NY chicken lover!!!!

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Well it is that time again ...Anyone want to meet up at the state fair ?
I havent planned a day yet ...any one have a day or 2 planned ?

I'll be working there again this year. Looks like I'll be there more this year too as they need my help more now then ever. My Grandpa is having a harder time so he can't do to much any more. I know right now that I should be there both weekends and at least 4 or 5 other days. So let me know what days you all are coming and maybe we can say HI!

State Fair is August 21 - September 1

FRENCHY's egg hatched. Tiny little thing. I did have to help it out though. I'll post pics later. I hope it lives. Frenchy's 6 years old.

Rancher, I had one persistent woodchuck years ago who would climb a 3 foot fence to weed whack my whole garden in a single night. He did it three times and I almost gave up gardening. I caught him out there one day and put a 22 bullet in his rear as he was madly scrambling back over the fence. Darned if he didn't heal up and show up in the garden again a few months later. I am surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland and woods with plenty of goodies to eat, so I had no mercy. My neighbor was retired and patient enough to wait and end the problem with a shotgun.

Considering the critter would have no burrow and not know a strange area, I think it is kinder to just euthanize anything caught in a trap rather than relocating. Chances are there will be another already living in a different area and ready to defend its turf or it would be an easy meal for a predator, not knowing where to hide. Best case is it decides you have nasty habits and moves out of your yard and into the woods so you can peacefully coexist.

I learned this morning on Wild Kratts (a kids cartoon on PBS about animals) that woodchucks have lots of burrows that other animal take over because they are great at digging. They have a summer one where they mate and raise their babies and a winter one where they hibernate. And learned that they constantly eat during the summer for hibernation (that I knew) and while they are sleeping their hear beat can slow down to 5 beats per minute and their breathing can get down as low as 2 breaths per minute. Their internal temp can go down to 38 degrees... And my kids think that I don't pay attention when I'm working in the kitchen! Oh and the males really do come out in February... to check out the female's burrows around their territory.

What I did learn from some quick research is that you can frighten them away with things like pinwheels. The movement is very scary to them. Alsoit said that smells will deter them..If they are eating things you can put Epsom salts on where they are eating and it will usually deter them from eating it...And that if you soak a rag with Ammonia that they will run from the smell...So Rancher you marking the hole is a good idea!.

I try to learn something new every day..Today it was about woodchucks..

 

[rancher hicks]

I'll be working there again this year. Looks like I'll be there more this year too as they need my help more now then ever. My Grandpa is having a harder time so he can't do to much any more. I know right now that I should be there both weekends and at least 4 or 5 other days. So let me know what days you all are coming and maybe we can say HI!

State Fair is August 21 - September 1


I learned this morning on Wild Kratts (a kids cartoon on PBS about animals) that woodchucks have lots of burrows that other animal take over because they are great at digging. They have a summer one where they mate and raise their babies and a winter one where they hibernate. And learned that they constantly eat during the summer for hibernation (that I knew) and while they are sleeping their hear beat can slow down to 5 beats per minute and their breathing can get down as low as 2 breaths per minute. Their internal temp can go down to 38 degrees... And my kids think that I don't pay attention when I'm working in the kitchen! Oh and the males really do come out in February... to check out the female's burrows around their territory.

What I did learn from some quick research is that you can frighten them away with things like pinwheels. The movement is very scary to them. Alsoit said that smells will deter them..If they are eating things you can put Epsom salts on where they are eating and it will usually deter them from eating it...And that if you soak a rag with Ammonia that they will run from the smell...So Rancher you marking the hole is a good idea!.

I try to learn something new every day..Today it was about woodchucks..

You sound very cool to be around. My brothers used to work the fair years ago. I've always wanted to but never could make the right connection. I have a friend who works it every year. DW says I should go and I might. I like to people watch and just enjoy the day. I should get your number and call when and if I go.

If DW wasn't sick I'd like to make a pack for a group to meet up at a certain time and day. She's having a bad day today. She gets a shot after Chemo and it just knocks her for a loop.

As far as Woody goes, she's/he's the least of my problems. I'll just try to get him/her to move somewhere other than under the coop. He/she was out in the yard this afternoon and beat it to the hole.

 

[Kinmera]

@ luvmy hicks. Give grandpa a hug for me. Anyone that goes to the state fair HAS to eat at the nys grange oz roast. Some of the best food you'll find. It's also where you'll probably find luv!

 

[Kinmera]

@ luvmy hicks. Give grandpa a hug for me. Anyone that goes to the state fair HAS to eat at the nys grange oz roast. Some of the best food you'll find. Thick roast beef sandwiches, and super fluffy pancakes! It's also where you'll probably find luv!

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

You sound very cool to be around. My brothers used to work the fair years ago. I've always wanted to but never could make the right connection. I have a friend who works it every year. DW says I should go and I might. I like to people watch and just enjoy the day. I should get your number and call when and if I go.

If DW wasn't sick I'd like to make a pack for a group to meet up at a certain time and day. She's having a bad day today. She gets a shot after Chemo and it just knocks her for a loop.

As far as Woody goes, she's/he's the least of my problems. I'll just try to get him/her to move somewhere other than under the coop. He/she was out in the yard this afternoon and beat it to the hole.

Thanks Rancher

...I think so ...I say work, but it is more like volunteer. I don't get paid and never have. Matter of fact I actually pay to go. Some times I get a free ticked, but at 5:30am, they don't usually take my ticket, but I have to pay for parking. All of us kids grew up helping out with breakfast until we either went to college or moved away. I am very dedicated to my family and especially my Grandparents. We lost my Grandma a while ago (seems like yesterday) and my mother stepped in to take her place, and now that Grandpa has a hard time I stepped in to pick up the slack. I have been to the State Fair every year for the last 20+ years except 1, and if DH would have let me take a newborn, I would have gone after I got out of the hospital from having our son.

@ luvmy hicks. Give grandpa a hug for me. Anyone that goes to the state fair HAS to eat at the nys grange oz roast. Some of the best food you'll find. Thick roast beef sandwiches, and super fluffy pancakes! It's also where you'll probably find luv!

I'll give him a big squeeze for you! ..."The New York State Grange Ye Ole Ox Roast"...It is on the corner of the poultry building on the corner by the collisium. (Not the actual Grange Building). I'll be there most mornings cooking breakfast. I have stepped in to cook the pancakes and french toast. I'm actually next to the window which is nice when there is a breeze. If you want to meet me I'll be there from about 5:30 till noonish....Some of the best food on the fairgrounds and the BEST breakfast anywhere on the grounds!!!

 

[elroddo]

When I was a Kid we used to shoot woodchucks out the living room window. Was a big field, and they always burrowed in one of 2 spots. Probably killed 10 or more every year. Our living room window folded in, and you just took the screen out and put a pillow on the window, and poked the gun out and shot em. They'd dig huge holes, big enough to ruin the front end on a tractor if you hit it just right so we just shot em. Didn't stop em from coming back every year. Anything we couldn't shoot from the living room we used a conibear trap on, and that strangles them pretty fast. Not as humane as shooting them, but pretty close.

 

[Lapeerian]

I believe I will be working an afternoon shift at State Fair on Saturday. Probably regret it, but can use to comp time. My chicken friend told hubby that the chicken show is on Saturday too.
Also the chicken friend said that the Marathon 1890 Fair will be holding its first ever chicken swap. I'll get more details, but it is the first Saturday in September.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Lost my Blue silkie tonight.

I went out this afternoon to find her not her self so I picked her up to give her some snuggle time. When I went to move her around in my arms I realized that she was covered in poop and not breathing really well. I brought her in right away and cleaned her up and gave her some medicated food and some water. She started eating right away, but her breathing sounded like she had fluid in her lungs. It was really raspy and she was having a hard time breathing. I was hoping that she had just breathed in some dust from sleeping on the floor...I took the kids up to bed and when I came down to check on her, she was gone....very sad...and I don't want to have to tell my kids that they lost their favorite chicken.

 

[rancher hicks]

Lost my Blue silkie tonight.

I went out this afternoon to find her not her self so I picked her up to give her some snuggle time. When I went to move her around in my arms I realized that she was covered in poop and not breathing really well. I brought her in right away and cleaned her up and gave her some medicated food and some water. She started eating right away, but her breathing sounded like she had fluid in her lungs. It was really raspy and she was having a hard time breathing. I was hoping that she had just breathed in some dust from sleeping on the floor...I took the kids up to bed and when I came down to check on her, she was gone....very sad...and I don't want to have to tell my kids that they lost their favorite chicken.

I am sorry for your loss. It never gets easy does it?

 

[rancher hicks]

When I was a Kid we used to shoot woodchucks out the living room window. Was a big field, and they always burrowed in one of 2 spots. Probably killed 10 or more every year. Our living room window folded in, and you just took the screen out and put a pillow on the window, and poked the gun out and shot em. They'd dig huge holes, big enough to ruin the front end on a tractor if you hit it just right so we just shot em. Didn't stop em from coming back every year. Anything we couldn't shoot from the living room we used a conibear trap on, and that strangles them pretty fast. Not as humane as shooting them, but pretty close.

I was never allowed a gun. My mother was way over the top protective. Bordered on nuts. Yeah I'd say nuts.

Anyhow it's been out in the yard with the chickens and runs to the hole when it sees me. I reckon I need to get it out and chase it in the opposite direction while I cover the holes it has to get under the coop. There are plenty of places for it to go.

Chickens don't seem to mind, but I do.