Arizona Chickens

[LarryPQ]

Cheerful- Thank you so very much! Sometimes I forget to focus on all the positives rather than the negatives (I am a work in progress, but I am trying). Networking is one of my superpowers.

*sigh* I wouldn't have gotten "butt-hurt" ----see my professional language here----at the CFO's proclimation if it hadn't seemed a bit....malicious. I left out the entirety of the quote, which was more like, "Laree got her MBA last year....I don't know what school she went to, because now all she talks about is chickens!" (everyone laughs).

Hahahahhahaha! Pbbbbttth!

Of course, that is not exactly correct, and has probably been colored by time and my own hurt feelings. I think it bugs me because:
1. As I have never discussed chickens with him, it means he heard that statement from someone else. =>
2. People gossip too much, myself included, or else I wouln't "only talk about chickens". =>
3. CFO knows nothing about me, personally or professionally. =>
4. Chances for raise, come March =0 =>
5. I worry too much. I should make my coop bigger.

The DH says I look at things to hard. I say, "me looking at stuff too hard has saved your patootie a bunch of times."

As for the CCL, I am taking a break from school for a while. Someone offered to pay for law school, but Laree the tax Lawyer sounds....boring. Besides, I want to be home, not at school. I picked this job because I was "in the spotlight" at the old one. Here I am just another busy bee in the cubicle. No one notices me, except when labeled "Crazy Chicken Lady". With the exception of 1 person here (the smartest man I have ever met) I am the most educated, most grossly underpaid person here.

That is OK with me, for now. My kiddos are little: the older one turns 4 years old today. My REAL job is at home, being Mommy. I can't (and don't want to) be pulling the 60-70 hour work weeks I have done in the past. I might go back into super-professional mode when they are older, but right now, I just need a place to park.

 

[LarryPQ]

Chickens are weird enough it makes a good "shtick". Good icebreaker, especially if the person seems uncomfortable or shy. It is a sneaky way of letting them feel like they aren't the only weird one out there.

I think people don't get:

1- I really like to learn new stuff, and tend to remember most everything I read & found interesting/useful. I am CONSTANTLY gettting teased about being a font of useless (to them, until they need it) information.
2- Chickens are my platform for learing new stuff, I would otherwise not learn. ie-problem solving, vet skills, cooking/cleaning your own food, welding, construction, animal husbandry, feeder design, gardening, genetics (oh that's a hard one!), etc...


Besides, no one wants to see pics of your kids. A pic of a rare blue silkie attacking a 100-pound dog while being chased by a grown man wearing a shower curtian is another story.....

 

[LizFM]

Quote:
OK, I haven't been around here very long and I don't know the story (there HAS to be a story) that references this...please please please post the link? I'm dyin' here!

 

[cap1717]

Quote:
OK, I haven't been around here very long and I don't know the story (there HAS to be a story) that references this...please please please post the link? I'm dyin' here!

Ill second the motion!

 

[LarryPQ]

Well, I made it up, because I couldn't think of anything off the top of my head that wasn't somehow poop related. But I bet if you searched this site long enough....

ETA--here, just for you. On my BYC page, I tout how proud I am I made my coop predator-proof AND lock-in proof. Well, it is NOT toddler proof. Sure, the munchkin can't reach the lock, but he can drop the cane bolt into the cinder blocks, locking me in. Here is an unflattering pic of me giving my husband a not-so-nice hand gesture because he stood there laughing forever, then ran inside to get the camera.

DON'T click on this if you are offended by un-lady-like hand gestures!!!

 

[LizFM]

Quote:
Well, Crap!

I was looking forward to what was sure to be a marvelously entertaining story.

The one about your kid locking you in your coop is pretty good tho.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
You crack me up.

 

[cluckin_crazy]

Hey everyone...

I have a bossy Cinnamon Queen that needs to be put in her place. She's gotten to be to sassy for her britches and I'm wondering if anyone is willing to trade her. A new flock will put her attitude in check and take her down a few pegs in the pecking order. Anyone interested?

Here are a couple photos of her. She's fluffier than this normally, but they all had their wings clipped about a week ago.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Cinnamon Queens are on my want list for my next batch of chickens. I understand they lay well over 105 degress...which my BA's do not....and that they also lay in Winter without extra light. Is that your experience? Of course, I also heard they were of nice temperament. I would love to hear about your experience with these birds here in the hot country. As for a trade, not for me right now. However, I have heard if you isolate the bossy one for a few days or a week, then reintroduce them, they get thrown off in the pecking order.

After what feels like months of only 5 or so eggs per week from six BA's, this week we got 2 eggs 2 days in a row! Yippee!!!

They are getting over their molt ... and maybe the extra hours of light from the Christmas lights I strung inside their coup are helping too! I knew more eggs were on their way as previously only one would do the "squat", but now all 5 do. I have hopes to soon have LOTS more than 5 eggs a week!

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Cinnamon Queens tend to do very well here in Arizona and they lay like mad machines. I do have to say that my two CQs are the dominate ones in the flock though. If I add a new bird they must pass the test so to speak with the CQs or it's a no go. They are not necessarily mean or aggressive but they will be so bold as to peck on my side door until I bring out the treats. They will jump for bread where my others will just look at me as if to say, " You want me to do what? I don't think so!" I love my CQs and wouldn't trade them for anything. Very consistent layers. They never miss a day and even when everyone was molting and the cold weather started coming they never slowed down. Great girls! Big eggs!

They also let me pick them up and hold them. That's something I can't say for my GL Polish. I don't think I can count on one hand the times I have held her.

Cluckin' ~~ If you separate her from the others completely for a week or so and then add her back it should put her on the bottom of the pecking ladder and you should see a change in her attitude.