North Carolina

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:

*POP* Done!

I like those too...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Glad to meet ya wvchickenhouse...

 

[ramirezframing]

My mom cooks the turkey

and some sides. I cook the greenbean cassoroll, 3 or 4 pies (one being peacan for dad) and pumkin custrued, rolls, and frapea (jello with fruit and whipcream). Its gonna stink when I gotta cook the bird.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Quote:

BHep - great advice...only I don't know if my turkey comes with a timer that pops or not...I'm not sure if the Amish use those or put those in the turkeys you buy from them or not!!

If you see a big smoke cloud out in your neck of the woods..it may just be me cooking!! HAHA

Okay, so DH comes home to inform me that he has to go back into work tonight to run some stupid test. He starts to head out and say, "WOH! Honey, I don't think the cat is the one who is eating all the food." "WHAT?" I walk out on our deck and see NOTHING. He points to behind our grill and says it looks like we've been feeding this opossum rather well! This sucker is HUGE!! I mean he is bigger than my tom cat and that fatty weighs over 10 pounds. He proceeds to laugh at me and make fun of me when I grabbed a shovel and said, "Okay I am ready to get this thing off my porch". Apparently all it did was look at me and PEE!!

DH asks me what I want to do with it - as if I was going to keep it and make it a PET or something. Anyway DH (who was wearing steel toed shoes compared to my socks) offered to "shove" the thing off the porch. I looked at him and said, "DEAD! See, this is why I need a gun. I want that thing DEAD."

"At least I know what I can get you for Christmas now"....yeah, my husband has a nice way of finding humor in almost anything!! The best part, as he booted it off the porch, it actually got stuck between our deck railings and was "hanging" there for a moment before wiggling it's way free and falling to the ground. I was VERY disappointed he did not let me bash it's head in with a shovel....my rationale - it was big enough to make an easy meal out of my chickens!! I wonder if that's why my egg count has been down the last couple of days. Hmmm... So it looks like I am getting a .22 for Christmas!! I'm not having any opossum bigger than my cat roaming around looking for a free meal, carrying all sorts of who knows what with it. Okay, so now that my rant

is over with....what do you more experienced people have to say? I am just worried about my baby first and foremost and then of course my chickens!! Are they usually this bold to come up to the door?? It was at our main door eating a few crumbs of cat food left in the bowl that we leave out for Tink. I'd expect this from a raccoon, but being as we're out in the open we haven't seen one coon come close to us - they usually stay out in the woods or rummage through our compost and eat egg shells and banana peels. I am ALL up for some advice!! Thanks everyone!!

 

[doubleatraining]

NH, My advice.....forget the .22 get a 12g!!!

Bhep, I admire you for fostering. It is something that I would eventually love to do. Although me being single and working 24/72 might not be ideal for their standards.

I'm SOOOO excited. I caught my BCM hen doing the "will I fit in the nesting box" dance today. Hopefully I'll have some nice dark eggs here soon. She has been looking at the nest more carefully the past few days and today she actually climbed in and checked it out. About time that freeloader started paying her way! LOL

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:

congrats won't be long till you'll be having an omlet for breakfast.

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:

BHep - great advice...only I don't know if my turkey comes with a timer that pops or not...I'm not sure if the Amish use those or put those in the turkeys you buy from them or not!!

If you see a big smoke cloud out in your neck of the woods..it may just be me cooking!! HAHA

Okay, so DH comes home to inform me that he has to go back into work tonight to run some stupid test. He starts to head out and say, "WOH! Honey, I don't think the cat is the one who is eating all the food." "WHAT?" I walk out on our deck and see NOTHING. He points to behind our grill and says it looks like we've been feeding this opossum rather well! This sucker is HUGE!! I mean he is bigger than my tom cat and that fatty weighs over 10 pounds. He proceeds to laugh at me and make fun of me when I grabbed a shovel and said, "Okay I am ready to get this thing off my porch". Apparently all it did was look at me and PEE!!

DH asks me what I want to do with it - as if I was going to keep it and make it a PET or something. Anyway DH (who was wearing steel toed shoes compared to my socks) offered to "shove" the thing off the porch. I looked at him and said, "DEAD! See, this is why I need a gun. I want that thing DEAD."

"At least I know what I can get you for Christmas now"....yeah, my husband has a nice way of finding humor in almost anything!! The best part, as he booted it off the porch, it actually got stuck between our deck railings and was "hanging" there for a moment before wiggling it's way free and falling to the ground. I was VERY disappointed he did not let me bash it's head in with a shovel....my rationale - it was big enough to make an easy meal out of my chickens!! I wonder if that's why my egg count has been down the last couple of days. Hmmm... So it looks like I am getting a .22 for Christmas!! I'm not having any opossum bigger than my cat roaming around looking for a free meal, carrying all sorts of who knows what with it. Okay, so now that my rant

is over with....what do you more experienced people have to say? I am just worried about my baby first and foremost and then of course my chickens!! Are they usually this bold to come up to the door?? It was at our main door eating a few crumbs of cat food left in the bowl that we leave out for Tink. I'd expect this from a raccoon, but being as we're out in the open we haven't seen one coon come close to us - they usually stay out in the woods or rummage through our compost and eat egg shells and banana peels. I am ALL up for some advice!! Thanks everyone!!

NH - please keep an eye out or you will find more than your egg count down, they will KILL chickens!!! DEAD is the word no questions ask.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Last winter we had a young possum living somewhere close to our home because during the day it would come around and eat out of the feed trough, the chickens and ducks would just watch it and it never acted aggressive towards any of them and I have some very small bantams, never caught it in the coop either. so I guess it's up to the individual whether to kill or not, If I felt one was thereating my flock them we have to take action, but they are every where and have a purpose so I just leave them alone. Just my opinon.

 

[vfem]

I had a opposum last week... hubby offed it. I'm not taking any risk! Did it close range w/ a bb gun of all things!

Anyways, had a sad afternoon... went to go feed the chickens after work and found my blue frizzy showgirl laying down dead next to the roost. I checked her over, no damage, no fleas or mites, no visible blood, empty crop and no poo around her. She wasn't acting funny when I saw her yesterday... but the girls were picking on her bad yesterday!? They were pulling feathers, and the young roo kept chasing her and backing her back into the coop. I just thought, he was being a young roo and they'd figure it out?!

 

[doubleatraining]

vfem, I'm so sorry for your loss.



ETA: Just placed an order for my GE. 7 cu foot chest freezer. Will be delivered and installed next Friday. I got a STEAL. Can't wait to stock it with pies, cookie batter, soups/stocks, and CHICKENS.

Processing Day Sunday and Monday this week. If anyone wants to join you are welcome. You can bring your own birds or just be here for the experience. Turkeys and chickens both days. Possibly a duck Monday.