Michigan

[Mom 2em All]

Just caught the rooster. I feel bad...well, I felt worse until he knocked me a good one in the nose, trying to get away. But it has to be,,,if I was going to risk noise makers, it would indeed have been my Henry and Penelope forever and ever. *sigh*

My hens are FREAKED out- giant two legged predator just came out and snatched up their knight-in-feathered armor. I just KNOW the three Polish girls are out there right now saying, "See, told ya she was EVIL"..."You were RIGHT, Betty..."....

I hope they all adapt back to normal chickens now...guess they will have to relearn how to find their own food and sunbeams and shelter again by themselves.


eta:

I have to agree, shredded newspaper sounds soggy and smelly. Newspaper pellets- like Yesterdays News cat litter works just like corn cob and pine pellets..but too expensive to use in the coop.

 

[NovaAman]

Morning all. As RaZ said, its hard enough to catch up all the pages during the day, but to wake up in the morning, get the chores done, make a late breakfast, and then come on line while I eat and find that there are even more pages than usual for over night... WOW!

Mom 2, I hope you have a better day than yesterday. Theron, glad your friends came thru their accident relatively unharmed, aside from bruising a scratches... To be thrown from the car, and have it land on you and walk away... THAT is a MIRACLE!

The pool is frozen solid.... The hose is frozen solid... It is supposed to get up in the upper 30s- low 40s here tomorrow, so maybe will be able to give them a fresh round of pool water.Just wish I could keep my hose from freezing. LOL. I know, wishful thinking. Just like it is wishful thinking to not have the ducks sully their water after 2 minutes.

I fed them cracked corn in their warm morning water bowl today. They loved it, but ended up tipping it over to get the last dregs of corn out. Can I feed them No Salt canned spinach? I have a can that I accidently picked up, and it tastes... Well like rotten spinach.

 

[Mom 2em All]

I found some facts for you all to ponder when you are sitting in front of the computer munching on some chocolate or french fries...

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/...and_rodent_hairs_are_allowed_in_your_food.htm

http://www.forensicsciencetechnician.org/30-scary-food-facts-you-need-to-know/




ETA:

yay for my rooster!
I broke my own rule and instead of "dont ask, dont tell" I asked! The guys came and picked up the rooster anddddd.....
He is going in with Five leghorn hens, and a really nice coop.
He isnt being eaten,,,and I told them about silkies. He wanted one that will set on the eggs..so I told him, "Get a couple silkies, they go broody all the time"..and they were very interested.

 

[RaZ]

I pretty much thought the same thing about the newspaper, but I thought I'd throw it out as a possibility. I do think that I'll shred some and see if they like it in the nest box.

Day 2 of no lights, no heat lamp. All 4 big girls laid an egg, the BLAs are TBD. I could hear the egg song at 8:00 am and looked out to see 4 of 6 birds in the run, it was 20 degrees. Coop was 28 degrees, the waterer was frozen. I wasn't worried because I saw all of them drink last night before roosting. Replaced the ice with a fresh source and all had nice long drinks. Nice to have a couple of waterers to rotate.

Nice and sunny here and there is wood in the driveway that needs to be cut and split but I really need to concentrate on this homework.

 

[Mom 2em All]

Raz,

Last year I brought home a bag of shredded newspaper from work- and used it in my nest box. I didnt do it again,so I dont know if I liked it or not. Make sure you report here if it works well or not.

I use pine flakes in my coop.

 

[Chickmate]

So glad you are OK Kim, and Theron the same for your friends. Car accidents happen so quickly and are so scary.

I unplugged the heat lamp and chickens slept without it last night. Seem to be fine and are out free ranging today. I HATE winter!! I'd be OK with winter lasting from Dec. 24 through Jan. 2 and then back to 75 degrees. Aaah, if only God had asked my opinion before He made that decision.

Nova, the link below might be a solution for you if you have an extra $500 to spend. Sure wish I did.

http://www.nofreezewaterhose.com/

 

[chicken grandma]

RaZ - about the newspaper as litter.
I think it would get wet and soppy. I am liking the corn cob because the chicken poo clumps up just like a kitty litter box. So I take a scoop and remove it each day.
Pretty fresh so far.
But thank you for the idea. Might be a good idea for nest box for my hens!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Welcome &

to all the newcomers. This is a wonderful thread with lots of friendly crazy folks. However if you miss a day I have found that I usually have 10 pages to catch up on.

ChickwannaB, so sorry for your loss of your dog. They become an important part of our lives and it is hard when they leave. I am glad he did not suffer.

Mom2. sorry about your accident but thankfully it was not worse. I know this time of year is tough but hang in there

I am glad you found a home for your rooster.

Theron, thank goodness your friends are ok.

Farmerboy, love the pics

Olive, I am going to have to try that recipe. I already have plans to make a rum cake or three for Christmas.

Yesterday was my surgery in Carson City and as you can tell I survived. Everything went well and they even had someone from physical therapy come and show me how to use the crutches. The nurse went to put the IV in and said "are those scratches from your cat?" I said no, they are from a bad rooster that bit and scratched me. She was not expecting that answer

The doctor is not sure what he removed from my foot and is sending it to pathology. Meanwhile I am mastering the art of going up and downstairs. To go down, I sit on my fanny and bounce down one step at a time. To go up, I crawl on my hands and knees and then use my crutches to get back up to standing. It beats falling on the stairs

We have yet to get any snow to speak of here. Usually we get lake effect snow. I am just 30 miles north of you Daron and we did not get any. But boy is it cold. My son is here working on the fencing again today and he and DH keep coming in to get warmed up.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Quote:
I am glad that the surgery went well for you!

Was praying for you.

Hope you will have a speedy recovery. That was funny about the nurse's reaction.

I had said the same thing to a nurse, only the scratches were from the hammer that missed the nail and hit my leg.

Boy, it IS COLD, but the sun is shining!!!

Got more things things done on the coop, My dad pointed out that I have to add more wood for the roof to be able to hold the weight of the snow, so that is what I am working on.

 

[chicken grandma]

Glad about your successful surgery Hillbilly Hen!
Praying for a smooth recovery!

Sun is out in West Michigan and it is cold. 24 degrees. Hens are out enjoying the sun!