Washingtonians

[savingdogs]

It makes them safer to be around and safer for your other animals. To participate in 4H it is a requirement. It increases the value of your kids because they could be 4H or with a disbudded herd.

We were told your goats should either all have horns or all not have horns, not to mix it up.

Hope that helps until a real expert chimes in.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
so why do people dehorn goats or sheep?

isn't it a hassle?

With their horns, they are a danger to themselves and people. Goats really aren't the friendliest and can kill each other, plus those horns can injure kids and people as well. They fight or play all the time, and with the horns can get some serious injuries. I've known people to have horned goats, and they've lost a few because of that. Simply touching a buck's horns, for example, is a sign of a challenge or threat - and gets them into an aggressive mode.

And no, it isn't a hassle - You simply get a VERY young goat, lock it in a little box, and burn off its hornbuds. It is hearwrenching to hear, but only lasts about a minute.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote:
To my knowledge Pygmy goats are the only breed you are allowed to show with horns all others must be dehorned. And yes it is for the safety of the herd and the people who work around them. It is really not that tough to do BUT NEVER EVER let anybody (even a vet ) cut the horns off. That is just asking for a long period of trouble. Even full size horns can be removed with out cutting them.

 

[Nyrial]

I was putting the girls up last night and one of my leghorns wasn't too keen on jumping down to get in the run, so I chased her off the top, and had to physically pick her up.. which is odd, because usually the pair of them are the first to go in. When I picked her up I noticed her foot was swollen almost twice it's normal size. First thing I did was come on here and look up bumblefoot, and it sure looks like it. I ended up lancing it last night and packing the foot with bag balm, padded it, and wrapped it in tape. Dels run today to get other.. stuff, like Vet Wrap and penicillin. So, now that between Rite Aid and Dels, I've dropped 80 bucks on drugs and first aid supplies (for a WHITE EGGLAYER???? What is wrong with me

), she seems to be doing okay. I think I got all the plug out, wrapped her up with antibiotic ointment, vet wrapped the foot, gave her a shot of penicillin in her breast, and she's cuddled on the floor with my house rooster.

I raked/cleaned their run as well as I could today, being so wet it's hard to tell what's sand and whats.. ewww. DH is putting down fresh sand tomorrow. Everyone else's feet look okay. There's so many Bumblefoot posts on here that I didn't feel the need to put a new post in the injuries sections.. but was curious if anyone here had dealt with it, and what they had done that I didn't.

 

[jbear]

Quote:
I just did, and my lil henny healed up nicely.. I kept her on her antibiotics for 7 days, and kept her foot wrapped for like 5 I think.

 

[Nyrial]

Well okay, they were cuddled up until she tried to eat from HIS food bowl. Wow

. He's usually very mild mannered.. as in, I let the chicks out to play with him and he hides from them, but he lit into her. Guess someones not too happy about the new chicken in his territory.

 

[TheReidHomestead]

to all the newbies!!!!

Anna, sounds like you did good with the foot!

I'm a nervous nellie Mamma tonight, our scovy hen has been sitting and tomorrow is what we think is hatch day, day 35!!!! I've just put in new bedding, a long red chick feeder with all purpose poultry starter, a shallow pan of water. Anything else I'm not thinking of? We are new to ducks and have never dealt with a broody actually hatching her own chicks!!!! Mom & eggs are seperated in their own coop from Mr. Duck. We haven't candled, but the folks we adopted her from said last spring was her first laying season and she hatched out 10 eggs and then later 13 eggs, and all eggs hatched with 100% fertility, so we are hopeful! I know a couple of people here have expressed interest in getting a few of them, so if you are lurking, expect an email soon!

Then it's a busy week here. Lockdown on Tuesday night for a bator full of GCM and GCM/BCM mixes and both banty & LF cochins, due Friday. Thursday I am driving down to Longview to pic up Lavender Ameraucana eggs, both LF and bantam (John Blehm stock!!!), plus lavender (Hinkjc's line) & BBS Orps!!! I'm so excited about these eggs and more so that they are being babied from her house to mine, NO shipping!!!!

Have a 2nd bator full that is 1 week behind the first, full of silver penciled plymouth rock bantam eggs, very excited about those too. One of my DD's has her mind set to use those for Fit & Show in 4-H and I think they will do really well for her. Unfortunately, I think they will be too young to use at fair this year in late August, but perfect for next year!

 

[TheReidHomestead]

Oh, and we have my DH's friend coming next Saturday to take all the birds we don't want. So have to go through our 30 some odd chicks and figure out what we are keeping and who is male vs female and all that.

 

[Chickaholic]

I am really sad because one of my chickens is missing!!! I went out to check on them to say goodnight and my little baby partridge cochin is gone!!! Please pray for my little baby to be there in the morning in a spot I didn't look, I am pretty sure I checked everywhere though!!! This is my 5 year old daughters chicken that she was going to show at the fair and so hearts are going to be broken if we don't find her!!!

 

[Nyrial]

11/65 Coturnix are out and crowding the 'bator! I hate having to take them out before they're all hatched, but apparently with quail it's not okay to leave them in there for more than 12-18 hours post hatch. I'll take out whoever has hatched in the morning, then again tomorrow night. They pop out like popcorn, that's for sure. Soon as I'm sure they're done, I'm setting whatever turkey eggs I have. 6 waiting/turning at the moment so far

ETA: Keeping my fingers crossed for you and your DD Chickaholic.