Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[gjensen]

Let's enjoy the warmth while it lasts, George. A flock of not so little birds tell me....cold snap again at the end of the month.

It would not surprise me. A year a little less than typical.

 

[gjensen]

Off topic, but I have been picking up extra large dog crates in the range of $30 from thrift shops. They will often take an offer. I think that is an affordable way to collect a group of cages to evaluate the birds. They can be folded and put up. They are heavier, but should last a lifetime.

 

[finnfur]

Let's enjoy the warmth while it lasts, George. A flock of not so little birds tell me....cold snap again at the end of the month.

I see them here too but thought it was because they were escaping the south LOL

 

[thedragonlady]

I see them here too but thought it was because they were escaping the south LOL

My buff Orps are the ones talking to me. The stupid Robins have arrived here though.

 

[3riverschick]

Anyone know a good material to keep coop runs from getting muddy? People say use hay or pine needles, but that will rot and not last long. I have a good feeling when all this snow melts there will be a lot of mud...

River sand. Call the quarry and have them bring you a pile. If you don't have a barrier board around the edge of your yard, then use 1x6 for that.
....or... you could bring in a bunch of hay bales for the birds to stand on top of, never tried that but it would get them above the mud...as would a raised stage made of pallets. Just a thought.
Best,
Karen

 

[finnfur]

River sand. Call the quarry and have them bring you a pile. If you don't have a barrier board around the edge of your yard, then use 1x6 for that.
....or... you could bring in a bunch of hay bales for the birds to stand on top of, never tried that but it would get them above the mud...as would a raised stage made of pallets. Just a thought.
Best,
Karen

If you want pallets call your local pallet recycling co - they will usually give you usable but non marketable pallets rather than them bear the expense to dispose of them.

My buff Orps are the ones talking to me. The stupid Robins have arrived here though.

yes - lots of birds moving - But also have seen two Redtail hawks this week. Its usual to have the smaller but it looks like the Larger are migrating south also [ or maybe North because we see them Nov/Dec also]

 

[3riverschick]

Happy reunion time! Yay for you Ron! Glad he's coming home!

My son is getting ready to sign up. In fact he has already signed up and is awaiting the test/physical next month. He wants to be in the Navy's Construction Battalion... the Sea Bees. It's a 5 year enlistment. He's a big strong kid and I want him to succeed in whatever avenue he chooses but his leaving will really be a big loss for me and I don't want him to go. But I guess I need to pull myself up by the boot straps and be a big girl!

I know, its hard. Lotsa tears happening after he gets on that bus. I bade older son goodbye into USN Sub Service in 2003 and the other goodbye into USCG in 2011. It's lonely. You miss the times getting them started on their own, the trips home to Mom's for Sunday dinner. What we did in 2011 was go to Barnes and Noble. Buy some goodies in the café and sit writing letters to Owen in basic training and reading books about future projects. It really helped to sit down together for this. We leaned on each other. Made plans together. Were around other people and made some B&N friends who remembered us to this day. Letters are a lifeline for the kids. Check and see exactly what you can send him . They are really specific abut what the kids can get. However, the up side is they will have great benefits. Superb health care, be protected from Obamacare, have an upwardly mobile career path safe from the extremes of this economy. My oldest son got mad at his detailer several years back and said he was thinking of getting out. I told him No, nothing out here for you, so many coming back and competing for jobs. He calmed down and stayed in. He is a 1st class now and will make Chief at his new station in Hawaii in several years. besides gals love a guy in uniform, smile.
Best,
Karen
The smile on his face at your pride when he graduates is worth it all!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Oh thank you Karen. I had successfully squelched all my tears for a few days.

I really appreciate the words of wisdom however. I was planning on writing LOTS of letters. Hopefully I won't be a burden... we'll see. I'm already looking into costs to be there for graduation. I have to find somebody to look after my birds for me for a couple days. Someone I trust. Ha ha. I'll probably recruit my daughter.

 

[Amandas4hens]

Hello, I'm new to BYC and was advised to join this thread. We decided to get chickens this year for eggs and beloved pets. After researching, we settled on Buff Orpingtons. I can't find local breeders so we're going to buy 6 through one of the large hatcheries like McMurrays, even though I'm suspicious of large volume animal farming. Does anyone know of a smaller breeder of Buffs? Locally, all we have is hybrid mixes at Tractor Supply and local small farms. Thanks!! -Amanda

 

[3riverschick]

Oh thank you Karen. I had successfully squelched all my tears for a few days.

I really appreciate the words of wisdom however. I was planning on writing LOTS of letters. Hopefully I won't be a burden... we'll see. I'm already looking into costs to be there for graduation. I have to find somebody to look after my birds for me for a couple days. Someone I trust. Ha ha. I'll probably recruit my daughter.

Go ahead and cry, it's therapeutic, smile. Your letters will be a lifeline for him. From someone who loves him so deeply in the midst of commands, orders, effort, sweat and toil. He will eagerly await them every day. If the Army is like the USCG, they also have a program where you can write to "any solder". They will give the letters to the kids who don't get letters from home so they will be encouraged . "Any soldier" may even write you back and you get to know them by name. We did that with one of the clasess which graduated after Owen. A nice young lady who went to an ice breaker on the Great Lakes after graduation.
Best,
Karen