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Cleaning Up:  Chickens  |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 15 2008 : 04:21:49 AM
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| Ladies, I am so new at this. I've always stayed away from chat boards, so if something looks funny or if I'm missing something, please let me know. I've been reading all of your advice (and allof it wonderful) and was trying to think how I'd fit in to all of this and it pecked me right in the head! I work at a chicken hatchery in Ohio and my co-workers called me the "Chicken Chick". I am slightly obsessed!!! I have a flock of 10, all different breeds. I call them my rainbow tribe! I have so many varieties of egg layers that when they start to lay I will get not only brown eggs, but white, pink-ish brown, blue and green! Everyday at work I give advice out on chickens , coops and what not. Chickens make such wonderful additions to farm chicks, city chicks and all of us in between! They are so easy to care for, very thankful for the least thing, and never talk back!! The personalities are so intriguing! If you have chickens, or are interested in getting chickens, and have questions concerning how to get started, I'm here for ya! Today is a birthday for my "girls" and I bought them all kinds of silly cat toys from the dollar store! They love playing with them! And the great part is is keeps them from pecking on eachother. I just pull up a lawnchair and a glass of iced tea, and have my own comedy hour! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2008 : 07:14:51 AM
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Dawn- what a great idea about the cat toys! I would have never thought of it! I can't wait until we own our own property and I can get chickens!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2008 : 07:53:00 AM
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Dawn- That's a brilliant idea!! Cat toys. I am heading to the Dollar Tree later on today. I just put a ladder in the pen for my girls. It rests on one of the 2x4's on the fence and the legs are propped on bricks to keep it off the dirt. I had the best time watching them investigate it and then climb up and down. They are a hoot.
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
Wherever you go, there you are.
www.madrekarin.blogspot.com
www.madrekarin.etsy.com |
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mandi
Farmgirl in Training
21 Posts
Amanda
Nashville
Tennessee
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2008 : 10:08:01 AM
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Dawn -- Thanks for sharing the idea about cat toys! I'm sure that's an absolute hoot watching them play. My husband and I are currently planning our dream hobby farm (we're trapped in apartment-living at the moment, but are looking forward to buying a home with a few acres soon, hopefully). We're hoping chickens will be our first animals!
Farmgirl Sister #264
My Farmgirl Blog - http://www.mandiknits.com/farmgirl
My Knitting Blog - http://www.mandiknits.com |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2008 : 6:17:27 PM
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| My cousin lives in NY now (originally from WV) and he has 2 chickens in his apartment. NOt even joking! He has them in a rabbit hutch in a spare bedroom, he cleans it out regualry, and gets 2 eggs a day! He will sell a dozen for $4-5!!! Isnt that unreal? He says they make the best pets ever. I work at meyer hatchery in Ohio. Go to website and get #, them call me for a free catalog!!! Here's another idea that I do for the girls... take a 15x15 inch piece of plywood and screw in long screws, one in each corner and one in the middle so that they are sticking out the other side. It should look like an "X". Blunt the sharp ends of the screws off with a file, or a saw (dont forget the safety glasses!) and them take field corn and work an ear on each screw tip. The birds will pick at that forever and not eachother! You cn slide on watermelon, apples, or bread and make a "kabob" for them too!!! |
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chickenlady
Farmgirl at Heart
1 Posts
Linda
Dansville
NY
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2008 : 3:41:09 PM
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Dawn - The cat toys are a great idea. I have a flock of 11 girls and they tend to be quite "picky" at times. Hopefully the toys will cut down on the missing feathers and raw spots. I too love to sit outside and just watch the antics of my "kids".
Linda |
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Ga Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
2355 Posts
Karen
Meansville
Ga.
USA
2355 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2008 : 5:24:55 PM
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Dawn, thanks for the tip, my girls will be geting some new playthings soon! Karen
Create in me a pure heart,O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 http://farmgirlingastyle.blogspot.com/ |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2008 : 12:44:21 PM
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Dawn:
Wonderful tips for us.
Marly |
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herb19355
True Blue Farmgirl
321 Posts
Debi
Danielsville,
GA
USA
321 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2008 : 1:00:59 PM
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| What a great idea (especially since I just adopted a new kitten last night!) My girls have raw spots on their backs... just in front of the tail feathers. I thought it was just the boy jumping on the girls (and I keep telling them it is not polite to do that in front of their mama!) but yesterday, one of the girls was on top of the other. Any suggestions? What type of cat toys and what do you do with them? (I know that sounds dumb ~ but I am clueless!) |
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Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
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lilwing
True Blue Farmgirl
1403 Posts
Brooke
Fulshear
Texas
USA
1403 Posts |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2008 : 2:12:43 PM
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I bought some little sparkly balls with the bells on the inside. I also bought a catnip mouse that I hung with stretchy cord. I 'spose anything sparkle-y will do... as long as it jingles too. As for the pecking, I havent run across that...yet. I suggest a red light for awhile. Chickens are not color-blind like other animals and will peck at "red". If everything looks red, then they dont pick. Another suggestion is HOT PICK. You spray it on the one being pecked...I suppose it tastes awful to the chickens. Hmmmm maybe I should try that with my hubby!
Zan: he used to live in Ithaca-did I spell that right? I know he married, I wonder what his wife has to say about it!
"I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one!"...Calamity Jane |
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Suzan
True Blue Farmgirl
659 Posts
suzanne
duncannon
pa
USA
659 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 08:45:08 AM
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| Lucky him! I love Ithaca. My daughter lives there so I get up there as often as I can. Believe me, no one would think anything of his chickens in the apt! Ithaca's culture is green, organic, and a "live and let live" environment. The natural environment there is beautiful, loads of gorges and waterfalls. In fact, one saying up there is "Ithaca is gorges!" The farmer's market there is a wonderful place to spend the day, lots of farm stands, handcrafts, local musicians, and all under a huge pavilion right on the lake. There are often sailboats and scullers(?)(long boats, several rowers) from the colleges on the lake. This area is part of the finger lakes regions, and there are wonderful wineries in the region! Lovely place to visit! |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2008 : 4:05:35 PM
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Sounds like it!
"I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one!"...Calamity Jane |
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Cleaning Up: Chickens |
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Chickens
