BYC Café

[Shadrach]

I love that you have chickens and chickies that come into the house. Pretty neat how much more you can obviously observe from that kind of interaction.

The mess can get a bit overwhelming and my bleach and toilet roll use is frightening.
The odd thing is, I didn't bring them into the house, or entice them in either. I feed them in the house now but I didn't at the start.
The house door is always open, no matter what the weather. They come and go as they please. They don't often spend very long in the house unless the weather is hot, or wet. In the event of a predator strike the house has become a safe zone; they hide behind the toilet and the fridge.
The house nest box came after a while. I wanted to watch a hen lay an egg in my investigation into what happens and what makes a better nest box.
It's mostly Tribe 1 that visits. Tribe 3 will come in from time to time. Tribe 2 very rarely come in but do use the space outside the house. Tribe 4 used to come in just in the mornings.
I've seen things that would be almost impossible to observe otherwise.
It's also been a great help in the event of sickness and/or injury. One of the big problems is isolating a chicken from their group is immensely stressful for the chicken. They really do not like it and ime it slows down their recovery. Because most now see the house as part of their normal roaming territory the stress in the event I have to contain them is a lot less and of course, they get visited by other chickens.

 

[Shadrach]

By having a nest box in the house I learn't:
hens polish their eggs with their underside when they sit.,
egg control is almost impossible with a nest box with a hard base,
chickens snore, fart and belch,
lots about the roosters roll in nest choosing and laying hen protection,
how often a hen turns her eggs when sitting,
eating when sat down interferes with their digestion process,
vent and egg hygiene,
And many other things.
Although it can be a great inconvenience it has been with regard to learning about chickens a great thing.

 

[Shadrach]

Good morning Cafe.
Coffee is made.
Blue skies and sunny here. Temp around 76F.

 

[DobieLover]

Good morning, Café.
Thanks for the coffee, Shad!
DH has a routine doctor appointment this morning, Ben goes in for thyroid level check and I'm getting a load of driveway base to shovel in the walkway. And that's all before noon! Time to get the day started.
Everyone have a great one!

 

[sourland]

There was a big old fly in my first cup.

Good morning, Café, and thanks Shad - @Shadrach you left 'provide companionship' off of your list. @DobieLover your to do list makes me tired.

 

[igorsMistress]

Good morning cafe people. Happy Friday! Thanks for the coffee Shad.

I'm roasting a yard bird for dinner tonight, it's been in a brine since Tuesday. I was less than thrilled with the first experience so hoping this one will be better with some changes in prep.

Enjoy your day all

 

[DobieLover]

Good morning cafe people. Happy Friday! Thanks for the coffee Shad.

I'm roasting a yard bird for dinner tonight, it's been in a brine since Tuesday. I was less than thrilled with the first experience so hoping this one will be better with some changes in prep.

Enjoy your day all

Do keep us posted. I like to learn from others so I don't have to make the same mistakes.

 

[igorsMistress]

Do keep us posted. I like to learn from others so I don't have to make the same mistakes.

I sure will. I'm going to slow roast at 250, I've read low and slow is best.

 

[sourland]

Low and slow - the way to go.

 

[DobieLover]

Well the routine Dr appointment for DH turned into his needing surgery.
Last year when I first installed the electronetted pen, I set treated corner posts. DH helped a little with the digging but had to stop because his lower right abdomen hurt. He had a CT scan the following week and nothing abnormal was seen.
Last weekend, I was shoveling out gravel to prep for the new walkways. DH decided to come out and help for about an hour. Next day, same effect as last year. This was brought up at the Dr. appointment. He was told to drop his drawers and the Dr. immediately saw the bulge from the hernia.
So DH is on chair warming duty and I now have 1360 pounds of crusher run to unload from the truck and that is just one of at least 5 loads that need to be brought in. Looks like I will also be on fuel wood hauling duty this winter.
The general surgeon is supposed to contact me ASAP to schedule an appointment to see him but we all know how that goes. He likely won't be seen for 6 weeks and it will be another month or two before the surgery.