Utah!

[Sphinx]

Kimmy, congrats on the clutch of eggs!!! That's too funny that she's been so sneaky. I bet you're right. I think the only way you could guarantee her not laying in the garden is if you enclose the top of your run. I bought bird netting on ebay quite cheap. How big is your run, I do have some leftovers.

Cynthia, yikes, what a close call!! I'm glad you got back out there in time to protect your chicks.

See, the problem is, I don't know enough about cows to know for sure that he has pinkeye, and I don't want to treat until an expert can confirm. I called one of my cow friends, and she said that she's never had pinkeye in the 20+ years she's raised cows. So, I left a voicemail with the guy who sold him to me, and asked him to check it out when he's next door feeding his calves today.

I'm having one heck of a pity party today, and a total drag, so I will probably log off for the day so my crankiness doesn't wear off on anyone else.

 

[kimmypie]

The run is 14x15 but I'm not sure how we would enclose it. The fence is a 4 foot closed picket fence and the coop sits kind of in the middle. Maybe I just need to clip her wings more.

 

[RedIII]

Actually Cynthia, BoP like that fall into the 'non-migratory' category, which is one reason they're illegal to kill

Get a strong spray nozzle for your hose. Whoever said it on here already, I agree - they do NOT like getting wet! I'm glad you didn't lose any chickens. I've got a kestral here that I keep an eye out for, but so far, it hasn't really visited our yard.

Aw Sphinx, that's rotten. I will ask my BF to see if he has any tips on treating cattle with pinkeye. He grew up on a ranch. Sorry you ended up losing that girl, too.

Okay, it's my turn to add to the sad pile again, I'm sorry. Cynthia, you know that beardless EE chick you gave me a couple of weeks ago? The dog got her

I feel terrible. My mom was the one that found her this morning right after the dog got her. She'd slipped through the fence and was trying to get back on the other side. My mom couldn't stop crying, and now the dog is very much 'in the dog house'. What is up with all of these losses everyone's having? Huh?

But, I have some good news, as well. I checked Peach yesterday, and it looks like the oil really helped with her bug problem. Plus, Hattie, those two Icelandics you gave me? They have gotten a lot more friendly with us and will hop up into our lap or on our arms or shoulders when we're sitting down. If you let them stay there, they'll preen and take a nap. We've named the one with feathered legs Autumn, and the one with the eyeliner and hairdo Summer......better known as Psycho Summer, since she feels the need to bite everything to see what it is, even if she just bit it. I think she must have shark in her DNA

Thank you again for them! And, remember the wild turkey my uncle gave me? I've been getting her to eat out of my hand for the past couple of days. She's still very shy, but getting better.

 

[RedIII]

Kimmy, nice find! Those BSL's sure seem to be stinkers about hiding their eggs. The one I had out in Tooele made a few secret stashes while she was around, and there really wasn't a way to stop her. The BSL I have here for my mom is the same way. As soon as the RIR laid in the bushes, the BSL thought that was great! Found her egg in the same spot as the RIR's.

Lisa, I forgot to comment on your pictures. Our birds do that! There's probably enough room on the roost in our little coop for four or five birds to sit comfortably. Instead, it's normal to see twice that crammed onto the perch every night. And, I didn't know that Polish took so long to lay. I had heard that EE usually took 8 or 9 months to start laying, sometimes longer. I have that blue-buff EE that I gave to my brother (Serah) who looks nowhere near ready to lay, and she's 31 weeks old. I always figured she'd be late to lay.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Cynthia, I sooooo hope that hawk does not get any body at your house! We are having a terrible time with birds this year, the magpies are even trying to terrorize my girls, they are just stalking the run, Grr.

Kimmie what a fun surprise! Congrats on that giant pile of eggs, hope you can get her in that nest soon.

We had frost here this morning! My garden looks like it is ok, a few tomatoes and squash vines were barely nipped....but I was shocked to see all the frost and the thermometer said 34! The weather predicted 43....WRONG! Some of mymarigolds are hanging their heads down low. I am always sad to see summer start to fade, the cool air sure feels nice, but I know what is just around the bend so I do not like it!

Red---sorry about your baby Having chickens has made me like dogs much less than I used to!

 

[Cynthia12]

Aww, red..the little EE..sorry! I feel bad for your poor mom..that had to be hard. Glad to hear though, that greasing up your chicken helped with buggies. Works for mine.

Lisa..frost? Oh yeah, you live in Logan.
You will be doing this before you know it!!

Kim..try clipping those wings more...

My chickens don't know what to think..have been in that coop all day, and may have to stay. Red, I have been reading up on the Cooper's, and they do migrate a bit..not far like geese, but like a robin would here in Utah. They head south, but not far..just the warmer part of the state, and that's what the game warden had told my friend they do..so hoping..plus, in Florida, the go north during the hottest time of the year there. I just hope it does leave! This one is a real stinker..does not care in the least that someone is right there. And remember, this is the one that got my friend's Wyondotte. Saw her burying it, and swooped down right over their heads, really wanted the rest of it's meal! As I read about this particular hawk here on BYC, I couldn't believe how many people were losing their chickens to this breed. They kept saying that they were tired of raising their chickens for hawk meals.

auntie..JILL I saw curly feathers on two of my bantams today. You had me wondering, so I knelt down after putting them in the outdoor run, and sure enough, those are curled wing feathers. And, those wings are more brown. I'm calling Ideal pretty quick here. I'm sure that they are cochin bantams, but I am not sure they are birchen. Man, I wanted those birchen. They are cute though, those eyes, what is it about a cochin bantam's eyes? Love them. Look up Favorell bantams. Didn't know their were bantams in that breed. I have some of those in the bator now. I've had the LF in the past, very sweet birds! They should be cute and short like the cochins, because they are in LF..short..they have the muff though, and they have feathered feet. I am excited to see these babies..hope I have a good hatch. Unusual bantams for around here.
I have Swedish Flowers in that are doing well. I really want them. If these Swedish do as well as I've read, that is one of the birds that I will keep in my flock. Different colors, and some have the cute little tops.

 

[the-bird-man]

for the hawk i wounder if you could keep a starter pistol on you, they are not considered firearms so you may be okay fireing it in your yard, they are just .22 short blanks, they just make a nice bang i have one that i keep on hand to scare any animal i need to off.

 

[Cynthia12]

hmm, Brad, that a thought..this bird has been so persistent, but haven't tried that yet. My friend actually used a bb gun, hit it in the chest, and it just sat there.

Met up with sundance today. She made me some money today..lol..had a guy interested in some chicks, let him know, and we happened to meet at the same time. Come to find out, my hubby and that guy had worked together for years at the co. that Scott worked at for 25 years. I had taken an extra babie for sundance to choose from, plus a couple of babies for this guy..didn't know he would be there, and he bought all three extras..one that sundance and I were pretty sure was a roo, I didn't charge him for that one, just for two. Yaay, got some chicks sold.
Sphinx, don't worry, I still have some left.

Here is a picture I had that guy take of us together today.

Sun in our eyes, we were trying to hide in the shadow of a beam above us. Oh well..there we are!
I'm holding the chick she got, and she is holding some of the ones he got. Those two EE's are
some babies from an EE she got from me. )
sundance had to excuse herself to go assist with what she came to have done. Wow, this lady is
get go when it comes to taking care of animals.

 

[Sphinx]

I know, Sundance is a really awesome lady. I feel lucky to know her (and the rest of you, for that matter!)

Red, I'm so sorry the dog got your EE. That is so heartbreaking.

I call that nobody else is allowed a loss for at least 6 months- we've had a terrible run as a group lately, haven't we?

I'm a little worried that both of my chicks are boys- they are almost two weeks old now, and no tail on either of them. <gulp> When I feather sexed, both were girls, but that wyandotte mix seems so big and boyish.

My day actually did get a lot better. Everyone but dh had to go to the dentist (actually, he was scheduled too, but then he got called out of town this week and had to cancel). I know that's usually not the start to a good day, but all five of us had no cavities. My dentist usually has the hygenists do the cleanings, but for whatever reason, he cleaned mine. They said it was to keep him in practice. He said I did a really great job on keeping my teeth clean, and I was out of the chair within 15 minutes, which was awesome. He also checked my xrays first off and declared me cavity free, so my anxiety about cavities was gone immediately. I have teeth/mouth fear issues, so it was a really nice change of pace to not have to fret the whole visit.

Then I got a hot cookie and ice cream later, so I'm feeling more cheerful. Even though I can't get dh's air compressor to work to air up my tires to where I want, and I wanted to throw a fit.

 

[auntie hattie]

Cynthia I don't want your hawk!!! Don't send it here please. Sorry it is hanging around your place though.

That's weird your chicks have the curly feathers too. I'm glad I wasn't seeing something that wasn't really there.

I'm going to have to look into the Faverolle breed. When will they be hatching? They look so much like wheaten Ameraucana's but with feathers on their feet.
Fun picture of you and Sundance. Thanks for posting it.

Red I'm sorry about your chicken.

I am happy the little Icelandic's are warming up to you. Cute names for them too. They love little bits of string cheese they were always right on my lap eating it. Autumn was the sweetest. She would alway let me walk up to her and hold her. She would just stand there and let me pick her up but then she always knew there were treats.

Psycho Summer never let me get close to her. Perfect name I must say. Glad they are doing well.

Kimmie fun pile of eggs!

Sphinx sorry about your problems with the calf. I hope you get some help with it. I agree with you on no more losses. There have been to many of us losing our chickens. Gertie was my first chicken to die and it has kind of made me rethink chicken keeping........ but just for a second.

It is hard losing one you are attached too. I guess I just need so many chickens that I won't be able to get attached. Now there's an idea.

I've been keeping myself as busy as I can. The house is way to quiet. I'm really missing my daughter.

She is really loving college though so that makes me so happy!