North Carolina

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
what is a Carolina coop?

www.carolinacoops.com - They're really pretty coops, premade and delivered, so it's just sitting on the ground. She said it took 10 big men to unload it and get it in position so certainly it's heavy, but she was worried with hurricane force winds if it would be secure enough???? I don't have a clue!

What an awesome coop, I still think I'd try to figure a way to ground it, those winds can be fierce.

 

[vfem]

Ruthann, you live in a hit or miss area for hurricanes. Floyd tore through pretty bad, and I'm trying to remember the one that we had our roof crushed from in Cary? I was in highschool at the time so it had to be 95-96? What gets me is at this point we're watching and there is a 'good' chance it hits us Saturday around 2pm. If those jetstreams change, even a little, time changes, location changes.... and its a difference between us feeling winds and getting wet or nothing at all!

But don't be shocked when you get to Food Lion or Kroger or whatnot and those shelves are EMPTY! Happens everytime! We're going shopping in the morning and crossing our fingers as Hubby's mom is flying in from Iowa on Sunday. Whatever happens, it needs to PASS FAST!

SCM, no worries.... I promise, even if it hits it going to feel much weaker where we are, and we may get rain (which we need) and some winds. Get some candles and its a great excuse to play family board games by candlelight. I so enjoy doing that!

As for your friend's coop (the portable right?) I'm thinking you can get a box of lawn staples from Home Depot. Run some rope from the bottom of the coop to the staples in the lawn. I'd make sure they were locked up in the coop part and out of the run though, I'd be more worried about drowning with heavy rains.

My girl's are getting put on lock down for this one.

 

[suburbanchickymama]

Quote:
It was Fran! We were out of power for forever! This better not be another Fran!

I'll pass on the tips about the staples! Thanks!

 

[gavinandallison]

So I place 12 eggs in lockdown Tuesday morning, go to get a shirt out of the wardrobe this morning and hear cheeps from the incubator! Hope I will find a b/s silkie chick hatched when I get home........

 

[suburbanchickymama]

Good luck with the hatch, G&A!!!

A great big ol' owl was just scoping out my coop! They should be perfectly safe, but still! And 2 nights ago when I went to lock up the girls for the night I definitely heard a big sounding critter run off. I've borrowed some cool night vision goggles to try and sneak a peek one night but haven't yet. Getting nervous! Hope my setup is as safe as I think it is!!!

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

SCM - I will keep you posted regarding Tink. DH is working with a rescue group, and I want to make sure they don't find her a home before offering her to someone else. Even before she goes anywhere...she needs to be fixed and had a bit more TLC. Thank you so much for offering though and like I said...I will keep you updated!!

I REALLY need to read these posts before I go to the grocery store.

So what do I buy? Frozen organic fruit and such.

Well, I guess if I am out of power for a few days we can always have soup warmed up in the fireplace and eat thawed frozen fruit & veggies!!

DD would be in heaven with the latter!!

she refuses to eat any meat...I tried her on just some seasoned chicken after failing with bland chicken....no luck. I won't complain though...it'll be very hard to get fat on fruit and veggies with an occasional PB sandwich!!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed we aren't out of power for a week..I'm scheduled to fly out for a wedding next week!! Although, it wouldn't break my heart if my flight was cancelled and I was forced to stay home with my DH!!

Also, I don't know who all lives out in the Fayetteville area but they just found 2 POSITIVE CASES OF RABIES in two raccoons they tested. I just wanted to warn whomever is out that way to be extra careful and extra cautious! Hope everyone is having a good day. Keep us posted on Irene!!

Good luck G&A with your hatch!
Okay people...where are all of our new chickie photos?? I'm going through withdrawals and if you don't help out...well I may end up like BHep!!

(Nothing but love BHep!!)

 

[gavinandallison]

Thanks for the words of support with my chicks!

Ruthann, congrats on the news!!!!!!!!!!

I will post pics if hatched when I get home tonight......

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:
Here's my little girl that hatched last week all by herself. She is such a sweetie and been a great trooper being by herself. Only a couple more days and she will have some brooder mates. (hopefully

)

 

[Lunar Ice]

I lived in S. FL for most of my life until I moved up to NC two and a half years ago... There are a few things to keep in mind about hurricanes (since some of you have asked). To me, hurricanes aren't a big deal..but I'm from climate and area that dealt with them contantly and was always prepared. We pretty much would just be like "neh....another storm." and we'd just close our shutters for a few days, gripe about the loss of power, and grumble about having to vaccuum leaves out of the pool AGAIN, until the next storm rolled in. They aren't something to panic about but that doesn't mean they aren't dangerous and the big factor is which end of the storm you get.

Make sure you have extra batteries for your flashlights and/or lamps. Hurricane lamps are GREAT, they put out enough light to fill a small room but they will eat your batteries if you're using them constantly.
A small radio that runs on batteries is also a good idea because you can get updates on road conditions, downed power lines, and storm tracking.
It is a good idea to either buy extra flats of water/water gallons - keeping in mind that tap water may not be drinkable or may require boiling (fine if you have a gas stove, gas grill, or fieplace with enough wood). Make sure you have enough for your pets, including the ones outdoors! If you can't drink the water, chances are..they can't either. I used to freeze about 4 gallons of water extra just so that we could have some cold water AND because it helps keep the fridge/freezer cold for an extended period of time when the power goes out.
Fill up your cars with gas --- I think it is a LAW now that all gas stations have to have generators, but in FL we had a problem getting gas one year and it taught us a lesson. Fill up your car, you never know what may happen or if you suddenly have to leave.

Finally..DON'T shop the day before the storm...not only will it be INSANE (think about how people act if you mention the CHANCE of a SNOW FLURRY in winter) but it will also be difficult to get the things you might want, and you know there will be no bread and no milk. I don't know why this is a storm/winter staple....but I promise you, if you have no power, six gallons of milk and a bunch of stale bread ISN'T going to help you! I used to stock up on granola bars and trail mix as my "worse case senario" rations.

I hope everyone, and all of your animals, make it through the storm unphased and unharmed with minimal damage.

I may be just posting things that people already know, and if I am...I apologize, I just know that when things get stressful or you're in a rush, sometimes the little things slip your mind when you're busy running around trying to prepare. At least, it's like that for ME...but I lost my mind a long time ago.

 

[HenThymes]

Hi Lunar! Some good advise and very familiar. I too am from Fl, central that is.

We just boarded up and waited it out. For some reason I found myself doing allot of canning and baking during that time.

We seldom lost power as we were in a newer neighborhood and all the lines were buried. The only comfort I had there that I don't have here is that our houses were built from block, every thing here is stick and just doesn't stand a chance against strong wind. Miss my block.

Here in the foothills I can be thankful that we won't see any affects from the storm other than maybe a bit of wind. I do hope everyone comes thru this weekend safe.

Mockvilles not too far away, coming to join us this weekend for Chickenstock? Anyone on the east looking for something to do and get away from the weather this weekend head on over!!