NY chicken lover!!!!

[featherz]

I've never in my life had a sinus infection and I have five cats and usually have chicks in the house.. and three coops of chickens. That said, I DO wear a respirator when coop cleaning but I can't get away from the cats quite that easily.

 

[rancher hicks]

Now I would take all your roosters, Rancher, but I live too far away. I think roo stew is wonderful and nasty roo crock pot meal is delicious. (I actually have been known to put the name of the rooster on the bag, how warped am I? LOL)

You guys all raise 'em up and Ray and I will come out with our knives, hook (to catch them with), rope and saw horse; knock them off, pluck them and only take half the roos home with us. You keep the other half. LOL (PS FYI we don't gut them, too messy. We just strip the breasts off and cut off the thighs/legs. Only meat you are missing is the back meat and the gizzards, if you are into cooking them for pets)

Well now that would not be very smart to raise them up and then give them away would it. These are just chicks yet, but I figure for free pullets you should at least take some roosters. Yes I do think it's a little warped to put the name on the bag, but then there are other things folks do with there chickens that I think is strange. Lord have mercy, my family won't eat my chickens now, which is why I don't raise the roosters but get rid of them asap.

I have all I can do to put a bird down if it looks cross eyed. After four years I'm still working up to the plucking and cleaning part. Your detailed description isn't helping any. I try not to think about it, even when I do it.

I reckon I'd just about starved to death if I had been on the Mayflower.

I go out to the coop with a styrofoam tray and say , "Come on now, get on this tray", and the chickens just stare at me, like they don't know what I'm saying. Stupid birds!

 

[featherz]

I go out to the coop with a styrofoam tray and say , "Come on now, get on this tray", and the chickens just stare at me, like they don't know what I'm saying. Stupid birds!

ROFL.. you are toooo hilarious!!

I'm glad I'm a vegetarian - I'd be no good at it either. It takes most of what I've got to put down a sick chicken and I'm not even entirely sure I can do that ever again. Too much of a softie even when I know it's best for the animal.

And cass, if you ever come to get extra roos from me, you can take them ALL, but they gotta be alive when they leave here.. what you do with em later don't tell me.

 

[JLaw]

I go out to the coop with a styrofoam tray and say , "Come on now, get on this tray", and the chickens just stare at me, like they don't know what I'm saying. Stupid birds!

That is your problem use a shiny bakeing sheet and see how fast they come to you. mine love to peck shiny stuff so maybe they will all just jump on and start pecking as you carry it back inside and put it in the oven.

 

[rancher hicks]

I've never in my life had a sinus infection and I have five cats and usually have chicks in the house.. and three coops of chickens. That said, I DO wear a respirator when coop cleaning but I can't get away from the cats quite that easily.

Well I might take offense but there are some of us who suffer with allergies and they can lead to sinus infections and ear aches and the like. I have one sinus canal the doc wants to operate on and I said no way. It gets clogged and makes my ear and teeth on that side hurt.

I have a friend who had the op and they say no way would they do it again.

What's more I am allergic to cats, dogs and a bunch of other stuff.

My point being if you've never had a sinus infection then you should count your blessings. I might not be so uppity but yesterday I was laying with my ear on a heating pad trying to get some relief. I am also tired and trying to function as best I can in spite of the aggravation.

My wife laughs because sometimes I'll make a cup of tea and hold the cup to my ear so the heat will help unclog the ear canal. I admit it does look funny but I don't do it in public.

Pardon my grouchyness.

Rancher

 

[rancher hicks]

So Mderby came today and brought me three bags of manure and left with 4 BM chicks, a blue orp pullet and Del roo. I could tell she didn't really want to take the rooster.

I tell you they are so nice. He was the only one in the pool that came near when I stuck my hand in. So easy to catch.

BUT while I was down 6 the EE broody in the coop was mothering 5 more BM chicks. I was worried she might not be a good Momma. It was so cold. She did have another egg but I took it and tossed it, after which she came out of the nest box to teach them to eat and drink.

 

[featherz]

Oh believe me, I am not discounting the not fun-ness of sinus infections - just saying it's not just cats and chickens causing it, necessarily. Most likely has some help from one virus or another. I work in a clinic and have seen some naaaaaaaaaaaaasty sinus infections - I can see that they are NO fun.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I'll be moving the first four BM's outside. I heard one of the roosters crowing or at least trying to.

TOB, what exactly is it you're taking? I need to know so I can get rid of the rest. Just the three Del pullets? or more? Mderby is taking the lav orp pullet today. Whether she knows it or not, plus some BM chicks. And if I can get her to, a rooster.

Sent ya a PM, Rancher.......

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Well I'm back from the store. The pharmicist helped me pick the right sudafed for being pregnant which was nice. There are a lot of different kinds. I took one as soon as I got back in the car. My head feels a whole lot better now. I'm back to thinking about food. Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and caesar salad on the menu. Stopped at TSC and they don't have any chicks anymore, but I bought $14 worth of seeds instead. Collard greens, 2 kinds of swiss chard(rhubarb&fordhook) , 2 kinds of cucumber(bush&straight 8), arugula, parsnips, butternut, and zucchini. At walmart I got 2 kinds of beans(wax&royal burgandy), beets, and a swiss chard. I get that same urge for plants and seeds that I would for chicks. I really enjoy growing my own food. Next month we are planning on getting some meaties from someone that breeds them near watertown.

Tab,

sorry you are still feeling poorly. Sinus infections have some telltale symptoms, some of which can be pressure in the face, head and even teeth. When you bend over (if you can, Mommy-to-be!) do you feel pressure around your cheeks and eyes? Also, if you tap you along the bridge of your nose, is it uncomfortable? Headaches? We are well acquainted with sinus infections here, I'm afraid. Both my kids were prone to them until their sinus cavities matured and opened a bit. When you are pregnant, mucous in your body thickens up and your membranes also swell which can make any kind of proper drainage that much tougher. Wherever you get excessive mucous hanging around too long you risk infection. Bacteria LOOOVE wet spots. So give it a day or two if you feel you can, but get checked out soon. Usually 10 days is the magic number where you know it's not a cold or virus anymore, but probably an infection. Drink water likes it's going out of style. How about a Neti pot? They work GREAT to bust the stuff up, if you can get over the yuck factor of pouring saline water into your nasal cavities!

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

CASS ........

Thanks for your 2 cents on the new coop ceiling quandary!!

I completely get what you're warning me about with the girls seeking out those rafters. That's why I was considering leaving only the middle section of the coop open, but putting up ceiling at either end. To get into the rafters in the middle of the coop, it would require straight up flight, about 10 feet. I figure, too, that if they are that athletic and are able to somehow access the middle of the coop rafters, I will then just bag the idea and finish enclosing it.

Hubby had the idea about putting up a complete ceiling, but then cutting out a trapdoor type area for improved ventilation. We could wire across that opening to prevent any Amelia Earhart hens from gaining access.

I value your input AND candor, so keep the thoughts coming! Thx.


RANCHER .......

Regarding the "church" coop comment...... I think it looks like a little school house! So if we morph our two imaginations, we'll have a Catholic school for the hens. They'll be holy AND smart.

Anyway, if you knew my husband, you would know that he will never, EVER, design anything that is simple. You should see my crazy house! When he grumbles about the coop and construction difficulties or expenses, I remind him he is Dr. Frankenstein and he forged the chains he wears!!!!

(All joking aside, though, I am so blessed to have him. I am secretly in awe of what he can do!!!)



TOB