New Mexico

[Zoomie]

I should have known... **everybody** knew about the Instant Pot before I did!

Just tell your neighbors you are giving them a wonderful experience of what life was like in the old days. And explain that you are not even going to charge them for it!

I tell you though, I do not understand why people get so upset about a rooster crowing in the morning. Especially when their dog barks all night long... Once had a neighbor come over and tell me that my sheep were keeping him awake at night. I guess he was a sheep linguistics expert, and could tell my sheep's voices from all the other sheep in all the other nearby fields? I asked him why he moved next to a sheep farm if he did not like sheep, it's not like we hid them or something, and by the way, could he possibly stop his 5 dogs from barking constantly? We finally just moved here to NM. About 95% of our neighbors are cows. They're not big on conversation but they mind their own business.

 

[Peep_Show]

There are several roos in the neighborhood already and I hear the choir of them when the dogs go out at o-dark-early. The neighbors, though, have their bedroom closer to my coop than my house is -- and I really like them -- and thusly a vocal rooster is of concern. Luckily, they are both early risers (hit the morning Mass), so it might not be too much of a problem.

LOL on the sheep. When we first moved here I couldn't figure out why I was hearing sheep at night and couldn't see them during the day. Turns out the local toads make a bleeting noise as their mating call. Nerrrrrrr......

 

[Peep_Show]

As I'm typing, I'm hearing the unmistakable noise and -- sure enough -- straight overhead up-close and personal. My guess is they're scoping a place to land. Nice morning for a flight.

 

[Zoomie]

As I'm typing, I'm hearing the unmistakable noise and -- sure enough -- straight overhead up-close and personal. My guess is they're scoping a place to land. Nice morning for a flight.
View attachment 1188144

WHOAH! That is pretty dang cool. Have you ever had the chance to ride in one?

Too funny about the toads. I doubt the "linguistic sheep expert" would have been able to pick that up. He was completely surprised that I would object to constantly barking dogs. All what we get used to I guess.

I appreciate that you try and get along with your neighbors. If only all people were so accommodating... Ah well. We do the best we can in the world we live in!

 

[Peep_Show]

A couple of years ago DH and I took a morning balloon ride. It was a fun experience (well, getting up at too-early for the dawn lift-off not so much so) and once aloft it was surprisingly quiet travel because you're traveling *with* the wind.

 

[fargosmom]

Hello! I've been away from BYC for a long time . . . but hubs and I are buying a place in Cerrillos and I'd love to hear thoughts about chicken-keeping around there. I'll poke through the rest of this thread but wanted to say "hi!"

 

[Peep_Show]

Hi, Fargosmom, and welcome back to BYC!
Lots of folks here to answer any questions about NM poultry. The main concern (IMHO) in general chicken keeping is protecting your flock against predators; so if you're building a coop, then make it impenetrable against your biggest adversary. If you're a hatchaholic, try to get local eggs as our altitude wreaks havoc on hatch rates for sea level eggs.
Welcome to our roost!

 

[Zoomie]

Hi, @fargosmom!

Cerillos is a beautiful area. What types of chickens do you think you'll be getting? I would second the built-to-withstand-anything coop, and would also advise a covered run, both built bigger than you think you'll need. A covered run?! Yep, we have raptors. Lots of them. Better to enjoy their beauty and majesty as they soar overhead than panic and have to worry about chickens being killed. At least, I personally find it more peaceful that way!

ETA: Oh whoops! Forgot to say: @Peep_Show: that sounds amazing! That would be a blast to ride in a balloon. You are so lucky!

 

[Peter.J]

Hello fellow New Mexicans! I was on here years ago but lost my login info so had to get a new login...
We just moved to Corrales so I was able to build a coop and get chickens again after a couple years off; so i’m re-learning some of the stuff and learning new stuff... I was never able to have roosters in the city but now i can, but apparently thats a learning curve too.
I bought a $5 rooster at the feed store (Rhode Island red) and he ended up attacking my wife, sister, nephew, and a puppy; at which point we decided to put him in the oven. Found out after the fact that those Rhode Island’s are some of the meanest roosters...
Just picked up a Bielefelder cockerel which are supposed to have good temperaments, so we’re hopeful this one turns out.
Peep show I see you’re in Corrales too; we’ve been seeing the balloons quite a bit too, even in the evenings which was surprising...

 

[FridayYet]

Hi @Peter.J

I've got a couple cockerels you could have... . Actually they'll probably end up as soup before too long. One rooster is enough for me. (Although my boy Sue is pretty calm, which is why he gets to stay.)

Welcome to Corrales!