North Carolina

[busymadre]

Good morning all!
Just got to work. Looks like a sunny day, but rain coming. My DH is taking off work tomorrow (and I have Fridays off). We were gonna work on the yard, but the rain is coming and I think this weekend will be a wash. Disappointed

Cleaned out the girls pen last night. Have play sand in there and thought it would be easier to clean, but having to sift all that sand for their droppings is time consuming. Maybe they are just scratching and mixing it in. Almost easier to just change out the bedding every week. Any suggestions?
One of the girls has a beak issue. Its not line up together. She seems healthy and is eating well so hoping she is able to work through her "disability" as she grows up.

Have a good day everyone!

 

[CricketR4]

Good morning everyone! Kids are off to school, chickens and ducks are out "ranging", I'm on my second cup of coffee, while reading threads on BYC.

Our greenhouse collapsed during the snow/ice storm we had a few weeks ago, so no seeds going yet. We had carrots, turnips, parsley, onions and garlic going over the winter in the greenhouse, but after it collapsed, skunks and chickens (among other things) got in there and dug up the beds. We're going to remake the greenhouse out of reclaimed windows, so hopefully it'll be sturdier this time around. Not sure what I'll be planting this year. I want more carrots, turnips and parsley for sure, also some more onions, some basil, rosemary, thyme, potatoes, tomatoes, snap peas... We'll see.

Hope everyone has a good day!

 

[The Howards]

I must be the only one that puts the seeds right into the ground?! But the kids love hoeing the garden and putting the seeds or plants in the ground.

Nope I do it that way too. Have much better luck with it than starting them inside. I just don't have the knack of transfering them apparently. They thrive inside but when I put them out (no matter when I tried) they died.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

I need a BYC pep talk...feeling like the WORST chicken owner EVER!! Didn't put a heat lamp on our girls last night because I didn't think at their age they needed it. Went out to feed them this morning and found them in a huddled mass in the corner of the grow out pen...at the bottom of the pile, one dead chick - the smallest of the bunch, obviously trampled/smothered to death!

This makes 4 sweet girls lost in a matter of days. I didn't lose ONE when they were growing up with a chicken mama (aside from the ones that were taken by predators, and the few that died shortly after hatching because a mama ATE them...

)...as a chicken mama, I really stink! Now I am doubting whether or not I will be able to have our freedom rangers (meAt birds) as I can't seem to keep these chicks alive. Granted 3 were killed by guineas, but I still feel like I let them down. Maybe it's the hormones speaking, but I really do feel like a failure in the chick department. Thank you all for letting me lament

and cry on your shoulders!!

 

[TarheelBirdy]

I need a BYC pep talk...feeling like the WORST chicken owner EVER!! Didn't put a heat lamp on our girls last night because I didn't think at their age they needed it. Went out to feed them this morning and found them in a huddled mass in the corner of the grow out pen...at the bottom of the pile, one dead chick - the smallest of the bunch, obviously trampled/smothered to death!

This makes 4 sweet girls lost in a matter of days. I didn't lose ONE when they were growing up with a chicken mama (aside from the ones that were taken by predators, and the few that died shortly after hatching because a mama ATE them...

)...as a chicken mama, I really stink! Now I am doubting whether or not I will be able to have our freedom rangers (meAt birds) as I can't seem to keep these chicks alive. Granted 3 were killed by guineas, but I still feel like I let them down. Maybe it's the hormones speaking, but I really do feel like a failure in the chick department. Thank you all for letting me lament

and cry on your shoulders!!

Don't be so hard on yourself!! I know you feel terrible, but keep trying....things do happen with the chicks, and let's face it - chickens are NOT the easiest things to raise anyway - so give yourself some slack here!! We have all made mistakes....all of us.

 

[TarheelBirdy]

I have started some seeds inside and will be starting more this weekend and over the next few weeks. I put them under lights. Mark will till the garden in April and we will transplant them once it warms up.

Those of you who have started your seeds in the ground already - what do you do to protect them from frost?

 

[busymadre]

I agree with TarHeelBirdy. You seem to have a lot on your plate right now. I get down on myself too sometimes. It's good that you vent on BYC to release a little. Just start again and remember the good.

 

[The Howards]

I was also wondering about the frost issue. I want to get the garden spots tilled but was thinking to plant in mid-late March or early April. When there is only a slight chance of frost. We usually get the same weather my in-laws have in AR get a few days afterward and according to their fb posts they are getting flurries again. I am praying that it will be only rain for us!

 

[jfaith51]

I need a BYC pep talk...feeling like the WORST chicken owner EVER!! Didn't put a heat lamp on our girls last night because I didn't think at their age they needed it. Went out to feed them this morning and found them in a huddled mass in the corner of the grow out pen...at the bottom of the pile, one dead chick - the smallest of the bunch, obviously trampled/smothered to death!

This makes 4 sweet girls lost in a matter of days. I didn't lose ONE when they were growing up with a chicken mama (aside from the ones that were taken by predators, and the few that died shortly after hatching because a mama ATE them...

)...as a chicken mama, I really stink! Now I am doubting whether or not I will be able to have our freedom rangers (meAt birds) as I can't seem to keep these chicks alive. Granted 3 were killed by guineas, but I still feel like I let them down. Maybe it's the hormones speaking, but I really do feel like a failure in the chick department. Thank you all for letting me lament

and cry on your shoulders!!

I am so sorry for the loses you've had this week.

You are not a bad chicken mama.
We have all had things like this happen and we feel just rotten. We all love our chickens and hate when any die. When the Freedom Ranger chicks arrive you will do fine.

 

[soupysmomma]

jfaith51 you are not a bad chicken mama... you are doing a great job!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts/prayers for my cat. Went to vet and she said he just strained his knee. So on some pain meds and recheck in two weeks. It was a wonderful sight when he came out in the kitchen last night for dinner time... usually never missed a meal time : )

I am still trying to put the finishing touches on my coop ( a converted playhouse) so I can move all of my chicks (not so much anymore) out off the back porch. The Cornish X are just way to big to be out here. I am thinking about moving them and leaving the layers on the porch for another week and then moving them out to coop. I hope to get all this done this weekend while officiating all day Saturday.

Oh well hope everyone has a great day and enjoys the beautiful sunshine while we have it.