BYC Café

[DobieLover]

Good morning Cafe. Thanks for the coffee, Shad.
My body is creaking this morning and my back is killing me. I made a huge list of things to do for myself yesterday and got through just over half of it and am paying the price this morning.
Thank goodness I can go to work today and rest a bit!

 

[Perris]

Good morning Cafe. Thanks for the coffee Shad.
Overcast here, and too cool for comfort in a T-shirt.

I know they say you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch, but I am making prep for at least some littles arriving by the end of the week. On previous such occasions it's been a challenge to get the chicks back up the ramp for the first few nights, and that'a been with 4 max to corral. If all Eve's hatch, we will have 9, which could be very tricky indeed. So I plan to box in the space under the coop, to where she naturally gravitates when the chicks can't manage the ramp, and try to make that secure until the little darlings can get up the ramp.

 

[DobieLover]

Good morning Cafe. Thanks for the coffee Shad.
Overcast here, and too cool for comfort in a T-shirt.

I know they say you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch, but I am making prep for at least some littles arriving by the end of the week. On previous such occasions it's been a challenge to get the chicks back up the ramp for the first few nights, and that'a been with 4 max to corral. If all Eve's hatch, we will have 9, which could be very tricky indeed. So I plan to box in the space under the coop, to where she naturally gravitates when the chicks can't manage the ramp, and try to make that secure until the little darlings can get up the ramp.

That sounds like a good plan.
How are the boys this morning?

 

[Bunnylady]

Mornin', y'all!

So, did someone explain "social distancing" to Arthur?
We've been blustered at and sprinkled on, but he seems to be keeping his distance. He's making things a bit interesting on beaches in the way of rip currents and rough surf, but maybe the cloudy, breezy conditions will discourage anyone who has ideas about going to the recently opened beaches (not a lot of fun getting sandblasted!)

Predators are the downside of free-ranging.

You can say that again. Sorry about your losses, I hope your boys fight their way back to their former glory.

We have scads of predators here. For me, the pleasure of seeing birds free-ranging means counting them every day to see if anyone's missing, and bracing myself for the inevitable scatters of feathers that tell the tale of at least one bird's demise. My worst loss was 23 ducks and chickens in a single fox raid. I've tried keeping them in the paddock, but the predators always seemed to learn that the electric fence was down sooner than I did, and they are very creative at finding ways to get over, under, or through welded wire mesh. Over the years, I've lost birds to dogs, cats (including my own), raccoons, opossums, a bobcat, snakes, hawks, owls, and (I suspect) my mini mule. I've had birds get killed by the electric fence that's supposed to be protecting them, fall into the water trough and drown, and one that managed to get under a large black nursery pot and then couldn't get out (how or why she did that, I will never know). For me, the choice is lock 'em up or lose them, because this place just ain't safe!

 

[Mtn Margie]

Morning and thanks for the coffee!
I hope Arthur stays away!

 

[Perris]

That sounds like a good plan.
How are the boys this morning?

A bit better I think; they are both standing at the moment, though still uninterested in any sort of sustenance. Their poops have changed to a creamy white - just urates basically - but the smell is not off, so I'm still hopeful... The other two roos are a lot calmer, because of the fox attack or the evident incapacity of the two injured, or both, I don't know, and Barry is even tidbitting hens that hitherto he would chase from the food bowl. Will wonders never cease?!

My worst loss was 23 ducks and chickens in a single fox raid.

that must have been horrendous. Did you get the fox that did it?

 

[sourland]

Good morning, Cafe.

 

[Bunnylady]

that must have been horrendous. Did you get the fox that did it?

I never even saw it. The woods around here are so dense, you could be standing 20 feet from someone, and not see them.

But yeah, carnage like that can leave you feeling totally gutted.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning all, Yesterdau and the night before thought I as done for... coughing ready to give up
could not function about 5 last night I stated to move around .. This morning I fell fine

 

[Perris]

that must have been a bit of a scare Penny with covid19 around...