The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[Miss Lydia]

An update on mulch in the run.

I picked up a bag of grass clippings and leaves that my daughter had raked up from her yard. The grass clippings were green and the leaves were in small pieces, having been run over by the lawn mower. The huge garbage bag full was about evenly distributed between grass and leaves.

I dumped them into the kennel in a pile - just like I did with the wood chips. They paid absolutely no attention. Not interested at all. (I was thinking they'd at least scratch through it a bit.)

Then later I put another 3-4 wheelbarrows full of chips on from the pile and same response as last time - the all went to town on the chips. Of course, now the leaves, grass and chips are mixed together pretty well due to their scratching through the chips.

Very pretty.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Gnarly Bunch Update: Raggedy Ann is showing some increased redness to her comb and wattles..right on the edges. Couple that with her exploration of the nests and I'm hoping this means she is coming back into lay. Another surprising red comb and wattles showing up in the flock...little Turkey, the badly molting skinny thing has a bright red comb and wattles today. Wonder what that means for us...tiny little eggs?

Tomorrow, the flock only has the bucket waterer for a water source and we'll see if they can learn a new trick.

Two eggs today.

Went to once a day feeding today, each evening until colder weather and frozen ground arrives, then I'll feed in the mornings. The flock responded by increased foraging, which is what I wanted.

Ever since I've had my flock I've always feed in the morning giving enough to last the day. I've always felt this was the right thing to do, my flock forages all day long and still manages to eat all their feed. So your saying it's best to only feed once a day.and in the evenings during warm months and mornings during cold months? I go through alot of feed too. That I would like to cut down on. They get their ff in late morning after it's warmed up a bit. Can you talk a little more on this?

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Wow! Who ever watches over chickens on high was working overtime this morning! I had just let some of the chooks out to free range...two were up front in the "flower" bed, Frank Rooster and 2 girls headed for the vegie boxes, my dog was in the house. I heard a dog bark and it wasn't coming from where I normally hear the resident dogs are around here....and low and behold a LARGE mix breed dog comes bounding out of the back woods, headed towards the vegie garden. At which time I raised my big chicken stick waving it like a mad woman yell at the dog, who turned tail and beat it back into the woods. Rounded up the chooks and put them back in the big day pen and am waiting to stop shaking....guess I have to start "packing" myself. This dog lives way the heck back through the 400 acres of pines behind us according to my husband. He has seen it only once before quite some time ago. All I could think of was Al's birds. Scared the crap out of me. 1. I should have had my dog with me.....always

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wow! Who ever watches over chickens on high was working overtime this morning! I had just let some of the chooks out to free range...two were up front in the "flower" bed, Frank Rooster and 2 girls headed for the vegie boxes, my dog was in the house. I heard a dog bark and it wasn't coming from where I normally hear the resident dogs are around here....and low and behold a LARGE mix breed dog comes bounding out of the back woods, headed towards the vegie garden. At which time I raised my big chicken stick waving it like a mad woman yell at the dog, who turned tail and beat it back into the woods. Rounded up the chooks and put them back in the big day pen and am waiting to stop shaking....guess I have to start "packing" myself. This dog lives way the heck back through the 400 acres of pines behind us according to my husband. He has seen it only once before quite some time ago. All I could think of was Al's birds. Scared the crap out of me. 1. I should have had my dog with me.....always

Thankful you were able to scare it off and everyone is safe. Have a cup of tea and rest a spell. This time of year is when I worry most, hunting dogs getting separated from hunters.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

What bothers me is the non reaction of the chickens, rooster included....they did not regard the dog as a threat.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the great information!

 

[mendocinosunris]

My birds are locked up in their run until I can chicken-proof the garden. So I put a couple of old sawhorses in the run to give them something to jump around on. They immediately hopped up, through the one hole in the bird netting that covers the top of the run, and over the fence they went.
Lesson learned. I MUST try to be smarter than the chickens...

 

[Leahs Mom]

My birds are locked up in their run until I can chicken-proof the garden. So I put a couple of old sawhorses in the run to give them something to jump around on. They immediately hopped up, through the one hole in the bird netting that covers the top of the run, and over the fence they went.
Lesson learned. I MUST try to be smarter than the chickens...

 

[Sally8]

My birds are locked up in their run until I can chicken-proof the garden. So I put a couple of old sawhorses in the run to give them something to jump around on. They immediately hopped up, through the one hole in the bird netting that covers the top of the run, and over the fence they went. 
Lesson learned. I MUST try to be smarter than the chickens...

Isn't that the truth. Just when we think we're good to go...... Glad everything worked out ok. I know I've posted this a couple of times but we had a hawk swoop down in the pen to grab one of the girls (when they were smaller) and our hen turkey attacked it. I saw it myself. Probably couldn't combat with a dog though.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

My birds are locked up in their run until I can chicken-proof the garden. So I put a couple of old sawhorses in the run to give them something to jump around on. They immediately hopped up, through the one hole in the bird netting that covers the top of the run, and over the fence they went.
Lesson learned. I MUST try to be smarter than the chickens...

Chicken - proof the garden?! LOL...I finally had to put frost blankets over the lettuce, brocholi and cabbage they had decimated it so well. It's making a come-back though!!! We have spent days watching to see who and where and how they make escapes from the day pen. Each one has its own style! Been trying to keep them in semi-lock down until the new girls get better with the "where to lay" program....found a secret nest with 7 eggs in it out in the yard...laid by 3 or 4 birds.