***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Okla-doodle-doo]

I had a surprise the other day when I boiled some eggs for the chiocks. The shell was blue outside and inside but so was the "white"! It had a verys small yolk.

 

[jcatblum]

Weather doesn't feel any cooler here yet. But something has the coyotes stirring extra early. About an hour ago I could see them on the far side of the barn. Didn't try to take a shot since the neighbors cattle was close & can't imagine if I would have hit a cow! DH says with the scope I should t be able to miss but seriously I don't think it is worth the risk.

Candled the eggs I sat last wk. Looks like about 75% fertile. Honestly that is better than I expected!
Hopefully the heat has let up by the time they hatch. I much prefer chicks in the brooder out in the "chicken shed".

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

How did everyones gourds do this year. I planted a hill beside my carport that I hadn't gotten around to putting a roof on yet. Now I can't park in it anyway!lol Its like a little solar system in there!lol

 

[jcatblum]

Quote:
That mamma hen is a pretty girl. I now have sworn to only get dark birds. Anything I have in a yellow or white is MIA. I do still have a few light colored frizzles, but they are young & don't wander far yet. Or maybe the frizzles feathers intimidate the hawks-- plan on tryig to put a few Martin houses up for spring, hopefully it will help!

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

Okay I am thru playing with the camera for tonight!lol. Hope you all didn't mind the little show!

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

jcat they say the mottled breeds are good for hawk areas because they blend into shadows better. Give them a try. the mottles are so cute and showy!

 

[jcatblum]

Quote:
I will hae to get a few when I run across them! I am willing to try anything. Was down to 58 birds when i counted last night that means i have lost about 20 to the heat & predators. Hopefully the heat is on it's way out. Hawk food is getting expensive!

I hate keeping the birds penned up all day. I ordered a huge aviary net. DH almost has it all the way up. So they will have a large area to play in early in the mornings. Then later in the afternoon they can play in the pasture. Hawks seem worse when it is early. I rarely see them after lunch. --- might just be the heat keeping them away though!

 

[artsyrobin]

hey poco, get a load of these two of yours- they are so cute together..

i also hate having mine penned all the time, so am letting them out about an hour before dark, not having them free range has sure increased the feed bill....

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
I will hae to get a few when I run across them! I am willing to try anything. Was down to 58 birds when i counted last night that means i have lost about 20 to the heat & predators. Hopefully the heat is on it's way out. Hawk food is getting expensive!

I hate keeping the birds penned up all day. I ordered a huge aviary net. DH almost has it all the way up. So they will have a large area to play in early in the mornings. Then later in the afternoon they can play in the pasture. Hawks seem worse when it is early. I rarely see them after lunch. --- might just be the heat keeping them away though!

Spangled or mottled varities should work exceptionally well for avian predators as teh pattern alone will act as a form of camoflage the broken pattern rather than a solid color should be very distracting and un-natural to a visual predator. It may not help with larger cats, coons, or possums though.

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
wayne,
I like it, can I reserve my little corner of the world or my own world if you have one to spare? Steph already thinks I live in my own world anyway..