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

[Miss Lydia]

Not sure where the post is on the soft shelled egg but I have a hen that has laid one ever since I've had her. I'm not sure which one but I'm making the effort now to find who it is, what a mess it makes, not only for the other eggs but i have to completely clean the nest out every single day. I researched everything I could and it didn't make a difference. Now it's time for dinner.
I can find Bragg's in my supermarket in the organic section or Heinz in with the other vinegars. My ff has an odor, not a bad one but I think hubby and I are used to the smell now. What does smell is the ACV that I'm making myself. Somedays, I like the smell, others, not so much.
We do not allow any aggressiveness in our chickens nor do we pass them on to anyone else. I not only don't like being flogged but am not going to worry about rescuing my beautiful grandchildren.
I've used the deep litter method for over 2 years. I used to clean the coop completely out every week end. Maybe ff is an added step but compared to the time saved on cleaning the coop, it's nothing. Once I got used to adding it to my schedule, it really doesn't take much time. I think for me, it was just the change. I finally got my heated water bowls and can't wait to put them out. What a huge time saver that will be for me.
We had a sad day, my husband came home and found our 11 year old cat dead by my chair. He hadn't been sick and I worried it was the dogs but no signs of blood or puncture wounds. I'm going to miss him.

Sorry about your cat. hard to lose good friends.

 

[Miss Lydia]

For the amount you made, wouldn't hurt to slap another tablespoon of pine in there.

I'm gonna put more on her scales tonight...as old as she is she has probably had scale mites for YEARS. Need to be aggressive with those darn things.

Hey I am not that far behind her, I guess I better be proactive and start slathering it on now. maybe we should do befores and afters.

I'm gonna put more pine tar in this afternoon. I love playing.

 

[galanie]

Yep, mine too.  Still are...my oldest and closest friends are guys.  The girls?  They've fallen by the wayside.  You are correct...women hold a grudge and I've never been the type.  I'm too laid back and lazy to hold onto something that heavy for too long...these shoulders are meant for far lighter burdens in this world than anger and hatred. 

I've always been more like a guy in the get mad department...slow to anger, quick to slap down the thing that got me all the way to the boiling point and then I'm over it.  I'll even be the first to offer the peace pipe if they wanna play nice. 

With roosters and such I brook no tom foolery...each action is met with a reaction but it's not equal.  He jumps, I jump harder, higher and longer.  I'll lay in wait and jump him when he thinks the threat is over.  I'll make him remember the day he ever dared to feel froggy and take that leap.  I guess that's when my girly side comes out of hiding. 

 

Me too so long as you allow me an outlet for that mad and let me scream LOL. I had a co worker when I was a supervisor at the post office that I was good friends with because she was the same way. We'd have the most horrible yelling fights out in the back and then she'd say, "Where you wanna have lunch?" Suddenly I'd be all like, "Well, how about that Chinese buffet?"

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Oh groan, here we go...the problem I had so hoped we would never have to deal with...(I know...dream on) Neighborhood Dog.
The other day I went out to round the girls up, they were getting too close to the next door neighbors fence and I have 2 that will go under the gap in the fence and I DO NOT like that or allow it...will block that off when we can. I called and rattled the treat can and most came running, except I could see little chicken feet and legs under the fence....chicken legs were making a bee-line for the end of the fence where they can round the end and come back into our yard....also saw something moving a ways behind chicken legs. Chicken gets around the corner up on the hill Bawking and squawking like crazy and flies from the hill down to close where I was standing and BINGO right behind her was a neighborhood dog. I yelled and waved arms etc. Dog ran around the corner of our house to the front yard. I moved the chickens as quickly as possible to put them back in the paddock when here come 2 more of my chickens bawking and flying from the front yard....dog running right behind them. Got everyone in the secure pen. I'm shaking like crazy, it was just too close a call. Ran in house and woke DH up and just yelled NEED HELP DOG (I am slow moving due to hip and back & leg). I couldn't find one girl, but she was there at the pen gate when I got back outside. Everyone was fine. Next morning DH left to go into town, came back and went right to the chicken pen to count chickens. He had seen a dead one in the road just past our drive way, it was gone by the time he got back. It wasn't ours. Neighbor across the road called to see if the dead chicken in the road was ours. She had seen it too and when she went to get her mail, dog had dead chicken guarding it and growled menancingly at neighbor (always been a sweet friendly dog before) dog was guarding kill. Neighbor across the road called neighbor who owns dog and told her that she might want to do something about it before her kids find their dog with chicken and get bit etc.So.....we talk to neighbor who got growled at (she came over to get some eggs...used to have chickens herself before they moved here and misses them). We make immediate plans to re-arrange coops and pens and make them more secure etc. because we cannot fence off our yard until we win the lottary. The re-arrangement began yesterday. Chickens have been locked down except when we are right out there with them...they HATE it! (Sorry girls) AND Then this morning I fed but did not let them into the paddock yet, cat and dog in house were alerting and there goes the killer dog running through the side yard and down the drive. Everyone is fine BUT the time has come..........gun will need to be by the back door, but dang, I'm so freakin' slow it won't do much good.....never happens when DH is right there of course! Will finish the revamping of pen arrangements today hopefully. Then take a deep breath and probably have to talk to the owners (dreading that because I like them, they are just clueless about their dogs) and then, well we have 400 acres of pines behind us to SSS. Neighbor across the road who used to have chickens lives nextdoor to dog and she is worried about it too. I'll let DH deal with it, I'm too 'chicken'' right now.

 

[Sally8]

This morning when I went out to feed and water, I have several roosters waiting to butcher 3. I noticed that 2 of them were going in the hen house chasing hens out that were laying eggs and then the 2 roosters were ganging up on 1 hen. Church is over at noon. Rooster's hanging upside down by 12:30 pm. WE ARE HAVING NONE OF THAT NONSENSE!!! Rooster's around here are a dime a dozen.

 

[maryhysong]

loose dogs are the worst predators. Usually they kill for fun and not because they are hungry. I have coyotes, a pack of them runs over the hills every night but have yet to have one come in the yard and bother the chickens. They usually don't come closer than about 500 ft. But have lost many chickens and rabbits to dogs. They kill just for the fun of killing and never even eat them. I keep a loaded .22 behind the door and shoot to kill.

I would also report the dog to animal control. Especially if it is out loose barking and growling at people they *should* pick it up tho of course they are sometimes slow getting around.

 

[galanie]

I've had a pair on my street (in the city) that I raised hell about for months before someone did something. They were part pit bulls and did indeed kill a pair of mine and I saw them eating them. I threatened to shoot them but never was able to. Couldn't catch them in the yard again. But the birds they killed were out and shouldn't have been. They were in my yard, but had flown over the gate of the fenced off section. It was only a matter of time though until those dogs would have been in the fenced area. They were puppies and were growing fast.

I feel for anyone else with a dog problem like that. In the future my loaded .22, city or not, will see use. I'll gladly pay a fine to keep my birds safe.

 

[Melabella]

We had a sad day, my husband came home and found our 11 year old cat dead by my chair. He hadn't been sick and I worried it was the dogs but no signs of blood or puncture wounds. I'm going to miss him.

Hugs to you Sally8, It is so heartaching to miss a pet, especially one that lived in your home.I'm sorry.

The very first animal Iost in my life was a beautiful big black cat with beautiful green eyes. He reminded me of the kind of cat Cleopatra had at her feet, royal looking thing he was. He adopted us, and he was the first animal in my life. He was an unuetered male, never sprayed in the house, and we didn't even have a litter box He just went outside and did his business! I thought all cats were like that! He arrived when I was about 6 years old, and when I was 23, the house I grew up in burned down to the ground. I was all ready working out in the world, and would come home for a home cooked meal 3-4 times a week and leave for work from Mom and Dad's. We had to rent a house cross town while our house was being rebuilt. Midnight was so out of sorts when we lived there. It was on a busy road, and Mom was so worried to let him out.. He was miserable being cooped up, and one night when he begged and begged, Mom let him out quickly thinking he would get a quick fix He stayed close to the house, so Mom got a bit more lax letting him out for longer and longer bouts. Well, when our house was finally ready for us to move back into, Mom let him out for one last time before we came back for him. We never saw him again. He made it through all the miserable months of the rental, without his territory, was so displaced, and on the day we are going to take him home, he went missing. My poor mother never forgave herself for letting him out. I think he saw all the commotion of us gathering up our stuff, and it did him in. He must have thought,, Oh not this again. He was old, and I think he just knew it was him time. I cried so, my poor baby sister too. It was my first pet heartache. We knew he was old, but just wanted him to make it back home to wander off and die in his own territory.

We had cats come and go after that, I've never met one as regal and special as Midnight.

Sorry again Sally8,

MB

 

[Beekissed]

hi Bee ,do u know how bdm is going .haven't seen her on here for a couple of days ,hope all is ok

I don't know and I haven't seen her but I put it down to holiday rush and family things. She's been doing birthday parties, I think.

Not sure where the post is on the soft shelled egg but I have a hen that has laid one ever since I've had her. I'm not sure which one but I'm making the effort now to find who it is, what a mess it makes, not only for the other eggs but i have to completely clean the nest out every single day. I researched everything I could and it didn't make a difference. Now it's time for dinner.
I can find Bragg's in my supermarket in the organic section or Heinz in with the other vinegars. My ff has an odor, not a bad one but I think hubby and I are used to the smell now. What does smell is the ACV that I'm making myself. Somedays, I like the smell, others, not so much.
We do not allow any aggressiveness in our chickens nor do we pass them on to anyone else. I not only don't like being flogged but am not going to worry about rescuing my beautiful grandchildren.
I've used the deep litter method for over 2 years. I used to clean the coop completely out every week end. Maybe ff is an added step but compared to the time saved on cleaning the coop, it's nothing. Once I got used to adding it to my schedule, it really doesn't take much time. I think for me, it was just the change. I finally got my heated water bowls and can't wait to put them out. What a huge time saver that will be for me.
We had a sad day, my husband came home and found our 11 year old cat dead by my chair. He hadn't been sick and I worried it was the dogs but no signs of blood or puncture wounds. I'm going to miss him.

I'm sorry about your good cat but I am sure glad he died in this manner instead of a drawn out illness or suffering. He died where he liked to be and you gave him a good long run in this life and that's all a creature can ask for really.

Oh groan, here we go...the problem I had so hoped we would never have to deal with...(I know...dream on) Neighborhood Dog.
The other day I went out to round the girls up, they were getting too close to the next door neighbors fence and I have 2 that will go under the gap in the fence and I DO NOT like that or allow it...will block that off when we can. I called and rattled the treat can and most came running, except I could see little chicken feet and legs under the fence....chicken legs were making a bee-line for the end of the fence where they can round the end and come back into our yard....also saw something moving a ways behind chicken legs. Chicken gets around the corner up on the hill Bawking and squawking like crazy and flies from the hill down to close where I was standing and BINGO right behind her was a neighborhood dog. I yelled and waved arms etc. Dog ran around the corner of our house to the front yard. I moved the chickens as quickly as possible to put them back in the paddock when here come 2 more of my chickens bawking and flying from the front yard....dog running right behind them. Got everyone in the secure pen. I'm shaking like crazy, it was just too close a call. Ran in house and woke DH up and just yelled NEED HELP DOG (I am slow moving due to hip and back & leg). I couldn't find one girl, but she was there at the pen gate when I got back outside. Everyone was fine. Next morning DH left to go into town, came back and went right to the chicken pen to count chickens. He had seen a dead one in the road just past our drive way, it was gone by the time he got back. It wasn't ours. Neighbor across the road called to see if the dead chicken in the road was ours. She had seen it too and when she went to get her mail, dog had dead chicken guarding it and growled menancingly at neighbor (always been a sweet friendly dog before) dog was guarding kill. Neighbor across the road called neighbor who owns dog and told her that she might want to do something about it before her kids find their dog with chicken and get bit etc.So.....we talk to neighbor who got growled at (she came over to get some eggs...used to have chickens herself before they moved here and misses them). We make immediate plans to re-arrange coops and pens and make them more secure etc. because we cannot fence off our yard until we win the lottary. The re-arrangement began yesterday. Chickens have been locked down except when we are right out there with them...they HATE it! (Sorry girls) AND Then this morning I fed but did not let them into the paddock yet, cat and dog in house were alerting and there goes the killer dog running through the side yard and down the drive. Everyone is fine BUT the time has come..........gun will need to be by the back door, but dang, I'm so freakin' slow it won't do much good.....never happens when DH is right there of course! Will finish the revamping of pen arrangements today hopefully. Then take a deep breath and probably have to talk to the owners (dreading that because I like them, they are just clueless about their dogs) and then, well we have 400 acres of pines behind us to SSS. Neighbor across the road who used to have chickens lives nextdoor to dog and she is worried about it too. I'll let DH deal with it, I'm too 'chicken'' right now.

If you are going to SSS it might be wise to NOT talk with the neighbor. She knows her dog runs loose and loose dogs meet with dire happenings...any adult person knows this. In other words, she doesn't care if her dog is standing in the road or marauding through the neighborhood and doesn't care if he gets hurt or dies horribly out there. Best if the animal just disappears and leave it at that. If she gets anymore dogs after you eliminate that one and continues to let them run free, do the same silent removal of that/those dogs also until this thick skulled person finally gets the idea that her dogs will disappear when she lets them run loose.

Sometimes it's the only way. Also...I'd be buying up fencing a little at a time and put it up as you get the funds and time~even if it's just a good fence for just around your chicken's range only. Good fences make good neighbors!

 

[Melabella]

Oh groan, here we go...the problem I had so hoped we would never have to deal with...(I know...dream on) Neighborhood Dog.
The other day I went out to round the girls up, they were getting too close to the next door neighbors fence and I have 2 that will go under the gap in the fence and I DO NOT like that or allow it...will block that off when we can. I called and rattled the treat can and most came running, except I could see little chicken feet and legs under the fence....chicken legs were making a bee-line for the end of the fence where they can round the end and come back into our yard....also saw something moving a ways behind chicken legs. Chicken gets around the corner up on the hill Bawking and squawking like crazy and flies from the hill down to close where I was standing and BINGO right behind her was a neighborhood dog. I yelled and waved arms etc. Dog ran around the corner of our house to the front yard. I moved the chickens as quickly as possible to put them back in the paddock when here come 2 more of my chickens bawking and flying from the front yard....dog running right behind them. Got everyone in the secure pen. I'm shaking like crazy, it was just too close a call. Ran in house and woke DH up and just yelled NEED HELP DOG (I am slow moving due to hip and back & leg). I couldn't find one girl, but she was there at the pen gate when I got back outside. Everyone was fine. Next morning DH left to go into town, came back and went right to the chicken pen to count chickens. He had seen a dead one in the road just past our drive way, it was gone by the time he got back. It wasn't ours. Neighbor across the road called to see if the dead chicken in the road was ours. She had seen it too and when she went to get her mail, dog had dead chicken guarding it and growled menancingly at neighbor (always been a sweet friendly dog before) dog was guarding kill. Neighbor across the road called neighbor who owns dog and told her that she might want to do something about it before her kids find their dog with chicken and get bit etc.So.....we talk to neighbor who got growled at (she came over to get some eggs...used to have chickens herself before they moved here and misses them). We make immediate plans to re-arrange coops and pens and make them more secure etc. because we cannot fence off our yard until we win the lottary. The re-arrangement began yesterday. Chickens have been locked down except when we are right out there with them...they HATE it! (Sorry girls) AND Then this morning I fed but did not let them into the paddock yet, cat and dog in house were alerting and there goes the killer dog running through the side yard and down the drive. Everyone is fine BUT the time has come..........gun will need to be by the back door, but dang, I'm so freakin' slow it won't do much good.....never happens when DH is right there of course! Will finish the revamping of pen arrangements today hopefully. Then take a deep breath and probably have to talk to the owners (dreading that because I like them, they are just clueless about their dogs) and then, well we have 400 acres of pines behind us to SSS. Neighbor across the road who used to have chickens lives nextdoor to dog and she is worried about it too. I'll let DH deal with it, I'm too 'chicken'' right now.

And this I am afraid will be my fate one day. I live in a truly amazing little situation here. All neighbors have sweet dogs and we all have a handshake aggreeement that dogs are welcome on each others property as long as they arent causing trouble, doing number 2 close to the house and good around the children. It's truly like a story book here. Ol Gurdy and Harry come over and make sure all my feed containers are shut tight, stop long enough for a pat on the head, and they are on their way. My two make the rounds to them. I would be up the creek with no paddle in sight if anyone called me and said "keep your dogs off my property". Not sure what I would have to do. I live on 6 acres, with 200 acres of woods out my back, and thousands off in every direction. We have 3 weekenders who come up only 2 weekends a month, and all have small NYC dogs that I occasionally see but are very low key. One neighbor has a GSD, that was a love, but then purchased an Akita, and the whole apple cart got turned upside down. She would visit, and start "hunting" for my small Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to pin her just because she could. THen when my LSGD arrived, the Akita would do the same to him as a puppy. Well as he grew, and testosterone kicked in, he wasn't having any more of it. THe last time she was here, they went at it, he was only 9 months old, thought he was tough, and she was HUGE. She would have won that fight, as tough as he thought he was, thank goodness we were just going out on a ride, and I just headed my horse towards the two of them. She let him go, and ran off. Two days later, she pinned and mauled Harry the neighbors beagle, and killed him. Well, the authorities had to be brought in then. Poor Harry's owner was devastated. THe Akita's owners artwo 65 year olds who don't know the first thing about rearing a powerful fighting dog like an Akita. It's her nature to dominate, and if not channeled and excersized correctly, which she is not, her energy was not controllable. At least they have done the right thing, she is in an electric fence now, and they brought a dog trainer in to try and do what they should have done when she was a pup. I know my dogs do no harm, nor chase anybody's livestock or pets. I would hate the thought of someone shooting at them, but I guess this is the chance I take having them be loose. Luckily my LSGD has a built in homing device that causes him to rarely roam, except when he hears the coyotes, or chase raccoons off when he sees them from the window. I try to leave him out all day, especially when the girls free range, but with the Akita situation, have been putting him in the house if I am leaving for more than a half hour. I have been wondering if there might be a female in heat though, as the other day, he was gone for about 15 minutes.

I've also noticed my flock starting to split into two groups. This makes me nervous. Its not all the time, but I have noticed that it's happening more and more lately. I am not sure about Mr Roo'' qualities as a protector. Thinking he should be calling to them, telling them, get over here now! He is only 19 weeks, so not sure if that is a maturity thing. We have had not a single attempt at them yet from a predetor, at least that I am aware of.. Not sure if it's the LSGD out with them, the predetors not knowing yet they are here or what? In some way, I don't even think my LSGD realizes they could be in danger, I sort of wish that something would give a go at them to teach them all a lesson! We have a huge crow population that I am happy to say, seems to keep the hawks at bay. I saw an amazing aerial fight from my kitchen window not too long ago over my morning coffee. Better than tv that is. I know that with winter coming, this may all change when food is scarce, or keeping warm somewhere and my stupid girls are spanned out to three groups around different locations... Hope it doesn't come to that, but I will knkow who to blame if it does.

Mb