What did you do with your flock today?

[ForFlocksSake]

I cleaned the brooder today. The babies are 4 weeks now and I almost forgot they CAN FLY at this age. One almost flew right out as I was trying to collect them. They haven’t been outside yet and the weather just will not cooperate with me. I got the outside pen set up for them 2 weeks ago while it was sunny and 75. Has planned to take them out during the day this week but it decided to drop 40 degrees. Then all this rain the past two day… I feel terrible they haven’t been out yet. This is the first and last time I get chicks in November. It was so much nicer in the spring. The babies were out in the run and coop by 3 weeks.

 

[Shetland lover]

Good Morning and Happy Sunday.
Yesterday started off with me letting the babies out only to find that one of my Japanese Bantams didn't wake up. His brother was beside himself. They were the only two in that pen as I rescued them after having my other bantam flocks established with their roos. I didn't want to throw 2 more in with any of them for the safety of the girls. I moved him into the Cochin/Brahma pen ( their pen was on the other side of the fence) sectioned off to see how that flock was and if any hen seemed more interested or nicer than the others.. I have one picked out to go with him back to his pen so he has a friend.
I came in to the house after burying my boy and found a chick had hatched in the incubator. I had 3 on there to see if they would since I had just started getting fertile eggs fromnthis group. It was 6 days early but very active and vocal.
When I candled the other 2, I was pretty sure this one may be the only one from this 3 that make it.

RIP Marty. Me and Mcfly miss you already my beautiful boy.
And welcome to the puffball flock Snickerdoodle!

Oh no! I'm so, so sorry you lost your boy.
Take comfort from your new floof. They are adorable and might just ease the sting of losing your precious baby

 

[MadinWonderland]

Oh no! I'm so, so sorry you lost your boy.
Take comfort from your new floof. They are adorable and might just ease the sting of losing your precious baby

I'm hoping at least one more hatches or I may have a house/errands chicken for the next 4 months so it isn't lonely. None of mine are broody and I don't think the last 2 are going to.

 

[kurby22]

I cleaned the brooder today. The babies are 4 weeks now and I almost forgot they CAN FLY at this age. One almost flew right out as I was trying to collect them. They haven’t been outside yet and the weather just will not cooperate with me. I got the outside pen set up for them 2 weeks ago while it was sunny and 75. Has planned to take them out during the day this week but it decided to drop 40 degrees. Then all this rain the past two day… I feel terrible they haven’t been out yet. This is the first and last time I get chicks in November. It was so much nicer in the spring. The babies were out in the run and coop by 3 weeks.

They will be okay indoors longer as long as you can handle them! I usually keep mine inside until they’re closer to 6-8 weeks, just to make sure they are big enough and have all the feathers they need—especially in the winter months. Don’t feel bad, they will be more socialized to you the longer they’re inside with you The difference in friendliness in the inside raised vs outside raised is huge and I enjoy mine being more friendly :-D So that’s a plus to a bit longer insideness! Sounds like winter is settling in where you are, hope it behaves soon! Give them some supervised field trips when it’s sunny and they will love it

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Started my day with 5 new babies - 7 more to go

 

[ValerieJ]

I broke down today and ordered a shock training collar for Goose puppy. He's not totally deaf but pretty close to it. I'm getting frustrated from trying to whistle loud enough for him to hear. Sometimes I hit the right note, and other times I have to walk over and tap him and feel bad when he jumps half out of his skin.

So going to try a waterproof, rechargeable collar that can vibrate as well as shock. I'm going to try vibrate means come to me and the lowest shock means stop and look to me for directions. Hes picking up hand signals really well, but sometimes I need to get his attention from a distance and he just can't hear.

I've never used one of these, but it's the only thing I could think of at this point. Any one worked with a deaf animal before?

Sorry your puppy is mostly deaf. We use the collar completely differently. The vibrate and sound is the only thing we ever need. The very light shock was only for the beginning when the vibrate and sound was ignored.

We don't even use it anymore as our dog isn't deaf, but came to us at at least two years old and previously poorly managed, so we needed to come up with something that would get her attention.

We do use an invisible fence collar still to this day, some 10 years later. She needs a large area to run as she is quite athletic. It would destroy the ambiance of living in a natural forest to put up a fence, so we use the invisible fence. Works like a charm. It also give the sound warning when she is getting close to the line, so she is never actually shocked by it.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Sorry your puppy is mostly deaf. We use the collar completely differently. The vibrate and sound is the only thing we ever need. The very light shock was only for the beginning when the vibrate and sound was ignored.

We don't even use it anymore as our dog isn't deaf, but came to us at at least two years old and previously poorly managed, so we needed to come up with something that would get her attention.

We do use an invisible fence collar still to this day, some 10 years later. She needs a large area to run as she is quite athletic. It would destroy the ambiance of living in a natural forest to put up a fence, so we use the invisible fence. Works like a charm. It also give the sound warning when she is getting close to the line, so she is never actually shocked by it.

My kid suggested people hearing aids tied to his head . I actually looked into it and they do make hearing aids for dogs! Amazing. But also a bit crazy expensive and not commercially available.

Did your dog ever act scared by the shock? I'm worried about using that shock setting. I'll test it on my arm or leg first to see how strong it is. Hoping for a light tingle.

 

[Fluffy_Moth_With_Silkies]

Started my day with 5 new babies - 7 more to go

Awwww! I wish I could hatch, they're so cute

 

[ValerieJ]

My kid suggested people hearing aids tied to his head . I actually looked into it and they do make hearing aids for dogs! Amazing. But also a bit crazy expensive and not commercially available.

Did your dog ever act scared by the shock? I'm worried about using that shock setting. I'll test it on my arm or leg first to see how strong it is. Hoping for a light tingle.

No it’s not a tingle it’s a mild shock on the lowest setting. I only had to use it once or twice before she totally understood the tone meant to pay attention. I don't think hers vibrated, but of course you would need one that did.

It’s definitely only for extreme cases. My Ruby wouldn’t have a home if we hadn’t been able to get through to her. She would not allow anyone to come on our property at all. I don't think she was too sure about us either. We had a dog trainer/whisperer come out and help us. Poor girl had a rough start before us but she is a gem now. Totally worth the time and effort.

I have heard that you can train a dog with hand signals. I've never had to try it. I think if your dog could learn to look at you for a command when he feels the vibration of the collar, then you could give him a hand signal for direction. There are a few sites that teach this. Here's one: http://www.deafdogs.org/training/signs.php

 

[kurby22]

Just popping in to say Happy Monday and share my current view with you all!

The CCFF Show in Paso Robles went really well! We brought 18 birds and are bringing home 15 first place and 3 second place ribbons! My most exciting win was Reserve of Breed in the d’Anvers! My first goal last year was to show a NON-quail variety and place higher than the quail or blue quail—and we did it! Granted 7 of them were mine hehe, and the Best of Breed was a gorgeous quail hen but there were at least 12 quail and blue quail and he got 2nd best I also brought 6 Ameraucana bantams and my self blue pullet took Best of Breed and my Wheaten pullet was Reserve of Breed, and Alfredo won Best Variety in the black Watermaal group of 1 I also am bringing home a Blue Quail rooster to put with my new Watermaal hens that I’m very excited about because he won Reserve of Breed at the show. Plus he’s just the most relaxed and gentle boy!

We drove down to Morro Bay yesterday and spent the afternoon and morning today here and now we are heading back to ugly Sacramento But I miss my bed and my other chickens and my car smells like a chicken coop, so it’s time!