First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[LindaB220]

I almost lost a hen to a hawk today!! He was huge and had her pinned down ripping feathers out of her neck. Luckily my husband happened to go out to the yard when he did because he scared the hawk away! Oh my gosh, he was sure she was dead and then she hopped up and took off running.

When I got my hands on her she was gasping for breath. I took her in the house to assess the damage. Luckily she was only bleeding from spots where the feathers were pulled out on her neck. She had one gash that wasn't deep enough to bleed. Oh and she was bleeding a bit from a spot near her eye. I saw out the back window while I had her in the house that the hawk actually returned to finish the job if she was still there.

So, wow, I did not like this experience. I am immediately going to erect some scare crows, whirly gigs and cd's hanging from the trees. Plus, my dogs better not expect to see the inside of the house when the chickens are out of their coops for awhile. Time to look up my flock protection laws in my area. Ugh!

I've been planning on buy some of those cheap rubber snakes and moving them around. They make them blow up also and you can place them on a bush so the wind moves them around. Cheap.

 

[LindaB220]

Not in Minnesota, We are the ultimate nanny state, Only beer you can get anywhere other than a liquor store is 3.2AC. Minnesota requires the breweries to cut their beer down to 3.2 or less to be sold in a gas station or Grocery store. Even then you need to buy a special license to sell it and you cannot sell it at all on Sunday....

Ralph, I'm right out of Shreveport/ Bossier City. BC was touted as SIN CITY in the '60's because we had so many bars and nightclubs located near Barksdale Air Force Base. It settled down and became normal into the 80's and 90's, but THEN we got the riverboat Gambling and Louisiana Downs Race Track. That's why the prices on homes and consumables are so high. I wasn't a party person and don't gamble, so I never noticed the extra people swarming the area. Until I went to shop at the mall or grocery store. A lot of people in the season. Shreveport downtown pretty much took over the strip clubs and BC is not really a little Vegas anymore. Just the boats.
That's why the area is growing so much. Coming east to Haughton and all the new subdivisions. Fifteen minutes to downtown areas. They are building 3 new schools along with the 2 they already built to accommodate all the new kids.

 

[mountain mom]

Ralph- your writings are always entertaining! You could probably collect your posts from here and call it a book. Chicken Scratch and Other Musings by DuluthRalphie
I think you should also include your artwork.
It is okay to be a reclusive writer. And eccentric. Isn't that the whole artist persona?! I think you will fit right in. AND, I am pretty sure you can use words, ones that will get you reprimands from certain websites, get this, ANYWHERE AND TIME YOU WANT!
Yes, you would be a fantastic writer. And you can show your brother who is the superior sibling.

Pearl has officially taken the "largest chicken in my flock" prize. Sir Mix a Lot was totally rapping about CX chickens. Not just girls with big butts. But chickens too.

I decided to neglect the coop for another week or so. It is supposed to warm up a bit, no snow, less wind. I am hopeful I can just let it dry on its own. Or rather, that it will.

Linda- I love how excited you are about your new venture! If you have any sneaky gardening tips, send them my way! We lost our entire garden to hail last summer... not that there is anything I can do about that. But, I was not seeing as many flowers and emerging veggies as I would have liked. Maybe I was doing something less than perfect. I do not claim to have the greenest thumb...

Jessica- I certainly pictured you older than 38, not grey though. Ralph gets the grey crayon.

I can't imagine my kids leaving home. I am having mild palpitations about kinder next year for my youngest. I have slowly been surrounding myself with new "babies". My husband has totally caught on.

Speaking of my husband, today is our anniversary. I have been sitting on the computer for over an hour just perusing BYC and laughing at all the great posts on this thread. I have a great meal planned, and even got all things prepped and ready... I even have been so kind as to open and test out the wine. Just to be sure it was going to go well with dinner, of course.
But I was having a hard time tearing myself away! What is a mildly late dinner anyhow? The kids can have a snack.
As I was rushing myself to finish my thoughts here, he called.
Guess who is bringing home my favorite Chinese take out?! Best husband ever. Dinner tomorrow...covered. Minus the wine. I'm sure it will go bad if I just leave it overnight.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Quote: There was no link. Please re-post that Ralph.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Mountain Mom: I have an "old soul", I think. I have always felt more comfortable with older people and not as interested in the shenanigans and drama related to young people. I am pretty driven, always did well in school and thrive more on making success in my life over having a bunch of friends. I have been through alot more than many people my age and thankfully have a husband that encourages me to be who I am and doesn't hold me back. Actually, his personality is alot like mine. We joke that we are the male/female version of each other. He's a redhead too, by the way.

On the kids moving out front: It isn't as bad as you think it will be. Teen years are hard for a reason. That is to prepare you for their departure. I'm not saying that you don't miss them. I'm just saying that after a few weeks/months you start to enjoy not dealing with those little things they did that drove you so crazy. I have dishes in my cupboards again instead of under the beds and in the couch cushions. I can buy ice cream and actually get to have a bowl. It's crazy fun!

Oh and Happy Anniversary MM!

 

[duluthralphie]

There was no link. Please re-post that Ralph.

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1a;ft_ponywall_buildings.html

 

[duluthralphie]

Mountain Mom: I have an "old soul", I think. I have always felt more comfortable with older people and not as interested in the shenanigans and drama related to young people. I am pretty driven, always did well in school and thrive more on making success in my life over having a bunch of friends. I have been through alot more than many people my age and thankfully have a husband that encourages me to be who I am and doesn't hold me back. Actually, his personality is alot like mine. We joke that we are the male/female version of each other. He's a redhead too, by the way.

On the kids moving out front: It isn't as bad as you think it will be. Teen years are hard for a reason. That is to prepare you for their departure. I'm not saying that you don't miss them. I'm just saying that after a few weeks/months you start to enjoy not dealing with those little things they did that drove you so crazy. I have dishes in my cupboards again instead of under the beds and in the couch cushions. I can buy ice cream and actually get to have a bowl. It's crazy fun!

Oh and Happy Anniversary MM!

AMEN to That!

 

[mountain mom]

Mountain Mom: I have an "old soul", I think. I have always felt more comfortable with older people and not as interested in the shenanigans and drama related to young people. I am pretty driven, always did well in school and thrive more on making success in my life over having a bunch of friends. I have been through alot more than many people my age and thankfully have a husband that encourages me to be who I am and doesn't hold me back. Actually, his personality is alot like mine. We joke that we are the male/female version of each other. He's a redhead too, by the way.

On the kids moving out front: It isn't as bad as you think it will be. Teen years are hard for a reason. That is to prepare you for their departure. I'm not saying that you don't miss them. I'm just saying that after a few weeks/months you start to enjoy not dealing with those little things they did that drove you so crazy. I have dishes in my cupboards again instead of under the beds and in the couch cushions. I can buy ice cream and actually get to have a bowl. It's crazy fun!

Oh and Happy Anniversary MM!

Thank you!

I think I am an old soul as well... it sounds like we are a bit similar.

My kids are still in grade school and I have to hide my chocolate... and eat it in secret! Those kids are vultures. One thing I know I will look forward to, picking up the house and having it stay clean for more than 30 seconds!

 

[duluthralphie]

MM are you going to tell us or keep us in suspense over the new bird your hubby got you for your anniversary?

 

[mountain mom]

MM are you going to tell us or keep us in suspense over the new bird your hubby got you for your anniversary?

Haha! He brought home Chinese take out, not a new feathered friend for me. Well... it was already butchered and covered in some delicious General Tso sauce with baby corn and cabbage.
He really just tolerates me having chickens. And kind of tolerates the idea that I am adding turkeys to the flock!
He is more excited about the goat coming this spring.