Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

Good point Holm!  LOL.  Yes my teenagers feel the same about me.  It shouldn't be different with the geese...unless of course you have some sort of treat to bring to the table.  LOL

Good point Klop.  I've already laid my down though...now...I wanted to empty my poop buckets.  I'll just do the ash or get some lime. or just spread it out a bit....All the trees are on an incline of various sorts though...so I have a feeling things will run down hill and away from the tree so to speak...though too.  Meh...sorta worried..but not really.  We'll see I guess.  I think the soil being a filter of sorts before it hits apple roots and the running off of stuff...and trees being pretty well established at two year mark on our property...Maybe I'm okay...?

I wouldn't worry if they are that established. Mine are only a few months old. I am probably being over concerned

 

[Mistahbue]

I had to smile when I read about Minnie's pet peeve related to color name.  She is right to a degree.  As the for lack of better description light blue feathering was titled long ago by the APA hierarchy as Self Blue.
For some the term Lavender is a cutesy or marketing title, but also for others it is an attempt to correct the record.  That feather color is the result of a gene which is officially titled Lavender.
I am a purebred enthusiast, but I don't criticize people that want to have crossbred or Heinz 57 chickens.  I do not like it when people call a crosssbred by some breed name.
Self Blue or Lavender, I don't care what you call it.  I know what is being communicated.  I am waiting for someone to develop a bird which is Sky Blue Pink.  Ralphie there is a challenge for you.  

I want one of them in pink when that happens!!!

Hey y'all, how long do I need to soak the hen before I poke around, and heaven help me, in to check for a stuck egg? I've got gloves and Vaseline at standby

And what Temp for the water? I know cats prefer hotter water temps for bathing - wondered about chickens

 

[Mistahbue]

I heard that parts of the state could see 70 again today! Get out if you can!

It was so darn gorgeous here yesterday! I need my work to let me work at night so I can outdoor prep during days like this. I'm gonna have to ask....

 

[FoxyChicken]

Foxy I don't know what to make of your murdered grouse mystery other than to tell you to knock on some wood and be glad it wasnt one of your birdies. It looks like bird of prey owl or hawk or eagle. They may have dropped it or caught it there, plucked it a bit and then moved on with the goods. IDK.. I think there are a couple scenarios to be had there.

foxy, my theory about your grouse is that it was flying to escape an aerial predator and didn't make it. thinking hawk flew off with body? thank goodness the grouse was the one taken. Be xtra careful with your flock.

You can provide a hawk shelter by propping something up that they can get underneath...plywood? old topper? a determined hawk/owl will go under but sometimes its enough to discourage them. good luck!

Thanks for the ideas gals! I didn't even think about the predator flying off with the body. That would explain why there were no bones. duh. I think I've convinced myself it was an owl and that it happened during the night while the girls were safe and snug in the coop.
I have things strategically placed around the yard for them to duck under for this very reason. The coop and run are in one corner, I've got a pallet up on cinder blocks in another, a little hoop house chicken tractor in another, and a couple of garden trailers in the other. I think they spend most of their day under the trailers, or in the hoop house if it's raining. But, I'm definitely thinking about them a lot more than normal today... Not only because of the grouse, but when I pulled in the driveway yesterday my little trouble-making EE had jumped the fence and was out all by herself! She is such a turd!! Her name has actually changed from Peanut, because she was the tiniest chick, to Trouble because if ever one of them is causing trouble it's her! But I can't stay mad at her and those cheeks

LOL

 

[Mistahbue]

Good morning all!

I was out tending the chickens this morning at 4:30, I coughed and heard an answering howl. Twice. That yote did not sound very far away I'll tell ya.
oh man, that bites. Hope it sells soon.

On the chicken chasing dog note, so a couple days ago my dog Brox was sitting there minding his own business looking over at the neighbors. My Fi starts walking up to him very slowly, like stalking, very intently looking at him. I just watched to see what would happen... right at the last second she rushes forward and

And!?

Coyotes? Not good. We've got a pack that hangs out somewhere in all these surrounding woods. Thankfully none in the yard. But with gun opener I know we will hear more activity directly.

Does anyone have any experience with donkey or alpaca ( or is it llama) to use as predator patrol?

 

[Minniechickmama]

Oh and I leave tomorrow to go to Goodridge deer hunting at mt great grandparents! Our whole family goes up there every year for hunting. Next time you see me it might be a picture of me with my monster buck. Lol it might be tiny.... Or a doe... Only time will tell!!

Good luck hunting!

Just wait, when you get older, you won't remember what boredom is. You will be wishing you had more time to get everything done you want to do. Enjoy the free time while you can.

 

[holm25]

Good luck hunting!

Just wait, when you get older, you won't remember what boredom is.  You will be wishing you had more time to get everything done you want to do.  Enjoy the free time while you can.

This is exactly what my parent tell me. When I start whining about being bored they usually say wow I wosh I could complain about being bored.

 

[holm25]

Its official I need some Blue laced red wyandottes this spring. Anyone know where I can get some hatching eggs from good quality birds???

 

[Minniechickmama]

Coyotes? Not good. We've got a pack that hangs out somewhere in all these surrounding woods. Thankfully none in the yard. But with gun opener I know we will hear more activity directly.

Does anyone have any experience with donkey or alpaca ( or is it llama) to use as predator patrol?

I know people who do, and a good guard llama is not a pet llama. I think donkeys are a hit and miss, you need to know they are good guardian before you get it.

 

[Coffee 1st]

"Frosty" is really big!!

I think u might have just given me the name of my new puppy.. Frosty...and yes that is a big bird u have... Very Handsome...