Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

Quote: In the winter time when I have the straw thick, I do go in and turn it with a fork every couple days,,,also remove any really wet spots and lay fresh down,,,,,,,,I am a little bias on this one though, since my straw is free,,,,,,,,also are you using barley straw or wheat straw,,,,i use wheat on the floors and barley in the nesters.....barley straw is softer but will clump up if wet ...could be a moister problem in winter.
 
I use straw - lots of straw, especially in the winter. When it gets moist, I just add another layer. The bottom layers compost in place, and actually generates heat. When the mood strikes, I turn it with a manure fork to speed up the process, then add another layer of straw.

If it starts to smell, turning it and a new layer of straw on top fix the problem. I end up with lots of really nice compost. The downside is that mice like to live there too.
 
I don't want to kill an owl either, but I can't have him returning every night to get a shot at the ducks or bantams (both in an open run overnight. Not too worried about the bantams, they have 1/4 inch wire. The ducks just have standard chicken wire. I don't know if he could get through that!). Most of our neighbors also own firearms, but we're getting a new neighbor and I'm sure the exsisting ones won't appreciate gunshots at that hour. Would the game commision really relocate a problem bird? I have really fine plasticy deer netting covering the main runs, so I'm worried about him getting stuck in it one of these days. I wonder if they would come remove the bird if he got stuck...
If it got stuck they would definitely come to get it loose, but I'm not sure if they would relocate it. You'd have to check with your local Game Commission office. Mine doesn't do a whole heck of a lot, we've had a black snake in our attic for years now, and he won't come and trap it (or tell me how to). He also won't come trap the black bear that gets into stuff. He doesn't even lend traps for nuisance animals (coons, possoms, feral cats). I know some officers/offices are much better, so I can only speak from experience with mine. Something you might be able to try (again check about the regs) is bird netting, the kind for crops, that is designed to trap the birds but not hurt them, and placing that over the runs. Again if it gets caught they'll have to deal with it.
ETA: I did more checking, do not use a gun to scare away protected animals, the owl in this case. Apparently even blanks to scare them off is against the law. I hate how an animal can be so prolific and still be protected....
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or then again, if the little one isn't keen on soups go with the good old dependable... 'breakfast for dinner' like we do sometimes. Pancakes or french toast with eggs and bacon. Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches... Scrambled hamburgers with peirogies ... Chicken and dumplings.... Beef Stroganoff...
Thanks for the suggestion, the saving grace to this is, she's not mine! LOL she's my granddaughter and her mom will be picking her and the 2 yo up after work today, so I don't have to worry about food that she'll eat, though overall we don't change our food for the littles. They even eat watercress! I was supposed to meet Aunt Kat at Root's today, so was gonna toss something in the crockpot, but now, since I'm home, I'll make something else, and keep the simple meal for tomorrow when I have a meeting with the caterer. And what in the world are scrambled hamburgers????
:jumpy ...cool! Poor kiddo!.x's 2...and mommy.....how about spaghetti?! don't all kids love that?!
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:hugs your are doing just fine...hope the little one makes it!
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Oddly, this one doesn't, well to be prceise, she doesn't like red sauce....odd since she's part italian!
Morning All!! I have a quick question and thought I would ask your opinions before going to the "sick/hurt birds board" My Fav hen seems to have a little bump at the base of her one toe. She is eatting and walking around on it just fine... I didn't notice it till this AM. Not sure if it is Bumble foot or not. I thought she would not put too much weight on it if it was. She was her bright normal talkitive self this am. Came running for her treats.She is still laying nice eggs as well. So My question is... What do i do? It doesn't seem to be bothering her so i would HATE to open it up and cause more problems, but i don't want to let it go till it get's so bad that she can't walk and I HAVE to perform surgery.. :sick I will try to get some picks of her foot tonight. It is about the size of a pencil eraser. You can't really tell unless you look closely. Any Suggestions? Can i do something to avoid the surgery?
I'd start with an epsom salt bath so you can see if it was just a splinter that washes out, or if it's more serious.
I'm sure we can all relate to most, if not all of these :D
That's awesome!
does anybody know if straw is ok for bedding for my egg layers?
Lots of people use it, but I'm partial to shavings, as my coop is at the bottom of my drive, and when we have lots of rain, it runs right in under the personnel door into the coop...and i can scoop the shavings and not worry about molding.
Looking to purchase a trio of brahmas LF. Looking for local or chicks shipped.
I believe that'd be Sally's bag.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, the saving grace to this is, she's not mine! LOL she's my granddaughter and her mom will be picking her and the 2 yo up after work today, so I don't have to worry about food that she'll eat, though overall we don't change our food for the littles. They even eat watercress! I was supposed to meet Aunt Kat at Root's today, so was gonna toss something in the crockpot, but now, since I'm home, I'll make something else, and keep the simple meal for tomorrow when I have a meeting with the caterer. And what in the world are scrambled hamburgers????
Scrambled hamburger is as simple as it sounds... 1 lb of 85/15 or 93/7 ground beef, a tablespoon or so of minced garlic (based on taste, I like garlic...), a teaspoon or so of Montreal steak seasoning, a small onion cut into rings or chopped depending on which you like, and a small can of mushrooms or the equivilent of fresh mushroom.
I mix all in a skillet with a splash of water to prevent it sticking... stir it as it is cooking to keep it crumbled up rather than in big lumps, once it is starting to brown add the mushrooms and shortly before it is done I add a tablespoon or so of A1 or other preferred steak sauce.
I usually serve it with either mashed potatoes or pierogies and a choice of veggie. Rolls or bread are optional.
Might be super simple, but it was a life saver when I had my braces and my mouth hurt to chew most days!
 
In the winter time when I have the straw thick, I do go in and turn it with a fork every couple days,,,also remove any really wet spots and lay fresh down,,,,,,,,I am a little bias on this one though, since my straw is free,,,,,,,,also are you using barley straw or wheat straw,,,,i use wheat on the floors and barley in the nesters.....barley straw is softer but will clump up if wet ...could be a moister problem in winter.
Thanks for the info i think i use wheat straw for the floors and i just switched to pine shavings in my nest boxes.
 

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