Kentucky people

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
I had thought about tossing out a handful of dry, too, to see if they like that (the banties) better than cooked. My banties wouldn't touch the cooked oatmeal, just the bigger hens ate it.

Day & Day has the cheapest cracked corn in town, here. It is a good 75 cents cheaper per bag than M&W. I have a lot of cracked corn left over from Stella, I got a half a big trash can opened in the barn I'll be using up for the chickens this winter. (and another 8 or so bags in the tack barn - might save those if they keep well, though, for the next cow - I'll just keep checking them for varmints and bugs).

I am such a BAD chiknmama this week

I lost another chicken last night - NOT the baby jap, she is doing ok this morning, fluffed a little, but running around with the other japs.

I lost Aretha !!! I am so bummed. I know it is my fault, too - I noticed the breach in the coop wall (two inch gap at the bottom- dirt had gotten dug out a bit far when we installed the wall) and was gonna patch it with concrete this weekend when it warmed up a little - well, being cochins, they slept on the floor in that corner, I guess, in the new layer of sawdust I put down, and a coon got his hand through there and ripped her head off.

I'll be fixing the entire coop - any crack whatsoever today, I guess. I'd hate to lose another one (and I hate to say it, but I am very glad it wasn't James, he would be harder to replace, I think.)

I feel so bad, because I knew about the bad spot and I didn't fix it before this happened. It is one thing to be caught while out freeranging, but to be nailed in your own coop when you're sleeping (supposedly safe) is a whole other matter.

I also have not seen Miss Celie since yesterday morning - she didn't go to her usual perch last night, not sure if she is still out there or not. This cold weather has really brought out the predators, I think.

Oh, and Toby and Lily scared off two big dogs who were out sniffing by the barn this morning - I don't even know whose dogs they were - never seen them before.

Maybe I oughta be out on the porch with the old shotgun today, just rockin' and aimin'. Dogs layin' at my feet, you know the picture, LOL.

GGGGGRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Poor Aretha

Meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Ok, I fixed the coop - I hope it will keep the bad critters out.

I am just worried it is maybe a weasel or something that can get IN, and not just something that can grab them through a hole. If it is a weasel, then NONE of the chickens
are safe - because my coops are not weasel proof.

If I lose any more chickens I'm gonna be REALLY p.o.'d

Oh, and I saw the most beautiful green snake on my porch today, he was very bright green!! Lovely thing.

Wish me luck, guys -
Meri

 

[cthrash1]

Well guys, I am now down to 28 chickens...Just gave 10 to the librarian at Layne's school today. Boy was my coops empty tonight! Gonna miss em but we will get to see them whenever we like, and next week we will be going over there. Didn't get rid of any of my original flock though can't part with them. Gonna be much quieter as there were 6 roos and 4 pullets going...Meant to give her another pullet but forgot to catch it for her so will take it next week or another time when I have more than one for her to introduce to her flock. This will leave me with a total of 6 males and 22 females plus a guinea and 6 ducks.

 

[shelleyd2008]

OH!! So sorry about Aretha! :aww She was one you had gotten at the sale right?

I'm glad mine sleep in the rafters, although dad does have a ladder leaned in there so his chicks can get up there with their mama. I guess if something wanted to get up there it wouldn't be that hard. They would have to get by Princess first!! She LOVES coons, thinks they're delicious

She won't let anything up around the house, and the barn is not that far away.

I went to the sale tonight, but there wasn't much of anything there. There were a lot of people there, but not many sellers. So I think this was the first time I ever went and didn't buy anything!!

I almost bought a metal washtub to use as a brooder, but decided not to. I'd rather get a big plastic tote from walmart to use, at least they have lids.
I got my button quail eggs today from a fellow BYCer. I was expecting 15 I think, and she sent 20!! I told Cristian that we could give them to my sisters' kids for christmas if they all hatch

I'm sure they would LOVE that!
So now I have 1 guinea egg, 19 chicken eggs, and 17 cortunix quail eggs in my bator today, plus the 20 button eggs will go in tomorrow. Then my bator, for the first time is FULL!! In OCTOBER!! I must be crazy!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Every time I think about "cutting back" I can't - because I can't choose which ones should go. I make a list, then the next day I change my mind on this one, or that one, LOL.

I have decided to quit buying so many (she says after she PM's bluedog420 and begs for more cochins, LOL).

I'm hopeless!!

Peace -
Meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
Yep, she was one of the ones ya saw me with that night. Poor girl, I went back into the coop later and noticed blood had sprayed across the door!! I hope she died quick.

I am still trying to decide if I want to try quail next spring, I guess it depends on how the others go over the winter this year in the new coop. I want to do coturnix, though (did I spell that right? LOL)

Yeah, I think things slow down this time of year, I know last year it was slower when I got my first batch there, but not totally dead. I need to get those roos over there (yeah, still got them

) but I had fun tonight, we went to the Red Barn and ate dinner with friends - that place ROCKS! They got good food, nice place, the owners come out and talk to ya, ask how things are, etc... very nice people.

If ya go there, the shredded pork is good, and if ya like veggies, the grilled cabbage and the fried squash is excellent (didn't care for the cole slaw, but the potato salad tastes homemade).

Well, I stole the computer from hubby, so I better let him have it back, LOL. Just got home from picking the kid up from work. I can't wait til he gets his drivers license!!

Peace -
Meri

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
That is the same way I feel! I have my two faves of the red pyles, but when I think about what may come of the others if I decide to let them go...I just can't do it!! I don't know what I'm gonna do about all the babies I have! I think most are pullets, so at least that may help. I should find some BYCers to take them, then I will have a bit better idea of what life they would have!

 

[OlMcDeeDeehadafarmEIEIO]

HI All! We're moving to Burkesville in a couple of weks. We bought a small rural home and plan on having chickens and gardens. I'm still researching what types of chickens as we want them for eggs. We'll also have a couple of geese for the "Teradactyl" eggs (the flintstones) hehehe! Great forum. I'm learning alot here. Have a great day and happy chickens to you all!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Hey BYCer with really long name

When you fall in love with bantams, lwt me know!! I have WAY too many!! Their eggs are about half the size of the big hens, but they eat about 1/3 as much food

<EDIT> OIC!! Ol McDeeDee had a farm EIEIO...very clever!