Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[MaryJanet]

Sausage interrupted, Return of the Danger Bear, and a Goodbye to Shanti

So, yesterday was the “Sausage” pens date for processing. A 4 am start to get everyone let out, fed, and crate the boys for their one way trip to Saltspring at 6 am. Our Ferries have returned to “Winter Normal” schedule so it’s no longer the 4-5 hr Covid island tour to get to civilization. We decided to bring Shanti (my 15 month old CX) along to be put down as well. Despite being a runt she is still a little too large for a standard cone and they have turkey cones at the abattoir that would be a better fit. She has been terribly lonely since her sister Gobbler died, and hasn’t bonded to any of the other chickens I’ve tried to introduce her to. She was still accepting of Roostie, from the security of her run where he can’t try to mate her, but wasn’t coming out for food or water and I was having to encourage her to them each day. She was clearly depressed, despondent, and going to slowly starve herself or have a heart attack this summer. She was traveling in a separate cat carrier, and had a good last day despite the complete screw ups of the following events.

The morning departure went smoothly, and we remembered the wind fly from my broken shade tent should they need cover for sun or rain protection, despite it being a coolish overcast morning. We also bring our own garbage can for the inedible offal and feathers (saving $1 per bird on the processing fee) as we can dispose of that here. This was a literal lifesaver for the chickens. We have been having some mechanical trouble with our Truck, and just replaced the Alternator, next up is the Starter and then a pair of new batteries. She doesn’t like short runs and won’t always start after one. And hour into our trip we transfer at Mayne Island, so off the ferry, turn around in the parking lot and wait for the other ferry. DH shut the truck off, not wanting to be judged for idling the big noisy diesel... big mistake. She wouldn’t start, a friend was willing to jump us but the ferry guy wouldn’t let us pash enough power into her to get her to start up. There was a huge issue with the tow truck driver, but we eventually got running, though we missed the transfer.

After 4 hours of driving around in circles on the small island trying to keep the birds in shade, we finally boarded the next ferry for Vancouver Island. We arrived with just enough time to get some dollar store Tupperware, cereal, and bottled water to feed the poor boys with (as they had been taken off feed as of noon the day before, per abattoir policy) and head back home. I rigged a sun shade up with the garbage can, jumper cables and wind fly. I was taking them each out of the crate on the ferry deck and hand watering and feeding them in the back of the truck. I didn’t think Shanti would even make it home, her comb was turning a deep purple, and everyone was panting, but we made it back to the trailer. I gave Shanti more water and mealie worms, she ate and drank more on the trip than she had in a week prior, then I culled her as peacefully as I could.

Andrew was scheduled to work 4:30-close at the pub, so I had to get my mother to borrow the farm van to pick the chickens and I up from the ferry. I also had her drive me down to the Farm to refill our water jugs for this morning. I put everyone up before I left, and that was a very good thing. Upon returning to the trailer at about 10:00pm with the water, Andrew and I spotted the Danger Bear (Raccoon) lurking around Sammy’s tractor/pallet chickshaw. It left before I could test out the nerf gun on its first terrestrial target, but I was spooked enough to move the tractor today, confusing the heck out of the poor chickens at bedtime. DH and I were awake until midnight trying to decompress from the stress of the day.

tomorrow is attempt #2 for transporting the chickens in.

What. A. Day.

I hope the second attempt is not so arduous.

 

[Ribh]

Sausage interrupted, Return of the Danger Bear, and a Goodbye to Shanti

So, yesterday was the “Sausage” pens date for processing. A 4 am start to get everyone let out, fed, and crate the boys for their one way trip to Saltspring at 6 am. Our Ferries have returned to “Winter Normal” schedule so it’s no longer the 4-5 hr Covid island tour to get to civilization. We decided to bring Shanti (my 15 month old CX) along to be put down as well. Despite being a runt she is still a little too large for a standard cone and they have turkey cones at the abattoir that would be a better fit. She has been terribly lonely since her sister Gobbler died, and hasn’t bonded to any of the other chickens I’ve tried to introduce her to. She was still accepting of Roostie, from the security of her run where he can’t try to mate her, but wasn’t coming out for food or water and I was having to encourage her to them each day. She was clearly depressed, despondent, and going to slowly starve herself or have a heart attack this summer. She was traveling in a separate cat carrier, and had a good last day despite the complete screw ups of the following events.

The morning departure went smoothly, and we remembered the wind fly from my broken shade tent should they need cover for sun or rain protection, despite it being a coolish overcast morning. We also bring our own garbage can for the inedible offal and feathers (saving $1 per bird on the processing fee) as we can dispose of that here. This was a literal lifesaver for the chickens. We have been having some mechanical trouble with our Truck, and just replaced the Alternator, next up is the Starter and then a pair of new batteries. She doesn’t like short runs and won’t always start after one. And hour into our trip we transfer at Mayne Island, so off the ferry, turn around in the parking lot and wait for the other ferry. DH shut the truck off, not wanting to be judged for idling the big noisy diesel... big mistake. She wouldn’t start, a friend was willing to jump us but the ferry guy wouldn’t let us pash enough power into her to get her to start up. There was a huge issue with the tow truck driver, but we eventually got running, though we missed the transfer.

After 4 hours of driving around in circles on the small island trying to keep the birds in shade, we finally boarded the next ferry for Vancouver Island. We arrived with just enough time to get some dollar store Tupperware, cereal, and bottled water to feed the poor boys with (as they had been taken off feed as of noon the day before, per abattoir policy) and head back home. I rigged a sun shade up with the garbage can, jumper cables and wind fly. I was taking them each out of the crate on the ferry deck and hand watering and feeding them in the back of the truck. I didn’t think Shanti would even make it home, her comb was turning a deep purple, and everyone was panting, but we made it back to the trailer. I gave Shanti more water and mealie worms, she ate and drank more on the trip than she had in a week prior, then I culled her as peacefully as I could.

Andrew was scheduled to work 4:30-close at the pub, so I had to get my mother to borrow the farm van to pick the chickens and I up from the ferry. I also had her drive me down to the Farm to refill our water jugs for this morning. I put everyone up before I left, and that was a very good thing. Upon returning to the trailer at about 10:00pm with the water, Andrew and I spotted the Danger Bear (Raccoon) lurking around Sammy’s tractor/pallet chickshaw. It left before I could test out the nerf gun on its first terrestrial target, but I was spooked enough to move the tractor today, confusing the heck out of the poor chickens at bedtime. DH and I were awake until midnight trying to decompress from the stress of the day.

tomorrow is attempt #2 for transporting the chickens in.

Wow. Just wow.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Sausage interrupted, Return of the Danger Bear, and a Goodbye to Shanti

So, yesterday was the “Sausage” pens date for processing. A 4 am start to get everyone let out, fed, and crate the boys for their one way trip to Saltspring at 6 am. Our Ferries have returned to “Winter Normal” schedule so it’s no longer the 4-5 hr Covid island tour to get to civilization. We decided to bring Shanti (my 15 month old CX) along to be put down as well. Despite being a runt she is still a little too large for a standard cone and they have turkey cones at the abattoir that would be a better fit. She has been terribly lonely since her sister Gobbler died, and hasn’t bonded to any of the other chickens I’ve tried to introduce her to. She was still accepting of Roostie, from the security of her run where he can’t try to mate her, but wasn’t coming out for food or water and I was having to encourage her to them each day. She was clearly depressed, despondent, and going to slowly starve herself or have a heart attack this summer. She was traveling in a separate cat carrier, and had a good last day despite the complete screw ups of the following events.

The morning departure went smoothly, and we remembered the wind fly from my broken shade tent should they need cover for sun or rain protection, despite it being a coolish overcast morning. We also bring our own garbage can for the inedible offal and feathers (saving $1 per bird on the processing fee) as we can dispose of that here. This was a literal lifesaver for the chickens. We have been having some mechanical trouble with our Truck, and just replaced the Alternator, next up is the Starter and then a pair of new batteries. She doesn’t like short runs and won’t always start after one. And hour into our trip we transfer at Mayne Island, so off the ferry, turn around in the parking lot and wait for the other ferry. DH shut the truck off, not wanting to be judged for idling the big noisy diesel... big mistake. She wouldn’t start, a friend was willing to jump us but the ferry guy wouldn’t let us pash enough power into her to get her to start up. There was a huge issue with the tow truck driver, but we eventually got running, though we missed the transfer.

After 4 hours of driving around in circles on the small island trying to keep the birds in shade, we finally boarded the next ferry for Vancouver Island. We arrived with just enough time to get some dollar store Tupperware, cereal, and bottled water to feed the poor boys with (as they had been taken off feed as of noon the day before, per abattoir policy) and head back home. I rigged a sun shade up with the garbage can, jumper cables and wind fly. I was taking them each out of the crate on the ferry deck and hand watering and feeding them in the back of the truck. I didn’t think Shanti would even make it home, her comb was turning a deep purple, and everyone was panting, but we made it back to the trailer. I gave Shanti more water and mealie worms, she ate and drank more on the trip than she had in a week prior, then I culled her as peacefully as I could.

Andrew was scheduled to work 4:30-close at the pub, so I had to get my mother to borrow the farm van to pick the chickens and I up from the ferry. I also had her drive me down to the Farm to refill our water jugs for this morning. I put everyone up before I left, and that was a very good thing. Upon returning to the trailer at about 10:00pm with the water, Andrew and I spotted the Danger Bear (Raccoon) lurking around Sammy’s tractor/pallet chickshaw. It left before I could test out the nerf gun on its first terrestrial target, but I was spooked enough to move the tractor today, confusing the heck out of the poor chickens at bedtime. DH and I were awake until midnight trying to decompress from the stress of the day.

tomorrow is attempt #2 for transporting the chickens in.

What a rough day.

You and Andrew are real troopers and very compassionate chicken keepers.

 

[rjohns39]

Good morning Kris

I hope today is much better

 

[BY Bob]

Sausage interrupted, Return of the Danger Bear, and a Goodbye to Shanti

So, yesterday was the “Sausage” pens date for processing. A 4 am start to get everyone let out, fed, and crate the boys for their one way trip to Saltspring at 6 am. Our Ferries have returned to “Winter Normal” schedule so it’s no longer the 4-5 hr Covid island tour to get to civilization. We decided to bring Shanti (my 15 month old CX) along to be put down as well. Despite being a runt she is still a little too large for a standard cone and they have turkey cones at the abattoir that would be a better fit. She has been terribly lonely since her sister Gobbler died, and hasn’t bonded to any of the other chickens I’ve tried to introduce her to. She was still accepting of Roostie, from the security of her run where he can’t try to mate her, but wasn’t coming out for food or water and I was having to encourage her to them each day. She was clearly depressed, despondent, and going to slowly starve herself or have a heart attack this summer. She was traveling in a separate cat carrier, and had a good last day despite the complete screw ups of the following events.

The morning departure went smoothly, and we remembered the wind fly from my broken shade tent should they need cover for sun or rain protection, despite it being a coolish overcast morning. We also bring our own garbage can for the inedible offal and feathers (saving $1 per bird on the processing fee) as we can dispose of that here. This was a literal lifesaver for the chickens. We have been having some mechanical trouble with our Truck, and just replaced the Alternator, next up is the Starter and then a pair of new batteries. She doesn’t like short runs and won’t always start after one. And hour into our trip we transfer at Mayne Island, so off the ferry, turn around in the parking lot and wait for the other ferry. DH shut the truck off, not wanting to be judged for idling the big noisy diesel... big mistake. She wouldn’t start, a friend was willing to jump us but the ferry guy wouldn’t let us pash enough power into her to get her to start up. There was a huge issue with the tow truck driver, but we eventually got running, though we missed the transfer.

After 4 hours of driving around in circles on the small island trying to keep the birds in shade, we finally boarded the next ferry for Vancouver Island. We arrived with just enough time to get some dollar store Tupperware, cereal, and bottled water to feed the poor boys with (as they had been taken off feed as of noon the day before, per abattoir policy) and head back home. I rigged a sun shade up with the garbage can, jumper cables and wind fly. I was taking them each out of the crate on the ferry deck and hand watering and feeding them in the back of the truck. I didn’t think Shanti would even make it home, her comb was turning a deep purple, and everyone was panting, but we made it back to the trailer. I gave Shanti more water and mealie worms, she ate and drank more on the trip than she had in a week prior, then I culled her as peacefully as I could.

Andrew was scheduled to work 4:30-close at the pub, so I had to get my mother to borrow the farm van to pick the chickens and I up from the ferry. I also had her drive me down to the Farm to refill our water jugs for this morning. I put everyone up before I left, and that was a very good thing. Upon returning to the trailer at about 10:00pm with the water, Andrew and I spotted the Danger Bear (Raccoon) lurking around Sammy’s tractor/pallet chickshaw. It left before I could test out the nerf gun on its first terrestrial target, but I was spooked enough to move the tractor today, confusing the heck out of the poor chickens at bedtime. DH and I were awake until midnight trying to decompress from the stress of the day.

tomorrow is attempt #2 for transporting the chickens in.

Wow. That was rough. Your creativity is inspiring. You are the MacGyver of the chicken world. Amazing. I hope today goes better for you.

 

[Kris5902]

Well, things did not quite go smoothly this morning, but better we break down at home than in the lot of the ferry terminal they transfer all the traffic through? For “Farmers” I have to say a surprising number of people aren’t up at 5:30am here. We loaded up and “pffffft”, no amount of tapping the starter or jumping her was getting our poor truck running. So, with a splash of gas and a transfer of birds, work stuff, and sleeping gear... off went the Chevy (my truck) with no brakes The only person answering their phone was Andrew’s father, so he transferred everything into the little tracker SUV (we bought it for him in 2018) at his Dad’s, and just made the ferry on time.

The reason my truck has no brakes/insurance is because of a locking wheel lug that needs a specific key to remove them. It was in the truck when we got her from my dad, but somewhen between FIL borrowing her In early 2018 (when he blew the transmission) and when we loaned it to his friend (which is when the brakes got dicey) this key thingie went missing.

Good news is Andrew can get to work, the chickens can get into the freezer, and with how much he’s been working the past two weeks the paychecks will cover our propane bill, the Alternator our friend (also the propane guy) fronted us, and the Starter. I decided to not risk going in with DH just for the three hours of work, and to just stay and deal with the chickens because it is moving day!

I am actively trying to kill some grasses around the trailer with the chickens. We have some nasty “foxtail” grass or “diaspore”, Which are barbed, nasty things none of the herbivores here will eat. The chickens manage to kill it off fairly well by scratching it up and pooping on it. I don’t think it tolerates nitrogen rich soils well, as the area I ran the meat birds in last year is now almost completely free of it, lush and green. So to that end, I’ve been moving both Bob and Mr Marans tractors onto patches of this grass and leaving them there for three or four days at a time. This makes Bob’s girls especially grumpy, because they love their daily “new” grass; it is also extending the time I can run them in this area though, while I wait for the fields to be hayed. I wish I could run some of them in the area I used last year, as it’s nicely shaded for the meat birds, but the cows have discovered the tastiness of chicken feed, and two cows and the bull have learned that the 2x2 construction of the tractors stands no chance against their bulk. Even the tall ones aren’t immune to a bull’s head smashing down on the top rail.

Today will be barn and trailer cleaning, and all sorts of fun times moving the chickens. I have 4 semi tricky moves, getting both the meat birds around Mr. Marans tractor (they are a bit directionally challenged), Barney onto a new patch near my construction area, and Roostie and the hospital Tractor needs moved and the tarp reset somehow... fingers crossed that tonight Sammy and his flock go into their tractor in the new location as well. Chickens... if they weren’t so awesome, things would be so much easier without them, but I love the little feathered monsters to bits!

 

[BY Bob]

Well, things did not quite go smoothly this morning, but better we break down at home than in the lot of the ferry terminal they transfer all the traffic through? For “Farmers” I have to say a surprising number of people aren’t up at 5:30am here. We loaded up and “pffffft”, no amount of tapping the starter or jumping her was getting our poor truck running. So, with a splash of gas and a transfer of birds, work stuff, and sleeping gear... off went the Chevy (my truck) with no brakes The only person answering their phone was Andrew’s father, so he transferred everything into the little tracker SUV (we bought it for him in 2018) at his Dad’s, and just made the ferry on time.

The reason my truck has no brakes/insurance is because of a locking wheel lug that needs a specific key to remove them. It was in the truck when we got her from my dad, but somewhen between FIL borrowing her In early 2018 (when he blew the transmission) and when we loaned it to his friend (which is when the brakes got dicey) this key thingie went missing.

Good news is Andrew can get to work, the chickens can get into the freezer, and with how much he’s been working the past two weeks the paychecks will cover our propane bill, the Alternator our friend (also the propane guy) fronted us, and the Starter. I decided to not risk going in with DH just for the three hours of work, and to just stay and deal with the chickens because it is moving day!

I am actively trying to kill some grasses around the trailer with the chickens. We have some nasty “foxtail” grass or “diaspore”, Which are barbed, nasty things none of the herbivores here will eat. The chickens manage to kill it off fairly well by scratching it up and pooping on it. I don’t think it tolerates nitrogen rich soils well, as the area I ran the meat birds in last year is now almost completely free of it, lush and green. So to that end, I’ve been moving both Bob and Mr Marans tractors onto patches of this grass and leaving them there for three or four days at a time. This makes Bob’s girls especially grumpy, because they love their daily “new” grass; it is also extending the time I can run them in this area though, while I wait for the fields to be hayed. I wish I could run some of them in the area I used last year, as it’s nicely shaded for the meat birds, but the cows have discovered the tastiness of chicken feed, and two cows and the bull have learned that the 2x2 construction of the tractors stands no chance against their bulk. Even the tall ones aren’t immune to a bull’s head smashing down on the top rail.

Today will be barn and trailer cleaning, and all sorts of fun times moving the chickens. I have 4 semi tricky moves, getting both the meat birds around Mr. Marans tractor (they are a bit directionally challenged), Barney onto a new patch near my construction area, and Roostie and the hospital Tractor needs moved and the tarp reset somehow... fingers crossed that tonight Sammy and his flock go into their tractor in the new location as well. Chickens... if they weren’t so awesome, things would be so much easier without them, but I love the little feathered monsters to bits!

Sounds like a very busy day. Interesting that the chickens will kill off the tough ugly grass. Good for them. They have really fallen down on my yard this year. Much more clover than in years past. I must be feeding them too well.

Good luck with today's moves.

Im not sure if you have considered this but there are two easy ways to remove that lug nut. For $20 advanced auto (probably amazon) sells a socket that screws itself onto the lug and spins it off. The other way will only cost you a socket. Take whatever socket you have that is closest in size to the lug nut and hammer it onto the lug. Then just use the socket to take off the lug. Throw the socket away when finished and get a new lug nut.

 

[Ribh]

Sounds like a very busy day. Interesting that the chickens will kill off the tough ugly grass. Good for them. They have really fallen down on my yard this year. Much more clover than in years past. I must be feeding them too well.

Good luck with today's moves.

Im not sure if you have considered this but there are two easy ways to remove that lug nut. For $20 advanced auto (probably amazon) sells a socket that screws itself onto the lug and spins it off. The other way will only cost you a socket. Take whatever socket you have that is closest in size to the lug nut and hammer it onto the lug. Then just use the socket to take off the lug. Throw the socket away when finished and get a new lug nut.

Wow, Bob. You are a mine of useful information ~ but then I am mechanically challenged. You'd do well as an Aussie. That's just the sort of *bush mechanics* most people I know use. Why use the real deal when you can DIY?

 

[Ribh]

Well, things did not quite go smoothly this morning, but better we break down at home than in the lot of the ferry terminal they transfer all the traffic through? For “Farmers” I have to say a surprising number of people aren’t up at 5:30am here. We loaded up and “pffffft”, no amount of tapping the starter or jumping her was getting our poor truck running. So, with a splash of gas and a transfer of birds, work stuff, and sleeping gear... off went the Chevy (my truck) with no brakes The only person answering their phone was Andrew’s father, so he transferred everything into the little tracker SUV (we bought it for him in 2018) at his Dad’s, and just made the ferry on time.

The reason my truck has no brakes/insurance is because of a locking wheel lug that needs a specific key to remove them. It was in the truck when we got her from my dad, but somewhen between FIL borrowing her In early 2018 (when he blew the transmission) and when we loaned it to his friend (which is when the brakes got dicey) this key thingie went missing.

Good news is Andrew can get to work, the chickens can get into the freezer, and with how much he’s been working the past two weeks the paychecks will cover our propane bill, the Alternator our friend (also the propane guy) fronted us, and the Starter. I decided to not risk going in with DH just for the three hours of work, and to just stay and deal with the chickens because it is moving day!

I am actively trying to kill some grasses around the trailer with the chickens. We have some nasty “foxtail” grass or “diaspore”, Which are barbed, nasty things none of the herbivores here will eat. The chickens manage to kill it off fairly well by scratching it up and pooping on it. I don’t think it tolerates nitrogen rich soils well, as the area I ran the meat birds in last year is now almost completely free of it, lush and green. So to that end, I’ve been moving both Bob and Mr Marans tractors onto patches of this grass and leaving them there for three or four days at a time. This makes Bob’s girls especially grumpy, because they love their daily “new” grass; it is also extending the time I can run them in this area though, while I wait for the fields to be hayed. I wish I could run some of them in the area I used last year, as it’s nicely shaded for the meat birds, but the cows have discovered the tastiness of chicken feed, and two cows and the bull have learned that the 2x2 construction of the tractors stands no chance against their bulk. Even the tall ones aren’t immune to a bull’s head smashing down on the top rail.

Today will be barn and trailer cleaning, and all sorts of fun times moving the chickens. I have 4 semi tricky moves, getting both the meat birds around Mr. Marans tractor (they are a bit directionally challenged), Barney onto a new patch near my construction area, and Roostie and the hospital Tractor needs moved and the tarp reset somehow... fingers crossed that tonight Sammy and his flock go into their tractor in the new location as well. Chickens... if they weren’t so awesome, things would be so much easier without them, but I love the little feathered monsters to bits!

You work hard, Kris. I hope your day goes smoothly.

 

[BY Bob]

Wow, Bob. You are a mine of useful information ~ but then I am mechanically challenged. You'd do well as an Aussie. That's just the sort of *bush mechanics* most people I know use. Why use the real deal when you can DIY?

Cars are my thing. The one thing my dad and I could relate to each other about. We had no money growing up so we had to develop shortcuts. I've been to the junkyard so many times just to keep cars going.

It was such a big deal when I got the new Alfa. A car neither of us will ever work on. That's when he finally told me Ihe was proud of me. That I had made it. Forget that I had raised daughters yo be an engineer and a lawyer, that car was the moment for him.

My cousin went through the same thing with my Dad's brother. It wasn't until he bought the Porsche that he had made it. Forget the fact that he had his own custom cars parts company. It was the Porsche.