Texas

[tiedyemommy]

YAHOO !!! We got our first egg today.

Congratulations!

 

[Starfire669]

[COLOR=333333]Quote: 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![/COLOR]


I have had to kill multiple rat snakes. Keep in mind that if you try to grab them and don't catch them right behind the head they WILL bite you. They are not venomous but I hear the bite hurts like all holy crap. I hate snakes with a passion! My daughter is not afraid of them, so she has helped me when they climbed up into the rafters of the duck house. I'd make her dress in a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, boots and leather gloves just to be safe from any bites. We had a system going - she'd climb on a small stepstool and use  long barbeque tongs to grab the head then step down and fling the snake on the floor, at which point I would use a sharp shovel to cut the head off. Those things can be tough and I have seen myself have to stand on the shovel and rock back and forth to cut the head clean off! This was for a huge six-footer. The super creepy part is they keep moving for hours after they are dead. I would scoop up the remains and put them in a 5-gallon bucket then go throw them away in the woods. Just thinking about snakes creeps me out!!

Starfire: I also use bottles as a killing cone. I use empty 1-gallon vinegar bottles, as the plastic is a little thicker. I screwed it to a tree in the duck yard. Works like a charm! Much better for the meat than a bird running all over getting bruised.

I am not scared of snakes, but I don't like to handle wild snakes either. If I find a big snake I kill it on site, a little one gets thrown to the chickens for them to play with and tear apart. Lol.

I will have to try the vinegar bottles, the milk jug worked well, but it was flimsy and we had to stuff the chicken in carefully. I really liked the killing come method, much easier and cleaner than the hatchet method. Plus I think it's easier on the chickens as well.

 

[Starfire669]

YAHOO !!!  We got our first egg today. e e e

Congrats!
Can't wait for my first egg. Some of my ladies are 15 weeks old. We are getting closer!

 

[tiedyemommy]

I can feel the power of Chicken Math pulling me. I was bumming around Craigslist, and found a 7-month old Black Cochin Bantam hen for $15. I want her...I think...I'd better check with The Mister & Little One before I go contacting the seller. Right?

http://austin.craigslist.org/grd/4478920828.html

I think it's because she's all by her lonesome that makes her all the more attractive to me (on top of already being a beautiful bird).

 

[sandiTX]

YAHOO !!! We got our first egg today.

way to go

what are their age, not sure what age they start laying.

 

[deepeasttexas]

They are 20 weeks as of Monday.

 

[Starfire669]

  I can feel the power of Chicken Math pulling me.  I was bumming around Craigslist, and found a 7-month old Black Cochin Bantam hen for $15.  I want her...I think...I'd better check with The Mister & Little One before I go contacting the seller.  Right?   

http://austin.craigslist.org/grd/4478920828.html

I think it's because she's all by her lonesome that makes her all the more attractive to me (on top of already being a beautiful bird). 

I'm sure your daughter will say yes, and I think I remember your hubby wanting some more chickens the weekend I picked up the ducks. Lol. Just remember bio security measures and introduce her slowly to your ladies so as to avoid injuries.

 

[tiedyemommy]

I'm sure your daughter will say yes, and I think I remember your hubby wanting some more chickens the weekend I picked up the ducks. Lol. Just remember bio security measures and introduce her slowly to your ladies so as to avoid injuries.

No decisions yet...I wouldn't buy a bird (or birds) without consulting the rest of the family. If we do get her, we will take all the proper precautions before we introduce her to the rest of The Ladies.

 

[crazychickenhug]

congrats!!!! I remember when I got my first egg it was so eggciting.

 

[Starfire669]

No decisions yet...I wouldn't buy a bird (or birds) without consulting the rest of the family.  If we do get her, we will take all the proper precautions before we introduce her to the rest of The Ladies. 

Awesome! I foresee more ladies coming to your house, lol. Chicken math strikes again! At least we love our chickens!
I am down to 28 chickens right now! And this weekend my brother in law picks up his 3 chicks I brooded for him. So I will be down to 25. I wonder if I could talk the hubby into letting me get a couple EEs!