Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[Kris5902]

Don't want to boast, but I'm wearing shorts... Cold is supposed stop by starting tomorrow.

@Kris5902 at 65-F. here, I'm in short's, too!

This would sting a little less if I hadn’t just half-jogged 3kms in borrowed gum boots, yoga pants, and one long sleeved shirt. Through calf deep snow. I hate winter!!! One of those really big trees came down across the road just past FIL’s cottage. I got 5 minutes up the road on foot and realized my phone wasn’t going to make it all the way, went back for a headlamp. I am not athletic, I don’t jog, and I don’t “do” cold.

Today has been a little rough, with the severe weather, trying to keep everyone watered, and then the calves... we were down trying to get Rosebud and 49 to stand. Aunt in law keeps threatening to put them down. We got Rosebud up and she walked a little, but she also peed all over my legs and half filled my boot. At least that made my one foot warm. From the struggling to lift her back end up, Andrew and I were both covered in crap... quite literally. We showered and put on the cleanest layers we had available, for me a pair of “pooped on several days ago, at least they are dry” yoga pants from the Jeep, and a middle layer of my shirts, not too poppy or sweaty, just for the 20 minute drive to the trailer, it will be fine... I took Andrews boots because I was going to get the gates and he drives, and left mine down in the warm workshop to dry out, he wore a pair of runners he had drying in there from the day my now dry yoga pants got pooped on (3, maybe 4 days ago?).

So, I hauled butt to get back to the trailer, on foot, so I could “let them know if there was anything else down”. Really, I wanted to make sure the chickens get watered first thing tomorrow and the propane heater stays on for the cats. And now that I’m here with them there’s no reason to try and buck up the tree in the dark and snow. I tried to convince Andrew to just stay down there tonight, with my mom, because I will be ok up here. I still have to run out and check on the chickens one last time... I had a “did I latch the door?” Moment on the way down to work on the calves. By now if I didn’t it is probably too late, but after some warm tea and a snack I will go out and check, I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I don’t.

 

[BlueBaby]

It seem's that we will be having a bunch of day's coming up here were the temp's will be in the 70's-F. If it stay's in those kind of temp's I might have to be on the lookout for ant's and snakes around the coop again.

 

[Ribh]

Oh, Kris! Here's hoping you have a good night.

 

[Kris5902]

Will be ok... just heard from Andrew; He and FIL will be up soonish, they have cut a “big enough to drive a small vehicle through” hole in the tree men...

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Yes, the owl is now gone permanently as of last night. I am quite sad about it, as is DH, but it had clearly developed a taste for warm chicken. They are beautiful animals and I’m sad to see it go. I do believe everything deserves a chance to live and eat, but taking so many birds in one night, and picking just it’s favorite parts? 7 chickens lost and it kept coming back and trying for more... the kicker being yesterday morning, when it was trying to pull up the hardware cloth lid on the brooder to get to my birds.

I’ve also watched this owl grow up these past two years, and until it turned to eating chickens, I was fine with it being around. They help with keeping down the rodent population, even if they are a little more aggressive and bad for other native bird species. They are not quite as devastating here as the cane toad in Australia, and Burmese Python in Florida, but according to some environmental reports they easily have the potential to get there. Like coyotes, crows, and raccoons, they are able to co-exist better with humans in semi urban areas. And have been migrating from the east coast.

Oh, I'm both sorry and glad for you Kris. That was one wasteful owl that caused lots of heartache. . At least it was an invasive pest species which is some consolation...

 

[rjohns39]

Good morning Kris Just because

 

[aart]

and half filled my boot. At least that made my one foot warm.

For a short time anyway.
Geeeezzzz, what a day!
Hope this one is better.

 

[BY Bob]

This would sting a little less if I hadn’t just half-jogged 3kms in borrowed gum boots, yoga pants, and one long sleeved shirt. Through calf deep snow. I hate winter!!! One of those really big trees came down across the road just past FIL’s cottage. I got 5 minutes up the road on foot and realized my phone wasn’t going to make it all the way, went back for a headlamp. I am not athletic, I don’t jog, and I don’t “do” cold.

Today has been a little rough, with the severe weather, trying to keep everyone watered, and then the calves... we were down trying to get Rosebud and 49 to stand. Aunt in law keeps threatening to put them down. We got Rosebud up and she walked a little, but she also peed all over my legs and half filled my boot. At least that made my one foot warm. From the struggling to lift her back end up, Andrew and I were both covered in crap... quite literally. We showered and put on the cleanest layers we had available, for me a pair of “pooped on several days ago, at least they are dry” yoga pants from the Jeep, and a middle layer of my shirts, not too poppy or sweaty, just for the 20 minute drive to the trailer, it will be fine... I took Andrews boots because I was going to get the gates and he drives, and left mine down in the warm workshop to dry out, he wore a pair of runners he had drying in there from the day my now dry yoga pants got pooped on (3, maybe 4 days ago?).

So, I hauled butt to get back to the trailer, on foot, so I could “let them know if there was anything else down”. Really, I wanted to make sure the chickens get watered first thing tomorrow and the propane heater stays on for the cats. And now that I’m here with them there’s no reason to try and buck up the tree in the dark and snow. I tried to convince Andrew to just stay down there tonight, with my mom, because I will be ok up here. I still have to run out and check on the chickens one last time... I had a “did I latch the door?” Moment on the way down to work on the calves. By now if I didn’t it is probably too late, but after some warm tea and a snack I will go out and check, I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I don’t.

Wow! Seems like you are getting hit pretty bad up there. I hope it clears out soon.

 

[Kris5902]

It’s honestly not that bad, we are just total west coast wimps when it comes to cold, s***, and the worst was on top of the below freezing temperatures we had 70-90kmh winds which is horrible, but... The white stuff is melting! A few more days of decent weather and hopefully we are done with winter for the year... I thought I would show everyone the tree that caused so much trouble last night. Andrew for size reference is 5’9” and was “cold” when I took the picture. Thankfully it wasn’t a really big one. FIL managed to take off more large chunks so the trucks can even fit through now. When it hit the fence line it bounced the gate off the hinges, if it had fallen 10-15 feet to the east it would have destroyed one of our better gates.

Chickens are all happy for the break in the weather; they came outside into their runs again today and were wanting moved to fresh grass/snow/mud. So as soon as the ice is fully melted from their tires they will be on the move again. Honestly most of the snow melted overnight, for which I am extremely grateful. There’s still a few places that don’t get as much sun or where the wind drifted it up too deep, but they too will melt.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It’s honestly not that bad, we are just total west coast wimps when it comes to cold, s***, and the worst was on top of the below freezing temperatures we had 70-90kmh winds which is horrible, but... The white stuff is melting! A few more days of decent weather and hopefully we are done with winter for the year... I thought I would show everyone the tree that caused so much trouble last night. Andrew for size reference is 5’9” and was “cold” when I took the picture. Thankfully it wasn’t a really big one. FIL managed to take off more large chunks so the trucks can even fit through now. When it hit the fence line it bounced the gate off the hinges, if it had fallen 10-15 feet to the east it would have destroyed one of our better gates.

Chickens are all happy for the break in the weather; they came outside into their runs again today and were wanting moved to fresh grass/snow/mud. So as soon as the ice is fully melted from their tires they will be on the move again. Honestly most of the snow melted overnight, for which I am extremely grateful. There’s still a few places that don’t get as much sun or where the wind drifted it up too deep, but they too will melt.

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That's a good size log. You could cut large sections from it to use as outdoor table and chairs!