Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[cwrite]

Awful fires again. Hope everyone down there stays safe. Have we got any members that direction?

They were really close to us last night.

I was just reading about the fires - I hope everyone, their chooks & other pets don't have any problems. chicken-clucky,

that it moves past you.

My two broodies are no longer broody. I'm really impressed with the technique as it only took two days, with not all of the two days being spent in the cage. Now I'm looking forward to a few more eggs as their combs pink up & expand.

 

[chicken-clucky]

I was just reading about the fires - I hope everyone, their chooks & other pets don't have any problems.  chicken-clucky,   that it moves past you.

My two broodies are no longer broody.  I'm really impressed with the technique as it only took two days, with not all of the two days being spent in the cage.  Now I'm looking forward to a few more eggs as their combs pink up & expand.  

We were on warning and thank heavens it went around

Moving 30 horses, 7 dogs, 18 cats and 6 chooks did not sound fun at all

The big one is dying down but the wind brings worry for it to pick back up. Family and friends and near affected areas.

Everyone stay safe.

 

[Teila]

I was just reading about the fires - I hope everyone, their chooks & other pets don't have any problems. chicken-clucky,

that it moves past you.

My two broodies are no longer broody. I'm really impressed with the technique as it only took two days, with not all of the two days being spent in the cage. Now I'm looking forward to a few more eggs as their combs pink up & expand.

Congrats on breaking them ... good news

We were on warning and thank heavens it went around

Moving 30 horses, 7 dogs, 18 cats and 6 chooks did not sound fun at all

The big one is dying down but the wind brings worry for it to pick back up. Family and friends and near affected areas.

Everyone stay safe.

Good news also! Hopefully everyone else is as lucky.

I heard on the news that they could not confirm if houses were lost and maybe just barns, stock shelters etc. I so hope that is the case, barns etc can be replaced, family and livestock, pets etc, not so much.

Stay safe!

 

[chicken-clucky]

Could say my girls are now rather happy with me after I collected all these for them.

 

[Anniebee]

Hi Everyone

Anniebee well done to ur granddaughter with her exam results! No wonder you are proud of her

Fancy such sad news about those young drivers. Devastating for their loved ones.

Our girls are now 19 weeks and I found this egg today in the back of the coop where all their poop drops (not in the nesting boxes).


The top half was soft and it had a mini egg in it. Hopefully the eggs will get bigger and harder once they start to lay regularly.

I put more sawdust into the nesting boxes to make them look more inviting and hope that they get the idea that that they are the places to lay in!

With our old hens we used to use straw in the boxes but have now switched to the saw dust on the recommendation of the breeder. There are also 2 dummy eggs in each of the laying boxes. They have free access to shell grit which they seem to enjoy flicking everywhere.

Thank you locknest4 for your comments on Astrids' achievements. Much appreciated.

Ref. the egg !! A while back my Mindy Araucana was laying really soft balloon type shells - which would split as they dropped and she'd eat them. Gradually they became a little harder but often with that weird rough unfinished egg shell at the top - exactly the same as you have shown in these pics. A bit like sand paper.

Laying is better now, ( I gave her 3 weeks at twice a week, 1 dessertspoon calcium for horses - couldn't get calcium carbonate ) ... and it improved things a whole lot. She is laying almost daily ( and in this heat !! ) ... but today I noticed another slightly 'rough' top. Those rough tops can sit totally whole and entire, in the refridgerator for days - and then one day collapse a tiny bit from the top inwards. I use them then, immediately. Guess the opening and closing of the refridgerator door, has an impact on them. I now give her a teaspoon of the horse calcium once a week only. It seems to have done its job. If she lays another few rough tops eggs, I will give her 'some' calcium twice a week for 3 weeks again. Will figure out the dosage if need be.

Mindy is currently in the cat crate - inside. We have had RAIN ....

and she - ( as usual, if I am not quick enough ) - stays out in it and becomes absolutely saturated. The other two girls retire to the dryness of their coop, displaying chicken brain power ....

One of the eggs Mindy laid with the rough top / collapsed inwards, was also a double yolker. The only one I have ever seen from my girls.

Have never thought of sawdust for a laying area ... must try that. The two big girls lay on straw - Mindy lays on wood shavings, right next to a dummy egg. HATES her nesting box.

Cheers .......

 

[Anniebee]

Yes it is. Louise 's little sister is devasted and her funeral is Wednesday. One can only imagine the kind of Xmas they are going to have.

Just inexperience, middle of the day, no alchahol involved, very sad. I hear people saying that 'P' platers should be able to drive at the same speed as the rest of us and I think that is stupid. They don't have the skills to get themselves out of trouble , that takes time and experience.

Totally agree with all you have said here Fancy .... horrifies me to see how some of the young approach driving - like it is a new toy to be played with.

Way more rules and regulations, and driving exam techniques should make it much harder for them to get their licences these days. ( Defensive driving - mentioned in another post and agreed with by Teila - just one of the ideas for better driving skills ).

As for the funeral and the poor young lass now gone ! .... Such devastation. Christmas will never be the same again for that family. So very sad.

Cheers ....

 

[appps]

I was just reading that if they do a safe drivers course which is 2 hrs sitting discussion and 2 hours driving instruction they get credited 20 hours. I think it sounds like a good way to spend $140 if it helps keep them safer on the roads. Mine will be doing it if we can round here once she gets her 50 hours up to qualify.

Our school also runs a monthly log book hours trip where you can go as a group for a couple hour drive down the coast all meeting at a certain destination. Might do some of those too.

 

[Anniebee]

To : Fancy, Satay, appps and Teila .....

Thank you all for your kind comments on Astrids' stirling performance in her exams. Much appreciated.

.........

The fires here have been nasty ..... but are coming under control to some degree now. 3 hearty cheers and much kudos for the fire-fighters who give of their free time, to attend these horrors.

Living in a fire prone area, as we do ( the Dandenong Ranges ) is not nice at all in summer ( although thank heaven nothing has happened here - so far - this year ) ... and I hope and pray it doesn't. There's a while to go until Autumn. !! Had to escape with 2 dogs and 4 cats back in 1997 - that was enough for me. Might have mentioned that here before. Ghastly experience, but our home was not impacted after all ( thank God ).

Cheers all .........

 

[sjturner79]

 

[sjturner79]

I hope they don't count chicks in our 15 bird council limit as there is only four out of I think it was 38 locked down that have not pipped. I do have a dozen or so going to the pet store tomorrow morning.