Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[ozexpat]

Lol.. i would do fine there..in the past I have gone 12 years with NO TV.. have lived full time at a goat dairy where all I spoke to for days on end were goats. I would only go into town once every three months for supplies. heated with a wood stove when I was living up north... and when we got snowed in for three weeks I was perfectly fine with no electricity and being unable to get out of our road. My neighbors at the time started to panic at the end of day 2. They just didn't know how to deal with no TV, no electricity and no transportation.

As it is I stay home with the critters.. am pretty antisocial in general. The only places I go now are to the feed store and to go get groceries... My "closest" friend lives in Delaware.. and I'm in Texas.. I think I have spoken to her once in the past two years... My husband is in Afghanistan and is gone for a year at a time while he's deployed. So I'm pretty self reliant and completely happy being a hermit without the luxuries that most people couldn't think of doing without.

When you mentioned good beef, celery and a show I started laughing.. I could live just fine without all three!

You are a tougher person than most of us. I will pray for your DH safety over there.

 

[3Dchicken]

I think those speak for themselves...

WOOOOWIE. Fail much?

Tonight I started an experiment on shipped eggs. I want to understand the impact on eggs from shipping, so in between my travels across the big pond, I will attempt to incubate a few batches of shipped and local eggs.

I have developed a hypothesis: The eggs orientation during shipping has a direct correlation on hatchability. I theorize that you will do better with eggs shipped big end up rather than on their side.

I ordered a dozen Delaware eggs from the south via ebay. They arrived amazingly well packed but on their side. 14 eggs came. The eggs are porous and difficult to candle but I have 3 wobbly and one rolling air sack. A fifth egg has the air sack in 3 pieces. They are incubating in an egg carton for now, time will tell.

To continue my experiment I will find someone I can get eggs shipped from who will ship them big end up.

 

[3Dchicken]

Mrs Oz may take a drive to the chicken ranch today - if the weather improves as its been blustering tropical rains for a few days. Our pregnant goat is no longer pregnant. She gave birth to a billy boy yesterday. Too bad its a boy - on the good side I get goat curry.

Hopefully chick and goat pics to follow.

If I was able to live in the Philippines full time I would work on goats next. When we first tormented with the Idea of adopting and living there, I decided that a goat dairy and cheese production could be fun. When I got to the Philippines I found the goats to be minature at best. There have since been some successful breeding programs in Northern Luzon island but those goats are a long way from me.

So if I start an artificial insemination program for goats - look out for my "Getting the sperm out of here thread"

LOL

 

[ozexpat]

I am excited to go to the San Diego BYC meet up next Sunday. I am looking forward to meeting some fellow BYCers, especially the ones I have interacted with in this thread,

There is a hatchery in LA County that comes with great recommendations to get Australorps, Cuckoo Marans, ans Cochins. I am still hunting for a local person to supply me with Rhode Island Reds, New Jerseys, Barred Rocks and Brahmas - any color.

I am thinking of wearing a Getting The Flock Out Of Here t-shirt.

Some fabulous local BYCers are helping me with some Dorkings, Creme Legbars Polish and Pekin Ducks.

A BYCer from New England is giving me some big imported Brittish Orps and Buff Orpingtons in exchange for giving some offspring to his wife's family in the Philippines.

Its just 46 days to the next chicken run!!!

 

[gryeyes]

Oz, the community of BYCers is an amazing thing. Coupled with your unique experiences, ability, expertise to share - and incorporate others ad hoc - there is no doubt this thread will be another well-loved and long-lived contributions.

You provide more than just vicarious living through photographs and narrative, you invite us to participate. Not a dry travelougue but one with exultation, whimsy, speculation, and sheer silliness through human experience. Plus a wicked sense of humor.

Thank you. I have begun to tell my Australorp Molly about the other chatty BAs outed in this thread. She saiid, "Brrk?" in the interrogative at my first mention, which I took to be interest.

We are entranced.

 

[ozexpat]

Oz, the community of BYCers is an amazing thing. Coupled with your unique experiences, ability, expertise to share - and incorporate others ad hoc - there is no doubt this thread will be another well-loved and long-lived contributions.

You provide more than just vicarious living through photographs and narrative, you invite us to participate. Not a dry travelougue but one with exultation, whimsy, speculation, and sheer silliness through human experience. Plus a wicked sense of humor.

Thank you. I have begun to tell my Australorp Molly about the other chatty BAs outed in this thread. She saiid, "Brrk?" in the interrogative at my first mention, which I took to be interest.

We are entranced.

This being an interactive forum rather than a blog is the best part. I am getting used to the machinations of it. I now have a chuckle if I am in here and see an unknown or noob settled in for hours reading the entire thread. I celebrate when we coax another lurker out of the woodwork but am happy if they chose not to be interactive also.

Thanks for the encouragement

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I am excited to go to the San Diego BYC meet up next Sunday. I am looking forward to meeting some fellow BYCers, especially the ones I have interacted with in this thread,

There is a hatchery in LA County that comes with great recommendations to get Australorps, Cuckoo Marans, ans Cochins. I am still hunting for a local person to supply me with Rhode Island Reds, New Jerseys, Barred Rocks and Brahmas - any color.

I am thinking of wearing a Getting The Flock Out Of Here t-shirt.

Some fabulous local BYCers are helping me with some Dorkings, Creme Legbars Polish and Pekin Ducks.

A BYCer from New England is giving me some big imported Brittish Orps and Buff Orpingtons in exchange for giving some offspring to his wife's family in the Philippines.

Its just 46 days to the next chicken run!!!

I will need a T as well for when you get me at the airport!! he he he

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Oz, the community of BYCers is an amazing thing. Coupled with your unique experiences, ability, expertise to share - and incorporate others ad hoc - there is no doubt this thread will be another well-loved and long-lived contributions.

You provide more than just vicarious living through photographs and narrative, you invite us to participate. Not a dry travelougue but one with exultation, whimsy, speculation, and sheer silliness through human experience. Plus a wicked sense of humor.

Thank you. I have begun to tell my Australorp Molly about the other chatty BAs outed in this thread. She saiid, "Brrk?" in the interrogative at my first mention, which I took to be interest.

We are entranced.

Anotherone with a wonderful way with words! VERY WELL SAID!! True Story!! Love ya OZ!! psss you to Mrs.

 

[satay]

I just read your thread from beginning to end.. Not sure if it was because you are a mad Aussie or it was just great reading

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Okay, you've coaxed another lurker to say howdy! I have really enjoyed reading about your adventures, and while I like the interactive format of the thread, I also love the narrative posts that you wrote and hope you include more in the future. I used to live just south of San Francisco in an area with a large Filipino population, and from my neighbors learned a bit about their food and culture, so it's been fun that you have filled in a bit more of the picture.
Best wishes to you and your lovely family and good luck on the chicken venture!