Don’t get me started on dogs.
My rescue mutts were supposed to be rottie/labs according to my wife. They stopped growing at 25 pounds hahahahaha.

I just wish the cats would teach them the meaning of respect. They all get along well, but the cats need to be a little less nice

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dogs on the ceiling?
i'm a pushover for dogs n cats.
i've had more dogs, but either can become family.

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susie

My rescue rottie stopped growing at 145lbs she was a female. I wonder how big her brothers were.

There listening to Lionel Richies dancing on the ceiling.

My black lab fought all the time with my daughters 22lb tabby. His nose had battle scars. The vet called me out on it for animal abuse. I told him the dog fights with the cats he loves it.

It’s that techno thing, sometime it makes me upside down.
Not very brave watchdogs, but at least they bark.

when ihave a dog n the payroll, his whole job is barking when someone comes.
i don't need a dog to bite people. as long as i know someone's coming i can bite them myself if needed.
my hearing has been impaired by all the shooting so i can use early warning.
looks like i don't have to shoot the biter.
finally got in touch with that farmer n he still wants cats.
it's just spring is his busy time.he should be here next week.
5 cats is entirely too many for me.
3 is a lifetime supply.
i guess these guys will come to be as important as drifter, tho she remains the special one.
she's not cuddly much, but i like her best as a person.

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susie

that guy really saved n2's life.
i had decided to shoot him today if he wasn't wanted.
his bad habit will be cured. a cat that bites a farmer can't do much
due to heavy boots n jeans.
farmers would whack him good, too.
i really only need 2 cats, but i can make room for 3.
winter will come n i don't know about sissy house cats.
drifter is fine down to 25 degrees but i bet they hide inside
from the cold.
i just hope bear survives, because he likes cuddling most.
natayo almost as much.

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susie

a biter is a biter n getting neutered won't change him.
he didn't bite me again but he was due for death already.
i don't have room for him n i wouldn't drive around to get him a place.
in fact, if i can't catch him when the farmer comes, i'll have to give away 2 other cats n he won't survive that either.

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susie

no. neutering stops fighting, so there's less biting in fights.
but biting is a separate behavior.
biter is a biter.
sooner or later, i'll step on every cat.
i'm clumsy n they are underfoot.
i won't put myself in danger for a bad animal.
the infection hurt. the bite hurt.
the next infection might be worse.
getting a cat fixed will cost money n lots of pain. i'll do that for drifter n bear2. not this cat.
i'm no cat lover that won't retaliate.
i shoot rattlers because they might hurt me. this is the same thing.

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susie

She definitely is smart and you're right, some of that comes from being feral. It is safer if she stays in at night if the coyotes are that close to the house. How are your fig trees doing? I ate some figs today and I thought of you Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

They are cuties!Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Glad you will have a good home for your"biter" He'll be a good barn cat and mouser. If you're going to have the kits inside, the friendlier, snugglier ones will fit in better and your home will be more peaceful. My dogs are great barkers too even though they're small. I've got my little friend in my pocket to take care of who they're barking at if they're unfriendly and try to get into my house. Speaking of guns, protect the rest of your hearing with those disposable earplugs with a high decibel count when you're shooting. It's worth the effort. I was getting ringing in my ears when I shoot outside, but now I use those"earmuffs" that they require at the range and the ringing went away. They're pretty inexpensive and they have them at Walmart. They have batteries and allow you to hear while you're not shooting, yet they cancel out a lot of the gunshot noise when you are actively shooting. I'm not sure how that works but it's a good thing. I don't want to lose my hearing because my grampa became mostly deaf at the age of 30 from a swimming accident. Anyway, have a good weekend Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Thanks, jen, Zima did have a good long life. We always kept her indoors and she was neutered and was a pretty happy healthy easygoing girl. I do miss her so much, but my husband doesn't miss the litter box (lol) He did love the kitties tho!Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

my fig trees are leafed out n the grape has lots of bunches.
i even have an early breba crop of figs coming.
they grow on old wood before the main crop comes.
both grapes n figs taste good to everything. once, i even had rats eating my trees, tho mice n birds enjoy sweet things.
i bet i loose nothing this year.
drifter thinks anything that eats my crop is yummy, n when she's out hunting, the kits are there.
they may not be great hunters, but if they see something move, they attack.
the kits managed to kill a centipede.
i don't know how.
centipedes are very hard to kill n the bite is like a dozen wasp stings all at one
they are 6-7'' long , orange red.
they are the nastiest insects i've met
since it might have stung me, i'm pretty happy about this.

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susie

breaking horses to saddle can pay minimum wage, but you have to be trained to do it right.
you can wreck a horse if you don't do it right.
gentleness is key, but you have to be prepared to shoot an injured horse that the vet can't save.

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susie

when you see an animal in constant pain that the vet can't fix, you do what you must.
one does not shoot an $800 horse if there's any choice.

it was wonderfully cool today, so i spent the day in the garden.
i noticed that all the kits leave the garden, but only for 10 minutes or so.
i leaned a 2x12 against the fence outside, so they can get in faster.
their senses re fine. the kits were spread around the garden, napping.
when a hummingbird came to the feeder, they all snapped awake n their eyes were glued to him.
if they could climb like drifter, i'm sure they would have tried for the hum.
but, they are clumsy n slow.
drifter seems to fly up the fence.
if a bird ever sat atop the fence, drifter could get it.
she's that fast.

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susie

Them's giant centipedes you got there. Yay for the kits for catching it. The figs and grapes sound like they're doing real well.

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We have a ton of chipmunks digging holes and driving my dogs crazy. The dogs keep them on the run. We have coyotes and bear and we also have an opossum that comes into the yard occasionally. The possum is harmless and eats ticks, so I'm happy to see her. She doesn't have any bacteria or diseases that harm pets or people but can do something to the hay that makes horses real sick. They really do roll over and play dead when the dogs chase it... Playing possum is very effective. The dogs sniff her and run off to chase something else. We have squirrels and some frisky blue Jays that squawk and dive at the dogs. What I do watch out for is the hawks that circle and grab the mice. They will pick up and take small animals up to 5 lbs and the smallest of my pups is 6.5 lbs. We do have a 6' fence but that doesn't help with the hawks. I never let the dogs out without being out and close because of the hawks. I do love horses like you, but don't have the 2 acres required for one. We may get a few chickens next spring tho.

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I'll get in touch next year if I'm planning to get chicks, then. There was a barnyard chickens forum here but it's not active currently. I had no idea that squirrels play dead also!Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

I'm trying to figure out how to post a pic for you, Jen... Push the orange arrow on your Tapatalk screen on the lower right side write your message, then you will see a gray square on lower left below your message. Press that gray square and that will bring up choices where you want the picture to come from. Choose camera if you want to take a new one, or choose gallery where you'll find your stored pics. You're pics will come up and each will have a small square on the top. Tap this square to select picture and then push send at the top of your screen. I have Android (Moto Z Force Droid)... If you have an i phone, it may be similar but I'm not sure. I'd love to see your chicken pictures if you can send.

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Ooh! I haven't been on a computer since I retired. My laptop broke in 2016 and I haven't had the need to replace it.. Ask Snubbyfan.. He's good at uploading pics.Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

sure look like rhode island reds, i had some, but i'm no expert.

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susie

From Wikipedia: "The Rhode Island Red is an American breed of domestic chicken. It was developed in the late nineteenth century in Massachusetts and Rhode Island by cross-breeding birds of Oriental origin such as the Malay with brown Leghorn birds from Italy."



Picture from Wikipedia as well...

Yours sure look like Rhode Island Red's, jen...my great aunt used to raise them on her farm. Along with a couple of Jersey cows. Back in the 50s, which has been awhile ago!!

I love this thread...I never know where you guys are going next!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Cute chickies! Are they Rhode Island Reds?

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Amazing that they made it and didn't get eaten by people or coyotes! I think I can get some at petals and paws next spring. I was talking to them and they always have rir chicks in the spring...I just have to get Logan to be 100% and then I'll have time to care for them properly. I have a10x10 foot shed surrounded by a pen with4'fence on 3 sides and a 6' fence at the back of the property. That should work and I'll cover pen with strong chicken fence and I should be able to stand up in it and they should be safe. I want to be able to play with them each day so they'll grow up friendly and my grandchildren will love them Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

i'd love some chickens. fresh eggs taste amazing. way better than supermarket.
but, with all these coyotes around, it's too much work.
i'd have to build a fort.
you know you can mail order day old chicks, right?
chicks are born with 3 days food inside them so they can be mailed to your house.

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susie

here's something interesting.
drifter is grounded because she's in heat.

bear1 tried to rape her, tho i don't know if he can.
so, i tossed everyone out but drifter n natayo.

it was raining pretty good so i let the pack in.
after 40 hours, drifter n natayo didn't recognize them as family.
drifter hissed n they ran for the hills.
i i now know who the males are. bear 1 n biter walk around with their noses in drifter's butt.
since biter was beating up bear2 i tossed the males back out.
looks like i'm keeping only females.
more expensive to get them fixed, but these are the ones i like.

i had read after taking a cat to the vet, other cats won't recognise her.
the thot was they picked up the smells of other cats.
this is not so.
if you separate them, they aren't grooming each other n they become strangers quick.
i'm now keeping my 3 inside.
natayo is hiding. i think she needs to reintegrate with drifter.
being their mom doesn't make them part of drifter's pack.
the constant mutual grooming does.
drifter may run off the others when she gets to go out.
drifter's hiss is very fearsome.
it sounds like '' DO YOU WANNA DIE?''.
you never saw cats move so fast as when she hisses.
there is no question who is in charge here.

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susie

i've heard males are more affectionate than girls.
i'm unsure who the boys are.
i was sure bear2 was a girl, so i kept him/her in.
but b2 tried to rape drifter.
he had the fur at the back of her neck gripped in his mouth while he straddled her.

s/he wasn't long enow to reach tho.
none have exposed male genitals, so i doubt they are fertile, anyway.
i was so upset she let him/her do that, i tossed b2 right out.
she snuck back in, already.
i have no idea what's going on.i might have all males or there could be lezbian behavior i see.
drifter needs to be fixed asap, but they all have to be fixed at once.
i doubt boys can be fixed until balls drop.

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susie

If I remember correctly, the vet wouldn't neuter Lucky until he was 6 months old. I think there is a narrow window there, cause if you wait too long, they will start to spray, and will continue after they are fixed. And you can't do it too early, cause they are t ready yet. I would call your vet, though, for more accurate time lines. I think the females have to wait for a certain time as well, probably the same minimum of 6 months. But it has been awhile since I had Bella spayed that I am not quite sure.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

thanks, les.
as soon as i see genitalia, off they go.
keeping drifter in is a big hassel, because it mostly keeps me in too.
i found i can keep her from the door by pointing a cane at her nose.
i can let the horde in n out, but if i go out, she will be waiting to pounce when i return.
i could lock her in a carrier but i need no fear of carriers.
they have nice soft rugs inside n doors propped open.
kits sleep in them sometimes.
this should be an advantage when vet time arrives n i don't wanna waste that.

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susie

I have never had cats that did anything but tolerate each other,they were all feral when I got them,some more than others,so that may be why. Lions are group hunters but I think most cats are loners except during mating season after which they split up. Haven’t done any research just my thoughts.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

i guess i'm giving away biter n heavy coated bear1.
this is because natayo n b2 re the most affectionate.
i hate to give bear away but there's only so much work i can do.

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susie

I've never had any chickens so I'm starting from scratch if Logan is all totally well by spring next year. We have tractor supply in the next town so I could get the dumor crumble and the scratch grain. At the store that will probably have the rir chicks, they said to stop in next February and they'll have everything I'll need to start up and then late March they get the chicks. Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Les, you're right about 6 months being the optimal time.. Most vets encourage neutering females before first heat because there's less engorgement of lady parts and less chance of excess bleeding. Males, I always did by 6 months because you're right about not wanting them to spray. Smells really bad and nothing I've ever found to deodorize what they've sprayed on. Just have to throw it out, and forget about it. Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

i just found a pic of our centipedes.

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susie

*
IIRC, Timber rattlers are semi common in certain parts of the state. It's been ... 45 or so years, but when I was a kid we stayed at Allegheny State Park pretty often, and they were known to be around. They have as little interest in meeting us as we do them, so unless one is unlucky or stupid, the risk is very slight.

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NHI, 10-8.

The good news is that they are not commuters ... we have areas of rattlers in the county in which I live (and plenty of other surrounding counties), but they are not close to the urbanized areas.

Just be careful in posts in which snakes are the primary topic, as Iggy will usually post that picture of his. He's lucky that the rules of the forum do not allow us to give him the feedback he deserves for doing so.

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NHI, 10-8.

iggy is a real cowboy.

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susie

Look for his most recent posts, I think in Suzieqz's post about worthless snake shot. He lives in the west (MT?) and has this wonderful practice every time buzz tails are mentioned of posting a picture of a large collection of them he and his horse happened to meet. I've advocated grenades, kerosene and flares, and an A-10 the pile is so big. He is infamous for that photo, and the best reason I have seen for this forum to have a "hate" button.

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NHI, 10-8.

well, i learned something.
the kits were out by themselves, without drifter to tell them what to do.
this 4' rattler was rattling away, in my snake proof garden.something like a rattle should draw cats like mad. they would find it interesting.
besides, they think everything that moves is prey, so they attack.
but, when i went out there to dispatch the snake, they were circling it, at 8 or 10 feet.
somehow, they knew rattlers are dangerous.
they don't think it's food, either.
overnight, they dragged it a few feet, but didn't eat it.
i guess i won't lose cats to rattlers.

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susie

They look crunchy! The kits must like them! Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

I can't wait either. But I may have to. Logan has pancreatitis and now I have to focus on getting him better. He threw up Thursday and spit up red blood. He has gastroenteritis too which complicates things. I lost a dog to pancreatitis awhile back but we didn't recognize the signs back then. I know more now. So think good thoughts... This can be serious Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Thank you Jen... Good luck pilling your kitty. It's not easy with cats. Luckily Logan is a good pill taker. I roll it up in a "meatball" of his wet food and let him know it's gonna be yummy. He takes it in one bite and it's gone. Pancreatitis can be fatal if not treated quickly. It is just supportive treatment... subcutaneous fluids, bland low fat food, bloodwork to check enzymes and pancreatic levels ( his were 5-10 x normal) and gastroenteritis requires mostly the same treatment plus an antibiotic, and checking for parasites which he didn't have. It is a serious disease also since he had blood in throat/stomach contents and in stool. I have a wonderful vet who is taking care of him (and has cared for my fur family for over 30 years) so while I'm worried, I know we are doing the best possible. Thanks for caring

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Thank God the Rattlers didn't hurt them. It's amazing what instinctually is passed along to the survivors who are the fittest of their species. It looks like drifter's genes did pass along her survival skills to her kits. You did good, Susie and so did drifter!Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

i see the kits have grown up....
into dogs.
they learned how to drink from the toilet.
i had to raise the seat so they could reach without falling in.

drifter doesn't seem to like them anymore.
she doesn't wanna come in the house with them here.

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susie

I remember having a kitten that stood on the seat and tried to drink but fell in. Good thing I heard her fall in. I had to rinse her off, which she hated, and always close the lids and the clothes dryer door, too. (Your kits are a whole lot smarter tho) and she grew up into a great kitty and was 22 when she passed last year. Good thing I was near the bathroom that day...

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i'll keep the seat up. they could fall in but get out easy enow that way. if they fell in with the seat down, i'm not sure they could get out.

if drifter won't come in again, i'll have to oust the bunch of them
they are very cuddly but this is drifter's home.
drifter n i are cranky enow to compliment each other.

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susie

She's your baby girl Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

sigh.
no kits for me.
drifter hates them.
she now comes in the front door so she doesn't have to deal with them.
she was gone 4 days. that never happened before.
she can do this because she is fully capable of feeding herself.
finally, he came past them.
i tossed 2 kits who were inside out the door.
drifter was psychotic.
half the time, she cringed from me if i came close.
the other half she cuddled me. i got 4 days worth in 1 day.
today, i showed her she could come i n out thru the front door, so that's what she's doing.
you show her something once n that's all she needs.

the kits gotta go.
right now, they are out of the house, but drifter doesn't have use of her garden.
not good.
kinda wish i could keep bear2 tho. he's very cuddly.

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susie

the kits drink fine. dirty water, clean water, any water.
everything drinks deep on the plains.
the kits are no longer allowed in the house.
soon, i'll stop feeding them in the garden.
i have to say, the house is clean with just me n drifter.
i'd very much like to keep bear2 because he's my cuddle bunny, but
drifter comes first.
this is her home. the garden is hers too.

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susie