Peeps in Europe!

[chickengr]

the old book on poultry keeping that I've been reading advises against setting eggs early in the year as it believes cocks are not particularly fertile yet.

that is true. some don't mate at all, espacially french breeds.

 

[chickengr]

So yesterday, I did my spring cleaning of the run (weekly cleanings of the coop during the winter) and I made an observation....the bath was the only area where they did not poo in! Making me wonder if they DO have control of that body function and maybe I can train them to go to a certain area and do their droppings there! If folks can train their kittens and puppies, why can't chicks be taught the same? @abpatchy, that is your task, to teach your 7 week old chicks to poop in a certain spot and where ever they are at, at the moment. Are you willing to try?

I don't think you can train them! but it would be great thing to do.

 

[abpatchy]

So yesterday, I did my spring cleaning of the run (weekly cleanings of the coop during the winter) and I made an observation....the bath was the only area where they did not poo in! Making me wonder if they DO have control of that body function and maybe I can train them to go to a certain area and do their droppings there! If folks can train their kittens and puppies, why can't chicks be taught the same? @abpatchy, that is your task, to teach your 7 week old chicks to poop in a certain spot and where ever they are at, at the moment. Are you willing to try?

well.... no! I made a nice dust bath for the chicks (the first ones)... they loved to scratch in there... made a mess... pooped in there... dumped the whole thing... and slept in in. They are (by now) doing their daily dust bathing outside. I wouldn't even know where to start!! Or imagine the time you would have to invest!! oh no, no no no no!!!

 

[BDutch]

So yesterday, I did my spring cleaning of the run (weekly cleanings of the coop during the winter) and I made an observation....the bath was the only area where they did not poo in! Making me wonder if they DO have control of that body function and maybe I can train them to go to a certain area and do their droppings there! If folks can train their kittens and puppies, why can't chicks be taught the same? @abpatchy, that is your task, to teach your 7 week old chicks to poop in a certain spot and where ever they are at, at the moment. Are you willing to try?

My chickens poop mostly when roosted and in the run where they can go after sunrise.
I rarely find poop in the nesting boxes and in the coop area. I have a pot with sand for bathing where they rarely poop in. The coop area is filled with sand too and sometimes I see my chickens taking a dustbath there too.
I didn’t train them. I bought my oldest chickens at the age of 6 weeks and didn't train them. It just happened like this. The others are all trained by their mothers and aunties.

 

[BDutch]

unfortunatelly I deleted post I had on viber.

it is obvious that anyone can say whatever pleases him. I hope that china and her hardworking people will keep their economy safe. that would help all the world as all the industry all over the world get parts from china.

I hope the outcome of this cisis is that we are going to be more self supporting in all the essential products we need. And that people stop buying crap products from countries where people have to work in inhuman circumstances.

It’s so much better our health and for the health of the planet if international transport stays minimised like it is now. The air pollution is way less than in the same time last year.

 

[Papa John59]

I hope the outcome of this cisis is that we are going to be more self supporting in all the essential products we need. And that people stop buying crap products from countries where people have to work in inhuman circumstances.

It’s so much better our health and for the health of the planet if international transport stays minimised like it is now. The air pollution is way less than in the same time last year.

Totally agree with you @BDutch! Now I am far from being a nationalist, but I believe in buying locally made products! I've gotten tired of buying an item, only to have it break two weeks later and you have to real recourse then to eat the cost of buying cheap. I'm willing (not always able to) to pay a little more for product quality than lining the owner's pockets off of cheap labor.

I read a report just the other day stating that the air quality has improved over Europe.

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Ob...wn_leading_to_drop_in_pollution_across_Europe

 

[abpatchy]

I hope the outcome of this cisis is that we are going to be more self supporting in all the essential products we need. And that people stop buying crap products from countries where people have to work in inhuman circumstances.

It’s so much better our health and for the health of the planet if international transport stays minimised like it is now. The air pollution is way less than in the same time last year.

I have been saying this for years. Actually that was the reason to have chickens for me! It just never worked out. I couldn't find a place to keep them (I have no garden here at the house)
I have learned how to spin wool, just to be able to..... just in case. And it turned out to be a nice hobby. But if push comes to shove... I know how to provide.
At the moment you can get eggs again at the store. But last week, you could not buy eggs! I was happy I could just go to my coop and pick them up there. And I know where they come from, what the chickens eat, how they are being treated.
I agree! We need to buy more locally! For more than one reason. Pollution, employment, work ethics.... so many reasons.

 

[Papa John59]

What is the first thing that you will do after your movements are no longer restricted?

I hear other people talk about how they will go out to eat, go shopping, go to the theater or any other places people will be in numbers. We are a social animal, much like our chickens (see I knew chickens were involved in this post).

Sure, I miss sitting with friends and family, but one thing this time period has done, is to bring my family closer! Before we all had our own thing and were losing contact as a family, but now we all have reconnected and the family bond is stronger. We have learned to appreciate ourselves and each other. And I think that will extend to other people in general. Maybe the art of conversation will return! I can hope can't I?

So, my family and I have talked about this and as a family we have agreed to make a pilgrimage to the church at sits on the hill above the town. After the Black Plague of the 1360s, the surrounding villages all made a pilgrimage to this very same church, in thanks for surviving. They still do to this day, in July, but since it only sits a 20 minute hike (much longer for me....at least an hour) from our house, we will do it the very first day we are able to. Come home and have a meal together, because we know that the hassle of life will take over again.

So, what will you do?

 

[abpatchy]

What is the first thing that you will do after your movements are no longer restricted?

I hear other people talk about how they will go out to eat, go shopping, go to the theater or any other places people will be in numbers. We are a social animal, much like our chickens (see I knew chickens were involved in this post).

Sure, I miss sitting with friends and family, but one thing this time period has done, is to bring my family closer! Before we all had our own thing and were losing contact as a family, but now we all have reconnected and the family bond is stronger. We have learned to appreciate ourselves and each other. And I think that will extend to other people in general. Maybe the art of conversation will return! I can hope can't I?

So, my family and I have talked about this and as a family we have agreed to make a pilgrimage to the church at sits on the hill above the town. After the Black Plague of the 1360s, the surrounding villages all made a pilgrimage to this very same church, in thanks for surviving. They still do to this day, in July, but since it only sits a 20 minute hike (much longer for me....at least an hour) from our house, we will do it the very first day we are able to. Come home and have a meal together, because we know that the hassle of life will take over again.

So, what will you do?

That's lovely John! My neighbor and I have talked about having an after Corona street bbq/fest. I plan to see my friend again... I mean really seeing her. I did visit with her yesterday when I picked up the chicken feed. But I didn't go into her house.. just the garden.. whe didn't hug just sat 2m apart. weird. I plan on going to get my hair cut. aaaaahhh it is getting so long... before all this I just never managed to get it cut and now... oh boy! I might have to ask my husband to cut it. hahaha I think I will enjoy going to work again... at least for a little while... until we're back to "I don't feel like it today". I am looking forward to chicken shows (hopefully) this fall. seeing my mother again instead of just calling her on the phone. I am going to enjoy not having to watch my distance to other people... not seeing everyone running around with a mask over their face and getting that reminded that the world is just not right atm. It's the little things.... since we don't go out to eat a lot... or on vacation.

 

[Erba]

I will enjoy walking down to the local pub and meeting my friends again, when this rubbish is finally all over. The only person that visits me now is my daughter. At least I have the chickens and dog to talk to here...greeting the neighbours is still on too! lol.