"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[MicheleC]

Too

...

Fuuny and true story....

So I'm out at 7:15 this morning getting my morning run in and I see a dog that is about 50 feet in front of me in the middle of the road. Well then I see a truck that is about 75 feet in front of me and the person driving is flashing their high beams off and on. So I assume that this is someone that knows. So the person keeps flashing their lights. Well as I jog closer and closer to the dog and after I put 2 and 2 together, I figured out that the driver was flashing his lights at the dog so that the dog would get out of the road. I praise the driver for being concerned about the dog's safety but I didn't know the dogs can recognize signs, signals and lights. I laughed all the way home. Lol



Toooooooo funny!!!

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Beautiful!! I think the orpingtons are beautiful. I love the colors. I've already overwhelmed my poor husband with the chickens, coop and run. As I've said before here, I need to let some time go by before I introduce any additional animals of any kind. It would finish him off.
I will definitely have to go to the Baton Rouge show.

I also have Blue and Splash. If I can manage to save enough, in the spring I will be adding a pair or trio of Buffs from the top breeder in the country.
As to husbands, yes they can be challenging. We went from 7 ducks, 2 geese, and 60 chickens to 30 ducks, 20 geese, 20 turkeys, and 160 chickens in about 1.5 years. He was good with everything as it went, then suddenly one day realized that the brooders were full of show birds being grown out to pick through, and hatchlings to fill orders. He went and counted the birds and about had a stroke...lol. He had no idea because I was selling enough birds, eggs, and mealworms every month to keep up with our feed bill, and hadn't really looked in the brooders.

Ok. Now I'm afraid. Not of the work. I like work. Of the chicken math!!! Chicken math is bad when you think more and more about selling your house so you can have more. Those are beautiful. I have production girls. That made me drool all over my phone. Lol

LOL...you should be scared: Very scared! Honestly, if something would happen and we had to move somewhere I couldn't have at least a pair of geese and a few chickens it would be horrible. I really think I would slip into some kind of weird depression that would end up with me being the crazy old lady who feeds the pigeons at the park all day every day.

 

[Angelicisi]

Lol @ chicken math...me:Honey? Whatcha think about this pair chickens? Free! (well a trade for elephant ear plants because I have thousands lol) I just want these two pretty pullets, they'll lay us a few eggs a week and give us fertilizer!" "sure!" He says.
Figuring the the store bought eggs sit in fridge all month thought 2 was nuff! Bahahahaha my family now sucks down eggs and uses them constantly! And neighbors lol soooo now I need a dozen chickens to feed us...and a dozen layers for eggs to sell to pay for feed! Lol probably another few trios of special egg color layers...have to have my blues and browns and greens and pinks...

 

[Angelicisi]

Hahahahaha @ crazy lady feeding pigeons in the park!
Thers an old crazy gent that feed the pigeons on a bench downtown...Imma sit next to him and ask him if he misses his chickens...lol ill let you know

I also have Blue and Splash. If I can manage to save enough, in the spring I will be adding a pair or trio of Buffs from the top breeder in the country.

As to husbands, yes they can be challenging. We went from 7 ducks, 2 geese, and 60 chickens to 30 ducks, 20 geese, 20 turkeys, and 160 chickens in about 1.5 years. He was good with everything as it went, then suddenly one day realized that the brooders were full of show birds being grown out to pick through, and hatchlings to fill orders. He went and counted the birds and about had a stroke...lol. He had no idea because I was selling enough birds, eggs, and mealworms every month to keep up with our feed bill, and hadn't really looked in the brooders.


LOL...you should be scared: Very scared! Honestly, if something would happen and we had to move somewhere I couldn't have at least a pair of geese and a few chickens it would be horrible. I really think I would slip into some kind of weird depression that would end up with me being the crazy old lady who feeds the pigeons at the park all day every day.

 

[Angelicisi]

So true about "gateway livestock" lmao! I have a handsome buck lop bunny now that rounds up the girls...want guineas baaaaaad now and a turkey. Oh ya, trying to talk the hubby into doing a set of meaties... I was a Cali surfer chick...now I'm a Louisiana farmer in training! I totally blame the chicks man! Dang chicks can peep their way into the flightiest of spirits hearts lol.

I started with hatchery birds that I still have in my laying flock: Wonderful girls. Strange thing is that it was my geese that sucked me into exhibition poultry. I got a pretty rare breed and color and decided to look into chicken breeds as well: So many of the older heritage type birds are in need of preservation. Anyway, that is when I got my eyes opened. The old, privately bred strains of birds look very little like their hatchery cousins. It is well worth the time to go to a show to look just to see the difference. Plus, you are going to see a few rare breeds here and there that aren't typically found in backyard flocks. I consider it window shopping...although that didn't last too long: I HAD to have some of the big fluffy and gorgeous birds I saw! That is when the chicken math REALLY gets a hold of you. For instance, here are a couple of my juvenile Black Orpingtons: They are part English bred. Some of my Juvenile Barred Rocks from Jaime Duckworth... A couple of my juvenile New Hampshire cockerels this week with my Red Dorking and a Blue Orpington. One of my spring hatched New Hampshire pullets Then the chicken math turns into turkey math.... And the turkey math into duck and goose math... Always remember...chickens are a gateway livestock: Next thing you know you will be surrounded by beaks and bills of every type!

 

[CackedNut]

Ok...all of the above posts from 1MrsMagoo and Angelicisi, I am completely hooked! I am taken with the blue orpingtons and got (again hatchery only) a blue orpington (Gertie) and I also LOVE my blue Ameraucana (LouLou). LouLou is not an easter egger, however, I do have one of those also. I too wanted the colored eggs. I started with hatchery, not sure even IF we would be interested in continuing with "chickens"...little did I know.

I know that I'd like to eventually start selling eggs locally, mainly to just friends that have expressed such interest in getting eggs from me. After this past weekend, the family of 7 down the street are hooked and want chickens badly! They have a beautiful garden, and I plan on trading eggs (if they EVER start laying) for fresh veggies. It will be at least late spring before they can even consider getting chickens, so I have my fresh produce for a while at least.

Angelicisi, I too want guineas very badly. I'm trying the "grown up" and "being patient" thing. I'm not liking it!!! I would also love to get a pair of geese. I have no idea what kind, but I have always been taken with them. My poor husband, he has no idea what's coming...

 

[TerriLaChicks]

LOL @ all the "chicken math"! I started out wanting "just 3 little hens & a chicken tractor". Got them. Still have 1 of my original girls left - Chippy is 8 or 9 years old now & still laying a big green egg twice a week. She was an Easter Egger from Meyer hatchery.

I went through my "blue phase" when I wanted an all -blue flock. I became hooked on hatching my own. I discovered I have a true talent for hatching beautiful blue roosters and black hens. Then I got hooked on Marans & Welsummers. Then I hatched a bunch of Blue Andalusians. From there had some mutts for a year or two, then Blue Rocks, then Rhode Island Reds. I always kept some Welsummers because they are my favorite breed, and always some Channing Grisham lines.

At one time had close to 50 chickens. I've also raised white Chinese geese in the past but we took our old horse pasture fences down so no more of those. Went through a brief phase of Indian runner ducks - decided ducks are too messy for me.

Fell in love with peacocks & so have my beautiful quad.

The guineas were Julie's fault because "she wanted to see if they were fertile" so handed me 15 eggs. 14 of them hatched, so um, yes, they were fertile.


Went back to my original 3 breeds, Cuckoo Marans, Welsummers & I still have a few Ameracaunas & Easter eggers for the blue & green eggs, but no roo. At this point I've cut back my flock & will maintain it at around 15 chickens, 4 peacocks & 5 guineas. (not counting how ever many eggs Mama guin is currently hiding & sitting on)!

and so the math lesson goes...

 

[kuntrygirl]

Good morning peeps !!!!!!!!!! I hope that everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend. I have so much catching up to do. You all have been chatting it up.

Well to let everyone know about my weekend.

I left out about Saturday morning headed to Terri's to meet her for brunch and canning. Well, I arrived at Terri's and we began our Saturday morning Brunch. I had brought a few goodies and Terri had things prepared as well. After playing with my 2 favorite dogs in the whole wide world (Terri's beautiful babies), we sat down and enjoyed the most wonderful brunch that I have ever had.

This is what was on the menu.

1. Terri's special spinach dip. This dip was DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think that I ate about over half of it. Not sure if I left any for Terri and Jim. It's not that often I get a chance to splurge on such delicious food and I did. Terri, you HAVE TO send me that recipe. I want to make some THIS WEEK and eat that alone as a meal.
2. Terri had a HUGE Muffaletta that we cut and ate. (see pic below). As pieces were dropping out of my sandwhich, I was picking them up with my fingers. I didn't show any of my manners at all, AND I DIDN"T CARE because it was a free for all weekend!!!!!!!
3. Terri had some to-die for brownies. You talk about good. Bite size so you could pop in your mouth. YUMMY-Liscious.
4. I brought my "not so famous" wine. I had bottles of Japanese Plum, Peach/Nectarine and Fig Wine. I bought a bottle of each for Terri and then I bought some for us to enjoy with our meal.
5. I also bought goat cheese, guacamole, different types of chips, pretzels, crackers and chocolate covered pomegranates.

So we dug in and sipped on the Japanese Plum wine which was my personal favorite. I was't too thrilled with my fig wine (not sure if Terri tasted the other 2 wines yet) because it didn't have the alcohol content that I needed. And my peach/nectarine wine was too sweet (in my opinion) and a little too thick but I found out that I can use it as a daiquiri mix and add crushed ice and blend and I will have a frozen daiquiri. So, I will have it that way. But back to the lab on the fig wine.

Here is our spread.

Muffaletta

So after stuffing ourselves full, we broke away from the buffet and walked outside to see the chickens, guineas and peas. They were free ranging and enjoying the beautiful day. All of the animals look so happy and healthy.

And then Terri showed me the place where the upcoming "1st annual Catdaddyfro guinea hunt" as CackedNut has named this annual event that will take place.

When she pointed to this monster, my mouth dropped and the trumpets sounded in the background and I saw the heavens open and angels with harps ascended from above and were flying around this monster of a tree. And then I said to myself, "Jeff has no idea what is in store for him if he plans on catching these guineas!" And then I wanted to faint but with all the food I had eaten, Terri would not have been able to pick me up, so I composed myself.

All I can say is that we need to begin taking reservations and probably invite the Mayor, the councilmen and all of the citizens of Alexandria because this will be a show that NO ONE will EVER forget. I think we should set a date for this here. Poor Poor Poor Jeff. He will have to battle not alone the guinea mama attacking him but the Vultures flying up above, hawks, eagles, bats and I think I saw some of those banana spiders that someone posted a pic of. The area where this tree is, is something that you would see on a scary movie where people are trying to escape and running for the lives. That's all i will say about that but you call can see for yourself.

Introducing Jeff's Grave-site because this will be his final resting place.

After walking off our food, we went back in to begin the canning class. Terri's Canning 101 was now in session. I had bought some muscadine juice and canning jars and Terri showed me how to can. Terri had everything set up. All of the canning equipment that we needed was in place and ready. Everything was very organized, neat and clean. Perfect! Terri was an excellent teacher in that she took me through every step and showed me how to can muscadine jelly. I have a sometimes irritating habit of asking too many questions but I was designed that way and that's how I learn. But Terri was patient with me and answered all of my questions. Terri did all the work as I just sat and watched. Everything turned out perfect. (5) 16 ounce jars of muscadine jelly were canned and I was so excited. As soon as I make my home made biscuits, I will have them with my muscadine jelly.

Final Canning

Muscadine Jelly the next day.

So our day came to an end and I headed back home. What a great way to enjoy a Saturday.

We had taken pics in our 2 piece swim suits but I didn't want Jeff to get any crazy ideas and forget about his guinea hunt, so I didn't to post those pics.

Thanks Terri. I had a great time !!!!!!!!!! Looking forward to the next time.

 

[kuntrygirl]

One of my hatched babies.

ahhhh...a designer chick!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

My big girls have always used the little nesting house to lay their eggs. Never an issue.

When the babies started growing up I got them their own sleeping coop and recently figured it' s getting to be time to prepare them for laying, so I put a nesting box in their coop.

See primrose and the other big girls stand in line to use the new box that's not even in their coop. I thought I had it all worked out: big girls in nesting house, little girls in nesting box in their coop. Silly me. I guess I'll just have to let them work it out. Lol. They obviously did not read my nesting memo. Lol

That is too cute!!!