Official Squatch Watchers

[CapricornFarm]

Hi RJ! I am hatching babies now, got 5 baby quail and 5 chicks! Need to go back to sleep.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi RJ! I am hatching babies now, got 5 baby quail and 5 chicks! Need to go back to sleep.

Congrats... Getting ready for work here.

 

[pitbullmomma]

WHAT. THE. TATERS????!!!!



Only you, Smuvvie. Only you.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

So, the TSC Farmers Market didn't really *do* anything but reaffirm my thoughts that the TSC here isn't going to go out of their way to promote anything... simply a catch as catch can situation.

I really thought there would be more people to show up, but when Cub Cadets are on sale the weekend of Mothers Day, the place was pretty much deserted. Only 4 *vendors* showed up, and 2 left before it was even noon. Didn't sell but 5 doz eggs and a few containers of boiled peanuts... just not enough customers showing up at the TSC in the first place.

But HARK, my dear friends, I have not given up! Can't expect to become a zillionaire my first time out. I had readied myself for disappointment... so I am not upset or depressed or anything. I keep going forward!

And @pitbullmomma , what's wrong with the Chicken Attack video?! I thought it was awesome and hilarious!!! Just HAD to share... especially with the yodeling Asian dude. Yodeling. Asian. Let that sink it......


Happy Monday all!!! Preparing for STDH to come in from training on Wednesday.

 

[MrsMistyReal]

 

[apryl29]

@apryl29 I freeze an empty cantaloupe half with the goop and other random goodies put back inside. I top it off with water and stir it around a bit to mix everything up. Most of the time they wait till it melts! I don’t think it hurts to peck the frozen stuff but it’s too much work for my lazy spoiled kids. I made yogurt smoothies for in the freezer too. The tops of strawberries with some blueberries in the blender with yogurt. Froze in an ice cube tray. They loved it.

Mine stand out in the rain ALLLLL the time. Look like a bunch of drown rats. They could care less.

Oh, good idea. I usually just toss the cantaloupe & watermelon carcasses out for them, but putting stuff in them would be a good idea. Might make them last longer. I wish pumpkins grew earlier b/c that would be something nice to toss out there that way.

&s for the drowned rats... mine went dusting in their usual spot which was wet from all the rain we got over the weekend. They were all dirty and gross and muddy.

I don't know how ice would affect their beaks, but if you freeze celery with just enough water to hold it together, you should be good. Celery has a very high water content and will help keep them hydrated. Just make sure you dice it up into roughly quarter inch cubes, then rinse it, put it in a bowl or other container while wet and immediately put it in the freezer and it should hold together. If not, add a little water and try again. You'll figure out how much water you need soon enough, and if there is a block of ice at the bottom, just put the whole thing out there with the ice side down and it should hopefully melt and create some nice, cold water for them to drink. If you put it in a small container of water or wading pool with a couple inches water (provided your chickens will go in it), it should work out well when there is s lot of ice at the bottom. Granted, a wading pool would habe to be emptied on a regular basis, since they like to poop everywhere, but on the hotter days, it might be worth it.

Good idea, we'll have to try that. I was trying to figure out how to lure them into the pool & that would work well. I don't think I'll be able to put the pool in their run b/c it'd make emptying & filling it really difficult.

My 5 flufferbutters.
View attachment 1383538

So fluffy!!!

Yup hard arse clay here. I am near completion in order to plant. Removing raspberries and weeds in the sun is rough work.

@apryl29 .
No bee problems from all the lilacs. I plant lots of things just so the bees will come. They like the stinky flowering pear trees and apple tree better than the lilacs.

I even keep a bee waterer filled so they have a good water source here.

I'm more worried about attracting the wrong kind of bee. Last summer we had a hornets nest near the coop, and a yellow jacket nest in a bush up front of the house. Right now we're seeing big fat carpenter bees and black wasps. I need to get the stinging bug catcher things again. We also have ground bees. Seriously cannot win w/ the yard bugs. I'm optimistic that the chickens will help w/ the tick situation though.

Oh and we are so dry here the ladies don't stink.
The droppings are dry before they even leave a new one.

Doggies on the other hand.

Lets just say I really like my lilacs.

Picking up dog leavings every time they make one means I am always picking up fresh messes.

It's been raining quite a bit here so my girls stink to high heaven. It'd be nice to have something to combat the smell a bit.

I am curious as to why my "Royal Palm" turkey poults are brown!View attachment 1384171
They are not this crowded, they have much more space but all happened to be under the light. They are going into the outdoor brooder soon!

That is an amazing photo. It looks like one of those trendy band photos from a poster.

I'm bushed. My SIL and I spent most of the morning planting several different types of squash, cabbage, strawberries, melons, spinach, zucchini, etc. My Dad, DH, and my FIL got most of the 6' fence put up around the garden. They need an extra roll of fencing. We managed to plant the first 3 rows. Now I'm sunburned and exhausted.

I just have to say, I love using a post hole digger for planting.

Nap time!

View attachment 1385220

Brilliant idea! Def going to use that when my mom decides 2 months too late to start the garden (if I can find the post hole digger).

Firstly hello everyone how are things
Secondly I am starting to feel better been blasting my throat with half water and half peroxide in a waterpik and it’s been working.
Finally I have been thinking about modifying my coop. I want to experiment with raising my chickens door up about three feet from the ground and not closing it at night. Two reasons one is the birds that are big enough to get out can reach it and the ones that aren’t can play in the protection of the run. What do y’all think and has anyone ever tried it

I just want to confirm what you're saying. The door that's 3' off the ground is the in the run and would let the chickens out into the world to free range? Or do you mean off the coop and into an enclosed run?
If it's the former, I feel like that's unsafe b/c even if you aren't considering things like weasels, birds like hawks and owls might realize there's an opening. Plus you're forgetting jumping animals, like cats, don't need to scale a wall to get inside. We had a cat who'd jump from the floor to the top of an open door and sleep there for hours. You could make the door 3' up, just close it at night. It'd keep the kids inside where it's safe during the day & allow the older ones to go in/out as they wish, but closing it at night would keep them safe.

Put eggs under my broody! I swear she’s the most broody chicken in the world. I couldn’t let her brood in the winter but it’s warm enough now so operation broody is under way.
She has her own private suite in the coop where no one can pester her. This is first time flock hatching for both of us so .

Moved the Cukoo Marans out to the coop too. In a big dog crate so see not touch. Everyone came in to investigate after B!tch Pudding ran out complaining. My FBCM got the closest to them. I could just hear them— “Bonjour. Ah we see you are from Marans too. Welcome to ze flock.”

Good luck w/ the broody. What kind of eggs are you setting?

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

@apryl29 A bunch of different ones. LOL She is the most broody chicken ever so I’m hoping she decides this is too much work and doesn’t try again for a while.
I set one of her own (only seems fair) and it is a total barnyard mix. There is an Orpington egg. A few silkie cross, Ameraucana x Isbar, BCM x Isbar and a few of my Swedish Flowers. I’m not keeping any boys or the Flowers. Broody group hatching with someone else to hopefully satisfy my Lila’s mommy need.

 

[apryl29]

@apryl29 A bunch of different ones. LOL She is the most broody chicken ever so I’m hoping she decides this is too much work and doesn’t try again for a while.
I set one of her own (only seems fair) and it is a total barnyard mix. There is an Orpington egg. A few silkie cross, Ameraucana x Isbar, BCM x Isbar and a few of my Swedish Flowers. I’m not keeping any boys or the Flowers. Broody group hatching with someone else to hopefully satisfy my Lila’s mommy need.

Aww, how long does she get to keep the babies you're having her hatch for someone else?

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Aww, how long does she get to keep the babies you're having her hatch for someone else?

Not sure how long... no plan here. LOL I’d like a few more girls to even out my ratio and of course for fun. But yes the SF are for someone else. I’m more trying to let her fulfill her hormonal need. She’s just a year and this is the 3rd or 4th time she’s gone broody. She’s the sweetest little thing so I don’t want to get rid of her. I’ll hatch for someone else.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Quail hatching, CCL, and polish too.