What did you do with your flock today?

[kurby22]

That sounds like one hell of a day you had! I just love his hairdo though! It shows off his little red devil horns so well .
The things we do for our birds eh? I don't know if your set up will let you, but turning the dirt helps keep the water from pooling. The deeper it's turned, the better. The loose dirt can absorb a lot of water and gravity makes any pooling happen underground instead of making a muddy surface. Your surface will be damp but not soaked. Guessing your dirt's like ours and gets so hard packed and dry that it repels water instead of absorbing it.

We have roofs that keep things mostly dry, but I still turn to clean the runs. I think it keeps the dirt healthy too. The first bit is hard work, but over time your dirt gets light and easy to work. I don't know anyone else who does this though so maybe I'm nuts. The chickens sure love it though! They bug hunt while I work.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll find a good solution. Your such a good momma

Such good kids to help out! Hope you all got a warm treat at the end of the day!

Yeah, Polish combs are fascinating to me! They look so devilish for such silly and quirky birds! Somehow he’s managed to keep the hairdo for two days! I thought sure he’d have found a way to break it by now I’m glad though, cuz his head was being picked on!

The quail pens are my only bird pens without ground contact—they’re in cheapie rabbit hutches with trays. I tried the wire bottoms and they got bumblefoot so now their waters are upstairs with very little bedding and downstairs is feed and a deep layer of pine shavings. Quail are HUGE food wasters, so it mixes in and layers up in the shavings…so when the rain gets in it mixes all together with no way to drain out. I change it out once a month usually, but the rain had other plans! They got nice dry clean shavings and I swear they buried their little bodies in the shavings and haven’t moved for two days they look so dry and happy I’m ruminating on a new set up for the quail that’s less intensive and more stimulating for them…by building a frame to place inside two connecting garden boxes. That way I could layer the bottom in hardware cloth, bury it in soil and then enclose the space with a pvc pipe-hardware cloth frame. This would minimize the mud, prevent rat visitors, and reduce the constant maintenance. Plus I could rig a better feed and water set up so no more maggots all summer in the spilled water/feed/shavings mess they make! Oh—and they’d like it more 3’x8’ with some real plants even! Maybe a log to climb on…I’ve got great aspirations anyway!

Thank you. I hope so too.

Oh no! How is Pru? I had a discovery today that has me wondering if I could have saved Fluff and Asha if I’d only known. I brought Brownie in to get some Terramycin for her eye which looked bubbly like MG and she happened to open her mouth and I found yellowy white cheesy looking stuff in the roof of her mouth. Doesn’t smell bad so I’m assuming thrush? Not canker…and all my research says that thrush can mimic MG and other URIs and that URI meds can possibly worsen a fungal infection? They all just finished with a preventative dose of Denagard in anticipation of the weather a few weeks back and I’m wondering if several of them are getting some fungal crap post-antibiotics? I’m so sad that it might have been my fault Asha never got better So I got some acidified copper sulfate for their waterers and will look at locating something meds wise if needed. Any suggestions? I have micronazadole (spelling ?) and a fish antifungal as well.

@TropicalBabies I'm so sorry bout your cross beak boy...it's so hard having to make that decision and follow throug! Hugs to you as you go through this!!!

@kurby22 we've had tons of rain here too...today is the first time the sun has been out in like 2 weeks I think!!!
I do the deep litter method so all the rain we've gotten has run into the run and all that has gotten far too wet for anything! Talk bout smell! I feel ya!!! I keep flipping it to try and let it dry out, adding more pine shavings and first Saturday lime and Sweet PDZ. Very frustrating!
Your lil man looks like he adores his new hairdo!!!

@Shetland lover I do hope Pru is all right!

Yeah I’m grateful it’s been short! I’m planning to spread straw with zeolite on Saturday, then topping that with FSL! Anything to dry the soils asap!

Also, I may have finally found ways to keep alllll the food in their coops without rodents. They’re gonna be sad rats without freebie food! I also added metal plates to areas that appear to be allowing tiny rats in the big coop. I have video of one climbing the hardware cloth INSIDE the coop last night. Ugh! Little poops!

That I am! I’m already crazy busy but it’s ok! I hate down time. Merry Christmas to you as well!

oh that would be fun! I’m hoping she waits to the end of April cause I don’t want it cold for them. I read some horror stories of things going wrong with them giving birth in the winter. As much as YupYup hates it, he is leash trained . He didn’t have much of a choice though. I’m sure when he gets older it won’t go as easily. I will for sure share pictures! I can’t wait to see yours!

Sooo cute! I love him

 

[PopoMyers]

@Shetland lover Poor Pru. Any improvement?
@kurby22 @Shetland lover .Wow, I haven't heard of these treatment medications before. Where would I get these if a situation like yours came up? Are they prescribed?

@kurby22 Oh, the hairdos! So cute! Yeah, they may not like their embarrassment shared with us, though. Lots of things going on for you. I have some same issues with stinky, muddy run, a tenacious rat who digs under to go in and out of the coop/run. Next project is to bury some old railroad tie heavy plates vertically under the bottom of the structure where it keeps digging up. Just a thought, for post fungal treatment, would probiotics help to repopulate the good bacteria, along with ACV? Poor birds. So much to deal with for you. Hope it clears up soon.
Today, I had to redo the bedding in the main coop, and probably the other one tomorrow. The moisture from the poops and maybe their muddy, wet feet got the ammonia level going. I'll get more shavings and PDZ tomorrow along with a feed run.
Cockerel Ertugrul is beginning to take his job seriously, and I think he will be a good roo. TikTik ing for the ladies, calling them in, rounding them up, sounding alarms. He did not like me petting Pepper, one of his girls, and stood to challenge me away from her. If I don't touch anyone, he pretty much ignores me. The other cockerel is left alone, unless he tries to mount Pepper. Either he, or Cinnamon (top hen) will defend her. New drama in flock dynamics everyday. Keeps me entertained Glad it stopped raining so they can come out. 2 girls are just now starting to molt. Supposed to get down into the 20's and teens next week, and maybe snow. Brrr. However, our forecasts change often.
Here's a . Do cockerels try to mount any hen, whether she's in lay or not? Or do they instinctively know which ones are in lay and only mount those? Or is it on an individual basis?

As we get busier in the next 11 days before Christmas, just wishing all a very Merry Christmas, and peace, joy, and love.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Inbetween bags bags and more bags I took some more glam shots of C&B so I can get them printed on canvas for the grandkids. Been doing this for about a week or so. This is what I came up with.View attachment 3346576View attachment 3346577
Had some fun second choices and a few funny of my little weirdos. I miss playing with them.View attachment 3346581
Then I got distracted by my dragon fruit and soursop, then had to get back to bags bags and more bags.
View attachment 3346585
It was a nice reprieve. I have like 20 fruits on it now

Beautiful!!

@FrankieDoodle how's Molly doing? ♡♡♡

She’s about the same. It’s been cold and wet the past two days so I haven’t had the chance to be consistant with the clotrimazole, but I’m hoping to get it going tomorrow.

I’ve noticed her new thing is to act “better” for a few days, followed by a few days of her doing nothing but sitting in the run/under a car. It’s making it hard to know whether she’s getting worse or not.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

@kurby22 you can't blame yourself for those Ashsa and Fluff! All you can do is keep investigating and treating and doing the best ya can...which u certainly are! You luv em! We could all look back and see how we could have done things differently and had different outcomes but that could also drive ya crazy ya know.
Where do you get the zeolite? Is it a powder you just sprinkle? I hadn't ever heard of it but sounds like I could use it! We had mostly sunny yesterday for the first time since before the cruise and the run is still nasty. I keep flipping and raking and ugh!
I wonder if come spring I need to just clean the entire ground area out and lay bed of rock then 6" or more of sand...but I just don't know if that would help and be worth huge expense or not. I'm so frustrated at how several of them have broken feathers on their feet! Bluey is the only one that doesn't have broken feet feathers!
Do your boys ever crow whenever the rats come in during the night?
Mine have been crowing off and on during the night and i don't see anything on the cameras.

Do cockerels try to mount any hen, whether she's in lay or not?

In my cases they do whoever whenever...sadly.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Beautiful!!

She’s about the same. It’s been cold and wet the past two days so I haven’t had the chance to be consistant with the clotrimazole, but I’m hoping to get it going tomorrow.

I’ve noticed her new thing is to act “better” for a few days, followed by a few days of her doing nothing but sitting in the run/under a car. It’s making it hard to know whether she’s getting worse or not.

Your pals are so full and beautiful . Gorgeous ♡♡♡!! Great shot
Well, Molly is holding her own forsure. What a strong gal ♡ thank goodness this weird thing that she caught is not lethal or contagious. That in itself pretty darn cool.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Here's a . Do cockerels try to mount any hen, whether she's in lay or not? Or do they instinctively know which ones are in lay and only mount those? Or is it on an individual basis?

Yes and No. IF you have an established flock master they are HIS girls. If he has too many he may let a lesser roo mate the girls that he is not that interested in and it slightly splits the flock. The magic number is up to him though smaller flock = more drama.
If you have a young cockerel and another young cockerel there may be more overstepping as your main guy does not have things under perfect control yet.
The older roo is more practiced and discriminate. I think... it really depends on who his favorites are and of course, flock dynamics supercedes all logic lol.

My flock master is diligent about mating and herding his favorites. The lower ranking hens he let's #2 have a snack. If #2 tries to snack on #1's girls there is trouble. #1 is mating the alpha hens, some who are 5 and not necessarily laying and also, who ever he wants. He will not mate a pullet till she is ready, just b4 POL. A young cockerel may try and mate a pullet sooner. A established flock will protect her against that happening.
I used to hate intro but now I absolutely love it and having an older flock. Lots to be said about those matriarchs ♡♡♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

DH culled my cross beak for me last eve. I did not have the heart. This one just got to me and made me very sad though I knew it was the right thing. Crossbeak knew it was the right thing as he went willing and quietly. The trimming of his beak helped the first few times and I am sure I could of kept him plugging along with a sadish life but with my flock size it def factored in. No room for another personal pet. DH was terrific as he knows I get sad and snappy with my chicken losses. Going to be a little lonely this morning.

My takeaway is to NEVER let my broodies sit in summer again. Think the humidity and heat may have been the reason for such horrible hatches and his deformity. Maybe it was Manono's egg... IDK just not going to do it. Too sad.

Been knocking the heck outta the bags. Have at least 2 big stands to refill. Finally making them some $! New bags look terrific. Gotta go sew... almost there...

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Yeah, Polish combs are fascinating to me! They look so devilish for such silly and quirky birds! Somehow he’s managed to keep the hairdo for two days! I thought sure he’d have found a way to break it by now I’m glad though, cuz his head was being picked on!

The quail pens are my only bird pens without ground contact—they’re in cheapie rabbit hutches with trays. I tried the wire bottoms and they got bumblefoot so now their waters are upstairs with very little bedding and downstairs is feed and a deep layer of pine shavings. Quail are HUGE food wasters, so it mixes in and layers up in the shavings…so when the rain gets in it mixes all together with no way to drain out. I change it out once a month usually, but the rain had other plans! They got nice dry clean shavings and I swear they buried their little bodies in the shavings and haven’t moved for two days they look so dry and happy I’m ruminating on a new set up for the quail that’s less intensive and more stimulating for them…by building a frame to place inside two connecting garden boxes. That way I could layer the bottom in hardware cloth, bury it in soil and then enclose the space with a pvc pipe-hardware cloth frame. This would minimize the mud, prevent rat visitors, and reduce the constant maintenance. Plus I could rig a better feed and water set up so no more maggots all summer in the spilled water/feed/shavings mess they make! Oh—and they’d like it more 3’x8’ with some real plants even! Maybe a log to climb on…I’ve got great aspirations anyway!


Oh no! How is Pru? I had a discovery today that has me wondering if I could have saved Fluff and Asha if I’d only known. I brought Brownie in to get some Terramycin for her eye which looked bubbly like MG and she happened to open her mouth and I found yellowy white cheesy looking stuff in the roof of her mouth. Doesn’t smell bad so I’m assuming thrush? Not canker…and all my research says that thrush can mimic MG and other URIs and that URI meds can possibly worsen a fungal infection? They all just finished with a preventative dose of Denagard in anticipation of the weather a few weeks back and I’m wondering if several of them are getting some fungal crap post-antibiotics? I’m so sad that it might have been my fault Asha never got better So I got some acidified copper sulfate for their waterers and will look at locating something meds wise if needed. Any suggestions? I have micronazadole (spelling ?) and a fish antifungal as well.


Yeah I’m grateful it’s been short! I’m planning to spread straw with zeolite on Saturday, then topping that with FSL! Anything to dry the soils asap!

Also, I may have finally found ways to keep alllll the food in their coops without rodents. They’re gonna be sad rats without freebie food! I also added metal plates to areas that appear to be allowing tiny rats in the big coop. I have video of one climbing the hardware cloth INSIDE the coop last night. Ugh! Little poops!


Sooo cute! I love him

Eeeeewwwww eeeewwwww eeeewwwww!!! I have a mouse in my house currently that I can’t catch for the life of me! I’m thinking I may have to go with sticky traps. He is completely avoiding all the other traps I have in here. I can deal with mice better than other things. Everyone has mice at one point or another. I don’t know if I said this but I feel like maybe I did, so if so ignore me . There is something out there where you get a deep bowl with peanut oil in it. You set something up where they can climb in it and then they can’t get out. I would need mine super deep so I don’t have one jump out at me or climb on me

What are you doing to keep them out? Beside the plates coving the holes…anything else?

 

[FBMcrazy8]

@Shetland lover Poor Pru. Any improvement?
@kurby22 @Shetland lover .Wow, I haven't heard of these treatment medications before. Where would I get these if a situation like yours came up? Are they prescribed?

@kurby22 Oh, the hairdos! So cute! Yeah, they may not like their embarrassment shared with us, though. Lots of things going on for you. I have some same issues with stinky, muddy run, a tenacious rat who digs under to go in and out of the coop/run. Next project is to bury some old railroad tie heavy plates vertically under the bottom of the structure where it keeps digging up. Just a thought, for post fungal treatment, would probiotics help to repopulate the good bacteria, along with ACV? Poor birds. So much to deal with for you. Hope it clears up soon.
Today, I had to redo the bedding in the main coop, and probably the other one tomorrow. The moisture from the poops and maybe their muddy, wet feet got the ammonia level going. I'll get more shavings and PDZ tomorrow along with a feed run.
Cockerel Ertugrul is beginning to take his job seriously, and I think he will be a good roo. TikTik ing for the ladies, calling them in, rounding them up, sounding alarms. He did not like me petting Pepper, one of his girls, and stood to challenge me away from her. If I don't touch anyone, he pretty much ignores me. The other cockerel is left alone, unless he tries to mount Pepper. Either he, or Cinnamon (top hen) will defend her. New drama in flock dynamics everyday. Keeps me entertained Glad it stopped raining so they can come out. 2 girls are just now starting to molt. Supposed to get down into the 20's and teens next week, and maybe snow. Brrr. However, our forecasts change often.
Here's a . Do cockerels try to mount any hen, whether she's in lay or not? Or do they instinctively know which ones are in lay and only mount those? Or is it on an individual basis?

As we get busier in the next 11 days before Christmas, just wishing all a very Merry Christmas, and peace, joy, and love.

My guy had been trying since he was like 11/12 weeks old. And the girls were so not ready. I have a few more that aren’t ready and he still try’s with them.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Yeah, Polish combs are fascinating to me! They look so devilish for such silly and quirky birds! Somehow he’s managed to keep the hairdo for two days! I thought sure he’d have found a way to break it by now I’m glad though, cuz his head was being picked on!

The quail pens are my only bird pens without ground contact—they’re in cheapie rabbit hutches with trays. I tried the wire bottoms and they got bumblefoot so now their waters are upstairs with very little bedding and downstairs is feed and a deep layer of pine shavings. Quail are HUGE food wasters, so it mixes in and layers up in the shavings…so when the rain gets in it mixes all together with no way to drain out. I change it out once a month usually, but the rain had other plans! They got nice dry clean shavings and I swear they buried their little bodies in the shavings and haven’t moved for two days they look so dry and happy I’m ruminating on a new set up for the quail that’s less intensive and more stimulating for them…by building a frame to place inside two connecting garden boxes. That way I could layer the bottom in hardware cloth, bury it in soil and then enclose the space with a pvc pipe-hardware cloth frame. This would minimize the mud, prevent rat visitors, and reduce the constant maintenance. Plus I could rig a better feed and water set up so no more maggots all summer in the spilled water/feed/shavings mess they make! Oh—and they’d like it more 3’x8’ with some real plants even! Maybe a log to climb on…I’ve got great aspirations anyway!


Oh no! How is Pru? I had a discovery today that has me wondering if I could have saved Fluff and Asha if I’d only known. I brought Brownie in to get some Terramycin for her eye which looked bubbly like MG and she happened to open her mouth and I found yellowy white cheesy looking stuff in the roof of her mouth. Doesn’t smell bad so I’m assuming thrush? Not canker…and all my research says that thrush can mimic MG and other URIs and that URI meds can possibly worsen a fungal infection? They all just finished with a preventative dose of Denagard in anticipation of the weather a few weeks back and I’m wondering if several of them are getting some fungal crap post-antibiotics? I’m so sad that it might have been my fault Asha never got better So I got some acidified copper sulfate for their waterers and will look at locating something meds wise if needed. Any suggestions? I have micronazadole (spelling ?) and a fish antifungal as well.


Yeah I’m grateful it’s been short! I’m planning to spread straw with zeolite on Saturday, then topping that with FSL! Anything to dry the soils asap!

Also, I may have finally found ways to keep alllll the food in their coops without rodents. They’re gonna be sad rats without freebie food! I also added metal plates to areas that appear to be allowing tiny rats in the big coop. I have video of one climbing the hardware cloth INSIDE the coop last night. Ugh! Little poops!


Sooo cute! I love him

I just love the image of your quail cuddling into the shavings . Think I'll scratch quail off my list of wants...lol. That sounds like some great ideas you have percolating!

I'm wondering if the rats keep the mice away or if you have to deal with both? Do you ever see signs of mice around your coops or just the rats? I have mice and I've always assumed that means no rats...but not sure.

Your rat plans sound good too. Let us know how it works out. Those pesky devils are amazing at finding a way.

DH culled my cross beak for me last eve. I did not have the heart. This one just got to me and made me very sad though I knew it was the right thing. Crossbeak knew it was the right thing as he went willing and quietly. The trimming of his beak helped the first few times and I am sure I could of kept him plugging along with a sadish life but with my flock size it def factored in. No room for another personal pet. DH was terrific as he knows I get sad and snappy with my chicken losses. Going to be a little lonely this morning.

My takeaway is to NEVER let my broodies sit in summer again. Think the humidity and heat may have been the reason for such horrible hatches and his deformity. Maybe it was Manono's egg... IDK just not going to do it. Too sad.

Been knocking the heck outta the bags. Have at least 2 big stands to refill. Finally making them some $! New bags look terrific. Gotta go sew... almost there...View attachment 3348698View attachment 3348699View attachment 3348700

That green bag is soo pretty!

I'm so sorry about your crossbeak sweetheart . What a kind hubby to help you out like that.

@FrankieDoodle she certainly looks well loved