Michigan

[fuzzybutt love]

York, that was cute.

Raz, that looks neat. Who knows, mabe she will like it? (I know, and heck will freeze over....) Weren't you getting a big privacy fence, too??

 

[teeville5]

Looks like some of you had a productive day. Was I the only one to get the rain? We were only able to take care of brooder cleaning today. Of course, having a headache along with the rain didn't motivate me to do much else.

One of my teen chicks is getting super spazzy. They are about 8-9wks old now and every time another chick touches him, he starts squawking away. Not sure if it really is a he, but I think I see some deeper red spots coming into his (ee) feathering.

As far as handling my chickens, I only do so minimally. I used to try to hold them, but when they moved to the coop full time, they were less accessible so over time they weren't too fond of it. If I have to pick one up, they do okay, but I don't do it often. I will pet one on occasion, but I don't force it. As for the my roos, I do not pick them up or pet them. When young, I held them down a time or two if necessary to make it clear who was boss, but that was it. I move freely through my yard and I don't move away or around them, they move for me (as Nova mentioned). Newton comes over to see if I have a treat, but stays a few feet away so I will bend over and say a few words to him, but that's it. It may sound crazy, but I believe we both understand our positions and respect each other for knowing our boundaries.

 

[chicken grandma]

RaZ - Is the property line where the blocks are? Or is it where the dirt ends and her grass begins meaning that she has blocks on her grass?

Yorkchick! What beautiful geese! I love them!

I now have a daughter home from college and this year she did not cry when leaving her boyfriend and friends. Small progress.....

 

[Juise]

We are back home, caught up on all the posts (whew!) What I retained...

Taprock - That SUCKS. (About the bank... that was you, right? I think...)

Mom - Sounds like babies!

Nova - Your poor roo, glad he survived! And that tractor is looking very nice.

Farmerboy - Best of luck with your dog, and your emus! You never know...

RaZ - Petty or not, it does look very nice.

Yorkchick - I enjoyed your update, lol. Grats on the little fuzzies.

I ran out of memory. Has Sarah disappeared?

We had fun this weekend, the girls got to ride horses for the first time, and they loved it, my 1 year old did not want to get off, lol. They also played with some goats and sheep and loved that, too, I think Papa is much closer to caving on the goat ownership...

We went hiking earlier at Bishop Lake, and as we drove past the entrance to the camp grounds there, saw four people trying to catch a chicken, they were not having any luck, and I have to say, it was hilarious watching them, haha!

Oh yes, and I got a great big pile of scrap hardwoods to play with, I am so, so excited! My brother took all the walnut of any size though.

Tried out my mum's tablet, I was totally in love with it while I was lounging on the couch and reading posts, then I tried to use it, and I hated it. I didn't even manage to get the post off that I was trying to do.

 

[Mom 2em All]

Mom and I were out in the yard this morning. Heard a noise, some kind of animal going thru the brush. Big black bear crossed the road between our house and the neighbors across the street.
it was moving pretty fast,
slowed down to a walk
and was only this far from the house.

The coop is about this far from the house on the other side.

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!! I would be so scared to live where there are bears! Stay safe, and I hope your chickens stay safe too!!

Hope feels she needs to be there doing all she can while I tend to be more of the "you shouldn't have them if you can't take care of them" attitude, but if I say much I automatically become the heavy.

Agree with you there, Opa!

Mom, that is exactly what that means. Be prepared for babies tonight or tomorrow. Hope you got a rabbit nest box.

No babies yet, Nova..I think she was just faking.

FWIW,
I really don't feel good about myself for sinking that low.

You didnt DO anything...even the sod you removed was on your side of the property. Now,if you had piled it up behind her car...that would have been sinking..but so far, you have done NO retaliation.

So I feel like I need Nova to write a summary of what has happened since I apparently fell off the BYC map. Because as some of you may remember, I don't condense well at all when I write. Let's see how well I can hit the high points. And every teeny little point in between...

I love your updates! And Im glad you are back! Congrats on all the successes! Yay for chicks, goosers, and your hubbys' job!!

 

[Mom 2em All]

Juise- sounds like you had a fabulous time! Pictures of your kids on the horses?
I think Sarah was starting her new job, and then realized she needed to be cramming for her board exams, and not spend all time on BYC!

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!

I had a very busy weekend with my grandson- and then the aftermath, lol. Got the house cleaned, moved the chicks out of the house- tried to check on them this morning, but then Toes started crowing. Im sure they are fine. I put Sillys Uggos out there, too. They are still in their cage with their heaterthingy, under the lean-to.

Im pretty wore out and ready for the weekend, lol. My sons birthday is Saturday- I dont know if I will see him or not..sure hope he stops by.
Then Mother's day...yay..

Just have to get through the week, first.

Its raining here. Looks like some nasty stuff making its way across the state (according to the news)..Stay Dry!
I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

 

[Opa]

Today is looking like a day it will be a day to spend reading a good book, but it does look like the most severe weather is going to stay to the south of us.

You often hear people refer to reading a "good book" but you never hear someone say I think I'll stay home and read a "bad book". I'm currently trying to force myself to read a book that might fit that description. Well actually that isn't fair to the author, I guess it is a "good book" because it does educate the read; providing a wealth of information about what to expect when dealing with someone suffering from dementia. The name of the book is "The 36 Hour Day" and it does provide much valued insight but it is so ****** depressing.

On a lighter note, the covered nesting platforms under the eaves of my workshop provide nesting for both robins and morning doves. Sitting on the deck listening the the doves cooing certainly has a calming effect that reminds me to appreciate the many blessings we do have and do remember that nothing becomes a problem until you let it be so.

There are many days that I don't like what I must face but I can face them so that makes the day a "good day". Take heart in the knowledge that while the sun might not be shining today it will tomorrow. Enjoy your day.

 

[Brethren49619]

My first attempt at hatching.

Today is day 21, and I haven't seen any wiggling, heard any chirping, no pipping or zipping yet. Eggs are sitting on a piece of no skid in the incubator, so not sure if that might be limiting any wiggling that there could be. I am being patient. Have not opened at all for any reason. Out of 30 eggs I started with, only 6 looked good enough to go to lockdown. I did crack open all of the eggs that did not look good enough for lockdown, and my attempt at evaluating my candling seemed correct. So, hopefully, the large dark eggs do have viable chicks in them. Just waiting to see what if anything hatches out.

If anyone wants to keep their fingers crossed for me, it would be much appreciated!

 

[Opa]

Eggs. How many eggs have I eaten in almost 70 years? A bigger question is how many eggs have I seen in my lifetime? Eggs, they just always were there. They were something you were aware of but never really gave much thought to. Now six eggs can dominate your thoughts. The anticipation, the wonder of it all, the phenomena of creation right before us.

I never tire of the excitement of the arrival of chicks. Under a hen or in an incubator the wonder never ceases.

 

[taprock]

Advice please. I know your mantra Opa - Lockdown means don't open. With my incubator I know opening will endanger the rest of the hatch, however I'm on my last egg so no danger to the hatch. This little fellow was late, he now has a good hole but isn't zipping just making a hole. Well I looked now and he has a claw out the hole with his beak. Will he actually be able to turn to complete a zip if he has a claw out? I've helped out two chicks in the past, one lived one died so I know it's risky.