***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[banjoejoe4783]

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thetre are several of use that has sillkies i have some sillkie pullets but im not that close to tulsa some one closer may chime in soon

 

[nnbreeder]

Betsy is just West of the Tulsa area and she has Silkies, she may have some that are old enough to tell their sex and has different qualities of birds too. From show quality on down to pet quality.

There are many more members in the area that have birds too but they usually come online in the evening so check back this evening.

Oh and you are not butting in, we welcome all that want to stop by and visit.

 

[NanaKat]

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I made rings from bailing wire that would pierce thru the fabric and could be tightened with a pair of pliers. I used a 1/2 inch dowel, wrapped the wire around the dowel. Slipped the spring off the dowel and cut the rings with a pair of wire cutters....each ring was a wrap and a half....carry over from my jewelry making days. The rings were cut at an angle so the ends were sharp. Worked like a charm.

Great information on making attachment rings. I hadn't really thought about how to attach the fabric. I wonder if D-rings, like you use in building cages, would work. The advantage of the "professional" shade cloth is that it is knit so it won't ravel out.

I thought about using some old double knit fabric for that very reason....But the colors (Pink, yellow, etc) would have made the pen look like a circus tent....Roger already says it looks like a homeless person lives there.....

But the chickens are happy.

I have those little clip things for rolling to hold wire together when making cages. They weren't big enough to go on the cattle panel so I had to improvise. Don't know about D rings. would be interested to know if they worked for you.
Zip ties do work but become brittle in the sun and break after a season.

 

[jcatblum]

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I haven't lost any to heat yet, but I let them out early & they run & play in the woods most of the day. Been giving ice to them in the coop & changing water at least 2 times a day plus frozen treats. I have 10 guineas that spent the night in the woods. They usually come back to their coop by dark but only 4 came in last night & I am certain the heat kept the others coming in last night.

Sure hope the heat let's up soon.

 

[NanaKat]

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We have shade cloth on the baby grow out pen (green) and a black piece on the hen run. Those have lasted for years. The fabric I'm using on the new pen is actually some kind of drapery material that has a loose weave...probably won't last but one season, so It will be replaced with "real" shade cloth. I had to do something fast so "necessity being the Mother of invention...

 

[lulumammato2]

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Thank you, would you be able to give me Betsys #or you could give her mine I would love to have a silkie.

 

[Kassaundra]

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I have heard if you attract a crow / raven to your area they will drive the hawk away. They eat eggs, but not chickens. Several people have posted they leave an egg out just for the crow / raven. But I don't know the details.

 

[CityClucks]

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Thank you, would you be able to give me Betsys #or you could give her mine I would love to have a silkie.

Lulu - you can send Betsy a PM - Go up to the blue BYC menu bar and click on Messages, then select the "Send New Message" button on the right. In the "Send to" field, type BetsyOK, then send her a message. She is a wonderful person and will be able to give you some direction on finding a silkie pullet for your son.

 

[NanaKat]

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I have heard if you attract a crow / raven to your area they will drive the hawk away. They eat eggs, but not chickens. Several people have posted they leave an egg out just for the crow / raven. But I don't know the details.

My Purple Martins do the same thing. I haven't had a hawk near the pens since I put up Martin poles and have many nesting pairs.

 

[artsyrobin]

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I have heard if you attract a crow / raven to your area they will drive the hawk away. They eat eggs, but not chickens. Several people have posted they leave an egg out just for the crow / raven. But I don't know the details.

well, we have lots of crows around here, and a pair of hawks that patrol the pond and creek, but i haven't seen any hawk attacks- hmmm...interesting theory

my guys go out for an hour in the late morning and then right before dusk, and we have dogs patroling so that helps too- of course the day patrol keeps the chicken-eating squirrels away!