Maine

[buckabucka]

Finishing making gifts today.  I thought I would work on them more yesterday, being shut in, but instead I made snowflakes and cookies with the kids between tending fires.  Now I am racing to make the Yule deadline.  Cold fingertips do not want to sew but I am a cruel master.

You're ahead of me. I need to start making gifts tonight. I have plans to sew approximately a dozen feed-bag totes... I just need to start :/ Oh wait, tonight is craft night at our community center, so I'll actually be knitting there... so tomorrow I will start the sewing! I still have a week, so I'll be fine, right?

Feed bag totes are a fast project if you do them assembly-line style. I am taking a break from them this year. Two years in a row I gave them to all the people in my wing at school. I'm afraid people may get irritated with the crazy chicken lady if I do this three years in a row, so this year they are receiving pear butter from our pear tree.

I feel so badly for the molting chickens out there tonight. I did close the pop doors for a change. Much of our house is on the warm end of "regular" temperature, but here in the livingroom where DH built a massive inferno, it is close to 90 degrees! I am cooked. I am so glad that temperatures are supposed to stay above zero after tonight, as early morning chores are rather unpleasant.

 

[lazy gardener]

7 y.o. and I made bird seed Christmas tree ornaments today. That's the first crafty thing I've done in a very long time, especially with little fingers in the mix. will make several more batches before we're done. Neighbor has offered pine cones, so we may make some p.b./bird seed pine cones as well.

 

[longgrove]

Feed bag totes are a fast project if you do them assembly-line style. I am taking a break from them this year. Two years in a row I gave them to all the people in my wing at school. I'm afraid people may get irritated with the crazy chicken lady if I do this three years in a row, so this year they are receiving pear butter from our pear tree.

I feel so badly for the molting chickens out there tonight. I did close the pop doors for a change. Much of our house is on the warm end of "regular" temperature, but here in the livingroom where DH built a massive inferno, it is close to 90 degrees! I am cooked. I am so glad that temperatures are supposed to stay above zero after tonight, as early morning chores are rather unpleasant.

I've got a few molting, too, plus a couple of hens partly defeathered from unwelcome assults from the nasty cockerels. My two EEs and two Silkies are mostly living in nest boxes (as pairs.) Interesting that chickens seem to often pal around with other chickens who are similar in appearance. My darn dominant roo has taken to hanging out in another nest box.

The divas will not go out until paths have been shoveled and a layer of shavings (saved from cleaning the coop) has been spread to cover the path.

I have been making a mix of warm water (the pasta water tonight) and wheat bran. I add any fruit and veggi peels on hand and sprinkle some wild bird seed or BOSS on top. They sure come running and duel for front line access to the treat bowl.

One of my Spangled Hampbergs had a vent prolapse (stuck out over 2 inches). She looked so miserable. I didn't know if we could save her but brought her in to the "chicken hospital" in my bathroom, fed her soft, low residue food. Washed off the rear area, applied prep H, and gently worked it back in. The next day, she laid one more egg and it popped back out (but smaller). Thankfully, that was the last egg and she went into a dramatic molt. Each time the prolapse was worked back in with the prep H, it came back slower and smaller until, after a week, it stayed in. Another 10 days to grow back some feathers, and she went back into the coop. So far, so good. She looks great with her new feathers and is perky and eating well. We will see what happens when she resumes laying. She is about 2 1/2 years old. At least we gave her a chance

 

[lazy gardener]

Good job Longgrove. I wouldn't have expected that there would be any positive outcome with a prolapse. You give me hope to be able to tackle any similar issues that show up in my flock.

 

[MEMama3]

7 y.o. and I made bird seed Christmas tree ornaments today.  That's the first crafty thing I've done in a very long time, especially with little fingers in the mix.  will make several more batches before we're done.  Neighbor has offered pine cones, so we may make some p.b./bird seed pine cones as well.

My mother and son did those last week. They used cookie cutters to make Christmas shapes. Although probably not the healthiest treats, I hung one up for the chickens when we were going through the snow storm. They loved it. The other one is in my locus tree. The nuthatches have nearly devoured it.

 

[CoopChick719]

I've got a few molting, too, plus a couple of hens partly defeathered from unwelcome assults from the nasty cockerels. My two EEs and two Silkies are mostly living in nest boxes (as pairs.) Interesting that chickens seem to often pal around with other chickens who are similar in appearance. My darn dominant roo has taken to hanging out in another nest box.

The divas will not go out until paths have been shoveled and a layer of shavings (saved from cleaning the coop) has been spread to cover the path.

I have been making a mix of warm water (the pasta water tonight) and wheat bran. I add any fruit and veggi peels on hand and sprinkle some wild bird seed or BOSS on top. They sure come running and duel for front line access to the treat bowl.

One of my Spangled Hampbergs had a vent prolapse (stuck out over 2 inches). She looked so miserable. I didn't know if we could save her but brought her in to the "chicken hospital" in my bathroom, fed her soft, low residue food. Washed off the rear area, applied prep H, and gently worked it back in. The next day, she laid one more egg and it popped back out (but smaller). Thankfully, that was the last egg and she went into a dramatic molt. Each time the prolapse was worked back in with the prep H, it came back slower and smaller until, after a week, it stayed in. Another 10 days to grow back some feathers, and she went back into the coop. So far, so good. She looks great with her new feathers and is perky and eating well. We will see what happens when she resumes laying. She is about 2 1/2 years old. At least we gave her a chance

You know what they say about birds of a feather...they flock together.

Couldn't let that one go by!

Thank you for the info on the vent prolapse! Saving it for future reference if necessary!

 

[CoopChick719]

2nd double post tonight!

 

[buckabucka]

2nd double post tonight!

The site has been rather quirky, at least for me. Maybe they are making some changes, or perhaps my latest update is clashing with the system.

I am procratinating. -21 degrees this morning and I don't want to head out there for chicken chores. I hope they are all alive, baldness and all,,,,

 

[suzMEchicks]

I do lurk on this thread and can see why some folks have issues with their birds. I suggest that folks feed their birds chicken feed and not rely on kitchen food or free range food. Treats don't replace feed. Also, check for mites, they can run a bird down quickly and kill. Keep a closed flock if you can - bird from swaps may look healthy, but are a risk even if you quarantine them. And keep your coop DRY! Deep litter builds up moisture and ammonia. Don't want to offend - Just stuff I have learned

 

[henney penny]

-14 here this morning,22 in the coop ,how cold was it at your place?