#Backyard Chicken Feeders

[fairmaiden8]

The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Chicken Feeders

Welcome to the ultimate guide to backyard chicken feeders! Keeping a flock of chickens can be incredibly rewarding, but it also requires a lot of work and attention. One important aspect of caring for your birds is ensuring that they have access to fresh food and water at all times. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about choosing the right feeder for your flock, including…

[alcnfr]

Assorted Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) around and about the place this gray day...

[superfluffychickens]

We get it Ripley, you’re tall, there’s no need to show off!

[inthecityofgoodabode]

July 2024: Harvests, Hummingbirds & Hot Barbecue Wings

Monday harvest:

Blurry hip shot of a female Ruby-throated hummingbird as she flew in close:

The little lady in silhouette:

Monday dinner on the grill:

All sauced up:

Tuesday harvest, part one:

Tuesday harvest, part two:

Wednesday harvest:

Thursday harvest - That is the last of the Buhl sweet corn. We've already pulled the corn plants. We replanted the larger corn plot with Fisher's Earliest sweet corn hoping for a Fall harvest. The smaller plot was planted with Swiss Chard:

Friday harvest - That squash is from a plant that we saved from being killed by a squash vine borer by dumping leaf litter and compost on top of the next leaf node above the damaged section of vine which gave the plant the nutrition & protection it needed to set down advantageous roots & survive:

[livwritesstuff]

for those who have never lived in a rural area, there’s a certain level of cohabitation with the wildlife that sort of comes with the territory.

Steve and Eddie live in a fairly rural town in my steddie!dads ‘verse, so I’ve been thinking about how they would feel about this.

Steve is mostly neutral about it. He likes the bird feeders they have scattered throughout the yard, and does his best to learn how to identify all the different species so he can point them out to their daughters, and he thinks the owls that live in the woods behind their house are neat, but other than that, he doesn’t really pay all that much attention to it.

Eddie, on the other hand, fucking loves it, thinks it’s the coolest thing in the world, so much so that it actually becomes a source of stress for Steve.

There’s a possum who comes to their back porch for food that Eddie christened Alonzo and is adored as practically another member of the family. It disappeared for a while and they were all convinced it had died until one day it suddenly was back and snuffling around the porch. Ed and the girls threw a welcome home party complete with a hastily-made banner they taped to the door so he could see it.

Eddie would happily get chickens if not for the fox that lives in their backyard (in his words, “the fox was there first”).

Once, when Hazel is a baby, Eddie takes her on a walk around the neighborhood and comes home to see that a hawk had flown into the porch and gotten its talons stuck in the screen door. He looks at it for a second, decides it’s stunned from the impact, closes Hazel in the car parked in the driveway, and then helps the bird out. Doesn’t get gloves or anything, just bare-hands it and gets the bird unstuck. He’s correct about it being stunned because once it's free, it kinda just collapses on the porch. After a little bit, it flies away. Steve finds out about this a month later and flips out (“Sorry, was the last time you got gutted by flying wildlife not enough for you or something?” are his exact words).

When Moe is a teenager and starting to learn about all the ways the Earth is falling to pieces, she finds out that native bee populations are dwindling. Eddie is equally upset to learn about this, so they tag team planting native flowers around their yard. This is the same summer they learn that Robbie is allergic to bees.

Steve comes home one day to see Eddie fully conversing with a juvenile screech owl perched on the rafters of their front porch.

Eddie: So glad you’re here.

Eddie: But

Eddie: We have a cardinal family and a blue jay family

Eddie: They’re off limits.

Eddie: Rats, mice, insects, vermin – go to town on those fuckers.

Eddie: Do not touch my cardinals or my blue jays. Got it?

Steve:

Steve: Don’t let Moe see that thing

Steve: She’ll think it’s delivering her Hogwarts letter

[intersectionalpraxis]

So here's a question I have regarding avian flu: I currently live near a place that has backyard turkeys and chickens (approximately 10 meters from my house), and some of my windows are facing in their direction. I have no options of moving out and neither of my parents are concerned about avian flu (my mom has bird feeders, bird houses and lets her cats outside, and my dad also lives near chickens), so I can't go back to them. How dangerous is my situation? And would it be unsafe to open my windows if the birds near my house if the wind is blowing from their direction?

If you or anyone is looking for avian flu updates, I highly recommend checking in here:

They have bird flu updates, basic information, and "health care guidance," and so much more -I don't have a science/biology/medical background, so I would always recommend looking at sources from credible doctors/virologists/epidemiologists of course.

This is also their "prevention" page, in hopes of addressing some of your understood concerns:

This is some of what they addressed if you happen to be around birds and other animals:

"Avoid unprotected contact with domestic birds (poultry) or other animals that may be sick or have died or are suspected or known to have bird flu virus infection." "Do not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous, animal feces, raw milk, animal litter (bedding material), or materials contaminated by wild or domestic birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected bird flu virus infection."

And for folks who have birds in their backyards:

"Use protective equipment like gloves, an N95 respirator if available or, if not available, a well-fitting facemask (e.g., a surgical mask), and eye protection (e.g., goggles), "Wash your hands with soap and water after touching birds, Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after contact with birds or surfaces and materials that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous, or feces from wild or domestic birds." "Change your clothes before contact with healthy domestic poultry and handling wild birds, captive wild birds, farmed birds, and other pet birds. Then, throw away the gloves and facemask, and wash your hands with soap and water." "CDC has more information available on what to do after you have been exposed to infected poultry or other birds."

I think the emphasis here is if you see unusual behavior or notice something amiss (they have guidelines for what to look for), you can contact the numbers the CDC provides, otherwise practicing good hygiene and wearing PPE if you are in contact with birds/other animals.

I saw this picture as well, and it seems most transmissions happen when people are in direct contact with birds/other animals or are pretty close by (the images I attached below are from the link I attached underneath), and not because you crack open a window nearby birds/other animals, but maybe check in with someone smarter than me about this because I would think no -it would be direct contact like this in terms of having them in your backyard:

I hope this offers some clarity/direction.

[light-lanterne]

(saw some el angst in my db and it made me sad so now i'm passing it on -_- )

tw // vague descriptions of animal death / trauma - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ☽ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - yet another offering, @saffirez, @yearninginblue, @hyperfixationcentralsvoid, @holyvirgilscriptures, @catboy-cabin, @fluffyfangirl, @foodiewithdahoodie. this one's not byler, but i hope you guys like it!

headcanon that el loves animals. any and all. whenever they're at a mall, she'd be the type to visit the pet stores to stare at cute bunnies and puppies and fish until someone decides to drag her out. for her birthday, the party take her to a petting zoo and she forces them all to stay there until the sun goes down. at least once a month, hop and joyce have to dissuade her from bringing in possums and racoons home in hopes of some day getting to keep one for herself.

when she's older, she turns vegetarian and adopts one too many chickens even though they eat the leaves off of the little vegetable patch she and joyce plant in their backyard.

el really does love animals.

she, however, doesn't like cats. or squirrels. they're adorable and fluffy and just as sweet as all other animals, of course. she likes the way cats purr and she'd love to sink her fingers in the fuzz of a squirrel's bushy tail.

but she can't bring herself to do it. she can't even look at them without feeling sick, breathing uneven as she fights off a panic that has her frozen on the spot. the cats, for having to torture them in the lab; the squirrels, for having to kill one too many of them to stay alive during the winter of '83-'84.

and to everyone else she'll pretend. she'll smile whenever will points out a squirrel as they drive by the park, or when she comes face-to-face with one of them as she fills up the bird feeder in the garden. she'll giggle whenever jonathan pspspsp's a cat over for them to pet, or when they visit dustin and tews happens to be passing by.

but as soon as it happens, she'll excuse herself to go to the restroom, or make up a story about how she left something in the other room and she just remembered. if need be, she'll even use her powers to knock something off a shelf to distract everyone's attention and slip away in silence or, if she's lucky, scare the little animal away so she doesn't have to see them anymore.

she'll pretend because she can't stand the sight of the cute critters, but she can't let the other ones know for they don't know what she did. they don't know that her dreams are plagued by the hiss of a cat, or by the sound of the sizzling fire as she cooked a squirrel to ease the pain in her tummy. they don't know that her nightmares are littered with the sight of endless dead kittens, and by the stench of burnt squirrel flesh.

they don't know that she truly is a monster. at least in that regard.

and she doesn't want them to know. so as far as anyone's concerned, she loves animals.

any and all.

- the end -

(again, this is you guys' fault for putting el angst on my dashboard e.e)

[biohazard-inevitable]

Someday I’ll have a nice little home.

The outside will be a lovely stonework, cobbled together among dark wood and glass, mideval in its appearance as its settles into the foest greenery around.

A soft stonework path winding though soft clover and greenery up to a quiet little porch, windchimes of bone hang alongside hummingbird feeders, a horseshoe nailed above the door painted with etchings of runes and flowers as a lone rocking chair groans across the wood.

Inside it’ll be a cozy marvel full of rooms with many a purpose. A cozy kitchen sits in position to look out into the backyard where chickens and a garden roam free, a guarded little sanctuary for the creatures we keep. The kicthen is organized perfectly, each container for every item reusable and lableled ever so neatly, metal and reusable plastic silverware neatly tucked side by side in the drawers. Every spoon is the perfect spoon and every cup is the best cup. Fresh eggs decorate the wooden rack, as do dinosaur themed items all around.

Next is the living room, a cozy clutter of beloved textures and warm sentimentality. Knick nacks and bones dot the landscape and perhaps even, if alllowed, beautiful taxidermy lines the walls as swords hang behind the couch. A blaze roars warm in the fireplace on cold, rainy days, and the couch is large enough and soft enough for as many people as possible to join in a comfortable movie night.

Then of course is the library, a room dedicsted to collection housing manga and novel titles galore, organized beautifully, the manga alphabetical by title and the others alphabetical by author or however we wish to organize. Grand figures of the classics of our favorite anime characters tower around a cozy lounging are in the center of the room or perhaps by a window nook, the perfect place to nestle among the elements and become consumed in a story.

The batheoom even, is of my most ideal wonders. Themed ever so aquatically with a seperate shower and bath, the bath being a raised pedastal with water jets and plenty of room for candles, above it a tiled dome decorated like stars and panes into the wall depicting the most lavish scenery.

Then of course is my own room, decorated entirely however i please, a palace of plush pillows and the softest of blankets with all I need to love and enjoy myself inside it, a sanctuary of solitude if ever need be.

[demonicchicken1121]

Can we hear More Jeremy backyard creatures?

Omg I am so sorry this took me so long it’s just been gathering dust in my drafts 😭😭😭

I lost some motivation to do fnaf stuff recently bc I’ve been really into dsaf. You’re still welcome to ask about Fnaf but it’ll probably take a while to respond. I’d also be really happy if anyone has questions about my versions of the dsaf guys bc my hyperfixation swapped over to them. I have an au called Happiest Dave that I really need to work on.

So Jeremy has like, an army of feral cats. They’re everywhere, but you wouldn’t really know about them unless you’ve seen him do The Summoning. He stands in the yard and shakes a jar of treats and at least 10-15 cats will just appear. It’s great. He captures local strays and takes them to get fixed before rereleasing them. He’s the local crazy cat lady.

he does have one indoor cat that he adopted from the shelter, which I’ve mentioned in another post. She likes to sleep in Michael’s stomach hole. Michael and the cat pretend to hate each other, but they really don’t.

i also mentioned a dumpster chicken in another post, and this was based on a movie I watched as a kid where this lady found a factory chicken in a dumpster and nursed it back to health. I basically just stole that story and used It for Jeremy. Henrietta kinda just hangs around Jeremy’s house. Henry loves the chicken because she’s named after him, and he likes to hold her.

other than that, Jeremy just generally has a lot of bird houses and feeders and probably volunteers at an animal rescue. He loves fucked up skrunkly little guys. He just like us fr.

[audible-smiles]

clearing up some bird misinformation

in case you haven't heard: highly pathogenic avian influenza is a problem right now. it is primarily affecting waterfowl, seabirds, domestic poultry, raptors, and scavenging birds. we've also seen a number of cases where it has affected mammals such as cats and dogs, bears, mink, and sea lions; that's worth keeping an eye on.

what we have not seen so far is any significant number of cases in songbirds. (well, corvids are technically passerines, so let me rephrase.) we haven't seen any outbreaks among common backyard feeder birds. unless you have domestic poultry in your backyard, you don't need to take down your bird feeders. we don't even think feeder birds are particularly likely to carry the virus and transmit it to your chickens; that recommendation was made simply because there have been a few isolated cases of avian flu in feeder birds, so its not impossible for transmission to occur. don't feed ducks (or corvids) right now, and if you want to be cautious and take down seed/suet/nectar feeders that's fine, but you're not actually committing a grave sin against all birdkind by leaving them up.

there are other infectious avian diseases out there, so still clean your feeders on a regular basis and keep an eye out for local alerts.

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

yeah im 100% city but we had backyard chickens for a good while and i miss them so badddd especially with egg prices being. what they are LMAO i miss having way too many and giving them away rather than being nervous making boiled eggs lol

the egg situation is Fucking Severe rn i'm lucky i've got a lady who'll sell me her extras from her chickens for dirt cheap cuz she just likes me

like god damn eight dollars for a dozen????? hello?????

makes me really mad about all the people who ignored the warnings about bird feeders and the like last year and let the bird flu get this out of hand >:/

[fairmaiden8]

Plastic or Metal Bird Feeders: Which Is Better for Your Backyard Chickens

Backyard chicken feeders are an essential part of raising chickens. They provide your birds with a consistent source of food and water, which is crucial to their health and well-being. When it comes to choosing the right feeder, there are many options available on the market today. Two popular choices include plastic and metal bird feeders. But which one is better for your backyard chickens?…

[alcnfr]

Frippin' fabulous feathered-friends on the Feedlot...

Margery Daw a henny hen

female Northern Cardinal

Bluejay

Brown-Headed Cowbird...

[superfluffychickens]

It’s official - my little girls are taller than the Faverolles now! I never really realized how proportionally short the Fav’s legs are until now, haha.

[dreamweardesigns]

Nature-inspired Craft mind:

DIY responsibilities That convey the out-of-doors indoors

Nature has long been a delivery of ideas for artists and crafters alike. From the colorful shades of flora to the tricky styles decided in leaves, the herbal world offers endless possibilities for creativity. Bringing factors of nature into your private home through DIY obligations can add a touch of tranquility and beauty to your dwelling area. Right here are some nature-inspired craft ideas that will help you capture the essence of the outside and produce its interior.

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Pressed flower artwork is a timeless way to keep the splendor of nature. To create your very personal pressed flower art, collect a diffusion of plants and leaves. Location them amongst sheets of parchment paper and press them within the pages of a heavy ebook for a week or. As soon as dried, set up the pressed flowers on a bit of paper or canvas and secure them with glue or adhesive spray. Body your paintings to expose on a wall or shelf, and experience a hint of nature all 365 days spherical.

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2. Leaf Print Wall setting

Leaf prints are an easy however hanging way to include natural factors into your decor. Acquire leaves of diverse sizes and patterns from your lawn or a nearby park. The usage of a paintbrush, look at a thin layer of acrylic paint on the ground of a leaf, then press it onto a bit of cloth or paper. Repeat this manner with one-of-a-kind leaves and shades to create a unique sample. As quickly as the paint has dried, frame your leaf prints or stitch the fabric properly right into a wall.

3. Pinecone Chicken Feeder

Lure birds for your backyard whilst adding a rustic allure to your door space with a pinecone fowl feeder. Discover a massive, open pinecone and tie a bit of cord around the pinnacle for striking. In a bowl, mix peanut butter with birdseed till it forms a thick paste. Unfold the aggregate onto the pinecone, making sure that it receives into all of the crevices. Hold close to the pinecone bird feeder from a tree department and watch as birds flock to enjoy the treat.

4. portrays

Rock portrays fun and bendy craft that may be cherished through each age. Accumulate smooth, flat rocks from a seaside or riverbed. Use acrylic paints to decorate the rocks with designs inspired by nature, inclusive of flowers, bugs, or animals. As soon as the paint has dried, seal the rocks with a clean varnish to shield your artwork. Use painted rocks to beautify your garden, create paperweights, or perhaps make a hard and fast of nature-themed story stones for youngsters.

5. Driftwood reflect frame

Driftwood presents a coastal, rustic contact to any domestic decor. To create a driftwood mirror frame, acquire quantities of driftwood from a seashore or purchase them from a craft hold. Installation of the driftwood pieces around the edge of a plain replicate, experimenting with exclusive layouts until you find a layout you like. Use a sturdy adhesive to attach the driftwood to the contemplated body. Cling your new mirror in an entryway or dwelling room to deliver a chunk of the beach interior.

6. Shell Wind Chime

Create a relaxing and decorative wind chime with the usage of shells accrued out of your seaside adventures. You may want a group of shells with holes, a bit of driftwood or a wooden hoop, and some fishing line. Tie lengths of fishing line to the driftwood or hoop, spacing them flippantly. Thread the shells onto the fishing line, knotting the street after each shell to keep them in the area. Hang your shell wind chime close to a window or on a porch, wherein it could seize the breeze and produce gentle, melodic sounds.

7. Terrarium

Terrariums are miniature indoor gardens that might carry a lush, green touch to any region. To make your very personal, begin with a clean glass container, which includes a jar or vase. Add a layer of small stones for drainage, determined through a layer of activated charcoal to preserve the environment smooth. Top with potting soil and arrange small flowers, at the side of succulents or ferns, inside the discipline. Upload decorative factors like moss, pebbles, or tiny collectible figurines to finish your terrarium. Area it in a spot with indirect daylight hours and revel in your miniature indoor lawn.

8. Nature-stimulated Candle Holders

Beautify your home’s surroundings with nature-stimulated candle holders. Gather small branches, twigs, and bark from outside. Use a warm glue gun to attach those natural elements to the outside of a simple glass candle holder, growing a rustic-textured appearance. For protection, area a small votive or tealight candle internally. These candle holders may be used as centerpieces for a consuming table or to feature a comfy glow in any room.

9. Pine Needle Basket

Basket weaving is a historic craft that connects us to nature. Pine needle baskets are a stunning and purposeful manner to carry a chunk of the outdoors internally. Collect long pine needles and soak them in heated water to reason them to be greater pliable. The usage of a thin gauge cord or raffibeginsgin uses coiling the needles right into a tight spiral after which conserving to weave and coil them into the shape of a basket. This challenge requires patience and practice however effects in a stunning, herbal piece of artwork.

10. Nature Journaling

Nature journaling combines statements, writing, and artwork to create a non-public document of your studies in nature. Begin with a blank pocketbook and fill it with sketches, pressed leaves, and notes approximately the flowers, animals, and landscapes you come upon. Use watercolors, colored pencils, or pens to demonstrate your mag entries. Nature journaling is a calming and aware way to hook up with the natural international and create a unique souvenir.

Conclusion

Bringing the out-of-doors indoors via nature-stimulated crafts not only beautifies your property but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the herbal international. Those DIY tasks encourage creativity, lessen pressure, and can also be shared as presents with friends and family. Whether or not you’re a professional crafter or simply beginning, those ideas offer a variety of approaches to infuse your residing space with the tranquility and splendor of nature.

[asphaltvalkyrie]

My coworkers sometimes post about their backyard chickens in the Slack chat, and its really making me want to get a few. I've got a big enough yard, outdoor hens are legal where I live, and Wyandottes are sooo pretty and apparently good for beginners.

But, part of responsible pet ownership is knowing when not to get a pet. I should know. I've spent my career working in animal shelters and vet clinics.

I know rationally that chickens would probably be a bad idea since I can't visualize myself consistently cleaning a coop, sterilizing a feeder/waterer or troubleshooting health problems, considering my depression-based bouts of executive dysfunction, and the fact that I barely go through a dozen eggs a month.

I think what I really want is a Bird Who Is Also My Friend because I just love birds so much. But most of the social species are parrots or parrot-adjacent, and require far more attention than I can give (not to mention the questionable ethics of keeping them as pets in the first place.) I also have 3 indoor cats, two of which would happily snatch a bird right off of my hand. So the only Friend Birds left are chickens, or perhaps pigeons, but I can't let pigeons out to run around my yard while I read or take care of the plants.

Maybe I'm going through my mid-life crisis, and its in the form of I Want Birds.