Consolidated Kansas

[thndrdancr]

We seem to have got hit pretty hard with the first snow. Had in laws come thru from Texas yesterday and they said was hardly any snow til they got 10 miles away! That just figures. I think we got 7 inches, then this morn about 2 more. At least today's was more of a non event.
Dog is loving it!

 

[chicken danz]

We got snow but it was more like little ice balls, and the wind has blown most of it away except where it piled a little. It was too cold to be a nice fluffy snow and since we already had a layer of ice it just scooted along with the wind.
The sun is shining to day but it sure is cold. I think it was supposed to reach 30 today. As soon as it gets close to the high I am going to try to get my watering done. I've got some more bird sorting to do today and some counting.
I have to put the newer dog in the pen I got ready for the birds because he has decided to start roaming on me. I am putting a stop to that. He can spend another few weeks in a kennel until he learns his lesson. I just don't have patience for a dog that won't stay on his own property. I may have to re-look at putting in electric fencing around my acreage afterall. Needless to say I am not at all happy right now.

 

[Trish44]

I'm sorry you're having problems with Winston, hopefully he will learn with some guidance where he is supposed to stay. My two did some of that just around the neighborhood when they were younger but they rarely leave here now. They know where they're supposed to be & what their job is. They will still occasionally go next door & raid my neighbor's trash trailer. He puts his trash in a pickup trailer & usually has it covered, but those dogs still manage to bring some stuff home once in awhile. They like shoes & there is a big men's tennis shoe in our backyard right now I haven't been able to go get. They like plastic milk jugs as well, silly girls. At least they aren't as bad about their kleptomania as they were when they were younger, thank goodness.

 

[MsDebD]

Saturday is supposed to be beautiful. Frustrating because I have to teach a class all day. The good news is the class is called Get Outside Learn Outside for child care providers. Last year when I taught it, it was WAY to cold to "get outside" so at least I can look forward to doing the outdoor activities this year. Would still rather be home with hubby, dogs and goats. It would be a good day to get some things done.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Trish44, I just blurted out "Not again!" when I read what was going on with you. I hurt for you. One day closer to better. That's what I told myself when I had my tonsils out last year. It didn't help at all by the way.

Sorry, I got nothin' except just wish you weren't going through this again. You have really expanded your breeds too. Are you still working with the Cream Legbar group that is trying to get it accepted into the Standard?

It's so nice to read up on chicken chatter. I am hosting our family reunion this year and just can't wait for all the "cute" comments about the birds. Fortunately, I do have some allies in the group. It's not like I am trying to push chickens on the haters! Oh well, what can you do? All of our birds are out running around happy as clams in the yard since it has warmed up a smidge. I am so over winter. Of course, I wasn't all that happy to see it come in the first place. I've been working on a Mariner's Compass quilt, slowly but surely these days, trying to keep myself out of mischief and the cold.

I don't have nearly the numbers of birds I used to but I love the ones I have. DH has gotten over his extreme dislike of the chickens and concedes that they are pretty birds. Progress! He always did like the ducks. The pond is absolutely dry. I stopped keeping it full once I had to pen the ducks. This year I'll let them go to the pond when I am out working in the yard so it will be safer.

So I have this one Japanese bantam who sits under one of the Aloha hens to stay warm. That Aloha hen thinks she is the mommy and feels it her duty to sit on the bantam. I've got to take a pic, you guys would get a laugh, they are so cute.

Pictures, people! We all need pictures to ooh and aah over. I'll take some tomorrow.

Kids are home, better go pull up the drawbridge. Drats! Too late!

 

[Trish44]

Trish44, I just blurted out "Not again!"  when I read what was going on with you. I hurt for you. One day closer to better. That's what I told myself when I had my tonsils out last year. It didn't help at all by the way.  Sorry, I got nothin' except just wish you weren't going through this again. You have really expanded your breeds too. Are you still working with the Cream Legbar group that is trying to get it accepted into the Standard?

It's so nice to read up on chicken chatter. I am hosting our family reunion this year and just can't wait for all the "cute" comments about the birds. Fortunately, I do have some allies in the group. It's not like I am trying to push chickens on the haters! Oh well, what can you do? All of our birds are out running around happy as clams in the yard since it has warmed up a smidge. I am so over winter. Of course, I wasn't all that happy to see it come in the first place. I've been working on a Mariner's Compass quilt, slowly but surely these days, trying to keep myself out of mischief and the cold.

I don't have nearly the numbers of birds I used to but I love the ones I have. DH has gotten over his extreme dislike of the chickens and concedes that they are pretty birds. Progress! He always did like the ducks. The pond is absolutely dry. I stopped keeping it full once I had to pen the ducks. This year I'll let them go to the pond when I am out working in the yard so it will be safer.

So I have this one Japanese bantam who sits under one of the Aloha hens to stay warm. That Aloha hen thinks she is the mommy and feels it her duty to sit on the bantam. I've got to take a pic, you guys would get a laugh, they are so cute.

Pictures, people! We all need pictures to ooh and aah over. I'll take some tomorrow.

Kids are home, better go pull up the drawbridge. Drats! Too late!

Deerfield I'm sorry your tonsillectomy didn't help. I had one as an adult as well. It sure is harder on you the older you get.

Yeah I hope this is it for awhile till I have to have a total knee. My DH has already told me that before that happens I will have to get rid of my birds. Well I won't get rid of them all but I will have to drastically reduce numbers. He is not happy with having to do my chores since he says they are MY hobby, not his. I probably can't keep up this level of work forever anyway with my arthritis getting worse.

Yes I am in the Cream Legbar Club & am working towards getting a breeding group that will meet standards. It has been a struggle because Greenfire Farms has imported 3 different lines of the wrong color of birds, not helpful. Some of the people are starting to get some decent ones after 2-3 generations. Now Greenfire has imported a 4th line that is specific to a certain breeder in the UK & they're better but still not perfect. It's a work in progress. I'm on the 3rd breeding group I've had & these are looking much more promising. One problem is that since there is no standard yet there are a lot of breeders out there breeding birds without caring if they're the proper colors or type & selling them as Cream Legbars. I just called one on it the other day & he didn't seem to care that he's selling gold instead of cream legbars. It will take 5 years at least to get them approved & people are showing them at poultry shows & trying to educate people. I was offered a place on the board for the club but with all of my injuries & the work load I have I declined. I am however in charge of keeping up the membership list & attend online meetings.

 

[chicken danz]

My quotes aren't working for some reason. First question. Does any body know the going rate for babysitting two kids, one under a year and a 5 year old. Checking for a friend. I have no clue.
Second, Deerfield I owe you a message. I've been running and I promise it will come soon.
What a day I had. I worked so hard today. But all in all other than wasting a couple hours tracking down that dog it seems to be a good day. I was busy putting up new pens and moving birds all afternoon. I had to change plans totally because of Winston but I think maybe it will all work out.
I think I have most of the bigger birds sold I wanted to move if my buyers don't back out. The only ones I don't have sold are a couple of the Red English Orpingtons. My one and only red hen just started laying a few weeks ago so it will be awhile before I have girls to offer. I do have a couple of fertile eggs in the incubator though. Yay. I can't believe people aren't jumping to get these reds. They are remarkable. Guess one needs to see them to appreciate them.
I still have a lot of marking and sorting to do tomorrow. At least it is supposed to be nice out.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

No rush, chickendanz, I know you have your hands full!

Trish44, the great thing is that the tonsillectomy did appear to work. I still get sick but I get over it really fast. Before I could be sick for a couple months with one case of strep. This time it's Diabetes and HBP. Sheesh. But I am taking a year and am doing what my Doctor has been telling me to do finally -- eating right, exercising, keeping track of my blood sugars. I'm slowly losing the weight but it's going to take a while to lose all of the excess. I am completely committed and it's rather grueling but another week and a half and it will get easier. They say it takes 21 days to break bad habits? I hope. I've had them a lot longer than that, so if it's true I'll get off easy I guess.

Karen

 

[Trish44]

Deerfield, I'm sorry you're having these health problems. I can identify with the dieting, I started about a month ago. I'm watching calories with a phone app that DH & I are using. We're also trying to eat even more healthy & I think once I get recovered from this surgery I will actually feel a lot better. We've been doing smoothies & it's amazing how good they're making me feel. I just use one for my evening meal since I just fix it for myself. I hope you feel better soon as well Karen.

I have felt so much better today. This evening my pain level is less & I'm walking better. Now I just have to get my range of motion back. It's always a balance with me between doing enough & too much. If I overdo I end up backpedaling. I can't wait to be able to go back out there & take care of my own birds again.

 

[Trish44]

Well the feeling better was short lived, I guess I overdid it last night so I'm paying for it today. I have to go to PT so I'll get even more torture there. I had to get up at the crack of dawn today to go, they had to fit me in for this time & then I get a more reasonable time next week.