Icelandic Chickens

[The Sheriff]

Kathy, Hope the family escapes damage from the flooding. That is so scary. Congrats on the broody busting. You will definitely be an expert on the subject now. I suggest you write it up and make it a sticky!

Update on little JD: He is doing great. His leg may still be a little sore but he runs and humps just fine! His back legs locked up all the time anyway due to the myotonia. I want to keep him and have him wethered because I do love him so. Michael says to stick with the program and sell him to the local guy and then use him as a stud when the girls are ready. The buyer will be back in town on the 19th.

No Metamucil for the emu! I found a mobile large animal vet and she says that is a bad idea. The objects are all in the gullet right now and the Metamucil may move them into the gizzard where they will not be able to be passed and will probably perforate. She is most concerned about the zinc toxicity because of his small size. If he were 140 pounds it would be a problem but with him being just 11 pounds it would be fatal. So she is going to try to hook up with my local vet and if he has endoscopy access she will try to sedate him and bring the objects out with the endoscope. I will know more tomorrow.

I am not feeding the wild bird babies just giving them water. I do not have the formula the rescue people use. I am meeting someone early tomorrow morning to turn them in.

What a day.

 

[The Sheriff]

Forgot to post an update on Tiny Dancer. He is down in the Icelandic coop in the barn in the big brooder with the blonde chick. He is doing great! No more pasty, he seems to be growing, wings aren't dragging, very active, still twirling but much less often. I have some hope for the little freak. Like we need another freak around here!

Update on Jack.........We got the freaking halter on him! Michael was in the round pen with him and I was one the outside and we were able to get it on without much trouble. Diana actually helped too by being her Diva-I-Need-Constant-Attention self and positioning herself directly in front of him. Poor guy was trapped! He may have to wear the harness until the farrier comes in a few days!

 

[Jake Levi]

Mary you sure do have your days !!

We're rooting for you.

I never operated on a bird, in that region, have set a lot of wings etc, stitched some up, but, that said, it seems that operating on the gullet should be doable. Far easier then the gizzard. If it was in the crop then a magnet on a long handle would do it easy. I'd encourage the vet to do the operation.

Its a great warning to the rest of us to make sure our grounds are picked up of the metals.

Waiting on T-storms today, we need the rain however we can get it.

My news: I am getting some goats, Saanen wethers and a couple does, maybe an Alpine buckling and wether to keep him company. For a little bit of milk and Feta, but mainly for packing, whether we go to Wa or stay here. Too many great hiking miles are going to waste ! I will have the caprine merry minstrels in July.

Stay your course Mary and get your rest too, you need it and we need you.

Many prayers are with you. For me its a local call

 

[Mahonri]

Sun has been up for an hour already. But it wasn't cool outside like it normally is. 110 yesterday. Should only hit 106 today.
DS#5 was dropped off with the scout troop for his "high adventure" campout up in the mountains... the ones that haven't been charred.

Here's praying the vet and magnets will remove those delicious screws.

 

[The Sheriff]

Never in my wildest dreams, living in my McMansion and driving my Mercedes, did I think people would be praying that I would be able to get the screws out of my emu's gullet!

Ah, the good life!

 

[The Sheriff]

One of the baby blackbirds did not make it through the night. The other one is yelling it's head off on my desk. Hopefully I will soon be off to meet the lady from Wildlife rescue!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Kathy, so sorry to hear about the flooding. How awful.

to your family. And congrats on bustin' all your broodies!

Mary, Huge congrats on Michael getting the halter on Jack! That's great progress! I'm glad Tiny Dancer is growing.

are crossed for him AND the dingbat emu. Who knew chickens are smarter than emu's?

Jake, you should make Chevre cheese. Yummy! Wish you lived closer, so I could buy some off you. I'm trying to talk Mary into a dairy cow.

(it hasn't received a positive response though)

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Life is grand, isn't it?!!!!

I am still just dyin' to see pictures of Mahonri's pullets, aren't you?

When I was a kid my folks always had a few milk goats, 2 cows, a few pigs, and chickens. The kids (4 girls) did daily chores. I was "too prissy," to enjoy this, believe me! Occasionally I did milk the goats, under protest. My dad built a goat sized "stanchion," that the goat would go up on, so as we didn't have to bend over so far to milk them. Sis #2 was the best at milking the cows, and she loved it. Sis #3 took care of the pigs. Sis #4 had the chickens. We sold the goat milk to people who had babies allergic to milk. We used the cow milk and made everything ..... butter, ice cream, etc. Each year we butchered a hog and beef, and of course chickens. We had 2 or 3 freezers in "the cellar," and they were always full. We lived on 10 acres and had a great garden and orchard. I don't remember buying much at the grocery store back then. Dad baled hay in small bales, so we girls didn't have to lift such heavy bales when hayin'. It sure was alot of work, as I recall. Ohhhhh, but sweet sweet memories! I do recall that us girls sure did sweet talk (or whine to) our boyfriends and their friends to help us alot, too! hahaha We always had a house full and a yard full of folks at our house.

Yeah, Mary ...... get a cow!

 

[Jake Levi]

Sure Mary, get a couple Dexters, short so you can handle them easily, perfect homestead cow. You'll love them !

Kelly I did make spreadable soft cheese but Feta is a near addiction, and I do like goats milk in my coffee, better then half and half ! Two does kidding five mos apart can keep me in milk and cheese year around. I will make some occasional soft spreading cheese .

When I was a kid it was hand milking 18 cow herd, I dont miss that. But do miss the life style which I am shifting back into, chickens, garden, now goats, and soon to be summer canning. $1 + for a 16ox can of tomatoes is insane.

I have measured out that the perimeter trail around the place is just over a mile not counting the part down through the wet mosquito breeder place, so 2-3 times a day around with the packer candidates will be good conditioning for all of us, there are a number of cross trails connecting and back tracking it all, it was made by a neighbor whose wife has a sled dog team. He keeps it mowed all season. So they'll be kind of grazing too as we work our way around. Looking forward to that Feta !!

I have five little crested ones now ! Hoping for some more to develop. Something new to see almost by the hour, like their older relatives they also love the fine cut clover ! The Contessa is looking more royal every day.

She is gorgeous, pics WILL be coming, I got the top wire on the run done, now started on the side wire, gate panel is up and in place and hope to get most of the wire done today, I got showered off awhile ago, sun is shining so going back out shortly.

Life is good. And better with Icelandics !

 

[Jake Levi]

The crest count is up to 6 now, hoping for more, anything can happen with them at this age.

kathy I hope the flood is bypassing your family, shots on the news sure look bad. Any news from them?