breeds I didn't think I would and vice versa. I only paid $34 (including shipping) for 24 eggs, so I don't need a lot to hatch to make it worthwhile. But it will be a lesson learned if its a bad experience. I guess it's a lesson learned either way!
I do appreciate the concern, andI'll keep you posted!

 

[subhanalah]

I think I have to start with a puppy because I'm incredibly nervous around full grown dogs. I used to work at a kennel with trained guard dogs and was never the least bit scared, but my son has been bit 3 times and now I find myself super anxious around dogs. I'm fine with the Pyrenees because I raised him up.

she's been our foster since she was a puppy, she just turned a year old. And she only weighs about 35 pounds lol.

From what I've been reading on here about LGD is that if you want a good 9ne, it's best to buy an adult who's already been trained if you don't have an older trained dog to teach the younger dog (I think the latter applies here?) But if you just want a deterrent dog, (which is what most people think of when they hear LGD) then any old dog will do. Should have told me this before yesterday...There was a little girl puppy around here that went to the pound