***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Yara]

I am in Henryetta, but work in Muskogee. Westville is over by Stillwell, between Tahlequah and Arkansas right? I will definitely be interested in some silver fox, but not for several months, a lot of irons in the fire and want to be ready for the rabbits this time BEFORE we get them!!!! lol lol lol What a novel idea!

That's correct! That's not too far at all! Yeah, I have my Silver Foxes and my brother's are a completely different lines than mine. He got his from Chris Bacon at Pecan Grove Rabbitry. They are really good stock too! Mine are from stock from the big rabbitry from Missouri that went out of business. He won't be breeding until late fall though. When you're ready though I'm sure we can fix you up! We will tattoo them and they will be good to go.

I hear you about the being ready part for sure! I like the tunnels you built. I would like something like that as well. It was wonderful to talk to you!

 

[Kassaundra]

That's correct! That's not too far at all! Yeah, I have my Silver Foxes and my brother's are a completely different lines than mine. He got his from Chris Bacon at Pecan Grove Rabbitry. They are really good stock too! Mine are from stock from the big rabbitry from Missouri that went out of business. He won't be breeding until late fall though. When you're ready though I'm sure we can fix you up! We will tattoo them and they will be good to go.

I hear you about the being ready part for sure! I like the tunnels you built. I would like something like that as well. It was wonderful to talk to you!

Nice talking to you I will let you know when I'm ready for the sf rabbits for sure.

 

[BetsyOK]

We're working extra hard right now trying to get our place back in some kind of shape. We have two acres, about half wooded, and I tried to landscape the entire two acres, my "theme" being "enhanced woodlands. I've lived here 33 years and Vashi 31, and we (really I) had a pretty nice yard with many, many named varieties of irises, daylilies and hostas as well as numerous specialty trees and shrubs (all started as tiny "sticks"). However, between the ice storm of 7+ years ago, the droughts of several years running and my knee problems (initially pain and then arthroscopic surgeries on both because of torn meniscus--then complete replacement of both about 2 years ago), I've gotten very, very behind. The knees are now doing well enough to enable me to do a lot of work. The garden is still producing veggies, and I'm still canning and freezing.

All kinds of "garden thugs" have taken over, and things are definitely out of hand. The huge fires of the last several years gave us incentive to start taking out all the cedar trees close to the house (they go up like torches and burn very hotly). We were having to pay to have them removed, but have now found someone who will remove them for the wood. However, they leave all the branches for us to dispose of. Cedars have a LOT of branches. I'ts a good partnership, though, they LOVE the work and wood, and we'll feel much, much safer once they are out. We paid to remove all the ones close to the house; now we're having the ones surrounding the little barn and chicken pens removed. There will still be lots of shade from the large oak trees that will help keep the chickens cooler.

Vashi and I are doing a lot of burning of huge piles!!

We also hired a neighbor to clean out the front part of our original lot that is next to the road and very overgrown. A couple of strong men and a Bobcat made short work of that mess. I still have to do quite a bit of raking and burning of small stuff, but they burned all the big stuff, including some surprisingly large trees. We've lost a lot of our privacy, but already have a lot more peace of mind from the cedar removal, and our place is looking better.

Not incubating anything this season, and am now removing nearly all the eggs laid, so only a couple of broody hens left. Have lots of chicks of various ages, and most are really looking good.

NanaKat still puts me to shame by the huge amount of work she and hubby get done!

 

[BetsyOK]

Sorry, didn't realize this was so long until I sent it!

 

[lonnyandrinda]

But it's so good to see you posting again! Computer/internet problems all fixed now?

 

[hotcurltr]

Sudden onset of all or partial paralysis w/o trauma my guess would be botulism

Where would she get botulism? I haven't performed her necropsy yet. I had a lot of errands today. Some of the big roos got out yesterday and were terrorizing the hens and pullets and one could of hurt her. She is pretty much a one man girl and would run and fight..

I'd rather not take any under 3-4 months. Mainly because I don't want to raise any more chicks. I haven't been able to even kill any on purpose yet, much less eat them. I'll take the RIR to practice on if no one else wants him. Kass-take as many as you're able to-please. I do NOT want to hear the words, "Oh, he's cute! I'll save him for Mitzi!"

Because we all know what happens to the cute boys here-they end up on my lap with me singing Puff The Magic Dragon to them

Did anybody go to the sale in Checotah last night? I was exhausted after a week with students, and I didn't want to start my weekend burdened with a sleep deficit because my grand babies were due to arrive at six this morning.

We've been working on miniature artwork in my classroom for a week. Paintings were photographed, reduced, printed, and mounted in bottle caps to make pendants. Here are a few examples. The paintings were done with tempera paint. Each bottle cap image will be covered with a clear plastic resin to protect it. The resin makes the image look more three dimensional.

Really really great artwork. How do you come up w/ these ideas?

yellow poop makes me think worms, have you wormed them recently?

Yes, they have been wormed twice w/i the last month.. I'll have to go look up the dates. Tell me what kind of rooster you want? The RIR has always been great, and even w/ the chicks. He is people friendly, but I think all the business of the youngsters running around, before I penned them up got him cranky or something. He was limping yesterday and I just found bumblefoot. Bad, bad chicken mama. I haven't treated him yet, but am getting ready to do so now.

 

[NanaKat]

We got a little good news today. Our sons test for Cushings came back negative. Yeah. Unfortunately I woke up sick and have lost my voice entirely. Bet my hubby is secretly greatful. Lol

So glad to hear about your son...and my hubby is the same!

Polly just died in hubby's arms while I was researching. I have no Idea. I feel guilty because I didn't pay attention at feeding time tonight, but she was fine yesterday. Just during the time we had her in the house, her comb and wattles went from a nice red to purple. It had to be some sort of toxin. Right. If she would of had a broken egg inside, or been egg bound, which I couldn't feel an egg, she wouldn't go downhill so fast would she? And her crop is full from eating, but not impacted, as it's not hard and she had no foul odor coming from her mouth. Just couldn't get up and the yellow poop. No respitory issues. I don't feel like doing a necropsy tonight , so I'll put her in a bag in the outside fridge. and do one tomorrow. I hate them dying at all. ... My poor, poor Polly. She was the last of my first. ....I usually don't feel this sick, but as I said she was a favorite and one of the first. She's in chicken heaven now.

Sorry to hear about your Polly. Sounds like heart or artery to the lung.... Doesn't sound like egg bound if you could not feel an egg.

Chicken drama going on in Henryetta today. We seem to have acquired 3 guineas they were wandering around the neighborhood yesterday so w put out some water for them, couldn't get close to them at all, but today they seem to have taken up residence in the chickens area. Shakespear had an accident. Don't know if he will survive or not, breathing pretty heavy, resting in the house, I'm not home so just going off reports from home.

The guineas may be gone tomorrow....we have three that visit every mon or so from 1/2 mile down the road. Hope Shakespear continues to improve.

Hi all! I'm new to BYC and am an Okie as well. We live in a greasy spot in the road called Westville. Right now we live just outside of town with just under an acre but we have bought a 2.5 acre tract of land close to the Illinois River. Waiting on another tract that is next to mine to come open and then I will have 5 acres! Right now I have a pair of 16 week old Aracaunas and 3 white leghorn pullets. I have 9 Blue Double Laced barnevelders in the incubator and 17 mixed breed eggs in there as well. Hoping for a good hatch! Anyways, nice to meet you!

from Meeker. Hope you have a great hatch and on the land.

Sorry, didn't realize this was so long until I sent it!

Sounds like you and Vashi have been BUSY this summer. Too bad someone won't take the bigger cedar limbs for building outdoor furniture. I used several branches from our cut down trees as roost bars.

 

[NanaKat]

The quail scheduled for hatch on the 28th are hatching today! Heard one in the incubator and checked...there were two already popped out. Moved the eggs to the hatcher and now there are 4. these eggs were set Aug 10 and are hatching 13 days instead of 17!

I recently switched from flat thermometers to digital therm/humidity meters. Hatches have been much better and no malformations.

Chicks are hatching under some Bantam hens.....so cute.

Left the sprinkler on last night in the garden...by accident...actually I forgot about it.....anyway, that section of the garden is really soaked. The water trickled down to the young fruit trees...so not a complete disaster.

Going out to take pictures of some of the chickens to post.

Mitzi...I have a gorgeous dark Blue Cochin/Wyandotte cockerel....about 8 months of age...looks more Cochin with a Wyandotte comb....just saying.....

 

[Cjarvis]

Sounds as though everyone is quite busy even though it so dang hot out there.

Nanakat you and Roger be careful in this heat, it can really sneak up on you.
How is Roger liking the quail? I have some just started laying out of the same hatch as the young ones I sent with you. Those little guys sure can multiply quickly. Getting ready to put a few more in the freezer soon. I am also considering a few pheasant they sound quite nice for holiday dinners and other occasions.

Betsy, the War on Cedar seems to be nearly everywhere. I have a few left on the place but have so busy setting fences I have only cut what had to be and will be going back through to cut the rest. They are a fire hazard, but for me and the boys its about allergy issues as well.

In the event anyone would be interested I have quite a few bantams, a combination of previous years breeders and young birds that would have been some nice show prospects but have minor imperfections. I plan to let several go as yard art or what ever your desires.

 

[Cjarvis]

I may be looking for a nice, well-well-mannered older rooster for my flock. I really like having a guy around for the girls, but so far they've all ended up as not-so- great to the girls.

Try a good Wyandotte, they are calm, easy to manage, and great with the hens as well as kids, well people in general.