North Carolina

[NewHomesteader2010]

Good morning everyone! Well, I am glad for a break in the heatwave...it's sad when high 80's seems like a break!! Nevertheless, I will be spending this morning in front of an oven baking cookies for company, so I am VERY happy it isn't going to be HOT!! I will also say I am under lockdown for the next couple of days until I find out what is taking the chicks. I thought it might be a fox cub since we saw a rather large fox on the road (dead) 2 houses up the other day. Thought mama might have been hit by a car and the kits are trying to feed off of little prey?!? I know this one wasn't a hawk as it was something lurking in the bushes. The only cat we have around here (that I know of) is the stray and her kittens, and all they do to the chickens is hiss if they get too close to their feed dish. LOL the runt of the litter is the SCARIEST of them all to the chickens!!

I didn't go into the bushes, so I guess it could also have been a snake. I'm just trying to think what predator would be small enough that mama chicken would go after it and not just accept the loss of a chick and run for dear life? Thanks for all the help everyone, and the well wishes. I knew it was a risk when we free ranged, it's just never easy losing one to a predator - especially when you don't know what it is and don't know how to prevent it from happening again.

Glad to hear that CSB made it to Vegas safely!!

Hope you can get your car checked out for a reasonable price!! Safe travels the rest of the way!!

Well, have a great day everyone, I am off to make some death by chocolate chocolate chip cookies...and maybe some chocolate peppermint cookies (if there's time)

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Peepers! I'm so sorry. I know he was a favorite.


Good Morning Everyone!

All is well here. Hubby returns from the current trip today. He's just flown in to Charlotte, but has a bit of a layover there. The fleas have finally found the dogs, so now I have a fight on my hands to keep them from getting bad and through the house. I'm glad we don't have much carpeting in the house. It's mostly hardwood, which helps a lot!

On the chick predator...if you didn't go into the bushes to see, then a snake moves up on the list. If it happens again, at least get a stick and push the branches over to look. If it's a fox kit, that'll likely make it run. If it's a snake, you should be able to find it. Gotta be something that can move in the brush.

 

[BHep]

RF... SO SORRY !!!

Yup...dead meat !!!

 

[LukesCityHens]

Peepers! I'm so sorry. I know he was a favorite.


Good Morning Everyone!

All is well here. Hubby returns from the current trip today. He's just flown in to Charlotte, but has a bit of a layover there. The fleas have finally found the dogs, so now I have a fight on my hands to keep them from getting bad and through the house. I'm glad we don't have much carpeting in the house. It's mostly hardwood, which helps a lot!

On the chick predator...if you didn't go into the bushes to see, then a snake moves up on the list. If it happens again, at least get a stick and push the branches over to look. If it's a fox kit, that'll likely make it run. If it's a snake, you should be able to find it. Gotta be something that can move in the brush.

you know my gf just finished school for grooming! and you already know where she works LOL.
SO i guess I found a "home" for the lav roos....an asain man called and wants to buy them to eat would be my guess. at least I'll get some vietnamese soup out of the deal.

 

[TheRookie]

It's beena while since I've been on here so I figured Id get on my new laptop and show you all some updated pics of my bird kids


Chip and Dale are the two EEs to the left and Lucas is the Frizzle roo to the right

Kitty, my D'uccle, who I thought for sure was a girl... see how that turned out lol
He is for sale by the way

My ducks, no longer tiny but still cute

And this is Wheat and Toast. My newest additions. If anyone can identify the dark ones breed, please let me know. Wheat has slate colored legs and light blue earlobes, Toast is dark everywhere, including her comb. Tonight, Im getting some eggs for them to hatch thanks to Gavin.

 

[KristanB]

I have a hen tryin to crow but she sounds horse.....why? Other than that shes fine. Any ideas....and 99.99% sure she IS a she.

 

[TheRookie]

Sorry for the pic overload but I havent been on here in forever. How on earth could I have forgotten these pics? I know a few people had asked me to post them..

Above: Everyone throwing their hats, I had an awesome photographer lol
Below: me and my mom after graduation ceremony... right before i took off my cap and gown and put on comfy clothes lol

Gavins eggs She had taken the silkie eggs but had not quite decided what to do with the big eggs yet when I left her out there at around 10:30. Hopefully she will take them. I dont think Wheat, the lighter one, will really sit. She seems to get bored of it. I think maybe shes only there to keep Toast company on her nest... Ah well at least Toast is determined. All the dud eggs I took out from under her were warm and she seems to roll them properly so I have a good feeling about this


Oh and if anyone near me wants a barn or house cat, these are gorgeous and sooo sweet!! Just need new homes

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Lovely pics Rookie!! Best of luck finding homes for those adorable barn kittens, I was trying to send a few of mine home with Beth - without any luck. I will just have to keep on it. LOL.

Day 2 of lockdown, and no one is happy with me! I suspect it could be because we bothered them all yesterday trying to sex the chicks (more roosters than hens, BOO), but I really think they just want to be out and about. I think I will let them out on Monday and just be extra observant to see what is out there...I am hoping it moved on seeing there is nothing here for them to get!!

For those of you who didn't know, Beth is the official CHICKEN WHISPERER!! I cannot explain it, but she was able to take the eggs out from under Jemimah (the BO broody) without so much as a SOUND. I go in to feed & water everyone last night, and give them a treat and again, she is PECKING my shoe for being near the nesting box!! I could pretend it is just because she is crabby with everyone being locked up with her all day, but alas she was like this when they were out. I think I need chicken whispering classes!! I had a great time chatting and visiting with Beth and her family - they all are so sweet!! Either DD1 was on her best behavior, flirting with the boys, or she just saved it up for me, but BOY did Miss Attitude come out after everyone left!!

I am scared to see what she will be like in 11 more years when we hit the <gasps> teen years!!

Have a great day everyone. I am hoping to actually get some sewing done!!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Good Morning Everyone!

Just for the record, if I was in the market for a kitten, that last pic would have done me in. Thankfully, The Boys say they don't want another cat here!

Lovely graduation pics, too! So...where do you go from here? What's the next stop in your life?

Hubby got home safely yesterday...and leaves again this morning. Sigh. Only a couple days this time, and then it'll be a couple weeks before he takes off again. His job does keep him busy.

My loom parts came in yesterday, so I can get back on it...except I started another sweater on Wednesday, so now want to finish it up before I get back to weaving. I need to plan a sweater with chickens on it....

Still debating on WCA this weekend. Although it's cooler, it's still going to be in the 90's, which is nothing to sneeze at. Those of you who have been going a while...how do you think chicks would do in small hardware cloth cages? Lots of airflow...until they are surrounded by crates, of course. Thoughts on that?

That is all this morning. Everyone have a cool day!

 

[abChicken]

HIS NAME IS UGLY