NY chicken lover!!!!

[JerseyHen]

We also use wood ash and sand for the walks. They eventually give up on it looking for food in it.

I also got the baker's creek seed catalog and put in a sizable order already! I just can't wait. I am going to stop at their store at the comtstock ferre co historic seed store in Wethersfield CT on my way back from the NE poultry congress next weekend. Chickens and seeds spells big trouble for my wallet. If anyone else is going, a few of us are going to do a bit of seed swapping. Let me know if you are interested and I will make sure to let you know when/where.

Stay safe out there!

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Hello!

It's been a bit since I've been on, but I've been working working working. I'm actually in the process of looking for a second job c-shift.

The coop is great, the chickens are great. I followed some advice and keep the water and food out of the coop and the chickens do fine. The hoop coop is an open air one so it's dry. We have one that has been living out of a dog crate and broken pen with a tarp and she has handled the cold and wind no problem.

The banana tree plant is doing good
The dogs and cats are good.

The chicks are getting big they are all going to freezer camp I believe end of March.

Running sucks something awful so slippery out there and people will run you over.

I met someone new we will see what progresses in the future.

I have some good things seemingly coming my way so I'm excited, but really tired LOL.

I hope everyone had a great holiday!

I've also been absent for the most part. Glad to hear you are well and hope things continue to move along a positive track for you.

Is it me, or is this winter going to feel like a loooong one when all is said and done? Because it feels long already, lol! Very slippery ride in to school with the kids this a.m. I wasn't expecting that from such a nominal snowfall. Be safe running miquwid, because there are a lot of eejit drivers out there.

Good morning!
My two hens leave today. :-/

Miquwid - good to hear from you! I was beginning to worry that maybe something happened but sounds like all is good!

TOB - so sorry to hear about your dog :-(

Thanks for the kind thoughts, Lynzi. I miss the chats here. Will hopefully get back on track now...

Morning all,

Snow is falling and there is ice underneath. Any ideas what can be used that will not harm the chickens. I only need it for the drive way where they don't go in the winter. DW fell this am and DD is coming with the babies. Warm weather will take care of some of it, but I'll need waders for parts of the yard when it all melts.

Rancher

Hope your DW is not too sore. I almost wiped out a couple of times near my horse's barn yesterday, and so decided not to turn him out. That melt-off water flash froze earlier in the week and just made for some thick, clear and hazardous ice. I'm hoping the rain we get tomorrow will break up much of the ice. That is if it doesn't flash freeze again...

TOB

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

We also use wood ash and sand for the walks. They eventually give up on it looking for food in it.

I also got the baker's creek seed catalog and put in a sizable order already! I just can't wait. I am going to stop at their store at the comtstock ferre co historic seed store in Wethersfield CT on my way back from the NE poultry congress next weekend. Chickens and seeds spells big trouble for my wallet. If anyone else is going, a few of us are going to do a bit of seed swapping. Let me know if you are interested and I will make sure to let you know when/where.

Stay safe out there!

HAHA, my wallet incurs the same damage. My husband told me he wishes I would get into crocheting or knitting instead....fat chance!

and Thank You...you just reminded me, I will be in CT in March for Continuing Ed credits. I'll have to stop in at their store!

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Hi! Glad you're back! I am looking forward to more of Miss Chumleys Advice!
I'm very sorry to hear about your dog, it's never easy.

I just got my Bakers Creek seed catalog, I drool over it! It always gets me itching to start my tomatoes.
My entire yard (which is the side of a hil) is all ice. The past few days I have had trouble getting into the run for sheer lack of traction.

Hi! Glad to see you back!

Thank you, Sunnyside. I do miss my dog very much, and his older buddy (Micah) is gloomy on and off. How can you explain to a dog what happened to his best buddy?

With regard to "Miss Chumley's Advice Column"....so funny, I was just thinking of that yesterday while I was photographing her up close. She looks like she's getting ready to spout some pearls of chicken wisdom soon. Stay tuned....

Jersey Hen - Enjoy your seed catalog and dreams of spring! (I'm an ex-Jersey Girl, myself!)

TOB

 

[armorfirelady]

Now that the blizzards, snow, high winds & nasty temps have passed the girls were very excited to be outside today. They did well being cooped up for 4'days but def rather be out in the snow then cooped up anymore

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

TOB---so sorry for your loss of Merlin. My mother had to put down her jack russell this morning. I lost my boy last year. I do believe that all dogs go to heaven. My father better have a lot of treats waiting and lots of walks in store.

Sunny--trust me when I tell you that crocheting takes a chunk out of your wallet as well! My obsession with it has me couponing and watching for sales on yarn. I have 3 afghans to make for my nephews and niece!

Stony--yuppers, birds dont die wintering over unless they are already compromised. I will give them a fighting chance but let nature run its course. My sexlinks had the worst time with the severe cold but are still hanging on. Cant beat my heritage rir for hardiness though. I have yet to see anything faze them.

Got a little snow last night. Just enough to cover the icy spots I normally avoid but I managed not to fall. Found 3 eggs in Legolas coop which means.....the two babies I thought were girls are girls! I will have two very nice splash pullets available this spring. I may have a splash cockeral. Not sure about number 4 but am thinking girl. Anyways, I am glad to see they have started laying. I was inspecting my silkies the other day and cant believe how thick their feathers are. Really have to dig my fingers down in and move lots of feathers before seeing skin. Hope thats not a harbinger of how much longer winter will be! Everyone looks good (besides needing feet bathed) and are at a good weight. I am very pleased with Legolas offspring. My breeding efforts are beginning to show, Planning on letting the girls in Little Mans house hatch some chicks so I can cross the lines. Ordering more heritage rir eggs in the spring and going to hatch out some of my own eggs. I have a couple of hens that are laying these huge dark brown eggs so if I hatch them out maybe I will get more that will lay the same eggs.

Large rabbit tracks around the yard this morning. He will be dinner if my dh can get him. Made some venison stew with my canned venison and boy was it good! So was my canned beef stew. I will be canning lots more I think. Planning a small garden this year to see if I can actually grow something without killing it. Looking to get heritage seeds.

Off to do the closing shift. Hope you all have a nice day and be safe.

 

[Glasshen]

So sorry to hear about Merlin. I too believe most dogs go to heaven, maybe not the one that bit me, but all of my long term dog family will be there. I hope I get in.

Wood ashes and sand! That's what we used, back in the day, especially near plants or animals. I recetly freed my excavator with wood ashes when his truck was stuck in my driveway, and I put a rubber bowl of them in the coop, and the girls all have nice skin with no creepy crawlies.

I'm starting to get enough eggs to sell a dozen once in a while, so maybe the girls have noticed the days lengthening. And I too love Bakers Creek. I grew Indian corn from them, and I love it. I will plant the seed from some of those ears this year, and the girls have devoured the few ears I gave them. I was hoarding for decorating and for spring. I was surprised to find that the colors came out as the stalks turned brown, so you have to wait for it.

Today it was warm enough that I could harvest manure from the coop. Got 2gallons from the poop boards, a fine yield.

Yes, I did know that vinegar is an acid, we put some in water and water the blueberry bushes with it every so often, or they wouldn't still be around.

Starting to dream of chicks...

 

[marquisella]

Anyone going to NEPC next weekend? I"m taking a lot of chicks to sell. Its a great poultry show and the 2014 APA annual show so there will be lots of birds to oogle at!

 

[EOrpBreeder]

May i ask where that is

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
It never occurred to me to save the wood ash from the fire pit for winter sprinkling. I will save a can of it from now on. Thanks for that advice.