Consolidated Kansas

[prairie]

Danz, Sounds like you are really busy! A friend gave me some of her herbs -- little starts to plant -- but when I got home from my trip I forgot where I planted them until I was weeding one of the flower beds yesterday and found the thyme. She has lots of different kinds and needs to thin them so I will go get some more. Let me know what kinds you want and if she has them she will give me enough for us both then hopefully I can make it down next week for some little guineas.

I sure hope my three guinea hens will start laying again. The two that went broody should start by now -- it's been a couple of weeks since they lost their nest!! Still got them penned up in the run and I am sure the ticks are taking over the yard!!

 

[lizzyGSR]

I've been reading about all you ladies and your chainsaws and power tools and just HAD to comment! My DH and I have been working on my duck house together. I am the "brains" of the operation, and he is the "brawn".

I cut myself several months ago with a rotary cutter and came close to doing some serious damage to my finger. Since then, I've been scared to try any power tools. I'm a klutz anyway and am constantly hurting myself. I shudder to think of how much damage I could do with power tools! You ladies sound a lot more confident with power tools than I am. More power to you! Oh, by the way, I do have a tool box I carry around in my car, just in case I have car troubles somewhere. My DH borrows the tools from it sometimes, but he is really good about putting them back.

 

[chicken danz]

Well best laid plans. I went out to get on the tractor and move stuff so I could work on the garden and I can't get it started. I am sure DH probably locked something out I don't know about and he just left for work like 30 minutes ago. I should have known to start it before he was gone. I hate it when he does stuff like that. See I am assuming it is his fault because he was on it earlier this afternoon. Of course that delayed me starting on my work. Grrrrrr!
I have a feeling I may never get my garden going at this rate!!
Prairie, I love all herbs. I have sage, oregano, lavender, thyme, and rosemary. I had tons of chives but I found the ducks and the chickens just love them and I don't think I had a single one come up this year. I was afraid they were going to take over everything. Now I guess I don't have to worry. At my other house I had a regular herb garden. That is all that was there. I had gobs of stuff. I love to just walk out there and break off leaves and smell them. It is so calming. I only used the oregano, marjoram, chives, and sage for cooking. Then I would cut off the lavender flower stems and put them in something like potpourri to scent the air. I would love to have starts of anything to be honest. About the only thing I really disliked was basil because it just took over everything else. I've tought of trying Italian basil because it is supposed to be better. I also grew catnip for the cats and it became invasive. That was after multiple attempt to grow it. When I tried to start tiny little plants the cats would chew them up. I covered my starts and then it took over. Crazy stuff. One of my cats would go out and roll over and over in it.
I actually like the different leaf textures and minute flowers the herbs produce. It kind of fills in the otherwise blank spots.

 

[cherwill]

HEChicken, that's the most horrifyingly funny story I've ever heard!

I couldn't have put that any better! Horrifyingly funny; I love it.

I hope the sick kids are feeling better.

I had no idea Chopper needed a new home. I'm glad you took him; he seems to be very happy. Danz, I know what you mean about feeling guilty. The first roo I had to get rid of, I cried all the way home. We really are crazy!

I've been reading about all you ladies and your chainsaws and power tools and just HAD to comment! My DH and I have been working on my duck house together. I am the "brains" of the operation, and he is the "brawn".

I cut myself several months ago with a rotary cutter and came close to doing some serious damage to my finger. Since then, I've been scared to try any power tools. I'm a klutz anyway and am constantly hurting myself. I shudder to think of how much damage I could do with power tools! You ladies sound a lot more confident with power tools than I am. More power to you! Oh, by the way, I do have a tool box I carry around in my car, just in case I have car troubles somewhere. My DH borrows the tools from it sometimes, but he is really good about putting them back.

It's the same here. I'm the idea person and DH figures out how to make it happen. I help with whatever he needs, within reason. We both know better than to let me play with power tools involving blades. At any given time, I have at least two cuts and a burn just from cooking, and I'm a good cook! Then there are the bruises from walking into corners of things like tables.

Prairie, I love herbs, too. I grow any I can get my hands on. I have a dedicated herb garden, then I have some thyme and mint in a bed alongside the house, and I just planted a sage in a bed as well. All through the growing season, I harvest, wash, chop and freeze them so I'll have almost fresh herbs to use all winter.

DH and our nephew are working on his car tonight. It sounded like something simple enough, so it may just be DH coming home tonight. I hope my poor nephew can get a break from all the breakdowns; he could sure use it.

I went to the doc today and can't believe I moped around for the last three weeks with my back hurting so much. I'd forgotten what it feels like to sit or stand without pain. Why do I put it off and try to convince myself it'll somehow get better on its own?

We went to the community garden and the only thing I did was water so I wouldn't have to bend and stretch and undo what the doctor just did. DH and my aunt planted some more radishes, our third set and probably the last until the end of the season when it cools off again, and another row of bush beans. DH thinned out the turnips, so we have a few baby turnips and a bunch of turnip greens to eat now. Did I tell you about my dead plants? Sometime Sunday evening (I know this because I'd been there that afternoon and everything was fine), our garden neighbor to the south decided to edge his/her garden with Round-Up or something similar. All the grass and weeds around the edge were wilted and brown, and so was my first row of fennel and about 4 bean plants on that edge. I may or may not manage to save a couple of the fennel in that row, but those beans are most definitely dead.

 

[Ivywoods]

Brit and I worked hard today.



Well, if you were a dog and you were hot, and someone had just dug some holes and filled them with water, what would you do?

I decided to transplant some grapes. I had to dig 8 holes. The ground was so hard and dry I decided to dig them about half way and then fill them with water to soften them up and then finish transplanting on a day that would be more conducive to moving plants. The wind was just too strong, hot and dry. Brit decided perhaps she could help dig them a little deeper once they softened up. Since that was the idea anyway, I decided to let her have her fun. I wish I had taken a movie! She would dig in one hole, face clear down in the mud, spin around, run a circle, jump in the next hole, run around, jump in the next one, dig in one, run around some more until she was plum tuckered out. It was entertaining.

I also decided to dig a log that has been lodged in my yard ever since they did the dirtwork to build up around the house. It was mostly burried and simply looked like a board laying on the ground, but it was a log about 3 feet long and 6 inches in diameter. I succeded in digging it out, but before I realized it I was covered in tiny ants. The log was home to a major colony of ants. I had them on my shoes, in my pants, under my shirt. I came to realize what was going on when one of them bit me on my side under my shirt.

I was very quickly dancing a jig and moving away from the log. The log is now out of the ground but still laying in the yard. I wasn't about to pick that thing up.

 

[Ivywoods]

Power tools. I can't begin to list all the power tools I own. I'm not talking about my DH's. I LOVE working with wood and building things, so that means I need the tools to do it. I always wanted to take woodworking in high school, but they wouldn't let me because I was a girl. Anyway, after my divorce I went to an auction. It was a cabinet shop that part had caught on fire. They sold a lot of stuff that didn't really have anything wrong with it, other than it was really dirty and sooty. I bought two pickup loads of stuff! Much of what I bought was various kinds of wood that I could use to build things. Some of it had some fire damage, but at give away price (nobody wanted to mess with the sooty stuff) I figured I could get some use out of what wasn't scorched. It took me several years to use up most of that stuff.

I still ended up going out and buying a table saw and a circular saw. I have two circ saws. One I like to use on 1" material, and the other is big enough for the 2" stuff. I almost never use any of my DH's tools. Well, he did have a really nice claw hammer that I latched onto. I wouldn't let him have it back. It fit me. He still razzes me about that hammer. He bought another one just like it. Our biggest problem with using each others tools is putting them back. I tend to put tools where it makes sense to me, and he puts them wherever he puts them. I still haven't figured out his logic for where he puts things. We do have some things we share, like the reciprocating saw, the big bandsaw, several grinders, drills, laser level, etc.

Today I was looking for my 100 foot tape measure to flag out where I needed to dig holes for the grapes. I have one and DH has one. I have a drawer with all my measuring stuff in it, plus some markers. You always need to mark something when you measure, right? I finally found my tape in my DH's tool cabinet. In with the wrenches.

Now to me, "That don't make NO sense."

 

[prairie]

I too love all kinds of herbs and since I don't use salt typically in cooking I use lots of herbs. I don't pay much attention to what herb is best with which food -- I just grab whichever herb sounds good at the moment and toss it in. I can't remember what all my friend has but will get some for the both of us. The one herb I don't like is basil too. Don't really know why but my tastes changed about 10 years ago and just don't like it anymore.

I have tons of chives -- they reseed themselves -- it is the flat chives. When plants came up in the old chicken pen the chickens ate it to the ground but out in my flower beds when they are free ranging they don't bother it at all. I had a 25 year old sage plant but it died last summer.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

OMGosh Ivy,

I would have loved to have seen the happenings around your house today!

The kiddos are fine. DD has been on antibiotics for a week for strep. Today, she had some bloodwork done and they determined it was the strep still messing with her. The good news is she wasn't at all contagious because she's had the antibiotics for over 24 hours. Dr. said she should go back to school tomorrow, poor kid. I honestly don't think she feels like it and she does like school. Hopefully, she'll feel better in the a.m.

Chopper has taken over the lead duck spot in the flock! Quackers is supporting him after teaching him his manners. It's just a beautiful thing to see all the ducks together. I took mealworms out to them but my three let me know that it was a bit early to go in for the night. Uh oh.

 

[prairie]

I freeze herbs too -- I use the little snack bags. They taste wonderful in the winter! My favorite is cilantro -- which reseeds itself all over my flower beds. Well maybe another favorite is dill weed -- love it in everything. Wish we lived closer and we could share herbs too!

Prairie, I love herbs, too. I grow any I can get my hands on. I have a dedicated herb garden, then I have some thyme and mint in a bed alongside the house, and I just planted a sage in a bed as well. All through the growing season, I harvest, wash, chop and freeze them so I'll have almost fresh herbs to use all winter.

 

[WichitaKidd]

David, I am thinking your chicken needs a few days of Vitamin E. I don't believe that is wry neck. I'm like Ivy I was thinking that was something they were born with. I believe it is either a vitamin deficiency or she got her head injured some how. The clues to getting her cured for this is to take her out of the general population so she doesn't get picked on. Open a Vitamin E capsule (I just bite a hole in mine cause it is faster.) Just squirt it into her mouth at least twice a day. It may take 2 weeks or so depending on the severity. Give her plenty of good food and water. Make sure that she can drink. The problem with some of these birds thriving is getting their head cocked around enough to get the water and swallow. I have one monstrous Cochin who got injured and I didn't think it was going to come out of it and it drank upside down for months after it was cured. Try to introduce some probiotics and give him plenty of fat and rich foods. Even if it means drizzling a tiny bit of veggie oil on top of her food. The worst part about this condition is that because of their awkward position they have trouble getting enough caloric intake.

Danz: Pretty sure this is something Buffy has recently developed & wasn't born this way. Or maybe I should say I've started noticing it the past few days & hadn't before. Hoping that a good dose of vitamins will help turn things around. Went to the store today to buy some of the Poly-Vi-Sol liquid. I've read in many posts to make sure to get the one without iron. OK, I must be blind or something, but I only saw 1 "type" of Poly-Vi-Sol & it has iron in it. Is there something I'm missing? I found Tri-Vi-Sol which doesn't have iron, but it also doesn't have vitamin E. Going to try a different store to see if they have something without iron. If I find the right stuff, is it OK to give it to them straight or should I just add it to her water?

EDIT: OK. Went to another store & found Poly-Vi-Sol without iron. Dillon's at Central & Rock actually carries both. Thought I was going nuts there for a bit. Came home & gave Buffy a few drops which was an interesting task. Took a little bit, but I think she got most of it. I also added a dropper full to her water. Let's hope this does the trick.

So far she seems to be drinking & eating OK. The feeder & waterer in her box were full this morning & both are close to half empty now. I've seen her drink a few times, just not a lot. She is able to pull her head around & stretch it out, but normally just lays back down with her head flopped back onto her back. It looks pretty freaky to say the least. She's also walking backwards a lot, but I would expect that if my head was upside down too.
Thanks for all the advice. I really do appreciate it.

Ivy: I've only seen/read 2 posts that suggested wry neck was "genetic". The general consensus has been that it's a vitamin E deficiency & that it's treatable. I've also read that once they get it they never completely get rid of it, & that a lot of birds end up dieing from it. Hopefully that's not the case. Thanks.