Coffee's ready...

[math ace]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!

Sipping coffee and catching up on all the action.......

Chicks, it is a total bummer to have to put a chick down.
At the same time, deep in your heart, there is no denying that it is the responsible thing to do.

I've had to help many hatch. An incubator is just a poor attempt at imitating mother nature.
I've had several hatches that were running a day or two late before pipping. Of course,
this was my fault because the temps weren't right. It wasn't because I didn't try....
I had three different thermometers in the incubator and they all said something different!

Any way, in my crazy thinking - - - if the mistake is mine then it is up to me to fix it!
That is why I intervene and help hatch sometimes. Now, if I KNOW I did everything right..... I don't
intervene.

With 7 hatches under my belt this year, I have only had two born with messed up legs. Additionally, I've had a few chicks die
on their own, after assisting them out of the shell. Those were so weak by the time that I intervened that I knew when I went to bed, they would probably not be with us in the morning. The upside to helping the chicks hatch is .. . .. . I have many, many, more that were strong and healthy than deformed or weak. I am not worried about passing on genes for genetically WEAK hatchers because the ones I assist are clearly the result on incubator issues....

I started this year with a homemade incubator.... so we had to do some refinements on the fly for the first few hatches. Then my dad destroyed that incubator in one his dementia moments. I had to start all over with a store bought incubator. There is a learning curve on this incubator too. I hope I finally have it right ---- but I just discovered that taking the lid off to add water can cause the thermostat to need recalibration.... I was all day yesterday adjusting it! UGGH...what a pain!

So, the long and short of the book I just wrote is that, PERSONALLY and it is just my opinion, I don't regret helping my chicks hatch.... even if it means I have to cull one or two later on.

Sometimes, I wish I had feathers so that I could do the job the way mother nature intended it to be done SQUAWK!

 

[karl E lutz]

Good morning chicken wranglers
Math ace ,sorry your dad destroyed the incubator. I like homemade stuff the best.I passed the inspection for our egg lisence with a homemade candler.It is good you recovered from the loss and continued to hatch.It must be a real challenge to care for your father,my father is only 73 but he will argue with us about something he swears up and down he never knew or even heard of one day and the next day he is all smiles and acts as if he knew the stuff all along. That is mostly since the stroke about 5 mos. ago.
It worries me but at least he remembers me.
This weekend I hope to get my all work done.Big dreams are good to have!
All have a good weekend God Bless!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Right there with you on this one Karl. I have a HUGE list and sure hope to get it all done!

My dad is about 5 years younger than yours and he normally DOES NOT know who I am any more.
He answers to my son's name. Every time I holler for my son, my dad answers instead LOL.
So, we have started using my son's middle name when we want him..... LOL

It is very Crazy, totally CRAZYm around the house, but it is what is BEST for him and I feel that in my heart.
I have a very good husband that has been incredibly supportive through the day to day trials.

I've just started having someone come in on Saturdays to watch Dad so that Dh and I can get some things done outside.
Before that, they weekends were a time of tag teaming. I watch dad so Dh could do things, then DH would relieve me so that I could get some things done.

There is a great loss in your soul the day you wake up and realize your parent(s) don't know who you are anymore.

 

[rancher hicks]

Hey everyone, weathers good and lots to do. Hope everyone is well.

Rancher

 

[rancher hicks]

OESDOG - you in box is full so I put it here.




I did see them and she is a cutie. As well as a ham for the camera.

Walking already? Darcy will be a year next month and she's not walking yet. Of course She doesn't need to.

I'll try to get some pics. She's a little porker. Has to eat when ever there is someone else eating. Wouldn't eat her baby food because she'd rather have the Lasagna. She does like to sit and eat watermelon with grandpa though.


Looks like Jesse is getting to the fun stage. I'm sure you and grandpa are having a good time with her.

Take care and enjoy they grow up so fast.

By the way, I've not read anything on our end about not being able to send hatching eggs your way. Soooo maybe in the fall I can send some over. Though I have no idea what you don't have there expept my Delawares. You must have all the Orpington colors and some we don't.

The thing on your end is having a vet certification and a permit from the UK end. There is no quarantine here from your end so I would imagine they could just be sent right through.

 

[chics in the sun]

Good morning, folks.

Quercus - nope, too hot for camping right now. We stayed in an inexpensive little motel. It was just fine for one night, and the kids always think going to a motel or hotel is just grand! We had a nice float down the river, and I saw three river otters playing. Turtles and birds, too, of course. I got one of those double tubes for my son and I, but that was not all that comfortable. Next time I'll get a little rubber boat. He started to fall in twice, but I did have a life jacket on him.
Yesterday we entertained the Japanesse student. When my Dad got back he took us all to see the new Harry Potter in 3D, which was a lot of fun. I was one of those mothers that gets dirty looks when I took my four year old to it. Never thought I would do such a thing - it's rated PG13, but I swear to you he is afraid of NOTHING. He knew everyone else was going and begged me to go, too. The little guy sat with his 3D glasses on for nearly 3 hours and only asked a few questions here and there - quiet as a mouse. He loved it. I told him to tell me if he got scared and we would go outside, but he didn't even flinch during the scary parts. Crazy kid.

This morning I am enjoying some quiet with my coffee. I'm worn out after being out and about for the last three days.

Math Ace - it's good you got someone on Saturdays. You and your family will need that time to yourselves. Hang in there.
And you know what the weird thing is? Both of the chicks I have hatched out with curled up toes have been under broodies.

I think they may resulted from the Riboflavin deficiency instead of hatching problems. Now that I am letting Sammy free-range with the babies, I am even more secure in my decision. I have no idea what I would have done with a chick that couldn't even follow them around the yard and peck and scratch at least a little.

I meant to tell you a few days ago that your inbox is full, Oesdog.

Well, have a good Sunday, chicken wranglers!

 

[oesdog]

Ok everyone I will EMPTY the in box and then you can all fill it up again!!!!!-

Oesdog

 

[quercus21]

Good morning people,
I can honestly say, after this dry spell we are having, the garden finally dried out. We hit 104 yesterday, but it was dry heat. The old rat moved out this past weekend. The little rat, her boy friend and his little rodent is coming next weekend along with a threat of our "surrogate rat".

Chicks: sounds like you had a good time. There is a place in the Catskills you can tube the Esopus River. We have always talked about it, but so far haven't done it. We did find a great dinner is Arkville. It's part of an old rail station and a train car. The people are use to seeing humpers (hikers) and all their fine glory of dirt and stench. How was the 3D effects? I never been to one.

It's funny, the better half and I planned on having our kids early. Have them grown up and and "out of the house" early. Now we get to take care of the old folks. Which we never planned on. Her grandmother and parents and my father. We both have siblings, but it is funny how only one will step up the plate. Oh well.....

My ugly mug might be in a local magazine in the august addition. A photographer was here last week snapping pictures of the shop and me.

Enjoy the day, stay healthy

 

[karl E lutz]

Good morning chickemn wranglers
Math I feel for you .It is good your husband is so helpful because as situation like that would be stressful.Cuss I hope you get rain,It is supposed to be in the 100's here this week ,and I just got my garden in shape last weekend. It was so weedy that I had to mow it and then till to get rid of the overgrowth.
Oesdog what box?Fill your cup maybe! How is the wine project?
Chicks my 6 year old won't go to see harry potter because it is too scary,His words!My WW took the boys to the theatre opening day and they saw winnie the pooh instead.I put my cornish rocks in the coop and put 2 fans inside.It is well insulated but I don't know if it will help.
Good day all! God Bless!

 

[oesdog]

Quote:
The wine making is going well Karl - The drinking of it is BETTER!!!!!!!!

We have Rhubarb, and strawberry and some dark thing going on I am too scared to ask about and Peach is just about to be bottled and we have 5 more bottles of white in the shed and the Elderberry.

Rancher - You would love my kitchen right now - full of bubbling Demi-johns.

Now all I have to do is Wait !!!!!!!

Talking of Waiting - we have 2 Cuckoo Maran and 2 light Sussex in the incubator that should hatch in the next 24hrs? Or not? Anyhow no sign yet. I also have 6 Blue Crested Legbar eggs in the cabinate outside that I wanted to set but the other incubater still has baby BAT fink in so I can;t do that and now I just have to leave them in a cool place and hope the other 4 eggs hatch really soon or the legbars will stop being fertile!!!!!! Ok I know I am daft because I can eat chicken I can;t eat Bat but he is just a baby and I kind of have a soft spot for him. He is soooo cute and there is a preservation order on the little darlings so I am bound by law to care for him till he is grown then release him here. DH is going to make him a bat box. So he may just stay! He is a darling! I don;t have any good photos of him so will need to do that before too long.

I am going to go find my Bed I think cause its getting late here. - I turn into a pumpkin if I am up after midnight!

Oesdog