Opa's place -Where an old rooster visits with friends

[ranchhand]

Sheesh Opa, bordering on smooshy there. And for a bunch of turkeys??? Oh wait, lemme think about that.... you like us turkeys....

Good day all,

I am battling mud here! Stinky, slippery mud! All 3 runs are covered in about 1 to 1.5" in tha disgusting mess and I risk my life even going in. It's been so bad that I let them free range as an act of mercy. And so their feet don't rot. The little guys aren't allowed out yet, but their run has more high ground. The ducks don't care at all, they love it!

I have been thinking I need to reduce the flock and when a guy DH works with said he sure would like some laying hens, I said GREAT! Sold them at a bargain price last Friday and that's 8 mouths less for me to feed. Between the 4 ducks and the hens left, I'll still get enough eggs for us.The buyer has had chickens, had a bad experience with a fox so he rebuilt the whole coop/run system. I felt very good about them, he asked all the right questions and I am pleased that they went to a good home.

Meanwhile, I'm just hoping the rain will stop soon, we'll have one decent day then 3 days of cold drizzle.

Stay warm, take care!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

I almost wish we had mud, at least it wouldn't be so cold. The snow is too deep to let the chickens out to free range.

 

[Slywoody]

Hey that looks like my place!

 

[mamagardener]

Hello everyone,
Ranchie, I am so not looking forward to mud season this year. I love spring but we have a dirt driveway that turns to mud in the spring and driving or walking on it is disgusting. I guess it is better than the sheet of ice it is right now.

The days are getting longer and we are really starting to get cabin fever around here. Thank goodness for the kids playing basketball or I think they would go stir crazy, that is when it is not cancelled because of the snow.

I saw on the news today where some jerks charged an elderly man 5,000 to clear the snow off of his roof. When his daughter found out she called the police and charges were pressed and they had to give all his money back except for the 250.00 that the job should have cost in the first place. It really makes me mad when people take advantage like that. How can some people look themselves in the mirror. I just hope they know that what goes around comes around!

 

[Opa]

I've never been able to understand how anyone can take adavantage of another and still sleep nights. The one basic tenet upon which my construction company is based upon has been honesty. We always base our prices on what are the material costs and how long will it take to do it. I've now other contractors who factor things like how desperate are they to get the job done and how much money can I possibly get. Never has set well with me. Of course the referrals we get sound like my momma wrote them.

 

[Highlander]

Beeeeyoooootiful day here today. Snow all gone and sun is shining. Took the doggies for a lovely long walk in the forest - i did remember my camera to take some pics but it was out of battery

The rheas are loving their new field and all the extra space they have now. They were all running round at top speed this morning, changing direction rapidly, never bumping each other or hitting the fences. They looked like a professional display team!

 

[Opa]

Kinda pretty here this morning as well. Bright sunny day that should lift anyone's spirits. The only downside to the day is the knee deep snow and thigh high drifts. The temperature probably would be considered to less the day somewhat as well, zero. Maybe should factor in the windchill too, -26. But at least the sun is shining.

Glad the rheas are doing well. I don't imagine that there are to many predators you'd have to worry about. Can you imagine a fox telling his buddies - I found us a chicken but we're not big enough to take her on

 

[Highlander]

that's absolutely right, unfortunately now the rheas have moved, the foxes have found my chickens again. I had two of my batchelors - the fancy orps that i hatched - taken in broad daylight last week. I'm just glad I got rid of my layers before they found us again. Easy solution however - get more rheas!

 

[HarlansHollowFarms]

Quote:

More Rheas!!

 

[Opa]

I can hardly believe it, but the weather forecast is calling for temperatures in the 40s for next week. I'm hoping that the temperatures go up gradually so that the snow melt is slower. I'm tired of snow but with a slow melt we don't have as big a problem with flooding as when it melts all at once.

Bright and sunny here today and the high is going to be 25. The wild turkeys are taking full advantage of the paths I made for them. In couple of them the snow is deep enough that all you can see are heads.