NY chicken lover!!!!

[Glasshen]

Rancher, granny Smith is self fertile, but it says that fruiting will be improved with another compatible tree planted nearby.

 

[Pyxis]

Had a fun day out with the chickens today. Playing with Lemon and her chicks really helped cheer me up about the poor little pullet. It looks like some of the birds are molting - one of my roos is missing a good chunk of hackle feathers and has tiny pinfeathers coming in now. Lemon is molting too, which is good timing since she's not laying anyway. Her feathers coming in are darker than before, and she has a really pretty pattern going on now:

And here she is on my lap investigating the camera:

It's funny how a little chicken therapy can perk you right up.

 

[Lynzi777]

Pyxis - that is such a pretty hen! Looks like dark and milk chocolate!

 

[Lapeerian]

What I really came here for was to offer that one of our trees appears to be dead.  I'm quite certain it's an Ash.  I'm  feeling  really bad since it was a beautiful tree and near the front of our property.  It's quite big,  40 - 50'. I have no idea how we will get it cut down.  It's near the road.   

We had trimmed some lower branches since they were hanging down onto DW's car.  

It's the second tree we've had die completely in one season.  The other I think may have been an Elm and is near the chicken coop.  Why couldn't the blasted Buckthorns die?  

Emerald Ash Borer probably killed off the ash tree and Elms are prone to many diseases.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Well, little one eyed pullet didn't make it. She passed away last night. I guess the wound must have been just too severe for her to pull through, poor thing. Ah well, at least I know I tried.

I'm so sorry. At least you tried and she isn't suffering anymore

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Well, little one eyed pullet didn't make it. She passed away last night. I guess the wound must have been just too severe for her to pull through, poor thing. Ah well, at least I know I tried.

Awww, sorry Pyxis. I was just telling my boys about her today and saying she seemed to be doing OK. Yes, you definitely tried and should take comfort in that.

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

What I really came here for was to offer that one of our trees appears to be dead. I'm quite certain it's an Ash. I'm feeling really bad since it was a beautiful tree and near the front of our property. It's quite big, 40 - 50'. I have no idea how we will get it cut down. It's near the road.

We had trimmed some lower branches since they were hanging down onto DW's car.

It's the second tree we've had die completely in one season. The other I think may have been an Elm and is near the chicken coop. Why couldn't the blasted Buckthorns die?

Rancher, we have lost at least 2 or 3 ash trees this summer. Others are not looking so swift. I know there is insect activity under the bark, but we're not 100% sure it's the invasive Emerald Ash Borer beetle or not. The tiny "D" shape holes indicative of this particular pest are not clearly evident, although there are tons of little pin holes in the bark (not necessarily "D" shaped). Also, there are tunnels bored under the bark, but hubby says they don't match the pattern supposedly left by the EAB. I'm still thinking we've got this beetle. Wondering if a call to the DEC might be in order, but then I don't want them coming to my yard and telling me I have to cut down lots of trees.

TOB

 

[ChickPrincess]

I don't remember if your Oscar was aggressive or not, and if that is why you processed him, but I"m not surprized he had big testes. It is preferred in big chicken breeders to use those birds because they are aggressive and will produce more fertile eggs. It makes sense. If you have a shy or laid back roo, the hens will not sit for them and you get less fertile eggs. In the long run, those shy roos line will decrease due to lack of fertility. ...but they are hard to live with if you have to be in their space every day and the poor hens get used up faster.

Those poor boys are only doing what nature intended for them to do, and are driven to reproduce. Big testes mean good fertility.

You are right on the nose on this one. With 50 hens, I don't remember getting an egg that was NOT fertile. I always like to check and with the exception of very young hens just coming into lay, every egg was a bullseye.
Sunnyside, LOL!!! Those are gross!

 

[ChickPrincess]

I have recently discovered cooking with a pressure cooker. I have done a whole chicken twice now and will never do it any other way. Tonight I used a Lipton's savory herb with garlic packet with a can of low sodium chicken broth. 20 minutes at 15# and it was heaven. Made a gravy with the juices and did not need to add anything.
Mmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm! Great investment.

 

[Sally8]

Just remember that the next time YOU call someone and THEY don't answer.     

At the risk of sounding like a grouch, I don't care. I have to have a land line as we do not have cell service here and my kids gave me a cell phone to have while I babysit their kids everyday. That's the only time I turn it on. It drives me nuts to see how everyone, young and old have cell phones glued to them. I can be in a conversation with someone and have them say, I need to get this. In grocery lines, restaurants, walking down the street. My husband is no different. Playing games. What happened to peace and quiet and conversation between each other. Ugh!! OK, I'm off my soapbox.

We have over 20 nice sized ash trees in our back yard. We've cut down 3 that we could but the the others could jeopardize our house and electric lines. I've been watching for the eab but haven't seen evidence of it even though we were told it's here.