NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Why is it being selfish? It would be selfish if only you benefited from it. I quit my full time job when I had my second child. I picked up cleaning a few houses for some income. Do what is right for you and your family.

Believe me if I had my way, every mom who wanted to stay home would. We were not so lucking in the beginning but after three, there is no since in DW going out to work.

Funny that now that I'm retired, (sort of) she doesn't want me to go to work.

Honestly I think if she don't get into heaven no one will. But I need to keep busy. Lord knows I spend far to much time on this machine.

If the weather warms up, you won't see me much except at break time. I take lots of breaks.

Anyhow Lynzii, you stay home and take care of those kids, without guilt. I always says what's the point of having kids and then paying someone else to raise them? I would have done things differently.

 

[rancher hicks]

I haven't been on here is a while, Who has their bators stuffed right now? Our 4H club is setting 150+ donated eggs for our first fundraiser chick sale.

Many folks have been super generous in donating hatching eggs for the cause. As for my personal Bater space. I hope to have enough Lavender Orp eggs to set a couple dozen next Monday.

Sue, I am sending you many healing energies and hope that you have a speedy recovery!

Yes this is true. It only takes a minute to check in you know.

Tomorrow is day 14 for me and i'll candle a few again. I've got one or two eggs riding on top of others since I'm missing a row in my turner. If anyone has a broken turner I could use it to replace this missing row.

Anyhow Lady be good and I hope all turns out well with your hatch.

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm also curious about this! I've been thinking about adding ducks to my little menagerie lately.

It really is the housing for me. I have to fix things so I can make a full circle with my snowblower in the winter. If I add a shallow pond it will be right in the middle of the side yard and I'll need a way over or around it.

I'd like a nice long but narrow pond with a bridge over the middle. That would look so cool.

 

[Cydney83]

I agree, nothing selfish about that. Doing what is right for your family. After My 3rd babykins came we decided that I will stay home. I work the Homestead and enjoy raising my children, gardens,chickens,ducks,pigs,and rabbits. (we raise most of all our own meat) As for finances, we are pretty broke-but who isn't! We make it work and we are all happier for it. I had a similar situation with my job. The amount of stress it generated wasn't worth the income it provided. We've recently decided to Homeschool our children too, something that, when I was working never even crossed our minds. That ONE decision to quit my job has opened up so many other doors. best advice ever- DO what is Right for YOU and YOur Family! The support is out there for whatever your path is.

I have been a SAHM for 21 years. Had my first and was going back to work but the bank made the decision for me to stay home. I now have five kids and won't change a thing. Broke isn't even close to the right word to use. But I love it..I too have cleaned house...daycare and now working of a Dove release business. My youngest is 4. Best thing you can do!

Just finished a new brooder a little while ago- it's got a big window in the front of it so I can take photos of the little peeps from an angle other than 'above'. It seemed about time I built a real brooder instead of using big tupperware bins or cardboard boxes assembled into some kind of makeshift chick castle. Thought I'd share a few pictures.

​

And I'm belatedly realizing I ended up taking more photos of the chicks (RIRs and Silkies) than the brooder itself... oops!

Very nice!

I haven't seen the hawk in days and have started to let the birds out again. I have been checking occasionally though. I will put up a scarecrow. I'm thinking of buying a George Bush Mask or some other political person. I know politicians sure scare me.

I haven't had a chance to do my research but I will. You know I use my birds to feed family and friends in this hard economic time. At my age there are a few seniors who could use the help.

I'm praying for this Soc. Sec. thing. It will hurt many if there are cuts. This is why I recommend paying off that mortgage asap. There will always be maintenance such as we have putting on a new garage roof this year. Last year it was the furnace. We did some windows the year before. Not to mention medical bills.

My whole point being having a meat duck could feed some folks.

I have my job interview today so I've been praying alot. It's at a nursing home/rehab center and I think I'd like it. I think if old age could talk it would say , "Ready or not here I come".

GOOD LUCK Rancher! As for the hawks...they love my place! The homers have learned to out fly them! But I did lose one to a hawk. Recently there was 2 drive bombing the homers. I look for the hawks before I loft fly them but it is amazing how the hawks can just show up!

 

[Cydney83]

It really is the housing for me. I have to fix things so I can make a full circle with my snowblower in the winter. If I add a shallow pond it will be right in the middle of the side yard and I'll need a way over or around it.

I'd like a nice long but narrow pond with a bridge over the middle. That would look so cool.

I would love ducks! DH says no!!!!!! Hope you can get them!

 

[Framac]

I would love ducks! DH says no!!!!!! Hope you can get them!

Your Husband must be talking to my wife

 

[ladylibra]

Country Boy - I know Jamie pretty well and yes, his birds are pricey. Nice guy though and good judge. Horstman I have heard of, and nice things too.

How have you been? Last time I saw you, you were expecting #2? Glad to hear all is working out well.

I stayed home with my 3 kids till my youngest was 4. I then got a job driving school bus for our district BECAUSE they let me take my kids with me on my run then drop them at school when I was done. Our district is absolutely fantastic. Have my kids, get paid, benefits and I get to know the people in the school - inside edge... Before I went back to work I did just about any job to make ends meet. Worked in an office at night, Post Office at night, pharmacy in the local market, babysat, etc. Never would change a thing. Love my kids and no, I didn't get a new car every 3 years and yes, I did clip alot of coupons and use hand-me-down clothes but now my kids are 15, 13 & 10 (tomorrow is her b-day) and they know they are most important, not "things". I ask them everyday "Do you know the one thing?" Know what that 1 thing is? I love them. Do what you can and what you want to have for your family.

was that in 2011? #3 was born November 2011, My oldest is 8, middle is 31/2, and last is 15 mnths. I'm GREAT!

 

[ladylibra]

what a beautiful brooder!

 

[rancher hicks]

I have been a SAHM for 21 years. Had my first and was going back to work but the bank made the decision for me to stay home. I now have five kids and won't change a thing. Broke isn't even close to the right word to use. But I love it..I too have cleaned house...daycare and now working of a Dove release business. My youngest is 4. Best thing you can do!
Very nice!
GOOD LUCK Rancher! As for the hawks...they love my place! The homers have learned to out fly them! But I did lose one to a hawk. Recently there was 2 drive bombing the homers. I look for the hawks before I loft fly them but it is amazing how the hawks can just show up!

My older brothers raced pigeons, but we never talked about the hawk situation. I may call my older brother to have a talk. I haven't seen this one for a while. I hope I don't, but will be buying a gun just in case. AND taking other measures like planting strategically.

Kit Kat nice brooder. I hope you have many happy brooding experiences with it. I like the window part very much.

Anyone want to give some input on computer printers? Mine is on it's last leg I think. It won't grab the paper and I have no idea how to fix it. Plus sometimes it seems sluggish. Which might be the ink sticking due to the missed paper events. Jets might be plugged a bit.

 

[JBerguson]

Hello, this will be my first time raising chikens, I have gotten tons of ideas for coops...I wanted to know what is the best laying breed to start with? I had chickens many years ago but I cannot remember what we had. (they were all black) I found some helpful tips on rasing happy chickens. Any help anyone can give would be great.. We live in North Central Pennsylvania...so we get snow and rain and hot summers...Thanks!!!!!