Ribh's D'Coopage

[WhoDatChick]

I would say........NOT NORMAL! What the hey man! I have never seen that. Is your pecking order in an uproar? That’s just plain mean.

It may be.. but Daffodil is in the youngest group and they stay clear of everyone usually so it’s not like she would challenge Lilly or anything like that... and I never really see any of the chickens going over board with ugly behavior.. so not sure what this was about...
... it stresses me out... cuz now I am gonna have to be very watchful.. and maybe even have to take some sort of action ... it’s also sad because Lilly is one of the ones that seeks me out and waits for hugs

 

[MaryJanet]

I must ask because I am trying to become more educated.........How are you ready for possums?

For starters, Australian possums are not as nasty as north american possums. Ours are mostly cute and mostly nocturnal, although you might see one at dusk or dawn. But they're hungry little vegetarians. So they'd love to eat chook food and they're big enough to operate all the treadle feeders. So I keep the feed in galvanised bins that have lids and I've put a brick on each lid to prevent possums (and littler pests like rats n mice) getting in. All the feeders are in the fox-proof coop, which is also possum proof. The only pests getting into the feeders at present are sparrows, but I'm going to close off their access soon. When the chooks are out of the coop and I've put a feeder out for them, it's daytime when the possums are sleeping. But then the wildbirds take a free lunch. I don't mind that so much as long as they don't poop and put worms in the feed.

 

[Ribh]

t’s also sad because Lilly is one of the ones that seeks me out and waits for hugs

That may be your issue right there. I have a favorelle beating up on Lottie but that is the one real lap bird I have & I'm pretty sure she has jealousy issues. I'm as fair as I can be but still...She resents Lottie getting any extra attention @ all.

But then the wildbirds take a free lunch. I don't mind that so much as long as they don't poop and put worms in the feed

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! I never believed in taking time for ones self, now after my divorce self-care is high on my list.

The cake was incredible! It is all from scratch, red velvet with buttercream icing.

Sounds yum! Have a great time today and treat yourself @CrazyChookChookLady !

Because we deal with ticks such a lot [I have to check the cats daily] I'm paranoid about making sure the rotten things are actually dead & took to using a lighter on them. They make a most satisfying *pop* as they explode!

Remind me to never make you angry Ribh

 

[Ribh]

Sounds yum! Have a great time today and treat yourself @CrazyChookChookLady !



Remind me to never make you angry Ribh

lol I don't lose it often but, yeah, nasty when roused.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

But then the wildbirds take a free lunch. I don't mind that so much as long as they don't poop and put worms in the feed.

Yes, the rosellas and king parrots tend to go for the scratch feed I put out.
I'm more concerned about the girls getting scaly leg mite from the wild birds.

For starters, Australian possums are not as nasty as north american possums. Ours are mostly cute and mostly nocturnal, although you might see one at dusk or dawn. But they're hungry little vegetarians. So they'd love to eat chook food and they're big enough to operate all the treadle feeders.

I just put a brick directly on my (metal) treadle feeder at night. I don't seem to have any possum problems yet... rat yes. They are bold enough to come out during the day and they also go for any spilled feed.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

One of the things I did on the mainland was get my new glasses checked. They have been driving me nutty with glare on the lenses & a blur where the rims are. I've never had an issue before & I do so much close up work my eyes are tiring really, really fast. The bad news is I'm on quite a high script ~ = thick lenses. The answer is to take my glasses away & replace the lenses with thinner ones ~ @ a cost. I guess I'm reverting to my old specs while I wait!

And my Aussie mates: has any one else had bandicoot issues? I found one in the coop the other night & he's a big brute of a beast who has worked out how the treadle feeder works. I think I've blocked him for the time being but they are great burrowers & I never considered bandicoots as they've never been interested in the chooks before.

No bandicoots here either as far as I know. Others in the mountains have had problems with Spotted Quolls taking their chickens, but I haven't yet

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Whatare the snakes up your way @Ribh ?

Mostly brownies where I live, and red-bellied blacks up in the hills.

Same here @MaryJanet .

Thank you-I love working with young children-parent's not so much-lol

Yeah, Kids are definitely more fun than most adults @Grammy60

 

[Ribh]

Yes, the rosellas and king parrots tend to go for the scratch feed I put out.
I'm more concerned about the girls getting scaly leg mite from the wild birds.

I just put a brick directly on my (metal) treadle feeder at night. I don't seem to have any possum problems yet... rat yes. They are bold enough to come out during the day and they also go for any spilled feed.

I put apple cider vinegar in my bird baths too. Don't know that it helps but it makes me feel proactive!
I don't have rat & mice problems; the cats deal with them quite nicely. I have considered a brick but then the girls can't feed first thing & the treadle feeder is meant to reduce my work load.

 

[MaryJanet]

No bandicoots here either as far as I know. Others in the mountains have had problems with Spotted Quolls taking their chickens, but I haven't yet

I didn't realise quolls were big enough to steal a chicken