She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[WalnutHill]

Walnut, that's incredible that someone would come in and steal eggs right out of your house. Bet she didn't know hubby was home. Perhaps she didn't see him there? Hope you get a chance for her to make it right!

She talked to him on the way in and out, he was on a ladder just a dozen feet away. Same woman I confronted a few months ago by the description, and the reason we sell eggs up at the house instead of conveniently at the driveway.

 

[lazy gardener]

So, I'm guessing you don't know her name? I'd be sure to get a game camera, or jot down her license plate. That's pretty gutsy, and she needs to be held accountable. No doubt you're not the only folks she's ripping off.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

LOL no kidding.

After hearing the flaky broody stories, I will stick with incubators.  Though I would like to experience a good broody hen at work.

It's an awesome thing. For all the worry about an incubator we do the broodies seem very relaxed about the whole thing, at least when they do natural nests.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

If you supplement the broody's hatch with incubator chicks, how many chicks can a good broody mother?

My only experience with broody hens is the growling stage where it's my job to get eggs from a feathered cobrasaurus.

The three successful broodies I have were feed store purchases. I think some breeds just are that way and more so individuals. The breeds I have that want to brood are chantcleer & cuckoo maran, the ones that completed the project were two speckled susex and one salmon faverole.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Amy,
I'm afraid you've taken in a "fear biter". Be careful!
If you can get him to come to you, even a short distance, to be petted or leashed, it might help.

A good share of the time he will come, usually very carefully-tentative, but then something will spook him and it's back to the untrustful won't approach phase and we have to start all over. It's a two steps foreward one step back.

We've adopted abused dogs several times. Some can get over it, others cannot. Most can, but when you do have visitors, put him in a safe and quiet place where he won't be disturbed. Some dogs are more comfortable with a kennel they can use as a safe place. But a couple of hints...

Don't reach out to the dog. Sit down with a treat (and leash if going for a walk) and call the dog to you. Wait patiently for him to process the request and work through the trust issue. When he approaches, keep your hand below his head, where he can see it, and move slowly. Say reassuring words, speaking softly. If at the last second he pulls away, relax and start again. Once you've touched, or attached the leash, reward with a walk or a back scratch as appropriate. Avoid touching his face until he puts it in your lap.

We adopted a very loving dog who was beaten so badly that he would run by at full speed, throw out his tongue for a flying kiss, then go cower behind a sofa. It took a few YEARS before he stopped closing his eyes when we'd reach out to him.

While I hate medicating humans or animals unnecessarily, anti-anxiety medications prescribed by a veterinarian may help your dog acclimate to his new surroundings.

We've done a lot of sitting and waiting. Lots of praise and soft words. He's very receptive to just about anything food, so we are using that to our advantage.

Wow, sounds like the post office gets a big thumbs down!

Best of luck with him.

Thank you.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

A good share of the time he will come, usually very carefully-tentative, but then something will spook him and it's back to the untrustful won't approach phase and we have to start all over. It's a two steps foreward one step back.

We've done a lot of sitting and waiting. Lots of praise and soft words.  He's very receptive to just about anything food, so we are using that to our advantage.

Thank you.

You might want to try the Caesar Milan (?) techniques. My mutt didn't like men at all. I took her for a run and used Caesar's methods, she's now my sooooooo good for the family and farm dog.

 

[Pyxis]

You might want to try the Caesar Milan (?) techniques. My mutt didn't like men at all. I took her for a run and used Caesar's methods, she's now my sooooooo good for the family and farm dog.

Actually, this probably isn't a good idea. I am totally not aiming this at you Cockatrice since it's not your fault that you don't know since animal channels continue to play his show, but the Cesar Millan method is outdated and based on old science that isn't even believed anymore.

The dominance theory of dog training is very outdated and it't been described by new dog trainers as laughable and even inhumane. It's based on the idea that a wolf pack is run by an alpha wolf who rules by fighting for dominance and keeping everyone else in line, an old theory that does not hold true anymore. In fact, scientists no longer even use the term alpha. A wolf pack is actually usually a mating pair of wolves and their offspring. The mating pair are the oldest and the parents, so they just naturally become leaders as their offspring follow their lead. They don't fight viciously for it or attack and bite their offspring to keep them in line, they just naturally assume leadership.

On top of that, basing dog training on wolf psychology is flawed even if wolves had the pack system we thought they did because dogs don't even use that pack system. Dominance in animals is usually something that determines who has access to mates, like with our own roosters in our backyards. Dogs don't do this - they've evolved for the past 10 to 15 thousand years as free roaming scavengers who mate promiscuously with any member of the opposite sex they come across, and almost everyone gets to mate. Because of this there would be no real advantage to having a pack system and fighting to achieve high rank, since there's no real benefit to the high rank. This is very different from wolves, who have to live in a pack to provide for the puppies and only the dominant pair mate. Wolves have beneficial rewards to having a dominance system, so that's why they have one. Dogs do not.

New behavior modification methods of training focus on working with dog psychology, using rewards to recondition the dog to behaviors we want to see in them and switch bad behaviors for good ones. Cesar Millan's outdated methods focus on punishing bad behavior and exhausting the dog until it has no choice but to obey and simply gives up, breaking it.

Plus, if Amy's dog snapped out of fear from being hit before, Cesar's method would call for then striking the dog to simulate a bite to punish the behavior or intimidating it until it gives up, which doesn't really build trust.

Apologies for the novel, lol. I just wanted to get this out there because animal channels are still playing his shows even though the method and the science behind it are drastically outdated and definitely not the best way to train a dog. It's even considered inhumane by some.

Oh, here's a link if anyone wants to read more. This article is written by a veterinarian who is also an animal trainer: http://drsophiayin.com/philosophy/dominance

 

[Pyxis]

Back on the topic of chickens, lol, I'm expecting a shipment of important chicks today, and so far no word And of course the tracking hasn't updated since last night at 6. They're guaranteed to arrive today by 3 but as far as the tracking info is concerned they never left CA. What worries me is even if they didn't scan them anywhere else along the way my sort facility is usually really good about scanning them. And tomorrow is a holiday so if they don't arrive today they will be stuck until Thursday! Everyone keep your fingers crossed for them.

Of course if they do arrive I will get pictures for you all!

 

[Ravynscroft]

https://batonrouge.craigslist.org/grd/5306948526.html

Hubbys gonna ban me from CL...

That's the same Leahy as mine... except mine cost less and thermostat is all updated... great bator... once it's updated a bit...

That's a beautiful sight. One day we will be done with commercial layers (our egg thief was here yesterday, she talked to my hubby on the way to the egg fridge and on the way back while he was on the ladder cleaning gutters and she was bold enough to walk off with 3 dozen without paying, she drives a $60k SUV) and then I will have happy little chickie families.

Another example of why I don't like people.... :/

Back on the topic of chickens, lol, I'm expecting a shipment of important chicks today, and so far no word And of course the tracking hasn't updated since last night at 6. They're guaranteed to arrive today by 3 but as far as the tracking info is concerned they never left CA. What worries me is even if they didn't scan them anywhere else along the way my sort facility is usually really good about scanning them. And tomorrow is a holiday so if they don't arrive today they will be stuck until Thursday! Everyone keep your fingers crossed for them.

Of course if they do arrive I will get pictures for you all!

I had eggs that said accepted at PO and never scanned for 2 days... just showed up on my porch the 2nd day and said delivered, lol... they'll show up...

Oh, and I gotta x2 all Pyxis said about the Caesar Milan techniques... if you want to learn some great things about animal behavior and training, look up Temple Grandin... books are Animals in Translation, Animals Make Us Human, and Thinking in Pictures... there was a movie made about her as well... she is Autistic and a genius... figured out how to work through her Autism to be able to finish school, go to college and work full time afterwards... she is the reason for humane treatment of livestock going to slaughter... she has a very unique insight into the workings of an animals brain... it's incredible and things really make sense being able to see how she sees...

 

[RubyNala97]

I swear I skipped a ton of posts so that my multiquote wouldn't be long and I still managed to end up with 7...

A contribution to the spirit of this thread...

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/atq/5284832354.html  Craigslist listing for an 1898 "Ormas" kerosene incubator with a Reliable Poultry Journal guide to incubation and handwritten notes left by the owner.  These notes are transcribed faithfully below (spelling, capitalization and punctuation corrections made for readability):

Thanks for sharing this. I thought it was super cool!!

Yall shared pup pics again an i felt left out so heres my main girls...

And shes included whoever dont like it

Handsome dogs! I had a pit I rescued in college. A bunch of gang kids had him in the park, next to this diner in the city and were feeding him old spaghetti out of the garbage can. I offered them $20 and took the puppy. He turned out to be the best dog. So affectionate and lovable!

Plenty of things I can do but I don't want to go to prison.

Next time she shows when I am here she will be confronted, and not by the "nice me". I'll take her picture, photograph her vehicle and plate, and file a police report.

Oh, and I will tape up her picture in the window over the fridge.

Good for you! I hope you nail her butt!

Thanks! Air cells....half are not yet visible.

That's a great sign!! Means the eggs are super fresh. Less damage with tiny air cells!!

That's the only thing that's stopped me from going to get those CLB and EE eggs, I don't want to brood anymore chicks in the house. These Icelandics are dirty little birdies and they STINK!!! I just cleaned and sanitized their brooder yesterday afternoon and it already smells HORRIBLE again. So once they're feathered out real good they're going outside with a heat lamp and that's it til spring for hatching and brooding. I really want to hatch another batch of eggs since the last 2 turned out so bad but I think I can wait a couple more months. But... if I can get my husband to buy the materials so I can build and heat something outside, all bets are off!!!

I'm serious, try the MPH outside. It was super easy!! That's what happened to me, around week 3, I changed and cleaned the whole brooder and next day it already stunk! So they went out and we were both happy. They are doing great!

A good share of the time he will come, usually very carefully-tentative, but then something will spook him and it's back to the untrustful won't approach phase and we have to start all over. It's a two steps foreward one step back.

We've done a lot of sitting and waiting. Lots of praise and soft words.  He's very receptive to just about anything food, so we are using that to our advantage.

Thank you.

Keep it up, Amy. It will probably take awhile. Just be consistent and kind.

Back on the topic of chickens, lol, I'm expecting a shipment of important chicks today, and so far no word And of course the tracking hasn't updated since last night at 6. They're guaranteed to arrive today by 3 but as far as the tracking info is concerned they never left CA. What worries me is even if they didn't scan them anywhere else along the way my sort facility is usually really good about scanning them. And tomorrow is a holiday so if they don't arrive today they will be stuck until Thursday! Everyone keep your fingers crossed for them.

Of course if they do arrive I will get pictures for you all!

Oh no! I placed an order for some pullets from a top breeder and they will be shipped this month. I know I'm going to be a nervous wreck! And you can't put water in the box. I'm praying for them and you. Keep us posted if you get an update!