Online Large Fowl Chat Thread

[CapricornFarm]

I decided not to go to the sale tomorrow , the weather is supposed to be cold and windy. Might better build more feeders or clean pens etc. Had to go buy feed again today, I am considering planting a lot of corn this year. Need to finish fencing in the garden area to keep the chickens out. I have been dumping loads of manure over on the garden and DH puts the ashes from the woodstove there as well. Chicks are hatching in the back bedroom, and I put another tray of 48 in the Bator.
My parents are very depressed over the loss of their dog. I suggested they get a dog to try and keep Dad moving. He had been sad over numerous friends dying. He did not want a dog, but eventually gave in and adopted a dog that the owners had to give up when their home was destoyed in a hurricane. He totally fell in love with the dog and they were constant companions. She got old and finally could not get up so they had her put down. I hope they get another dog.

 

[shellyga]

I know what you mean about the cold and windy..but I so need to sell about 5 roosters.. so I might brave the elements.

I have this little bantam chicken.. tiny thing.. we call "Roadrunner" since she is so quick. She came with a batch of chicks I bought last year at the auction and we have fallen in love with her.. I snapped a few pictures that I need to post so someone can tell me what breed she is.. well Roadrunner was missing and the hawks have been scoping out the area so we feared the worst.. come to find out.. that little lady is sitting on eggs ON TOP OF THE MESH between the pitched roof and the ground.. only a tiny space for her to get in and up there.. but she found it.. two eggs are off to the WAY side.. I guess they rolled away.. DH and I are trying to figure out just how we are going to get her down. I have seen the lonely cochin roo romancing her.. so many she has a fertile egg or two.. but goodness knows what the chicks will look like...lol

Wish us luck..

Shelly

 

[Arielle]

I decided not to go to the sale tomorrow , the weather is supposed to be cold and windy. Might better build more feeders or clean pens etc. Had to go buy feed again today, I am considering planting a lot of corn this year. Need to finish fencing in the garden area to keep the chickens out. I have been dumping loads of manure over on the garden and DH puts the ashes from the woodstove there as well. Chicks are hatching in the back bedroom, and I put another tray of 48 in the Bator.
My parents are very depressed over the loss of their dog. I suggested they get a dog to try and keep Dad moving. He had been sad over numerous friends dying. He did not want a dog, but eventually gave in and adopted a dog that the owners had to give up when their home was destoyed in a hurricane. He totally fell in love with the dog and they were constant companions. She got old and finally could not get up so they had her put down. I hope they get another dog.

Hot2 pot--Sorry your dad is depressed. Loosing friends, human and dog, are difficult losses. He will find the right dog when he is ready. Another dog who needs him. In the mean time, he will morn the loss of a great friend like no other. Fortunately spring is not far away.

Shelly--glad you found Roadrunner. Such a lonely feeling when they disappear.I had a broody do that in September. Thought the coyote had taken her. Nope, a little used stall was the perfect location for a nest. They find the darnedest places to set. Roadrunner X cochin = cute, very cute.

What corn will you plant? How do you find feed corn rather than sweet corn for planting? DH and I were discussing oats and wheat that the birds can harvest themselves.

At feeding time, another lamb born, very tiny. I had to rearrange everyone as usual to get the mom and baby in a jug. By then the baby was very cold and going blue. A nice warm bath and it revived. The mother gave birth to a sibling and it too was very small. Neither lamb can walk, very odd. We wonder if they are premies. DH and I fed the babies during the night.

All this is taking away from my building time. THe 2 loads of scrap plywood was a boon. THe 2 mo old chicks are free ranging the house and DH has had enough. He placed plywood to block the door and keep the chicks in the bathroom. Does he realize this make for other complications? DS pointed out the cat is stuck in the bathroom too as this is where the cat sleeps but needs occasional trips to the basement. Chicken math can be a real problem.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I just buy a big bag of feed corn, and plant it. Way cheaper than sweet corn and it keeps well on the cob or off. A guy down the road grows it to feed his cattle as well. I plan to soak it before I feed it to them, after it dries since I don't have a way to grind it unless I take it to a mill.
Another pair of twins born today, to Fancy Pants. It is her first freshening, and I didn't think she would have more than one but she had two doelings. Of course it has to be one of the coldest days of the year so far. I put PJs on them. My buck sure puts his stamp on them, I am going to have a whole crop of buckskin colored kids this year. They were standing up already when I discovered them in the barn. That is great for Nubians, since they often lay around after being born for a day or so.Daddy has that Kiko blood though. That helps get the kids up and nursing.
Not much accomplished today, just toting water , collecting eggs so they don't get too cold, feeding bottle baby, feeding chickens. People keep showing up for eating eggs, three or four dozen at a time.So I am busy washing eggs too. DH cooked up a big batch of rice and I fed it to the chickens while still warm. They were loving that. Tomorrow is supposed to be cold again and then it gets to warm up, hopefully. I have lots of work that needs doing outside. The daffodils are beautiful again this year. Odd they are blooming before the crocus. Of course, seeing robins this early is weird too. I hope our plum tree waits to bloom until after last frost but I doubt it, the buds are quite big already.
Shelly, we need to see a pic of Roadrunner. Glad you found her!

 

[Chicken Coach]

It's cold here,this weekend.Yesterday i took the extra buff rooster and a dozen hatching eggs to a friends house ,He sold the rooster for me,that's the one that came with the 5 buff hens that i paid 20 each for. Boy he was rough and i was glad to sell him for 10 bucks.I was going to get money back out of this deal but instead i came home with 2 barred rock laying hens and a rooster that i gave him and he decided he didn't want. My java eggs are still selling good on ebay and after 4 months of posting my bred sow on craigslist i sold her for 300.She is a big pet and i hate to sell her ,but with feed prices as they are i don't think raising pigs will ever pay out.Boy i got a lot of eggs in the bator the first batch is due feb 16.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Hatch on, Coach! I have a big batch of shipped duck eggs in the Bator and I just candled and they are ALL growing!:-D So once I get the last few eggs out of the styrofoam Bator I am going to put them in there because it is easier to get the humidity up .
It is bitter cold here too. I am going to go check the goats and lock them in for the night . A bunch of them look ready to kid. I got a call about my buck today, hope they come buy him. The bottle baby, Slim , is doing a bit better. I opened the door to his crate so he can get out and run around. I really thought he would not make it, but he is hanging in there. Spending more time picking eggs so the don't get chilled. DH has not made up his mind about going to Fl, I would love to go see the grandkids.
Been packing eggs tonight, got lots to ship tomorrow . Must go out soon for the midnight check.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Today I packed eggs and figured out how to print postage online. Then I went to the post office and didn't even have to wait in line. Got a call from a guy that wants to buy my buck, so that will be good. He broke loose again today and I am just sick of dealing with him. Lena had her kids today, twin bucklings that are both white like their Momma.
The weather has gone from bad to worse, sleet and freezing rain tonight when I was trying to feed the animals. Maybe we need to move further south again. I had to get busy and set up another pen with a heat lamp, attach new hinges where the goats busted the door off, lay new bedding and get babies dried off. Why do they need to have them when the weatrher stinks???

 

[Chicken Coach]

We got some snow last night. Maybe 1and a half inches,but it is going to be in the 50s in a 2 days.I packed eggs today and had the best sale yet.I sold a doz java eggs for 36 bucks!!! I'm glad you are selling that buck,We got rid of ours and haven't missed him at all. Tomorrow i'm taking my hog to OK, I mite miss her but she is going to a good home.Selling eggs is fun ,i sould have done this years ago.

 

[Arielle]

Today I packed eggs and figured out how to print postage online. Then I went to the post office and didn't even have to wait in line. Got a call from a guy that wants to buy my buck, so that will be good. He broke loose again today and I am just sick of dealing with him. Lena had her kids today, twin bucklings that are both white like their Momma.
The weather has gone from bad to worse, sleet and freezing rain tonight when I was trying to feed the animals. Maybe we need to move further south again. I had to get busy and set up another pen with a heat lamp, attach new hinges where the goats busted the door off, lay new bedding and get babies dried off. Why do they need to have them when the weatrher stinks???

I watch more carefully when the weather turns bad!! LOL It does seem like they are more likely to give birth in bad weather. It's a birthing thing !! LOL

Have a little pullet sitting on my shoulder. She quit the brooder and found me, climbed all the way up to my shoulder and watched the BYC screen for while and then went to sleep.

I spent all day working on built in feeders in the breeding pens. A lot of work but I'm hoping to only need to fill them a couple times a week. Need to rip one apart and try again. Will move the marans over to the finished pen, then work on their original pen adding roost and feeder. Looks like tomrrtow will be another good day.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I just now came in from doing chores! Packed 5 boxes of eggs this morning, then printed labels and postage then shipped this afternoon. Had to wait for the guy coming to buy Jack. I took Jack off his chain about 15 minutes before the guy got here, and by then Jack had jumped the fence already! I was really glad he went, now maybe if I get the fences fixed they will stay fixed. Brownie had her kids today, so I had to get a pen done for her, set up a heat lamp, cut cords and all that. She had twins , but I think one may belong to my younger buck since it is black and tan with a spot of white. That one's the doeling, and the buckling is huge and looks like Jack. I really thought Sasha was going to kid today, she had a viscous discharge, but nothing happening when I just checked. Cleaned out all the fish tanks in the garage tonight, put fresh bedding in. They really need to go to the barn but I have to move others first . Tomorrow I really need to go to Jackson but have to keep an eye on the goats too. Hopefully it will be nice out.