The Old Folks Home

[Bunnylady]

I witnessed her actually dancing on top of the dead chick.

Since hens don't do any type of ceremonial or celebratory dancing (unlike our dear Broody Magician)

, I'm curious about what you actually saw her doing. She might have just been trying to eat the chick, and finding it tough going. Chickens, as you know, are omnivores; that word means roughly, "eats anything that doesn't try to eat them." It isn't unusual to find a partly consumed body in a chicken pen, and it doesn't necessarily mean that the dead bird was killed by the other occupants of the pen. I have frequently seen jokes on this forum about the dangers of falling down in the chicken pen, and the gruesome discovery for the nearest and dearest should such a mishap occur!

 

[gryeyes]

Oops! Duplicate post. Sorry!.

FINE - there were four of them and now there are none!

 

[gryeyes]

Oops! Duplicate post!.

 

[chickensnewtome]

Quote:
She was standing on top of the chick and it looked to me like she was scratching and plucking at it. I used dancing in a comical sense. I know she was not actually dancing on the chick but that is the way I seen it. Then she just jumped out of the coop came over to me and started clucking as if she was proud of her self. But i know that is not actual to.

 

[Arielle]

I so wish I can a camera.

I have a little black lamb pestering me as I type. I'm starting to feel like Linda. TOo many animals in the house. THis little one lost her mom last week so she gets a bottle around the clock. DS2 has taken over daytime feedings, and I get the night feedings. I keep telling Georgina it is bedtime. SHe just disappeared, hopefully to her towel in the bathroom. She is like a dog, and sleeps on that towel.

 

[Wisher1000]

Okay, Peeps, I need some guidance.

Mrs. Daisy May Quackers is ready to be released from the "hospital" but I'm not familiar with how you incorporate a duck into a flock of chickens. I was waiting to intro her to the Muscovies that are due next week, but I candled them last night and tossed all but three (and have little hope for those.)

Any suggestions?

 

[LFchixranch]

So I have eggs in the bator, and just put some finishing touches on the brooder I plan to use in the garage. The eggs are on day 8, I started with 23 Araucana, 10 BCM, 2 EE, 12 that SCG was kind enough to egg bomb me with. The first candeling had to toss 8 Araucana and an EE. The BCM's are really hard to see into as everybody already knows...lol. The Brooder is 6'lx2'dx33"h and on wheels. The PVC water should hold about 3 gallons and has 6 nipples. The feeder should hold about 20 lbs of starter crumble, ( I am thinking about changing the pie pan to another piece of PVC with holes drilled in it to keep them from getting in it and scratching). I built a drawer to go under the Hardware cloth on the bottom. I plan to put either sand or kitty litter in it to make it easier to keep clean, just have to use a kitty litter scoop everyday. There is a shelf on the bottom that holds my 3 containers of meal worms I am trying to grow out and will be storage for feed. Please pardon the mess in our garage.


This was before I mounted the water, feeder and drawer.


These two are the after shots.

 

[Arielle]

WIsher, has Mrs QUackers met anyone yet?? I there a space limitation to consider?

My ducks get along enough with the chickens.THis is how I did it. I bring the ducks out side to a little pool, let them swim, walk around, then back into pen. Repeat and increase the time outside slowly. Until one day they go in the chicken coop instead at the end of the day. I free range so every one has lots of room. My ducks mix with my chickens with no problems. (THe adult male duck does harass my turkeys though.)

 

[drumstick diva]

LFchickranch - what a nice set up - messy garage ??? Nah, you haven't seen mine. Your looks clean and organized.

 

[Arielle]

So I have eggs in the bator, and just put some finishing touches on the brooder I plan to use in the garage. The eggs are on day 8, I started with 23 Araucana, 10 BCM, 2 EE, 12 that SCG was kind enough to egg bomb me with. The first candeling had to toss 8 Araucana and an EE. The BCM's are really hard to see into as everybody already knows...lol. The Brooder is 6'lx2'dx33"h and on wheels. The PVC water should hold about 3 gallons and has 6 nipples. The feeder should hold about 20 lbs of starter crumble, ( I am thinking about changing the pie pan to another piece of PVC with holes drilled in it to keep them from getting in it and scratching). I built a drawer to go under the Hardware cloth on the bottom. I plan to put either sand or kitty litter in it to make it easier to keep clean, just have to use a kitty litter scoop everyday. There is a shelf on the bottom that holds my 3 containers of meal worms I am trying to grow out and will be storage for feed. Please pardon the mess in our garage.


This was before I mounted the water, feeder and drawer.


These two are the after shots.

very nice!!