NY chicken lover!!!!

[Chicken girl 15]

Is Equine Affair the event held in Springfield, MA where they have the Big E? If so, yep, went a few years ago w my sis. It was fun. If not, then no I don't know, what is it?
Regarding horse training, there's a couple that raises Haflingers not far from me & they leave the foals out w their moms & don't even touch them till after they're weaned. Then training doesn't start until they're well over a year or two old when they're sent off to the Amish to be trained. Those geldings do alright. They're not very people oriented, but they're not dangerous either. Probably helps that the Haflingers by nature are very gentle horses. Suppose there are different theories on how to train a horse.

Yes that is equine affair. The people I work for go there every year. They are part of the show. They have gone every year for the last 10 years or so. They are **** good at what they do but it's just time they stop breeding as they physically can't do the work anymore. They have one show horse who is Fresian /haflinger cross, beautiful award winning mare. Their show stopper is a 24 year old German driving pony named Graystone Adarondak A ' Harney. He's a stallion and so gentle. That's how I know they can do the training, they trained both show horses from foal. They just need to have someone, not me I have no clue what I'm doing, come train the foal. He is so sweet and loves people but is a getting out of control with not being lead able.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

The black plastic helps to "heat" the leaf/grass clipping underneath and break things down. In spring I'll add compost and plant the plastic helps warm the soil for early planting. I've been reading about no till gardening. It's believed that the tilling upsets the organisms that work in the soil to break down nutrients, so limiting the tilling is best. I read so many magazines and can't afford them all I can't remember which magazine it was in. (We go to B&N and sit there reading, but I only buy magazines with two or more articles I need) My raised beds are 4X4 or 2X4 for my personal choice. Raised beds can be much longer and your hubby can till them. You can even use 2x4's. The purpose is the keep that section from being walked on. I like them because I just have to weed the beds and use the weed whacker to clean up in between. Weeds that I pull come right up. It also allows me to control the soil. Of course I'm not feeding a family of 6 so I can do with not so many beds. Our yard was filled with hard fill. There are huge chunks of cement and tarvia that I can not dig out. A friend came with a tiller and a rock got stuck in it. You've seen these pictures? People think, "oh I'll just fill it in with hard fill and then go over it with topsoil." Then the new person buys the place and can't understand why the can't plant a shrub or tree. Not to mention the drainage problem hard fill can create. I had to use a pickaxe to dig some holes. I could go on but I'll spare you. Also "Jeopardy" is coming on.

I prefer raised beds for the same reason as you. I have mine far enough apart to take the mower through and in the beds everything is so loose weeds and grass just pull out. Plus it's not as far to bend, I have bad back problems so bending hurts. So far they are only a 6 inch raise to my beds. Spring I will be adding 6 more inches. I use sawdust bedding so it can all go into the compost for spring. Plus all our produce scraps and kids school papers along with a lot of really old horse poop and leafs and other organics I can find. The chickens and other small critters rummage through it and turn it for me so come spring it a nice brown garden addition. I love not having as much garbage as most families our size by simply composting and reusing .

 

[rancher hicks]

I do the same. This year I used stuff right from a run. I had dumped some leftover peat moss.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Yes that is equine affair. The people I work for go there every year. They are part of the show. They have gone every year for the last 10 years or so. They are **** good at what they do but it's just time they stop breeding as they physically can't do the work anymore. They have one show horse who is Fresian /haflinger cross, beautiful award winning mare. Their show stopper is a 24 year old German driving pony named Graystone Adarondak A ' Harney. He's a stallion and so gentle. That's how I know they can do the training, they trained both show horses from foal. They just need to have someone, not me I have no clue what I'm doing, come train the foal. He is so sweet and loves people but is a getting out of control with not being lead able.

If we were a little closer I would come down and help

If you want some suggestions let me know.

 

[Beer can]

Well, I just about give up. The seller reshipped me chicks yesterday, express overnight guaranteed again, and guess what? They aren't here today. Again.

Crappers! Pyxis!
I paid a lot extra for express on those SandHill chicks, $35 extra (a lot for me) they arrived the morning after shipped...

 

[Gramma Chick]

. They just need to have someone, not me I have no clue what I'm doing, come train the foal. He is so sweet and loves people but is a getting out of control with not being lead able.

Send LUV over there she should be able to handle them ..
Looking for a Job anyway ....what about it S....?

 

[Gramma Chick]

No pictures of chickens at your house ? these were pictures I found on a search for the words chicken girl

 

[rancher hicks]

I do the same. This year I used stuff right from a run. I had dumped some leftover peat moss.

It was dry of course and it was about two years old. This year I cleaned the coop and just tosses everything into the run. That hay you see will end up in the mix as things get wet when it's spring. I'll spread it to give the girls a dry floor. I have turned it a few times now and then too. Being covered with plastic it's gets warm in the run on sunny days. It's hard to gauge when to cover it, because the weather is so fluctuating. When you have the right mix of brown/green in your compost it should not smell. A few shovels full of peat moss works wonders.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

If we were a little closer I would come down and help If you want some suggestions let me know. 

I'm open to suggestions so yes please. I have to work with that unruly little guy.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Send LUV over there she should be able to handle them ..
Looking for a Job anyway ....what about it S....?

Don't think that I didn't think about it. Looks like we are about 2 hours..Maybe a day trip

I'm open to suggestions so yes please. I have to work with that unruly little guy.

It will not be easy. My first suggestion is to get a halter on him that fits well, but is big enough that if you have to leave it on for a few weeks that he has room in it. Attached a rope to it that is just a few feet long. Just long enough so you can get a hold of him, but not so long as he can get himself caught up in it. I used to braid up some baling twine and make it about 2 feet long. When you are putting it on him try to rub his neck and down his back so he gets used to being touched. It make take a little while to get him used to putting the halter on and off.

As long as the Momma is okay, you can try to lead him around the mare in a nice contained area. If you aren't comfortable in a small area you can do it as you walk them out, but it will be a 2 person job. Someone needs to lead the mare and the other needs to handle the foal. When you try to walk him for the first time he is going to try to pull you all over the place. Just hang on. Keep a steady pressure with the lead rope. You will probably need to walk with him as he pulls backward, but you really need to pay attention to his body language so that the minute that he shifts his body weight in the direction that you want him to go that you release the pressure on him. It is a positive reinforcement. It will not be a fast process, but in a few weeks he should be walking better. Just make sure to watch yourself and I recommend gloves so you don't get rope burn.

I think that we are only a few hours apart. If you need help, maybe I could come down on a weekend to help you out.