Illinois...

[Faraday40]

I was invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony for a chicken coop at DS's school today.
(He's part of the "Agriculture club" and has been telling others all about the benefits of keeping chickens since preschool.) They've been hatching my eggs for 4-5 years now, and this year received funding grants to buy a little coop for their school.

The chicks were hatched in early March and will move into the coop next week. (The pullets couldn't attend the ceremony today due to their fear of large crowds and public speaking. LOL) DS was a little nervous about speaking in front of 400 people (mostly students) but he did fine..... and of course the megaphone helped.

The Ag Club kids will take turns caring for the chickens until the end of the year, and the chickens will return in the fall for next year's Ag Club to continue. DS is so excited to be the 1st student scheduled to care for them. Before signing the permission slip I kept asking him, "After doing all your chicken chores at home, are you sure you want to go to school and clean another chicken coop?" He answered that it's an honor and a privilege to care for the school chickens. I almost fell over!

 

[BReeder!]

We finally finished enclosing the new run. Since the chickens are in the shed nowadays, we fenced in the side abs back of the shed and included gates for access. The gate in the back gives new easy access to my fenced in koi pond. We hung bird netting all across the top to keep chickens in and try to keep hawks and eagles out. In ruslan the run is 276 sqft.

 

[Faraday40]

Well Done!

 

[chickendreams24]

Yep. He was the very same. A very stunning boy. I liked him a lot, but the genetics are complex and breeding straight lavender is much simpler. (Not to mention still in demand) We lost a lot of money the year I bred cuckoo orpingtons. Even though they were sexable at hatch, they were very awkward-looking chicks. No one wanted to buy them, but the lavs remained popular. I decided to limit myself to lavender, silver laced, and whatever fun colors Jewel gives me.

Please let me know if you hatch any of the recessive white orps this year as I would love to add more.

Yeah everyone always loves the lavenders. That's why I need mine to start laying.

I know they Isabella is going to be more complicated than the lavenders that is why I hope to have both but they sure are stunning!

Glad the threats worked on those free-loading Leghorns! You'll quickly get used to the white eggs.... they produce many.

Also, congrats on finding the turkey eggs. I'd definitely try incubating them.

The incubator is a bit full at the moment. We might need to get out the coolerbator and get that running. It's been two years since we ran the coolerbator.

I couldn't wait any longer and did a preliminary candle on a few of the turkey eggs last night. At nearly a week and half every single egg I looked at was developing very well.

What am I going to do if 20 little poults hatch?! LoL I guess our hopes to raise and butcher and be able to sell some heritage turkeys before Thanksgiving may be a reality. LOL

Plus I have another 13 eggs in the house right now waiting. That said one of my blue slate ladies definitely is broody or trying to be. She isn't listening when I tell her I still need her to keep laying. My other slate bless her heart was very upset yesterday to discover we had found and removed her nest. I wonder where she will lay now. Hopefully in the coop like I would like or at least somewhere I can find.

I was invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony for a chicken coop at DS's school today.
(He's part of the "Agriculture club" and has been telling others all about the benefits of keeping chickens since preschool.) They've been hatching my eggs for 4-5 years now, and this year received funding grants to buy a little coop for their school.

The chicks were hatched in early March and will move into the coop next week. (The pullets couldn't attend the ceremony today due to their fear of large crowds and public speaking. LOL) DS was a little nervous about speaking in front of 400 people (mostly students) but he did fine..... and of course the megaphone helped.

The Ag Club kids will take turns caring for the chickens until the end of the year, and the chickens will return in the fall for next year's Ag Club to continue. DS is so excited to be the 1st student scheduled to care for them. Before signing the permission slip I kept asking him, "After doing all your chicken chores at home, are you sure you want to go to school and clean another chicken coop?" He answered that it's an honor and a privilege to care for the school chickens. I almost fell over!


View attachment 1753384

How wonderful! I agree with DS it is an honor. He's growing up so well.


This last week we planted two new lavender "angel face" roses and two new blue berries in the yard. The blueberries looked amazing. The nest day the chickens/turkeys or something had almost totally dug up one of the blueberries and they're both stripped of all their leaves and buds. We are mad!!

I hope the berries survive and come back. They were healthy big beautiful plants frpm TS.

We have more roses to plant still.

Thankfully DH2B wasn't in the fields yesterday and him and I worked last night to get everything covered because today we have a winter storm. I don't think you all are getting it are you?

What can I say it's Wisconsin. We are expected to get 4-7 inches last I heard. It's not sticking yet more like sleet. That means ice. Ick.

We covered the chicken tractors in heavy duty plastic and the rest of the flock should be fine. It's not too windy now but it's supposed to get pretty windy.

 

[chickendreams24]

My brother had surgery again yesterday.

They're trying to get him off IV pain meds and just use oral meds. They're also trying to get him walking. He's still in severe pain and unable to eat.
I'll update again when I know more.

Continued prayers are appreciated.

Also continued prayers to @homeschoolin momma for peace and comfort.

 

[BReeder!]

@Molpet We have a pip on a turkey egg! its looking like the first hatch will happen later today or tomorrow. Today is day 26. I think you were right about a day 27 hatch.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

They're trying to get him off IV pain meds and just use oral meds. They're also trying to get him walking. He's still in severe pain and unable to eat.
I'll update again when I know more.

Oh no! Prayers are coming!

 

[Faraday40]

Continued prayers are appreciated.

Also continued prayers to @homeschoolin momma for peace and comfort.

You've got it!


It's snowing here too, but about 35'F. Mostly big, slushy flakes. Some is sticking, but hopefully more is melting. Temps will drop below freezing this afternoon & tonight, but everything should melt away sometime tomorrow. It's a good day to stay inside.

I bet @BReeder! will also stay inside ..... near the incubator, of course.

Remember you must post pretty, precious poult pics.

 

[BReeder!]

You've got it!


It's snowing here too, but about 35'F. Mostly big, slushy flakes. Some is sticking, but hopefully more is melting. Temps will drop below freezing this afternoon & tonight, but everything should melt away sometime tomorrow. It's a good day to stay inside.
View attachment 1754221
I bet @BReeder! will also stay inside ..... near the incubator, of course.

Remember you must post pretty, precious poult pics.

I am starting in for sure. I went out to open the chicken door earlier and came right back in. I have to run to the store soon to get a few things for dinner, but I dread going out the again. I would much rather hang or with the incubator watch movies and cook.

 

[Molpet]

My brother had surgery again yesterday.

They're trying to get him off IV pain meds and just use oral meds. They're also trying to get him walking. He's still in severe pain and unable to eat.
I'll update again when I know more.

Continued prayers are appreciated.

Also continued prayers to @homeschoolin momma for peace and comfort.

prayers