We’re using the alarm method to get the dogs to wake up later. First day the alarm was set to 5:00 or something like that. I don’t let them out of kennels until the alarm goes off. The next day it was 5:05, then 5:10, etc. We are up to 5:45 now and it is working pretty well. They are mostly quiet until after the alarm goes off! No more lound whining every day starting at 4:15!! Probably we’ll continue this until we reach 6:30. Just takes some patience. Then eventually I’ll just stop setting the alarm.
Dogs still restricted to main room but when we want to play darts in the family room, we let them come in with us. At first the noise of the board scared them but now they are used to it and usually don’t pounce on the dart when it falls to the floor.
We realize we should be training them more but still haven’t really focused on it.
Both Tua and Matt seem to have overcome the pox! They behave normally now. I don’t know how Matt pulled through as she seemed on death’s door for days. On top of that, we were having very hot days, like 100 degrees, which alone can kill chickens. However, both of them still have damaged combs—not sure if they will ever recover. Just hoping the other chickens don’t succumb.
I gave them one small piece of watermelon as well as some rinds and cantaloupe seeds!
I still accompany dogs if they are in backyard. Mostly they don’t chase the chickens, just follow them and watch. Actually I let them out back before the chickens are let out of the coop in the morning, and today the dogs destroyed a couple of potted plants I had back there :(
I’m using a large squirt gun to deter both chickens and dogs. If the chickens hang out near our backdoor (where they tend to poop), I squirt them away. I also squirt the dogs if I catch them in the act of chasing a chicken.
Found a toad and a Texas spiny lizard in the pool and rescued them. Also saw another small checkered garter snake in the front yard. NBD! I’m following a few new groups these days including the FB groups Central Texas Snake ID & The Broody Bunch and in Reddit I also follow a chickens group and sometimes refer to backyardchickens.com. So plenty of places to learn new things & ask questions.
We celebrated Rob’s birthday and highlights were the dart board and also I gave him (us) a weird “kinetic sculpture” which I felt represented us well.
Dogs had another set of shots and learned that they gained 10 pounds since last appointment a month before and they still both weigh about the same (despite having very different body builds). We still refer to them as Stony and Woody and together as the “Bodega Boys” sometimes which is what Desus & Mero go by (a show we like to watch but I barely understand).
I’ve got a new app on my phone and I’ve made a lot of weird photo edits and videos. Mostly they are on my instagram but you’ll find one or two in the photos below.
