NY chicken lover!!!!

[Cass]

Welcome to all the newbies.

How come my hens aren't laying? Hmm? I am getting ready to have a HUGE Chicken bar-b-q and start over in the spring. Darn birds.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Well, my day was fabulous. I have an Ecology class that I'm currently taking as part of my vet degree, and today we went canoeing in a little pond to do some research on the vegetation. I got put with a woman who had no idea what she was doing, and by the end of the day she had tipped us both into the mucky, disgusting pond - twice! Within five minutes of the first time! It completely ruined my good shoes, which I wouldn't have worn had I been made aware we'd be doing this beforehand, but the instructor just sprang it on us today. Then I had to sit out the rest of the session soaking wet while everyone else finished and drive home an hour in gross, wet clothes. Which got my car seat disgusting too, so now I have to go out and try to salvage that tomorrow. Best of all, to save face in front of the class, the first time she did it, she tried to blame me, saying "Well you should have counterbalanced me!" Well, it's not like I was aware you were going to suddenly launch your body 3/4 of the way out of the canoe to try to grab some duckweed without warning me. The second time she did it, I just looked her right in the eye, and in front of the whole class said, "This was all you. After two times, you can't blame me." That settled that. AND she was at least twice my age, trying to put me down and make me look like a fool in front of the class. Some people.
Some days I am so glad I have the chickens to come home to and I can just sit outside and unwind with them. Today was one of those days.
Sorry for the random rant, I just really had to share, the whole experience was so frustrating.

I hope you had a little wine to go with your chicken therapy

 

[Adoravachick]

I'm an ex letter carrier. Pepper spray is a joke and doesn't work. The PO spent lots of money for those air horns? Only thing is none of them worked. Pepper spray works on humans though. The wind blew it back in my eyes and I was defenseless.

Carry a pellet gun or something stronger. Make noise to let them know you are coming. Have your husband or sons "mark" your territory.

What I have shoots 25 feet, Government issued or something like that. It's no joke.

 

[Adoravachick]

Choking a fox! Your friend has my respect! I'm way better at screaming.

She was telling me about it at dinner one night. Very scary, she said it looked mangie, smelled, and looked wild eyed. Luckily she was able to tell her kids to run into the house before it attacked her.

 

[rancher hicks]

Ok so ever since I took my daughter's silkie away from the orpingtons to keep with the two new silkies, my son's BO mix hen has been straying from the group more and more. I don't know if it's just because my lavender orp pair are pretty much attached at the hip, but I feel bad because every time I go out for them, she's on one side of the property and the other two on are the other end. When the 4 of them were together they would split up 2 and 2 - the lavenders and then the BO mix and the silkie would be together. They're not aggressive toward her or anything, just seems like she's the "third wheel" now of the group. Anyone else have a hen like this? Do you think she'll be alright?

I'm sure she'll be fine. I have a RIR hen who I moved in with the Dels since she was being picked on pretty bad. Put her with the Dels and her feathers all grew back nicely, but when she got the chance to escape from the Dels run she did and went right back in with the group she was being picked on by.

Now I have to say, my Dels are pretty accepting of nearly every one no matte what breed. I just moved in some young hens and an EE and they just get along fine. Even the one young rooster is ok in there. I don't let them out much since the other run is more crowded. Though I will say Nick and George seem to be fighting. I think the pecking order has changed since Nick is older. I do hope he can do the job come spring though as I'd like to breed Nick more than George.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well, my day was fabulous. I have an Ecology class that I'm currently taking as part of my vet degree, and today we went canoeing in a little pond to do some research on the vegetation. I got put with a woman who had no idea what she was doing, and by the end of the day she had tipped us both into the mucky, disgusting pond - twice! Within five minutes of the first time! It completely ruined my good shoes, which I wouldn't have worn had I been made aware we'd be doing this beforehand, but the instructor just sprang it on us today. Then I had to sit out the rest of the session soaking wet while everyone else finished and drive home an hour in gross, wet clothes. Which got my car seat disgusting too, so now I have to go out and try to salvage that tomorrow. Best of all, to save face in front of the class, the first time she did it, she tried to blame me, saying "Well you should have counterbalanced me!" Well, it's not like I was aware you were going to suddenly launch your body 3/4 of the way out of the canoe to try to grab some duckweed without warning me. The second time she did it, I just looked her right in the eye, and in front of the whole class said, "This was all you. After two times, you can't blame me." That settled that. AND she was at least twice my age, trying to put me down and make me look like a fool in front of the class. Some people.
Some days I am so glad I have the chickens to come home to and I can just sit outside and unwind with them. Today was one of those days.
Sorry for the random rant, I just really had to share, the whole experience was so frustrating.

We all have our Jonah days. Look on the bright side when the class is over you may never had to see her again. Take some Baking soda and rub it into the car seat and put a towel over it for a few days. Then vacuum it out. It should be fine. That's if it's real bad.

 

[rancher hicks]

Welcome to all the newbies.

How come my hens aren't laying? Hmm? I am getting ready to have a HUGE Chicken bar-b-q and start over in the spring. Darn birds.

Now , now don't be to hasty. It is fall and there is less day light. Maybe they're taking a rest. Good garden o' peas, you try pushing out a baby every day or so and you'll need a rest too.

You ever see a hen after she's laid an egg? She just gets up and stands there for a few minutes. Probably waiting for the pain to go away. It must hurt, why else would they scream like they do after they've laid an egg?

I think they go broody on purpose cuz for 21 or so days they don't have to lay an egg. Plus when they brood chicks they don't lay either.

Now to mention no having a rooster jump on their back.

Around here they go broody a lot.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Welcome to all the newbies.

How come my hens aren't laying? Hmm? I am getting ready to have a HUGE Chicken bar-b-q and start over in the spring. Darn birds

chicken bbq? yum!!! Mine haven't quit yet but half of them are slowing down. The other half(the buckeyes) love this colder weather and are going strong!!

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Morning all. Read the last few pages to catch up. I went back up to the north country to visit my mother and finish some business of my fathers. It was nice up there and I got to see family as well. My mother is an amazing woman.

When I got back yesterday all the cheeps went crazy and raised a ruckus. I guess they missed me, as i am the one who usually takes care of them. It was nice to be missed but after four days of being gone I had a lot of housekeeping to do...theirs and mine!!! Glad I got some rest at my moms!

Had one rir hen get into it with the older girls yesterday. My dh threw some scratch out to them and she came running over to join the party. They werent having it and a fight broke out. She was holding her own for a while but numbers won out. The older hens dont mess with the boys anymore as they have gotten very big and impressive. The boys would probably kill them if a serious fight broke out. Most of the older hens will probably go to freezer camp in the spring as I will be hatching out replacements. My girls are still laying like gangbusters and I am moving 5 dozen eggs out to a fellow worker today and 3 dozen tomorrow. 3 dozen went over the weekend while I was gone. Good thing as feed is sixteen and change for 50 pounds and I am buying a bag every 2 weeks.

Pulled the ac out of the bedroom window last night and I kept hearing this noise in my room. Turned on the light to see a bat climbing out of the back of it. It flew around my room and landed in the bathroom so I caught it with a towel and let it go out my window. I read some of you are seeing coyotes. I hear them but dont see them. My dh marks the property as well as the dog so I think they stay away. If not, he has a red light attachment for his gun and problem will be solved. High powered pellet rifle solves squirrel problems. I will be out gathering acorns again this week. Already have a batch in the freezer.

Adorava--any sigh of the missing duo yet?

Rancher---hope your boys get things sorted out. So far mine are doing well together but with 19 girls to look after, its a full time job for both of them!

 

[Adoravachick]

Pulled the ac out of the bedroom window last night and I kept hearing this noise in my room. Turned on the light to see a bat climbing out of the back of it. It flew around my room and landed in the bathroom so I caught it with a towel and let it go out my window. I read some of you are seeing coyotes. I hear them but dont see them. My dh marks the property as well as the dog so I think they stay away. If not, he has a red light attachment for his gun and problem will be solved. High powered pellet rifle solves squirrel problems. I will be out gathering acorns again this week. Already have a batch in the freezer.

Adorava--any sigh of the missing duo yet?

I have tons of acorns, can you post a picture on what you are actually collecting? I just want to see the condition of the acorns. It would be a great project for the kids. Collecting the acorns, they could do it all day.

I did hear some crowing from the other side of the Burm. That area has heavy brush, I couldn't see anything. I had the kids with me, so I couldn't really get in there. When DH got home, I went to check in out. I didn't find anything or hear anything. That actually gave a some hope that at least Sam is still out there. None of my neighbors have chickens, so I know it was mine.