Colorado

[Chook Chick]

My family thinks I'm crazy. I don't care. They lived through me getting a motorcycle and endorsement; they lived through me having a container garden, they lived through my genealogy hobby (and still do), they lived through my current cemetery headstone repair and photography, and they'll live through my raising chickens too.

I'm 55 years old. It's not their time, energy or money invested in this project. My youngest will be 20 this Saturday; my next oldest is 21. I told them both they can go live elsewhere if they are 'bothered by my chickens.

Need a friend/support on Facebook? Let me know....I'll be there!

I've only recently (1-2 yrs) come around to sustainability as a way of life as opposed to a big ideal that entire countries should strive for.  With that in mind, I think that if people are open to a conversation and will actually LISTEN and clearly digest information on sustainable living... then a seed might get planted.  My pet peeve is people who jump down your throat without a second thought.  My mother in law doesn't understand why you would want to GROW vegetables when you can just buy them at the store.  Can't wait to hear how she responds to back yard chickens... LOL!

 

[Pozees]

I've only recently (1-2 yrs) come around to sustainability as a way of life as opposed to a big ideal that entire countries should strive for. With that in mind, I think that if people are open to a conversation and will actually LISTEN and clearly digest information on sustainable living... then a seed might get planted. My pet peeve is people who jump down your throat without a second thought. My mother in law doesn't understand why you would want to GROW vegetables when you can just buy them at the store. Can't wait to hear how she responds to back yard chickens... LOL!

I have found it easier to convince doubters with the incredible flavor of freshly harvested home grown vegetables. Some things are more persuasive than others - asparagus, broccoli, and tomatoes make a pretty big impression. I have had zero luck growing broccoli since I moved out here, but will be trying again LOL.

 

[Pozees]

My family thinks I'm crazy. I don't care. They lived through me getting a motorcycle and endorsement; they lived through me having a container garden, they lived through my genealogy hobby (and still do), they lived through my current cemetery headstone repair and photography, and they'll live through my raising chickens too.

I'm 55 years old. It's not their time, energy or money invested in this project. My youngest will be 20 this Saturday; my next oldest is 21. I told them both they can go live elsewhere if they are 'bothered by my chickens.

Need a friend/support on Facebook? Let me know....I'll be there!

My only child is 21 and in his Jr year of college. When I asked him recently whether he had a better idea of what he wanted to do with his life yet, he told me he would really like to be a farmer. I about fell over. I don't know what he will actually do, but it was nice to hear that he considers agriculture a good lifestyle. He loves that I have chickens and a vegetable garden, and gets all nostalgic when he spots my gardening gloves in the car when I go up to see him LOL.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I realized it had been a while since I posted pics of the Five. They were one week old Saturday and growing like weeds. The two that developed pasty butt are over it but one ended up looking a bit like Adam's little one, just less raw. And I am not so worried about the little black chick anymore. She's definantly growing, just smaller than the rest so I think it's genetics. The first one has feathered legs. That sure threw me, but with EE/OE I guess anything is possible! And yes, they are still for sale.

 

[wsmith]

My only child is 21 and in his Jr year of college. When I asked him recently whether he had a better idea of what he wanted to do with his life yet, he told me he would really like to be a farmer. I about fell over. I don't know what he will actually do, but it was nice to hear that he considers agriculture a good lifestyle. He loves that I have chickens and a vegetable garden, and gets all nostalgic when he spots my gardening gloves in the car when I go up to see him LOL.

My family has grown used to my "odd-ness". The extended family thought it was a little weird when, over 20 years ago, that we started our reenacting hobby. Now they just accept it. When we got back into chickens my MIL thought we were nuts. Then she saw how it benefitted Beth and she was fully supportive. Most people we know are "oh you have chickens.....", until they come over to our place and then they are a little surprized. Usually they are almost offended that we go to the effort that we do, but it has always been a family motto to" be the best at whatever you put your hand to". Always strive for excellence in whatever you do. Our family just rolls with it. They love the fresh eggs, and the flavor of the home-grown meat.

We are still working on the garden thing, and still striving for excellence, and at this point I would almost sttle for mediocrity in gardening. Our property is basically eons of built up dust. Little will grow on it, and if it gets wet and then dries, it becomes what we refer to as "concrete masquerading as dirt" In our garden spot we have brought in 6 trailer loads of cow manure, three years of putting other organic materials in as well. We finally got our garden fence in a year ago, and then we got behind and didn't get the garden planted. Maybe this year. With the wind and summer sun, things burn up. I guess I need to cover the whole thing with shade netting, then maybe we can be successful gardeners.
My father, grandfathers and G-grandfathers were all farmers.

 

[wsmith]

I realized it had been a while since I posted pics of the Five. They were one week old Saturday and growing like weeds. The two that developed pasty butt are over it but one ended up looking a bit like Adam's little one, just less raw. And I am not so worried about the little black chick anymore. She's definantly growing, just smaller than the rest so I think it's genetics. The first one has feathered legs. That sure threw me, but with EE/OE I guess anything is possible! And yes, they are still for sale.

Very cute. We should have some chicks by Easter.

 

[coloradogal]

i was talking about the loss of fuzz and the swelling. I don't think i mentioned a burn.....i think i typed bum. lol, but its getting late for me too.

i don't have any prep h. The swelling should go down eventually if i manage to keep her butt clean though, right?

Hahahaha... I swear I did see burn the second time but bum the first. The swelling will go down. The first and last time I thought I could clean pasty but without water was when I realized how fragile their little skin is. I took some skin off of them and felt horrible. The chick is now, wow.... over a year already. Since I bought the Brinsea brooder and have started given them kefir starter feed, I haven't had pasty butt. I'm not sure even if it any of those things or just that these babies are less inclined because they are coloradan chicks.

Pozees: I wish I had known while I was at Clemson (huge agricultural university) that I was into chickens. I would have definitely taken more classes in poultry. I think it is awesome he wants to do that. There are a few ag colleges in the US. Perhaps he is just so very blessed to know so young what makes his heart sing.

Samr: Beautiful babies. I do so miss the variation in my chicks sometimes.

 

[wsmith]

OK.....

It looks like I will have this afternoon open to do chicken projects, as well as most of Saturday!

The 4 waterers that showed up yesterday are the 3 gallon little giant type. The roll of netting is ready to go and should be large enough to cover all 4 remaining pens. I have enough lumber to finish the gates and chicken ramps. All I need to do is get out there and get them done!

I would have worked on them yesterday afternoon, but I was in Rush and the Miami-Yoder VS Hanover girls Basketball game. Hanover Hornets won 37-27!!! If they win against Edison this friday they clinch the Black Forest League 1A title! This is unknown territory for Hanover.......

Adam7: If you can build a cabinet incubator that will accept 3 GQF turners and have digital controls and have a clear door, I might be interested for next year............. Then I could use the cabinet as the main incubator and my GQF one as a hatcher.......then I could be hatching each week........

chicken math oh chicken math..... The more I hatch the more I have to choose the best from!

 

[wsmith]

Just saw this over on the Natural chicken keeping thread. http://www.kingbirdfarm.com/Layerhealthcompendium.pdf I downloaded it and will give it a read.....

 

[jgurshtein]

I realized it had been a while since I posted pics of the Five. They were one week old Saturday and growing like weeds. The two that developed pasty butt are over it but one ended up looking a bit like Adam's little one, just less raw. And I am not so worried about the little black chick anymore. She's definantly growing, just smaller than the rest so I think it's genetics. The first one has feathered legs. That sure threw me, but with EE/OE I guess anything is possible! And yes, they are still for sale.

SOOO cute! General chick question... I notice that some are holding themselves farther off the ground than others. Is this personal chick preference or muscle development?