Texas

[magpiesing]

Magpiesing, here we have something called emancipet. It a mobile clinic that does spay and neuters for free and most shots for free, some low cost shots and they ask for a donation. Check them out and see if they go by anywhere you are.

Will do...thanks...haven't heard of anything like that here but could be. Just have the mobile vet, but they only do shots and basic check-up, flea meds etc. They don't offer any surgery or major stuff.

 

[winteree]

I don't post much on here, but I do lurk and keep up with what's going on. I had to post today, though.....

I went outside this morning to check on some of the dogs out there and just happened to glance over at my little chicken tractor. What do I spy but a 2 foot long rat snake looking for an entrance to the tractor. So, I grabbed a stick and went to move it away when the snake turned toward me and slithered off between my feet!!!!! Needless to say, I shrieked like a little girl!!!!! This is my first snake/chicken encounter, and I knew it was only a matter of time, but still.....the adrenaline is still flowing high!

lol's don't feel bad i cant pick up wild snakes with my bare hands either

 

[magpiesing]

i would say that you should try put them together but keep a very close eye on them if you see blood when you try to integrate them get them out there fast

Yes...I think that is the way to go. These will be chicks too. So maybe the big girls will have time to get used to seeing them in the grow out pen them before they mingle. They accepted the youngsters (9 wks old now) without too much fuss. There was some chasing and a little pecking but no blood shed. The 10 youngsters hang together and mostly avoid the big girls. Their yard is 20 x 30 so I think that helps.

 

[magpiesing]

Well...not gettin nothin done this way....later y'all

 

[winteree]

Yes...I think that is the way to go. These will be chicks too. So maybe the big girls will have time to get used to seeing them in the grow out pen them before they mingle. They accepted the youngsters (9 wks old now) without too much fuss. There was some chasing and a little pecking but no blood shed. The 10 youngsters hang together and mostly avoid the big girls. Their yard is 20 x 30 so I think that helps.

yeah lots of space is really good when integrating birds.

 

[LoneStarHen]

I don't post much on here, but I do lurk and keep up with what's going on. I had to post today, though.....

I went outside this morning to check on some of the dogs out there and just happened to glance over at my little chicken tractor. What do I spy but a 2 foot long rat snake looking for an entrance to the tractor. So, I grabbed a stick and went to move it away when the snake turned toward me and slithered off between my feet!!!!! Needless to say, I shrieked like a little girl!!!!! This is my first snake/chicken encounter, and I knew it was only a matter of time, but still.....the adrenaline is still flowing high!

I keep a .22 pistol with rat shot in it and that comes in quite handy with the snakes. I typically leave the non-venomous ones alone. We have tons of snakes around us. Hubby caught a 4ft bull snake in the front yard the other day! Just this spring I've come across corals, garter, bull, king, cotton mouth, water snakes... But I have not caught a single one in or around the coops.

 

[SlipsWife]

Question...do silkies require any special care or can they live with other chickens. The lady I mentioned some time back finally send me an e-mail. She has chicks, silkie, polish and others for sale. I tried to get her to come to the thread but not so far. I sent her another e-mail this morning so hoping to hear back. Silkies are suppose to be good brooders so DH wants a couple if they are easy to take care of.

I'm not sure if you've already had experience with broody chickens but one suggestion, if you are wanting a silkie for it to go broody, is to have an area ready or a plan for when it does go broody. We had an Easter Egger go broody and I wish I'd had a way to separate her, even an enclosed dog kennel. She kept getting out of her nest and letting the other hens lay more eggs. Her nest, and the 2 eggs we were letting her sit on for a 'trial' got nasty after about a week. We couldn't even incubate the eggs they were so dirty. It also got to be a pain collecting eggs and just not worth it all the way around. Of course, since my 2 attempts at incubating have been a failure, minus 1 chick that hatched, I'm wishing we would have given it a little more effort.

We've had a couple of silkies but never for long term. I love watching their fluffy butts run around. They don't appear to be the smartest of chickens and aren't very predator aware, so you might need to take extra precautions.

 

[sandiTX]

I don't post much on here, but I do lurk and keep up with what's going on. I had to post today, though.....

I went outside this morning to check on some of the dogs out there and just happened to glance over at my little chicken tractor. What do I spy but a 2 foot long rat snake looking for an entrance to the tractor. So, I grabbed a stick and went to move it away when the snake turned toward me and slithered off between my feet!!!!! Needless to say, I shrieked like a little girl!!!!! This is my first snake/chicken encounter, and I knew it was only a matter of time, but still.....the adrenaline is still flowing high!

I dont do snakes either...LOL

 

[TherryChicken]

Will do...thanks...haven't heard of anything like that here but could be.  Just have the mobile vet, but they only do shots and basic check-up, flea meds etc.  They don't offer any surgery or major stuff.

well see if emancipet goes near you

 

[AussieGirl]

Would anyone near the San Antonio area be interested in a chicken swap? I have two extra black orpingtons from show lines that i dont need. They were born late March and I do have a picture of the sire.