***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[artsyrobin]

wonder if adding rock to the run would help?

 

[miohippus]

wonder if adding rock to the run would help?

i was just wondering that my self lol

 

[Kassaundra]

I would catch her when she is up for the night or in the morning before letting her out, that way no chasing needed.

 

[emach0301]

As far as limping, check the bottom of the feet for a round scab, might be bumble foot- as far as trimming nails, what kind of ground are the on? usually scratching the dirt will keep them down, but i have one hen i have to routinely trim-

Ive checked for a round scab on the bottom of her foot, and in fact she did have one, but it looked more to me like a "calise" (spelling). I did see an little tear in the skin next to it, so I bandaged it up and I'll see how it looks tonight. Could what I think looks like a calise be bumble foot? and whats treatment?? just cut it open and drain?? Thanks again!

 

[NanaKat]

Pecan season is upon us...cleaning up under trees and mowing under them in prep for harvest takes a lot of time. Then, the man that harvested for us last time sold most of his equipment and won't have time for us....so we have been picking up pecans by hand.
We took 160 pounds in to have cracked and blown and now in the evenings are picking out the nut meats while watching some tv. Sure are nice to nibble on....but 39 trees with pecans are ready for harvest with more trees to clean up under.
Left our contact info with three people and haven't received a call back. Looks like we will be picking up pecans for a long time.
The chickens enjoy working thru the shells that I throw in the flowerbeds as mulch. They find little tidbits but not many worms this year.

The geese were not happy with me last night when I made them go in their goose coop. But this morning when I opened their pop door, they both were hesitant to come out. And then the gander sure looked surprised when he jumped into the kiddie pool and fell thru the ice.

Although it was 30 degrees outside and water froze, the temp in the hen houses was 36 and the water was not frozen. Still, they bolted out the gate when I let them out to free range.

 

[NanaKat]

Quote: I clip my girls toe nails when they are on the roost at night....easier to catch and they settle back on the roost quickly. That's also when I check them for parasites or give them a worming with a drop of Ivermectin. I know which ones i have doctored because their toenails are clipped.

 

[miohippus]

I would catch her when she is up for the night or in the morning before letting her out, that way no chasing needed.

Ok i will try that Thanks

 

[miohippus]

I clip my girls toe nails when they are on the roost at night....easier to catch and they settle back on the roost quickly. That's also when I check them for parasites or give them a worming with a drop of Ivermectin. I know which ones i have doctored because their toenails are clipped.

that a good idea

 

[Buster52]

I had wondered how you were fairing with selling eggs the way your setup was was a lot better than the one I had about 15 years ago, I had 100 laying hens and it was a full time job just hustling eggs,
I put the pen to paper and without figuring in labor costs I was making .07 cents a month over what it cost me to produce those eggs and that was before feed prices went crazy,
I wasn't hatching or selling any chicks or birds there might have been more money in it had I been, After doing the math I downsized to what I had wanted to begin with a flock that provided me enough eggs and chicken to eat as much as I wanted.
I'm kinda thinking I might do the same thing again now, I know laying hens are said to sell from $12 to $20 and I've paid that much or more for the ones I wanted but at the auctions I don't think I've sold a single hen for more than ten bucks and by the time you get them to point of lay you have more feed in them than that,
On Craigslist I've gotten $15 each for my Buff Orpington pullets but haven't sold very many on it, I had taken most to the sale where I just had to figure that at least I'm not having to feed them anymore and that saves quite a bit on costs LOL
I'm still going to raise the same breeds I just have fewer of the RIR and BR the BO I'm expanding a bit and giving it another season to try getting it to pay for itself before I throw in the towel and really cut back,
Right now I'm not getting any eggs to speak of just an odd one here and there and at 25 degrees outside I can't blame it on snakes LOL

We're not the only ones. Some of the pros on the APPPA list are having a real hard time of it, and they charge a lot more than I do. One lady whose posts I follow regularly cleaned out her nearly 1800 bird layer flock and is going to give it one more shot before throwing in the towel.

 

[Ksane]

Jiminy, Buster! I wonder how many hours a day it took her to take care of birds, I cgan't imagine that many. 1800??
It's going to take Nana that long to get all those pecans picked up, too.
Christina, I think of your family all the time and hope you all are doing well with what you're dealing with.

I got these 2 Silkies from Betsy a year ago at the Shawnee show. A Black and Blue Partridge. They've been the sweetest, gentlest and healthiest girls. They looked soooo bad a month ago when they were molting :-O The Blue Partridge has a nice full coat now and the Black has just a week or so to go before she should be puffed all the way out. I just love the color of the Partridge one, her color changed after she molted. The 2 Bantam Spangled Cornish in with them are the 2 I got from GotGame at POOPS-they're so cool, I'd love to have more Spangled's. The other 2 in that yard are 2 of my hatchery Silkies I got last year. The boy (Stanley) is the most darling little boy-adores his girls and I adore Stanley. He's got just 5 girls but none are ever bald or missing feathers anywhere. This is another yard I like just sitting in and watching them.