Maine

[Grey Roo]

Congratulations on all the new chicks everyone.

 

[buckabucka]

What a great day today, beautiful and sunny, after that crazy wind yesterday. I was finally able to get the peas in. It is a little wet, but not too bad.

Now that the hoop coop is moved, the chickens temporarily have a grass floor (instead of dirt). I filled a dusting bin with sand, ashes, DE, and poultry dust (insecticide) and there were chickens in there all day long. I'm hoping it puts a dent in the lice population.

 

[Widget]

The kids are being born at Sunflower Farm Creamery in Cumberland.

One doe had quadruplets. Hard to believe that four kids could fit inside a Nigerian Dwarf doe. But all four are doing great. Today was the first day of selection for those of us who put deposits down. I was third in line for the males and the first two people passed on the five available males. So it came down to me. While I could have passed and waited to see if any other kids are born that I like more I decided that these two were perfect.

I am going to visit them on Sunday. And if anyone is interested the farm is having open house this weekend from 1-4. You can visit and play with all the goats.

Size wise the kids are about as big as an average house cat. So they are even cuter than their picture.

 

[quailtrail]

What a great day today, beautiful and sunny, after that crazy wind yesterday. I was finally able to get the peas in. It is a little wet, but not too bad.

Now that the hoop coop is moved, the chickens temporarily have a grass floor (instead of dirt). I filled a dusting bin with sand, ashes, DE, and poultry dust (insecticide) and there were chickens in there all day long. I'm hoping it puts a dent in the lice population.

I am planning on grabbing poultry dust tomorrow as I pick up a few more silkies tomorrow. I have all but the poultry dust. I have one of my girls that must be the "favorite"as she is down to bare skin My roo is so good with them, keeps them all together, but boy poor girl has lost a lot of feathers

 

[lazy gardener]

What a wonderful day! I got the second panel of the new tractor done. None too soon... those chickies are growing so fast. The last 2 panels will be more difficult, as I have more fitting to do, will be using heavier lumber, and not exactly sure how they will come together. Putting on tires and skis should be interesting as well.

I put a shovel full of soil in the brooder today. They went ape over it... acted like it was candy. Big girls out all day... Abby looks like she could use a crop bra.

 

[lazy gardener]

What a wonderful day! I got the second panel of the new tractor done. None too soon... those chickies are growing so fast. The last 2 panels will be more difficult, as I have more fitting to do, will be using heavier lumber, and not exactly sure how they will come together. Putting on tires and skis should be interesting as well.

I put a shovel full of soil in the brooder today. They went ape over it... acted like it was candy. Big girls out all day... Abby looks like she could use a crop bra.

Widgett, those goats are adorable. I love goats.

 

[quailtrail]

What a wonderful day!  I got the second panel of the new tractor done.  None too soon... those chickies are growing so fast.  The last 2 panels will be more difficult, as I have more fitting to do, will be using heavier lumber, and not exactly sure how they will come together.  Putting on tires and skis should be interesting as well.

I put a shovel full of soil in the brooder today.  They went ape over it... acted like it was candy.  Big girls out all day... Abby looks like she could use a crop bra.

Widgett, those goats are adorable.  I love goats. 

would love to see pics!!! Now that I am "expanding" our flock for breeding I would like to make some for each breed...yes I am shooting for the stars

 

[yankeehill]

We have a broody goose! She's been on the nest since Tuesday. We are all super excited about this!

My hens are laying 5-6 eggs a day. They're free ranging all over the yards! I love this. I really don't care for seeing creatures locked up (though I totally understand that there are situations in which you have no choice.)

We just ordered a wireless fence for our dog. Although we live on a dirt road in the middle of no where, there is one lady who walks by our house, and she is bothered by our dog who meets her and her dog at the road, wags his tail, sniffs the other dog, and in general says hello. Rebel (my dog) has never shown any aggression, but it's irritating the lady that he does this. The other day she called him a nuisance. We live on 13 acres, and have 2 neighbors who are close by, then no one for a half mile. Our neighbors have no problems with the dog meeting them (this lady lives about a mile away from us and walks our road a few times a week.) Shoot, our neighbors dogs do the same thing - meet you at the road when you walk by and say hello. All you have to do is pat them, and keep walking and they go home (same for our Rebel). I read up on the law the other day, and although some could try to say his is 'at large', he's not. He's in the yard with us. Out of respect for her (and fear that since the law is loosely worded, we could get fines), we will restrain Rebel. Rebel has never shown any sort of aggression to her, her dog, or anyone else/other animal for that matter. The dogs meet, they sniff, they wag tails, Rebel comes home. The fencing will give him about a 180 foot diameter to stay in, which is far less than he is used to, but, it will keep him away from the road and he won't be bothering this lady. I'm afraid now though, that he'll stand at the perimeter and bark when she passes (which to me would be more irritating than a dog coming to sniff my dog). Does anyone have experience with these systems?

 

[Widget]

We have a broody goose! She's been on the nest since Tuesday. We are all super excited about this!

My hens are laying 5-6 eggs a day. They're free ranging all over the yards! I love this. I really don't care for seeing creatures locked up (though I totally understand that there are situations in which you have no choice.)

We just ordered a wireless fence for our dog. Although we live on a dirt road in the middle of no where, there is one lady who walks by our house, and she is bothered by our dog who meets her and her dog at the road, wags his tail, sniffs the other dog, and in general says hello. Rebel (my dog) has never shown any aggression, but it's irritating the lady that he does this. The other day she called him a nuisance. We live on 13 acres, and have 2 neighbors who are close by, then no one for a half mile. Our neighbors have no problems with the dog meeting them (this lady lives about a mile away from us and walks our road a few times a week.) Shoot, our neighbors dogs do the same thing - meet you at the road when you walk by and say hello. All you have to do is pat them, and keep walking and they go home (same for our Rebel). I read up on the law the other day, and although some could try to say his is 'at large', he's not. He's in the yard with us. Out of respect for her (and fear that since the law is loosely worded, we could get fines), we will restrain Rebel. Rebel has never shown any sort of aggression to her, her dog, or anyone else/other animal for that matter. The dogs meet, they sniff, they wag tails, Rebel comes home. The fencing will give him about a 180 foot diameter to stay in, which is far less than he is used to, but, it will keep him away from the road and he won't be bothering this lady. I'm afraid now though, that he'll stand at the perimeter and bark when she passes (which to me would be more irritating than a dog coming to sniff my dog). Does anyone have experience with these systems?

I have the actual Invisible Fence system installed. I used it for my Potcake who passed away last year. She was zapped once and never again. She knew the perimeter and stayed well away from it from then on. Another dog chewed through the collar a couple years ago and I never replaced it. Too expensive. I know certain breeds are not good candidates for an electric fence. Great Pyrenees being at the top or very close to the top. Huskies are probably also not a good choice. Too much of a prey drive. Also keep in mind if they do run through the fence after something they have no way of getting back in without getting zapped if the system is on. Going through is easy with the adrenaline rush. They may not feel the zap if they are so intent on getting to what is on the other side. Also anything can come into the yard.

Overall I like them if the dog is properly trained and respects the system. But I am in the process of building an actual fence for the dogs so I can just open the door and let them out. Having more than one dog makes the invisible fence way to expensive to use..

 

[Cknldy]

Our husky mix knew she could just jump high enough to not be zapped. We got her as an adult from the shelter when her last pup was adopted going out the door and I overheard the workers saying they were going to put her down when they closed for xmas break that evening. We were guilty too- dh decided to go to get a puppy. I told him I wanted the mom cuz they were going to kill her when we left. She's been the best dog ever so someone loved her and trained her well before she took off showing her pups the world and got captured. The wire has to be at a certain level to the collar to work. Our great pyranees did great on the invisible fence since he was started as a pup. Just had to raise the line as he got bigger (although he knew the boundaries after we took the line down). The important part is to train them because some dogs won't back away and will sit there being shocked until you physically pull them back. Other dogs learn they can get past the distance on the other side with only a slight shock so poof, there goes your money