Washingtonians

[justbugged]

Anyone else having fly troubles with all this heat? They're super thick around the run and back patio. Hosed down the patio and hung a fly trap which already has a lot in it! What else can I do? Is this just what happens when you turn up the heat with lots of chickens around? Kind of a bummer Maybe I'll hang the last of the vanilla scented tree scents I have LOL

I have been having troubles with flies, but I was blaming it on the fact that I didn't get the bin of chicken parts buried last weekend. DH got it done this morning, but I won't ever repeat the mistake of not getting it done promptly again. My only excuse is that I ran out of steam. last weekend. I over did things last weekend and have spent the last 4 days paying for it. Though I am beginning to think that sitting may be worse, than moving round. I just can't seem to get a good balance on the pain some times.

 

[justbugged]

I had planned on leaving early today for the farmers market in Tenino.. but as we were pulling out of our driveway I saw a box.... Hopped out to move it and low and behold there were 2 hens in it!!!!

Both look like RIR and both are pretty small and ones entire rear is a big RED featherless mess..... Grrrrrr So what could I do, couldnt leave them there... I have no clue where they came from.. only thought is from someone who knew I sell eggs... So I made them a quarintine pen in the barn and set them up. Im not looking forward to nursing pecked on hens again I just finished up with 2 other girls that were from a friend and litterally just added them into the main coop on Tuesday. Was planning on using the small movable pen for some Cornish X (we are wanting to try meat birds). At least on the bright side I still have the meds and stuff to give them for the peck wounds.

So done with that, we attempted to leave again and in the street were the neighbors 2 Boxers... Their people are on vacation for the weekend and we are feeding and watching the place... This is first time the puppy was left home and she must be missing her people because she is digging out.. So we loaded them up brought them home and fixed them a shady kennal with a tot size swimming pool and fans LOL.
So now its the time we had planned on being back home by and we still haven't left . So gave the chickens some frozen water bottles for the afternoon heat. I think we are still gonna try to head to the Arts Fair in Eatonville for ..
the afternoon.. Ill cross my fingers

I hope everyone is doing well and can enjoy the sunshine a little bit

I would suggest using Blue Kote on the hens hiney. It will keep the other hen from peck at her. I am guessing that someone got chickens this spring, and has gotten tired of them, but it is still not cool to dump animals on people without asking them first. At least you are clearly a loving pet person. The person that dropped them off must not even thought about the possibility of dogs getting to the birds before you could find them. If the hens become to much trouble you can always take them to the auction here in Enumclaw.

 

[RaZ]

Anyone else having fly troubles with all this heat? They're super thick around the run and back patio. Hosed down the patio and hung a fly trap which already has a lot in it! What else can I do?

Purely anecdotal, but sandwich bags half full of water with a couple of pennies seem to be working well for me. Hanging them in sunny locations seem to dis-orient the fly's compound eyes. I have them all over the place and I'm not seeing many flies.

I am guessing that some one got chicken this spring, and has gotten tired of them, but it is still not cool to dump animals on people without asking them first.

I took in about a dozen orphan mallard chicks this year because people knew that I could rehab them for the wild. At least they asked first before bringing them by. All have left except for 1 protective drake and a hen just now getting her flying license.

 

[justbugged]

There is nothing wrong with buying from a hatchery, C.C. That is the only way a lot of people cann get chicks, much less sexed chicks. It must suck for people to raise up sweet cockerels then have to part with them because they are boys and they are in town.

I want to add that seniority on BYC doesn't mean that a person actually knows anymore (or anything) about chickens. It just means they joined an internet forum before you. (Since when do human babies have yolks so they don't need to eat for three days? That is one of the dumbest analogies)

I completely agree. There is no reason to not buy hatchery birds, if all one wants is a flock to produce some eggs. The only reason to buy "pure breed birds is if you are going to show, or are trying to preserve a breed. otherwise it is in my humble opinion a waste of money to buy show quality birds for a simple back yard flock. I think it may be that some of these people are whining about your hatchery chicks, because they wanted to sell you their chicks. I think that there is a reason and place for both types of chicks. It is a rare person that can accurately sex chicks besides.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Hooray!! Ricky is safe at his new home and I even made $5 off him...like that even comes close to the insane amount of feed that boy eats, but at least he's safe and will enjoy free ranging their 20 acres. I think the girls will actually be happier too; he was starting to pick on Princess and the other little girl who looks like her, and my GLW. Not cool. He was grabbing them by their neck feathers and tossing them! You can imagine the squawks coming from the backyard lately. I think I'm the happiest I've been since getting chickens! I have my dozen pullets who will be laying soon and I can't wait!

 

[justbugged]

Quote: Thank you!!! I didn't know this. It is very useful information. I am always looking for less expensive treatments for my pets. I would rather save the money for their food, and major health needs.

 

[Shyla-C]

over the years we have thrown bait blocks underneath our house. So far we haven't had anything die under the house that we have noticed. At least I know for sure that the pets can't get to the bait no matter what. Our neighbors said that they had a rat die in their back yard, but I know that I nor my chicken are what can be attracting the rats. I do have a neighbor that had a mama rat living in their garage one summer.

My big cats killed the babies thankfully, and I am not sure what happened to the mama rat. I do keep all my feed in bins. It's also nice that the nasty little dogs are more than willing to kill rodents.

I have on the other hand been thinking about getting some old fashioned snap mouse traps. The nasty little puppies have learned to jump up on the chairs at the breakfast bar, and have been stealing stuff off of the kitchen island.

I am just not sure that I am really mean enough to really put a mouse trap on the chair. So far I have only just thought about it. I am afraid that it might break a nasty little foot, and then I would feel very very bad. But every time I find some else that has been stolen, I start to think evil thoughts.

Set the snap traps, then put them upside down on the chair with newspaper over them and you shouldn't break any feet. That was always recommended by the vet I worked for to keep cats off the counters. You only need a couple of traps.

Also Hydrogen Peroxide works best when you give it to the dog and then put it on a leash and walk it briskly until it vomits.

 

[justbugged]

7 Week old india blue black shoulder peacock

OOoooohhhhh!!!!

I am half way to jealous. I would love to have some peacocks. I am fairly certain that the neighbor that complained about my roo, would have a bigger problem with the cock though. I hope you can keep us updated with photos of your peacock as it grows.

 

[justbugged]

Quote: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

This is a great solution. I have been thinking about it for a long time now. I had a girlfriend that used to set mouse traps to keep her Chesapeake Bay Retriever off of her sofa, but Cougar was so much bigger than my nasty little Yorkies that I have always been afraid to try it. I am going to try it tonight with your suggestion.

I have another question about the Hydrogen Peroxide. How much would I need to use? I am guessing that there must be a volume to weight ratio, and given the size discrepancy in my dogs, I should really know before I try it.

 

[justbugged]

Quote: cookie dough is rather effective also.