Coffee's ready...

[math ace]

WHAT do I do with my birds. . . . .

Eggs first! We personally eat about 3 dozen eggs a week.. . .

If I have extras . . . I supply eggs to my adjacent neighbors

I just consider that promoting "goodwill", especially when I hatch eggs and have young cockerels trying to figure out how to crow

HOBBY - - Second. . .
I am trying to focus this year on three breeds - - - Marans, Speckled Sussex and Delawares.
So, I will be hatching eggs and raising those babies until I develope a foundation flock.

Breeding / Showing / Selling
I would like to show chickens and sell hatching eggs by next year

I'd like to sell enough hatching eggs to off set to cost of feeding these girls.

 

[chics in the sun]

One day I will buy some of your Speckled Sussex eggs, Math Ace. Just gotta get started on my new coop/ run. It may be a summer project.

It looks like I've got my van sold to a guy that is meeting me in Orlando tomorow. I have such mixed feelings. I'll be glad to have the cash, and I do need it, but I will miss that van SO MUCH. I'm pretty sure I'll cry when he drives off in it.

It doesn't make sense to hang on to it right now. Someday I'll get another one. I just keep telling myself that....

I think if I fell into an icy creek my heart would just stop. I don't even go into the gulf unless it's about 80 degrees.

 

[rancher hicks]

HI folks,

Has anyone heard from oesdog?

Math - speckled sussex eggs? Do you ship? When? Have I seen pics? I was told they were used in the Jubilee Orpingtions. Have you attempted to develop some of your own?

It's minus 10 here so the girls won't be going out today until it warms up. Supposed to go into the high 20's and low 30's this week end. Yaaahhhh.

Take care folks

Rancher

 

[quercus21]

Morning people,
It's a tad bit warmer here Rancher, 4 degs this morning with a nice breeze that seems to be slowing down some.

Chics: Good for you in selling your van. - "I don't even go into the gulf unless it's about 80 degrees." - Do you bring a bar of soap?

I don't think my showers aren't to much warmer then 80 degs.

Rancher: "Has anyone heard from oesdog?" I haven't.

Math: I think my doctor would shoot me if I ate that many eggs in a week. I am really the only egg eater here. It sounds like you have a plan, I am just bouncing along here.

The worst time falling into the drink, I had about a 200 yard run home. By the time I got there, my hat was frozen to my head, zippers, boot laces were all frozen. I had to take a ice cold shower in order to change my clothes and that was some burning sensation. I was happy a neighbor friend saw me trying to get into the house, she came over and helped me along. Chics: I think smashing the tip of your pinky finger hurts worst.

Enjoy your day

Kaj

 

[annaraven]

Oesdog is in Spain. Or somewhere like that. On a trip. Enjoying the heck outta life. Yep, I miss her too. Doesn't feel quite the same without her.

Today I've gotta get the shallots planted and make harissa and get this house cleaned up. Oh, and prep the brooder for my new chicks I'm getting on Satyrday.

This morning, I'm heading out early because DS decided to do a school "ambassador" thing for kids checking out the highschool he attends.

ETA: It's 35F here in sunny California!

 

[karl E lutz]

Good morning chicken wranglers
My boys love playing on the frozen pond I hope they always stay on the shallow end as instucted and then the run to the house is only a few yards should they ever break through.
Isn't the gulf a long way for you to walk to Q?
Sposed to be 28 today agood day for slipping on the wet ice.All y'all have a great week end.

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks Anna I'm old and now that you mention it I do remember her saying she was going. You do realize for her going to Spain is like us going to the next state. Well not exactly cuz you don't feel at home in another country like you do going from one state to another. Lord know when we got back from Greece and landed in the states we sure were glad to be home even though it was in another state.

Take care everyone

Rancher

 

[oesdog]

YES your right I was in Spain - BUT NOW I AM BACK!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for missing me !!!! - I sure missed you guys a lot. Things have been a bit full on since I got back so I am trying hard to catch up with everything.

While I was away we had loads of rain and wind here apparently - now the coops are like the trenches again and I think my chickens think they are fish! I have came home to a bit of a problem. One of my girls and I think it is gerty - is laying odd shaped eggs which I know is a sign of IB. ( Infectious Bronchitus) Probably spelled that wrong. I don;t really want to seperate her cause I am not entirely sure its her? Its NOT any of the new girls as they are in a different coop and run. The egg is typical ridged but the shell is hard and normal in thickness so its not crumbly or thin. Gerty seems fine in herself and was doing her usual head girl stuff today and eating and drinking fine. Trouble is the girls are getting so darn wet and cold all the time.

I heard someone was treating IB with a bleach mix on BYC. - I did save that so I will go look at it again what do you guys think should I be worried? I don;t want to lose any birds. I do know when we were kids we ate these odd shaped eggs and it didn;t do us any harm at all - but I don;t think I would give them to young kids now I know its a sign of IB. My DD fed them to my son Ben while I was away. I said don;t worry I don;t think they would kill him - oh she said thats a shame!!! I guess he gave her a hard time???

I think DD is begining to see how hard it is for us for a change!!!

Oesdog -

OK guys you do know I am here and I CAN HEAR YOU ALL!!!!!!!!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I will ship, but not till next year. I am on TWO waiting list for eggs from show quality speckled sussex. I have another person that looks like they have pretty good stock that is suppose to ship me eggs when it warms up enough. And . . . I have some Speckled sussex eggs from a fourth person coming in the mail now. . . .

LAST YEAR, was my year to try many breeds and decide where I wanted to focus my energies. . . .

This is the year to raise chicks and select a foundation flock for breeding. I have 3 speckled sussex now, but they are hatchery stock. . . . I think one of the three has a good "BARN", her "PAINT" needs improvement - - - but she does have the chunky monkey that I like in this breed.

Watch over the next 4 months or so and you should start seeing pictures. . . .

I am working on building my "NEW and IMPROVED" brooder. I'll post pictures as soon as it is done. I ran out of wood last night. I let Dh do some of the cutting this time, instead of Home Depot, and I ended up being short a few boards. . . . So tonight he is suppose to finish ripping them for me and I should be able to paint tomorrow.

 

[rancher hicks]

First oesdog, I forgot you were going but prayed for you and yours anyhow. I was ready to come over there, if I had to. I just worry that's all. Glad your ok and I'm sure everything will be fine.

Math - I just like to ask. Since Jubilee orps have Speckled sussex in them I thought I wonder what they used to get them. How many matings and all that. I do like them they are a pretty bird. Right now Jubilee's are $1000 for a pair from Greedfire. Perhaps you might want to try to develop your own line cuz by then i may be able to afford a pair.

DW would kill me if she knew what I was thinking.

Everyone else

Take care

Rancher