fuzzi's "Gardens and Chickens...and Goats? Oh My!" Journal and More Thread

[drstratton]

OK - I've never had to pill a chicken. You just pop it in their beak?? LOL - mine chickens only have slight interest in me when I'm tossing scratch. Admittedly I don't go in their run to sit and snuggle them either. Dogs and sheep get that time (though at the old house they did come when called until they had to be "Fort Knoxed" because of the coyotes).

I've never given a pill to a chicken either. Chickens have fun little personalities, but mine aren't snugglers. I love animals, but I don't have dogs right now and I've never been blessed with having sheep, so I just have to enjoy my flock and cats.

 

[fuzzi]

1. Catch chicken
2. Sit down
3. Hold chicken like football under non-dominant arm
4. Pry open beak with non-dominant hand
5. Put (half) pill inside beak with dominant hand
6. Hold beak shut until pill is swallowed

My sweet hens hate it.

 

[canesisters]

...... so... just like cats.
You might really be on to something with your 'chickens are feathered cats' theory

 

[SageHill]

1. Catch chicken
2. Sit down
3. Hold chicken like football under non-dominant arm
4. Pry open beak with non-dominant hand
5. Put (half) pill inside beak with dominant hand
6. Hold beak shut until pill is swallowed

My sweet hens hate it.

Now I know and hope I'll have to do it. Thanks!

 

[fuzzi]

...... so... just like cats.
You might really be on to something with your 'chickens are feathered cats' theory

Rahab grabbed my shirt with her beak, she was po'd!

 

[fuzzi]

Yesterday there were NO eggs from the Sussex again, so I dosed the hens last night, 3rd time. I cheated, I offered BOSS in my hand, then grabbed each one in turn. After all 4 were given calcium pills I offered BOSS from my hand again, to leave it on a positive note.

All was forgiven, BOSS accepted.

 

[fuzzi]

Yard critter photos

Anole on metal hose

Tiny anole on one of my elderberry bushes...it's been chewed up by grasshoppers, so go get them little one!

Gulf fritillary, first time in my yard. I've seen them before, at the beach.

Variegated fritillary, see these frequently. Their host plant is violets, it's laying eggs.

Clouded skipper, butterfly

Mason wasp drinking from a bird bath.

Pipe organ mud dauber nest. I was going to remove it until I read how beneficial these solitary wasps are. I'll clean it off once the young have hatched. Not a Mason wasp nest.

Green Lynx spider, also on the elderberry bush. Eat bugs!

White Banded crab spider

I've more, but reached the photo limit!

 

[canesisters]

I ADORE your wildlife photos!

 

[fuzzi]

I ADORE your wildlife photos!

Thank you! All taken with my Android phone.

 

[fuzzi]

Saw a video online, was reminded of this:

Cleo was our last dog, senior rescue, LOVED EVERYONE and EVERYTHING. Mittsie was one of two litters from Momma Cat, born under our shed before we could trap Momma Cat and have her spayed. Mittsie was the only offspring that lived longer than 2 years, was about 14 when she died. It's a hard life outside, with dogs and coyotes and hawks and cars and guns and poison.

Momma Cat

"Hurry up with that walk! We're hungry."
(Mittsie left, Boots right)

Mittsie and Boots. He showed up one day, adopted us. Boots allowed petting, but tended to bite.