my very own micro farm

[darina]

That's great. People are usually surprised when I tell them which chickens lay which eggs. The only ones that I can't distinguish are a few of my Easter Eggers. I am prayin for rain on the west coast. We need it here in Idaho, we need it where you live and we need it in my hometown Wenatchee, which had several serious fires last week.

 

[attimus]

Happy 4th everyone. Busy night at work, bosses baby's 2nd birthday today, the restruaunts 3 year anniversary yesterday. Brunch in the morning and I'm bbqing one of the chickens tomorrow afternoon, along with an 8 lb rib eye or prime roast(whatever you want to call it) 3 lbs of brauts and whatever else everyone shows up with. Celebrating my own bday a little early. Anyways back to the 4th and work. Leaving tonight I was coming up over a hill on my way home and bam there's the moon big as ever just above the horizon. And the first thing I thought was man that looks like an egg being candled....
I might have a problem. Lol.

@darina indeed rainfall would be a wondrous thing here on the west coast. I read somewhere that Idahos weather comes in cycles and scientists have determined with better accuracy when droughts will happen there. In the 70s here they wanted to drill wells in the bottom of the town reservoir because the basin was empty. Didn't happen and we aren't near that extreme yet. So far its rained just enough to tease everyone but not enough to matter. I'm sure my chickens and ducks would all enjoy a little inclemate weather.

Onward and upward
Attimus

 

[attimus]

Always an interesting few days between the 4th and now. Today is officially my bday. I'm expecting birds from everyone though I've gotten most of my gifts, some which went to good purpose.

This Gerber machete was used to dispatch my two lorp roos, and with great success I might add. One quick stroke with a wide enough blade and no missing for me.
Also got this sweet gorilla cart to replace a busted old wheelbarrow

This thing is great and rated to 1200 lbs with a dump truck style lift to it to empty said contents. One side note though I left it out for 3 days before I put it together. Someone on the reviews for the product said it smelled like pesticides I could agree with that or assume it literally came off the assembly line and went into the box. I've mostly just put this to use hailing stuff from the car but it will have a greater purpose come the wet season.

Just found this mystery egg while I am typing this

Notice one of my chicks pecking at something on the ground and scooped this up. Its not a normal egg but not entirely soft either. Has some crunch but just gives or bends instead of breaking. I imagine the chicken was the cause of it breaking. Any thoughts.

Everyone is getting big, all the chick hatches, the new breeder ducks, hatched mallards and even the little wood duck. Everyone is fine and happy. Moved Qbert outside yesterday but I'll still be handling him mornings and evenings to keep him accustomed to us.
Wanted to get this all out of the way early. This days about me afterall. Have fun byc I know I will today.
Onward and upward
Attimus

 

[darina]

Happy birthday! I wouldn't worry about the gobbled egg if you are supplementing with oyster shell and it doesn't happen regularly. The first time I discovered my chickens had eaten an egg I was so disappointed! But since then that only has happened when an egg is broken by accident.

 

[birdman55]

great work so far...i have been super busy as well...happy bday btw...funny i got the same cart man that thing is a lifesaver for sure...keep us posted....hope the pond is going well...sorry i couldnt make it in due time...for sure...

 

[attimus]

Thanks for the bday wishes. Even with the few extra days off I still don't seem to have much spare time these days.
Cleaned out the main coop last week(among other things) had an issue with ants in there and that seemed a good place to start. I always forget how much bedding is in there til I move it. There was enough to bring my compost pit almost back to par with the ground with the ground around it. I did also bring home a dozen buckets from work last week as well. Happy dirt happy chickens happy plants.
Almost forgot about these.

Also got this stuff, it will also get put to good use.
Lots of rearranging the last few days. Moving birds, water and feed stations etc. Just kinda figuring out another 4 smaller pens and locations. Got some good pictures while I was out and about.

Kelsos. Last hatch still with momma. Part of the rotation yesterday and let me tell you she is something fierce. Anything but a kelso and she would have been long gone by now.

The WH and Cayuga have outsized the hatch of mallrads they were closest to as well as the adults but are still so child-like in behavior.

Been a while since Ive checked my mealworm beetle waste which is in fact no longer waste but hundreds of new worms in the bottom of both bins. about time lol.

Opened the door for a quick shot of these two. I think this pen needs a yard.

They wanted nothing to do with me, that is until....

They still didn't want anything to do with me . Haha. But didn't care that I got closer for pics.

The watermelon was also there last day for the time being in that pen. Moved to the main coop for now until I start building those pens I mentioned.
I've been drualling on long enough. Here's a quick one of the turkeys, happy they are still around.

And the wood duck

He's doing well.
There's more. There will always be more.
The presents the past and the future is now.
Onward and upward
Attimus

 

[attimus]

@birdman55 the pond is stagnant. Pun entirely intended. The ducks are currently using 3 kiddie pools in various locations. I have yet to concrete or get out and do much else on it in this heat. If I keep this rate up you might just be here when it gets finished lol.

 

[birdman55]

with the political campaign as it sits...i am moving...the birds are going up north and then will return when everything is back to normal...very weird for me to say...but this is the only way to make things easier...im sure you get my drift....as everyone else is like what....lol

 

[attimus]

Like Canada north? That would be a huge exodus for your birds. You should just move to California instead. There happens to be several properties on listing here on my same road

So all the adult mallards are going into molt. Doesn't look pretty. The other drake is also starting his eclipse. Their babies or growing so fast and don't look like babies so much any more.

Moved some birds again over my weekend. And happy to report that I wasn't attacked by my kelso momma who could have been renamed after Godzilla upon hatching chicks. Apparently dozens of apples and handfuls of mealworms can get you on anyones good side.

End transmission
Onward and upward
Attimus

 

[attimus]

Another busy week at work and finally got some rain last night after getting catching the tail end of 3 seperate thunderstorms. None of the birds are worse for wear in spite of the sudden downpour that came.

Speaking of work scored some nice heavy duty sliding glass doors from the old soda fridge there.

Solid frames and double paned, most likely be put to use on a greenhouse sort of structure from sprouts next season. Right now there's no telling. So much time between now and then.
Also waiting on 2 hog panels from the feed store that should have been here yesterday afternoon. Its literally right across from my street so not sure why that didn't happen couldn't really understand him on the phone, I'll inquire again when he gets here. 20$ delivery fee that didn't happen when I got dirt too. All leaving a kinda bitter taste in my mouth if you catch my drift.
-Side note-
Just saw the spangled kelso from the second hatch and an ee play fighting. Was hoping that kelso was a boy
When the panels get here I'll be able to put my smaller hoop coops together and get a feel for where I want to go with more from there. I'll also try and get the holding pens done so I can seperate the three older ones with a bit of feather damage to see what's going on and give em a chance to heal up.

As always the longer I sit here and type the less I do. I'll try and spend some time getting pictures of everyone this afternoon. The cayugas and harlequins are getting so big, even the wood duck is too. And some great feathering on birds all around. Off to the day.

Onward and upward
Attimus