***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

Such a cool pic.

 

[BetsyOK]

Hi from Australia, I guess even as I write this (and woder why I am?) That my head will be literally (as in by writing) chopped off. I deal with snakes as a main predator on almost a daily (nightly) basis. My snacks range from 15foot to 2 feet. I have 16 chickens presently, 6 adults & 9 x 6wks old. I have caught & relocated 19 snakes this year. I do not kill them, why?, they are just doing their thing. Why not just catch, drop in a pillow slip and relase at least 5 miles away. I just cannot understand the death wish everyone has about snakes? I caught a 2 ft brown tree snake last night, TINY in my world & actually sat & watched it for at least an hour when I released, she was facinating.Anyway, headless I shall retreat.
PS Yes I am female.

I basically agree with you and used to be teased (from childhood until a few years ago) for rescuing and relocating snakes. However, I've learned that if a three to six foot rat snake (or any other name they are called) eats eggs or chicks or tries to eat a larger, sleeping bird and has to regurgitate it after it has smothered, that snake is not going to go away as long as it can find easily caught food. I don't like doing it, but know that it will keep coing back unless I kill it. I do also think it is our responsibility to keep our birds as safe from predators as possible, and will make an effort to "snake proof" their pens as much as possible, but it's almost impossible to snake proof outdoor pens. I do appreciate your interest and compassion for living things and their right to behave naturally.

 

[jens-hens]

Adorable!

 

[Ksane]

I have caught several so far this year the latest being a five and a half foot coachwhip, they aren't venomous and don't constrict so most of the time they have no choice the food goes down alive and kicking.... I had caught this one during the night and it was dead from the heat by the time I got home from work, I should have the newest pen for babies done and occupied by tomorrow evening and by done I mean somewhat reasonably snake and other critter resistant, to give the smaller members of my fambly a better chance to not get on somethings menu
Elwood

Hi from Australia, I guess even as I write this (and woder why I am?) That my head will be literally (as in by writing) chopped off. I deal with snakes as a main predator on almost a daily (nightly) basis. My snacks range from 15foot to 2 feet. I have 16 chickens presently, 6 adults & 9 x 6wks old. I have caught & relocated 19 snakes this year. I do not kill them, why?, they are just doing their thing. Why not just catch, drop in a pillow slip and relase at least 5 miles away. I just cannot understand the death wish everyone has about snakes? I caught a 2 ft brown tree snake last night, TINY in my world & actually sat & watched it for at least an hour when I released, she was facinating.Anyway, headless I shall retreat.
PS Yes I am female.

anyone know why chickens get raspy sounding in the heat and the best recipe for treating it?

Either we had a big snake in the coop yesterday or the heat has officially got our egg production. Collected 3 eggs yesterday. We had still been getting at least 18. A month ago it was about 3 dz a day.
Heat is getting the garden good to. Normally takes us 2 hours or more to pick. Today less than an hour. I will say my contender green beans are covered in blooms again, from the rain & cooler weather we received. The other varieties are not blooming @ all. I cut most of them back to prepare & plant more greenbeans & purple hulls.
We tried to let some of our fancy guineas out to free rage for their first time yesterday, one killed itself trying to get back in the cage. Also lost a langshan, but Alexis said don't worry it wasnt one of the pretty ones. Not sure which ones are pretty are which ones are not.
Everyone stay cool.

Oh, MJ!! I love this lol!!!

My 2nd Bantam Ameraucana hatch is going on right now. I got a Lavender, a Silver (yippee!), a Black and a Blue last night. There's still 3 BR/Birchens pipped in there and I'm hoping the other Lavender egg hatches, too. I've got 2 Whites & 3 Brown Reds from the hatch a month ago. These tiny Ameraucanas from this particular breeder are so personable! They come out of the egg in love with people.

 

[NanaKat]

Good Morning...still...Had to post this for those of you with pigs.....

 

[jens-hens]

Nugget isn't acting like herself. My chicks have a ton of shade, a mister, a fan and lots of ice cold water. Everyone else seems fine. Are Polish less tolerant of the heat? I brought her inside to see if cooling her down will help. Anyway, she's getting a little more attention from her four legged friends than she would like. If the cats get too close my Australian pushes them back.

 

[NanaKat]

I counted 13...was I right...a baker's dozen. two are hiding behind the ones on the first row.

Lost 3 last night...one's I had put up to treat for heat and dehydration. Lost the big F1 cockrell I was holding back for breeding the F!s....will have to use the second one now. A cochin hen, a d'Anvers pullet and the cockerell.....just makes me sick.

The hen house and pens sure smell nicer this morning after spraying down with Oxine and Pine-Sol. and they are fly-less too. Used an insecticidal spray for barns and poultry pens, etc. in there yesterday while everyone was out free-ranging. That will help with the mites, lice, fleas, ticks and any other bug.

Running water in the garden seems almost pointless until I look at the pumpkins, cantalope, watermelon and cucumber patches along with the okra, peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, fall potatoes, and tomato vines I cut back to sprout side shoots for fall....makes the effort worthwhile. The new fruit trees need the water as do the apple, pear and peach trees.

Going back out to finish spreading the new wood shavings since I didn't do it last night. and move the water hoses again.

Everybod stay cool and keep those birds hydrated...electrolites and misters.......

 

[Reagor]

Lost three to the heat yesterday with mist and water pans and all ..... Way to sad

Sorry. What kind were they?

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Just had to share- my four year old LOVES our chickens and is catching and carrying them around the yard CONSTANTLY. This morning she was SO PROUD to have caught two at once and brought them to me to show me! What a funny girl! The one on the left is her absolute favorite, she named him Hugger. I haven't told her he will probably hit freezer camp eventually.... we've only had chickens since June 1. These are BCM the bigger one is probably 3 months old the smaller one is right at 2 months. And yes- she insists on dressing herself in the most outlandish combinations of patterns/pants with dresses she can find!

 

[Reagor]

Just had to share- my four year old LOVES our chickens and is catching and carrying them around the yard CONSTANTLY.  This morning she was SO PROUD to have caught two at once and brought them to me to show me!  What a funny girl!  The one on the left is her absolute favorite, she named him Hugger.  I haven't told her he will probably hit freezer camp eventually.... we've only had chickens since June 1.  These are BCM the bigger one is probably 3 months old the smaller one is right at 2 months. And yes- she insists on dressing herself in the most outlandish combinations of patterns/pants with dresses she can find!

That is too freakin cute.