Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[Emma&lewie]

Hello all.

we have had our girlies for a few weeks and they have settled in really well and at this very moment are pecking on the back door!!

but I have a few questions... sorry if Im being a bit silly but still learning!!

 

first of all is it ok to use easi-bed in their run as I couldnt get hemcore?

 

I have got some garlic powder and apple cider vingar, how much do I use and how often? is it in their food or water?!!

 

and lastly our girls free range all day, I have only ventured to toddler groups or shops for a few hours max for them to be left alone.

however I will be working in a hoilday club during the school holidays three days a week and will be leaving the house at 7.30am and wont be back till nearly 6pm, I dont like the thought of them stuck inside their run all day and dont think they would eaither as thismorning they were banging to get out at 8am!!

our garden is secure (8ft walled and 6 ft fences) however although I have never seen them we live quite near a nature reserve that aparently has foxes! Someone told me that foxes could scale walls , is that true? now wondering wether to keep them in? unfortunatly I cant leave the premisise to have my lunch- ratio thing so comming home isnt an option,

 

does anyone else let their girls free range in the day when your out?

 

many thanks

Emma

[NClaire]

Easibed is fantastic, yes do use it! ACV goes in the water but not sure of the amount, garlic powder in the food.

 

Free ranging - I wouldn't. I have seen the foxes scale our 6-7 ft fence. And dig under it. And they only need to do it once and they may kill all your chickens. Here is our enclosed garden...

I never ever let the chickens out unsupervised - the foxes are too brazen.

[Lapinou]

I don't know about your first questions, but I'd never go out if the chickens are free-ranging - I don't even like going upstairs for any length of time! I kind of think, however much they get a bit fed up in the run, I can make it more interesting in there for them, and I think they'd probably prefer being bored, to being mauled by a fox!

[Emma&lewie]

oh no! back in their run for the girls I think!! not worth the risk!!

[Gamebird]

does anyone else let their girls free range in the day when your out?

Yes, I do but my girls are inside a 50m electric fence enclosure which so far has seen off anything that touches the fence.

 

However, I wouldn't even consider leaving them for any length of time if they weren't fully protected. Foxes have been known to scale 8' walls and certainly a 6' fence.

 

If there are foxes in your area you must be careful - they have good noses and are very determined opportunists.

[n2hec]

Hi there, Apple Cider Vinegar goes in the water each fill up. I use about 1 teaspoon per Glug so that it doesn't taste too strong but will do it's job. (It should make the intestines less acid so that worms and things won't tolerate living in them.)

 

Garlic Powder - for 3 chickens I add 1 teaspoon to 360g of food. Helps to make the poos less acidic and also smell less. Although one of my girls does really smell of garlic

 

I'm sure these things are good for them in other ways too.

 

On the fox matter - having had a rabbit killed by a fox I would say - Yes they definitely can scale 6 ft walls and fences with no problems. And if there's no sign of human activity they'll definitely be round.

 

Hope that helps. Good Luck

[Jaack]

I was told by my breeder to use the ratio of 1 part ACV to 9 parts water.

[Egg Lou]

I'm fully enclosed by 6ft fence but will never leave them outside when I'm not around as I know foxes can easily pop over in seconds.. I do go in Kitchen though but leave back door open and have full view outside.

 

One of the reasons I bought a cube was so I could leave the door open at night but haven't even done that yet as just too nervous of Mr Fox!