The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mumsy]

Your gonna do great Mumsy, can't wait for the pics to start flowing

Thanks Trav. Truly. I was starting to over think the challenges that are to come, today. A cool, calm voice was in order. Thanks again.

 

[Sally8]

well, ok, it isn't the prettiest thing, but you are making progress! It will be fun to see what you decide to do with all the compartments

It may not be pretty now, but I bet it will be!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Depending upon when, I usually travel to a SeaArk Catfish tournament in the summer in St. Louis going right through Indy. Are you anywhere near I 70?

I can get to 70 easily enough to collect a puppy. I'm south of 465 in a tiny town called Bargersville ~ zip is 46106.
I was thinking that if the PO shipped chicks they could ship a puppy but when I googled it, I found out otherwise.

It has been a few yrs since I was over in your area on 70. I used to take 70 out to the east coast even if it did add an hour or so to the trip. The tunnels and view were so nice.

 

[NickyPick]

Do you have a guard dog? If a guard dog won't work for your situation, mini donkeys and lamas will keep predators away. Donkeys can be noisy but lamas are a bit more expensive. Might not be a bad investment if it helps keep your chickens safe. Both of those animals will chase off coyotes and fox.

We do have dogs, even one that has killed a fox before, but they don't stay outside. They want to be with the people.

Hmmm, I don't know about a mini donkey. My uncle had them and I wasn't impressed with their attitudes. One tried to kill his mare's foal one year. I'll have to look into llamas. Not sure we have the room, tho. Like I said, I live in a subdivision and there's 11 horses in the yard. We're kinda crowded. I can't wait until I can move up to my 18 acres near New Waverly, but gotta get a house built first!

 

[Bulldogma]

I think it's purty! It looks like a paint pony, or even some of my hybrid birds....

LOL - I think it looks like it's been sitting too long at the rail yard and some kids with no artistic talent tried to deface it.

well, ok, it isn't the prettiest thing, but you are making progress! It will be fun to see what you decide to do with all the compartments

I'm really excited about the possibilities with this particular trailer. Just when I think I've settled on one plan, something else pops into my head and has me thinking, "Oh - that would be neat!" I just hope I can make the trailer look like the picture in my head.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Ok kids, I have a 10 week old LF cockerel that is walking with a curled foot. He is in no pain. I squeezed and poked and pulled and twisted his toes and foot. It is not a slipped tendon nor bumblefoot. I have read it may be a vitamin B12 deficiency. I will be getting some liquid B vitamin tomorrow. Is there anything else you all think it could be and/or treat?

 

[armorfirelady]

Just had a passerby by stop to se the phone. Thought he hit a dog. I went outside to look and saw what at first I thought was a small skinny husky walking down my street.........but as he passed under the street light into my yard it looked more like a grey fox!!! Never ever saw one of those in this area....we have seen red fox but not near the house. Needless to say I checked the coop to make sure it was secure and let the dogs out chaperoned with my spotlight in hand. Looks like he took off into the woods behind my house. Saw glowing eyes in there. Can't wait till I get that electric fence !!!

And stony u were right......there are predators out there you don't see. I saw small foot prints in the snow yesterday I thought were a cat or another dog in my yard where i know my dogs cant access. Could of been that fox

 

[midnightroo]

We do have dogs, even one that has killed a fox before, but they don't stay outside.  They want to be with the people.    

Hmmm, I don't know about a mini donkey.  My uncle had them and I wasn't impressed with their attitudes.  One tried to kill his mare's foal one year.   I'll have to look into llamas.  Not sure we have the room, tho.  Like I said, I live in a subdivision and there's 11 horses in the yard.  We're kinda crowded.  I can't wait until I can move up to my 18 acres near New Waverly, but gotta get a house built first!

I found this link. I glanced through it, but it might be a mated pair looking for food. I am assuming the young are born earlier then here in MD. It said to look for a den, that they return to it year after year. When I mentioned to my dh that they were seen during the day he was surprised, but the Internet says that they do venture out during the day. It is assumed, here, that foxes out during the day are rabid. Learn something new everyday.

 

[midnightroo]

Ugh, it would help if I gave the link http://icwdm.org/handbook/carnivor/foxes.asp. Sorry, couldn't figure out how to edit.

 

[midnightroo]

Just had a passerby by stop to se the phone. Thought he hit a dog. I went outside to look and saw what at first I thought was a small skinny husky walking down my street.........but as he passed under the street light into my yard it looked more like a grey fox!!! Never ever saw one of those in this area....we have seen red fox but not near the house. Needless to say I checked the coop to make sure it was secure and let the dogs out chaperoned with my spotlight in hand. Looks like he took off into the woods behind my house. Saw glowing eyes in there. Can't wait till I get that electric fence !!!

And stony u were right......there are predators out there you don't see. I saw small foot prints in the snow yesterday I thought were a cat or another dog in my yard where i know my dogs cant access. Could of been that fox

So true! Lots of footprints in the snow here too.

Not sure if this ok or not, but if it isn't let me know. An organization linked to our daughter adoption agency is trying to raise funds to build a coop and buy chickens for an Uganda orphanage. If you are interested let me know and I will get the information to you.