The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Agree with you. We do take risks free ranging. So far, I haven't lost any, though as you read, Alice hiding in the compost pile tells me she had a close call. I wish those old hens had a rooster or two to go with them. That makes me really miss our little Xander.

Those little bantam Cochin roosters really are good, and funny little roosters aren't they. I unfortunately I lost 4 over winter, mostly from feeding that dry rolled oatmeal I think. Never again will I feed oatmeal to my chickens no matter how much they seem to enjoy it.

I need to restock my bantam roosters.

 

[speckledhen]

Those little bantam Cochin roosters really are good, and funny little roosters aren't they. I unfortunately I lost 4 over winter, mostly from feeding that dry rolled oatmeal I think. Never again will I feed oatmeal to my chickens no matter how much they seem to enjoy it.

I need to restock my bantam roosters.

I wouldn't know about that oatmeal. Mine get some oats in the 13 grain mix they get, plus maybe some actual oatmeal cooked, but I've never fed them anything else with oats.

Xander was a pistol! He was my disciplinarian with the young cockerels, kept those big girls in line, had the best crow. Loved that little munchkin. I'll get another one some day when I have no more large fowl roosters and just need a lookout for my ladies on range. He did a fine job of that.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wouldn't know about that oatmeal. Mine get some oats in the 13 grain mix they get, plus maybe some actual oatmeal cooked, but I've never fed them anything else with oats.

Xander was a pistol! He was my disciplinarian with the young cockerels, kept those big girls in line, had the best crow. Loved that little munchkin. I'll get another one some day when I have no more large fowl roosters and just need a lookout for my ladies on range. He did a fine job of that.

I had fed oatmeal moistened before. Last year we bought it in bulk to feed the rabbits. Chickens started going nuts and begging for it dry, so I incorporated into their scratch of cracked corn and boss. Than I started to get birds that would just stop eating. We eventually would cull because they wouldn't eat.

I started talking to a member on here who mentioned the oatmeal because I had said it was the only thing different. After some research I discovered fed dry especially it can form a solid sludge in the intestines and cause enteritis, or gut rot. We never cut any open to see, but after we stopped the oatmeal, the deaths stopped. So no more oatmeal in any form for my birds. Regular oats are fine and are processed differently by birds. My chickens don't seem to like oats so I stopped adding them to my scratch.

 

[speckledhen]

Guess that's one of those live and learn things. We all have them even after years with chickens.

 

[seminolewind]

In the past 22 years here I have until now only lost 2 birds to hawks, so losing 3 within a week is a bit unusual. I'm assuming it's a female with babies, that's where their heads are going.

Our strategy has always been to provide lots of cover, lots of rooster look outs, and having donkeys and goats in the same area. It has worked well up until now.

If this continues than we may need to become proactive. Most of my birds aren't confined and it would be difficult to do so. I got a feeling this hawk may be the same as the one that took my one polish hen last fall.

In the past few weeks the pigeon that were here in the silo have disappeared or moved somewhere else. So that may be a sign as well.

I am hoping my birds wise up a bit, and the hawk or owl moves on. We will see.

I had a heck of a time counting my 18 muscovy ducks today. They are constantly on the move around the yard. I believe I finally counted everyone. Next to count the 65 chickens that live in the big shed. I don't believe I'm missing anyone else, but I will do a count to be sure.

We generally get a couple of sandhill cranes back in our pasture, but so far no sign of them. A few fly over every so often. I do love their cries, they sound to me what a dinosaur would sound like. It is a cool sound.

I'm definitely gonna be more vigilant.

I've lost one to a hawk and 4 to a racoon and one to unknown and one to a snake.
At least I've learned my lessons.

I have often thought that getting a pair of pigeons would save a chicken from becoming dinner. (Pigeons multiply rapidly). I do know that peeps are an attractant to hawks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've lost one to a hawk and 4 to a racoon and one to unknown and one to a snake.
At least I've learned my lessons.

I have often thought that getting a pair of pigeons would save a chicken from becoming dinner. (Pigeons multiply rapidly). I do know that peeps are an attractant to hawks.

We had a few pigeons, but most have suddenly disappeared or moved elsewhere. I was enjoying the brown pigeon. He was pretty.

 

[seminolewind]

Chickens are okay but 3 absolutely positively must have arm/huggy time. One dances around me til I pick her up and the look on her face is like she wants to be held but can't figure out why. My Houdan just whines and pecks my legs til I pick her up and she is perfectly happy being held all the time. One Polish "Olivia" just gets in front of me and squats or just hangs out with me. One silkie rooster has become okay with me picking him up now and then. Sweet!

I woke up this morning to see my horse touching noses with a cow thru the fence. Very cool. But then the fog came down and I couldn't see them anymore.

I'm planning to gut my upstairs 1/2 bath. Toilet and sink but you have to bend to not hit your head. So I bought a sink that's slimmer, and a toilet that's shorter. I found laminate I like for the floor and I just happened across some wall panels that look like shiplap whitewashed. I still need a plumber to make turnoff faucets for the sink. Imagine not having turn off faucets! I got everything ordered or delivered. Not to mention having to rescreen the porch, 11 x 40 feet, and gut the kitchen, paint and new cabinets.

 

[seminolewind]

We had a few pigeons, but most have suddenly disappeared or moved elsewhere. I was enjoying the brown pigeon. He was pretty.

Better pigeons disappear than chickens. I found the best prevention against hawks was crows. The crows stole my eggs, and yes they even went into the nests and took them. But they are territorial and chased the hawks away.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Better pigeons disappear than chickens. I found the best prevention against hawks was crows. The crows stole my eggs, and yes they even went into the nests and took them. But they are territorial and chased the hawks away.

The crows seem to be absent this year too. Usually they are cawing up a storm in the woods across the road but I haven't heard anything from them. I didn't even get my yearly visit from the crow that snatched a chick years ago and would come back yearly to see if there's more. Funny thing is I haven't even seen many hawks lately either. Just the one big one, but I have only just started to watch the sky more. It is definitely a different year here.

 

[seminolewind]

I have this year long battle with IRS. It started last year with them saying that I owe them $7k. Big mistake. I made copies of all my paperwork . The next letter came was for A reduced amount of $400 bucks on the same matter. Now I am really really mad. I owe them nothing. You would think that these people should know more than me about tax laws. But they're ignorant. I asked them if they could show me where the error is, but they never answered. They have the same numbers I do so where do they see that I owe them?

With the next letter from them asking for $400 and no reason, I copied all my paperwork and sent it to 4 (!) different "help" addresses. I get 2 replies that the matter is closed and I owe nothing! I just got one reply (#3) that I owe taxes on money I took out of a Roth account. Now how could that be if the money in there is already taxed ??? Why do I know this and they do not? It's simple, a Roth IRA is for already taxed money. So why would IRS tell me I owe taxes on already taxed money?

Well I spent Friday night writing a masterpiece of a letter, sending them copies of all the proof I have (again). I also told them in a very nice way that they are Idiots and should use my tax dollars to train their employees better. My letter stated that why is it that a 60 year old layperson understands tax laws better than IRS employees?. I MOL told them to stop harassing me and it's keeping me awake at night. To top it off they send me an instruction booklet on IRS collections. I stated in my letter that I would mail the booklet back to them but I would have to pay postage!

Morale of this story to anyone who reads it is don't let IRS bully you into thinking you owe them money. Don't fear them. Yes they do make mistakes, even really simple ones. Even my dad said "Be careful disagreeing with them because they are hardly ever wrong". Not true. Many people are afraid to challenge them. We now have internet and can look up anything we want quickly. I would not have minded owing them $400. But it made me crazy knowing they were wrong !

Tomorrow I start battle with the Health Insurance companies!