Hi Angel1, I don't think I've introduced myself yet. Not sure though, the last few days have been hectic.
I really enjoyed the meetup you guys! Wish everyone could have been there.
My 17 year old has Swine Flu. She started showing symptoms Sunday night, had her worse day yesterday (Monday) and is already feeling a little better today.
My 11 year old daughter had the same symptoms last week but tested negative, but they now say she must have had it, and that they've been having a lot of false negatives.
Well, then if that's true, then my 6 year old had something over the weekend before this, same symptoms, and was over it in just a few days. She may have had it too and we didn't even realise. If that wasn't it, then surely she'll get it now! Oh, boy!
My whole family had the ick. It really varied how long it took us to get over it. I was sick for 14 days but my son got over it in 3 days. Hope ya ll feel better soon.
I bought a new heat lamp and hung it up along with the one that was already in the outbuilding. I went out there and checked the heat because it seemed to be a bit too cool for the little wee chicks...shore nuff...60 degrees...but they weren't huddlin up or anything like that...some were at the waterer and some at the feeder and some under the light. Go figure...but anyhow, *I* thought it was a bit too cool so I went out and bought another light and hund it on the other side. I tested that light and right at the beginning it showed 100 degrees..I thought "TOO hot"...so I brought up the light a bit. Never could get it right at 90 like the hatchery said it should be after a week. However, the hatchery told me to ONLY feed them 2 X a day and NEVER give them ANY feed after 2 pm. I don't know why they told me this. I tried that way...truly I did...but the very 1st time I did this I lost 4 chicks right off the bat. Since then I have feed in for them 24/7 and haven't lost a chick so far...My personal opinion is that I starved them to death (and I HATE killin something and knowing it's MY fault!). I won't do that again.
Yeah, I WANT to stay in AR...I was born and raised here. But with that being said...there are ALOT of places that'd be like pullin your eye teeth to buy cause they cost so much. It's like pure greed took over in NW AR. One piece of property I found was $690,000! and it wasn't too far from the 78 acres that I found for $199,000. Still, I might try and work a deal on the land. I was thinking about growing alot of food and giving it away to needy families through the summer. People can ALWAYS use food to feed their little ones. Anyway...can't wait til I find someone with turkeys,weeder geese and ducks to sell....I want to add to my flock....and maybe I can add a cow to everything....I just HATE all that fake "butter" the grocery has for sale! Also, I can't wait til my barred rocks start laying. I hate those store bought eggs too! 6 weeks ago I had bought 2 dozen eggs at the grocery and one morning I got up to fix breakfast and low and behold! There is NOTHING like cracking 2 eggs in a row and having thick black slime oozing out into the pan! uck!.... Later...
Anyone eles got hens that are molting? I think Eva is but Im not 100% sure. I went out this morning and feathers were everywhere! No injuries just feathers. Could it be becuase one of the new hens is molting?
angel1, I can't wait till I can eat my barred rock eggs either. Eva had an accident about a month ago and I've had to throw out every egg since because of the medication she was on. Its a bummer.
I have some hens that are molting now. They really look pitiful. I have been giving them cat food to help grow the new feathers. The chicks that just hatched are going thru that growing feather phase too so right now I have some really awful looking chickens running around.
I've got some cat food soaking in tunafish juice in the fridge. Think they'll like that? Eva doesn't look funny there's just feathers everywhere. Gladys looks terrible though. How long do you expect yours to molt for? Do you think Zoii will start to molt now that Eva is?
Just for reference: Zoii and Eva =barred rocks; Gladys and Ginger =EEs (new chickens!)
I hope it wont take too long, its starting to get cold! I read these post on here and I think "darn, I want to be home with my chickens..." I really want to be bonding with my new chickens.
I edited to say I have some pic of one of my new chickens up in the "What breed or gender os this" section becuase Im not 100% sure it is a girl. Check'em out and let me know what you think. Thanks!