North Carolina

[laughingdog]

spiders eat tons of the actually really bad bugs though..

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

I've had a spider send me to the ER and a goose scared the crud out of me as a child. (It attacked my uncle's watch. I was horrified it would go for me next!)

Garden spiders and Wolf spiders do not terrify me. I actually kind of like them. We have a Garden spider growing HUGE and eating every fly in sight by my water hose. I check her position and say hello before touching the faucet. She's mere inches from the handle.

Show me a tiny spider along the wall inside the house... I'm outta there! That's what sent me to the ER.

Any spider with a glossy black butt DIES because around here they all turn out to be Black Widows. Every stinking time!

Oh, and I've made peace with geese. I would like a small flock, but the children voted for guineas first.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Quote:

Glad to know you were only teasing. We would be free ranging our ducks and as such, DH said we have to wait until next year (so we can get our fence up first).

I was all lined up to get a cute pair of runner ducks, but alas I have been denied for now.

I guess it's a good thing as we still have a lot of building/work to do on this place, and it would help to have it all done (or at least in order) before going that route. Thanks for the offer though!! hehe

This weekend is a major work weekend...we are tearing down an old dilapidated playset and building DD a sandbox. Also,

my garden did NOT survive, so we are going to till it, let the sun cook the roots of the grasses, till it again and repeat the process for a good week or so. I am tempted to try raised bed gardening, but DH doesn't want beds all over the place and so so far I am losing this battle. I am also losing the container battle - I wanted a few fruit plants in pots so they would be closer to the house and easier pickings. Anyone know how long it takes for a garden to really get established and producing? (Or does it just take knowing what you're doing??

) We picked up a new book that sounds really intriguing called the "Backyard Homesteader" and talks about how you can feed a family of 4 on just a 1/4 of an acre...since we have a LOT more than that, we're hoping to see what we can do.

This book talks about owning your own bees, cow/goat (for milk and meat), CHICKENS (for fresh eggs), pigs and even shows you how to plot out your area to grow wheat or oats!! I think we might be able to get away with feeding our (Lord Willing) family of 8 on what we have!! Since there's only 3 of us now...I guess we can start small...we're close to the recommended 12 chickens....BUT I think I will let Shannon be the bee keeper!! My mother would definitely NEVER visit us and I really don't want to carry an epi pen with me if I was to tend to the bees!!

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!!

 

[gavinandallison]

Quote:
Sissy Allison here Em - Yikes - I would have freaked. I had a frog get in my house one night while Gavin was still at work- I was scared to death , took my big brave German Shepherds and Pugs into the bedroom and closed the door until the man got home.

I don't do creepy crawly critters - hamsters , rats , lizards keep them - I will stick with my furry friends

( and put up with the Gavin's chicken addiction ) OK I like the silkies

they are really fur babies - and OK the others are sweet too..... good day

 

[Mama_hen]

Hi,
Iredell county, 10 hens

 

[Greenskeeper]

I have someone eating eggs!!!

any suggestions!!! I already spoil them?

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:
Do you know who it is? If you can point that one out I was told by a seasoned breeder to feed that particular one a scrambled egg a day shell included and they should quit...

 

[BHep]

mama_hen

RF...did not forget about the SL Polish. We were out staring and I THINK there is 1 rooster & 3 hens, but I doubt I could be that lucky. Now that my internet is working I will get some pictures and post them. See what everyone thinks. I have GL Polish coming out of my ears

Still hatching away... I AM winding down.

Hatched 10 on Tues. and have some in LD due Sat. I have my 1st peafowl egg in lockdown

I candled before lockingdown, I did not see any movement, hoping it was sleeping.

I also have 4 more developing

 

[laughingdog]

i had success with putting a dummy egg were i wanted the hens to lay, and kept track of when who was going in to lay and starting egg call, then when did second one after layed took real egg out without it being seen, so whenever the four hens id received recent, went then to try to eat them, they only could mess wit the ceramic egg and after a solid week, they stopped eating other's eggs, and after that started laying their own and not eating in week or so to follow. i also incorporated crushed egg shell for grit and calcium (mine didnt take to the oyster shell), and crushed or small, hi pro, dog food for protein. cat food might have worked quicker, but only used it sparingly as gave poops if gave more than hand full. mine layed everyday (except all but one who continued to lay, while brooding eggs and chicks when i left enough eggs for them for week or so in each nest), and non were egg laying type.

 

[laughingdog]

that is an interesting thing i never hear reffered to.. that the chick might be resting. as alot say if check and not moving to toss that its died somewhere along lines. though i tap on and roll my eggs a little and after to much putzing they start "dancing" again. some must be lazy though as opened a couple and they started moving after a whi8le or when fed to and bit into by lizards etc..