The NFC B-Day Chat Thread

[JaeG]

Well, after some research it may not have been the parents. Mice will have a go at chicks in nests and the feet seem particularly attractive to them. I know there are mice around as a big one got stuck in the aviary wire despite it being the very small square mesh/wire. So it's time to set some traps!

Today I've worked out that my tiny Java babies don't like being removed from the incubator to eat their food. They all stop begging! It's obviously too cold for them, even if I put a hot water bottle under them. It's not a great incubator and the whole top half lifts off to get into it. So I have to prop it open while I try and get drippy formula into little mouths. I expected the very pale chick to be dead this morning but it wasn't and thankfully, now that I know the secret, I'm getting some food into the poor little mite.

And then, because I don't have enough to do, we had a ring neck dove turn up here. They've gone wild here but won't go near a human. This one tried to land on my DH, landed on me and ate from my hand (until I tried to grab it). So we shall attempt to find it's owner (we managed to catch it). It's too big for our aviary.

Blooie, your Minnow is so adorable!

 

[drumstick diva]

I was afraid it was mice (or rats) I know they do that to chicks in they are on wire floors- anything hanging through gets bitten off. How horrible! So sorry. Why can't rodents find something else to eat (like POISON)

 

[sunflour]

The chicks went right to the coop after that or Opie would have jumped in the box...Spuds just did the gopher stance and didn't get too close.

I knew you were close and a great cat/chick mom -

Well, after some research it may not have been the parents. Mice will have a go at chicks in nests and the feet seem particularly attractive to them. I know there are mice around as a big one got stuck in the aviary wire despite it being the very small square mesh/wire. So it's time to set some traps!

Today I've worked out that my tiny Java babies don't like being removed from the incubator to eat their food. They all stop begging! It's obviously too cold for them, even if I put a hot water bottle under them. It's not a great incubator and the whole top half lifts off to get into it. So I have to prop it open while I try and get drippy formula into little mouths. I expected the very pale chick to be dead this morning but it wasn't and thankfully, now that I know the secret, I'm getting some food into the poor little mite.

And then, because I don't have enough to do, we had a ring neck dove turn up here. They've gone wild here but won't go near a human. This one tried to land on my DH, landed on me and ate from my hand (until I tried to grab it). So we shall attempt to find it's owner (we managed to catch it). It's too big for our aviary.

Blooie, your Minnow is so adorable!

Get those traps out - the only good mice is a dead one

.

Just what you need, another bird with special needs

 

[N F C]

Get those traps out - the only good mice is a dead one

.

x1,000!

Ugh, hate those things.

 

[drumstick diva]

x 500,000

 

[sunflour]

And where there's mice, the snakes will follow

 

[sunflour]

Check this out post #1.

One of our members has an article in Mother Earth News Magazine

 

[JaeG]

And where there's mice, the snakes will follow

Thankfully snakes are something we don't have to worry about here (NZ is snake free), but it also means the rodents that have been introduced have very few predators other than the odd cat, hawks in the countryside, and our tiny little native owl the Morepork who prefers insects, and who is actually reasonable rare. We are lucky enough to have a pair living round here but you only hear them - I've never seen them (though I avoid going outside as much as possible at night due to the mosquitoes). We also have massive (I'm talking bigger than a guinea pig) rats down the back round the stormwater culvert. Another reason to avoid going out at night!

 

[sunflour]

Thankfully snakes are something we don't have to worry about here (NZ is snake free), but it also means the rodents that have been introduced have very few predators other than the odd cat, hawks in the countryside, and our tiny little native owl the Morepork who prefers insects, and who is actually reasonable rare. We are lucky enough to have a pair living round here but you only hear them - I've never seen them (though I avoid going outside as much as possible at night due to the mosquitoes). We also have massive (I'm talking bigger than a guinea pig) rats down the back round the stormwater culvert. Another reason to avoid going out at night!

I think I'd much rather have non-venomous snakes than those giant rats - sounds like a horror story plot doesn't it.

 

[Teila]

Good morning folks

Been chatty I see; time to catch up.

N F C I am pleased your Doc visit went well and you had a nice evening at your Cousin’s.

I like the benches.

X hubby could weld and I was helping him work on an aluminium yacht one day. Of course he was wearing a welder’s helmet and I had my back turned to him working on the other side of the hull. However, unbeknown to me until later that night when my eyes were stinging so badly I wanted to claw them out and had to present at Emergency, the weld flash from behind me had reflected off the hull in front of me and burnt my eyes. I made a full recovery but needless to say, I am not a fan of welding!

Thanks for the chuckles! OHLD Ooooh a bench held together with duct tape, now there is a garden ‘feature’ I am not sure I would want to see

Tee hee Spook I have images of your sheet full of tiny little burn holes. Anywho, I do not believe we have met? Pleased to make your acquaintance sir.

J good news about your little one making it through the night.

sunflour thank you for the link to the great article.

No news of note from me .. hi ho, hi ho its off to work I go!