Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[LittleMissPurdy]

I am very lucky... DH is even worse than I am when it comes to spoiling the critters. If he even thinks there is a problem the lucky critter gets brought in, given treats and a chance to hang out for a while for observation. If it has fur or feathers he is a total pushover.
(which is why I just made a vet appointment for a stray female cat to get her shots and spay next week!!)
I have to admit, I would probably have to move half the coop with us if we did the Florida thing for winter.... just wouldn't seem right if we didn't. It is strange when we go to fishing camp for 2 days at a time!

...we just got back from 3 days in LAnc. Co...had the daughter(up here) take care of the birds...she gave me a day to day wrap-up of all that was happening in the coop..hahaha, she was excited to have the chickens now run TO her instead of AWAY from her..hahaha...they know she has FOOD!! hahahaha..
every farm we went by I was eye-balling over

, and you know there are tons of them down there...gosh, i know it is sometimes a pain or the cause of pain..

.. to get up & moving..then out into the COLD..but I have got to admit, i would be totally lost without these animals...

..so excited about spring..rooster and rabbits..and now I have a BEE mentor!!
He came over and talked with me about.. well, everything...Going to be working with him this spring to help take care of his set-up and harvest honey...the best way to learn is to do!!
When I get the $$ to get all the bee stuff, i will actually have a clue as to what to do and have a support system.

***Sharron- I hope you do get to take some birds with you...will help with the 'home-sick'

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

it is a mess out there!! The "rain" that fell here is now coating everything in a sheet of ice...just taking the dogs out is hazardous!!

...seriously..everyone be careful out there!! Not sure what it's like anywhere else, but crazy here!

 

[fisherlady]

it is a mess out there!! The "rain" that fell here is now coating everything in a sheet of ice...just taking the dogs out is hazardous!!

...seriously..everyone be careful out there!! Not sure what it's like anywhere else, but crazy here!

Has been crazy here also... air temps were in the mid 30s but ground was much colder so when rain hit the ground it turned into a sheen of ice and lots of accidents and fall injuries. I am hoping it settles soon. I am at work today (normally I don't work Saturdays but this week is weird due to the holiday).. I just want it to be 0700 tomorrow morning already!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

...we just got back from 3 days in LAnc. Co...had the daughter(up here) take care of the birds...she gave me a day to day wrap-up of all that was happening in the coop..hahaha, she was excited to have the chickens now run TO her instead of AWAY from her..hahaha...they know she has FOOD!! hahahaha..
every farm we went by I was eye-balling over , and you know there are tons of them down there...gosh, i know it is sometimes a pain or the cause of pain.. .. to get up & moving..then out into the COLD..but I have got to admit, i would be totally lost without these animals... ..so excited about spring..rooster and rabbits..and now  I have a BEE mentor!!
He came over and talked with me about.. well, everything...Going to be working with him this spring to help take care of his set-up and harvest honey...the best way to learn is to do!!
When I get the $$ to get all the bee stuff, i will actually have a clue as to what to do and have a support system.

***Sharron- I hope you do get to take some birds with you...will help with the 'home-sick'   

Awesome! I love my chickens too. I told Hubby before we got married, that chickens were part of the deal one day in the future. Now that I have them I can't believe I went 30 years without them, lol. Even with the cold, I still don't mind taking care of them. I too, am looking forward to spring.

it is a mess out there!! The "rain" that fell here is now coating everything in a sheet of ice...just taking the dogs out is hazardous!! ...seriously..everyone be careful out there!! Not sure what it's like anywhere else, but crazy here!

Has been crazy here also... air temps were in the mid 30s but ground was much colder so when rain hit the ground it turned into a sheen of ice and lots of accidents and fall injuries.  I am hoping it settles soon.  I am at work today (normally I don't work Saturdays but this week is weird due to the holiday).. I just want it to be 0700 tomorrow morning already!

I'm glad it's been dry here, and it going to warm up too! Be careful out there!

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Has been crazy here also... air temps were in the mid 30s but ground was much colder so when rain hit the ground it turned into a sheen of ice and lots of accidents and fall injuries. I am hoping it settles soon. I am at work today (normally I don't work Saturdays but this week is weird due to the holiday).. I just want it to be 0700 tomorrow morning already!

Hope it calms down for you too!! I think this surprised a lot of people!

Awesome! I love my chickens too. I told Hubby before we got married, that chickens were part of the deal one day in the future. Now that I have them I can't believe I went 30 years without them, lol. Even with the cold, I still don't mind taking care of them. I too, am looking forward to spring.

I'm glad it's been dry here, and it going to warm up too! Be careful out there!

I can't wait till warm up! There is a frozen poo-issue that has to be dealt with in that coop!..hahaha. I am behind on the permanent roost & poop-board. Will be working on it when we can stand to be out in the barn. Having to scrape it off the floor is NOT ideal!
What I can get off the floor right now, geesh..that stuff is like concrete when it freezes!

....and it is all over the lower roost bar that no one uses, they just crap on it...nasty.

The birds are doing well, they are cold..but handling it. They are still molting, no eggs for..well, i can't even remember now it has been so long...very disappointing

..
I just want them to get their "fluff" back soon..they look so ..deflated right now...and i know they feel this weather more without the feather-coats.

 

[barbiegirl]

I need advice. We want to move in the future, and want to know where is the best place to move that allows livestock and tax wise. Right now where we live, we pay a ton in taxes. We are on 1 acre and have a small house and pay $4000 a year in taxes. (and the heat in the school doesn't work and they don't have money to fix it BS) If you could give me examples like where you are and how much land and how much you pay in taxes it will help us narrow down where we want to go. It's getting too crowded here and we want to raise livestock, like raise a pig or 2 and maybe some cattle.

Speaking of cattle, anyone raise miniature cattle? How loud are they? (Hubby wants to know lol)

We were in the car together for ages driving down to pick up some fresh pork today. Made hubby really want to move so we can do our own.

 

[stake]

Two of my cockerels got into it yesterday. They usually give each other a dance or so, but no blood drawn. These boys are usually cooped together. This morning my main Roo, Tom, is beaten badly. I do not think he's going to make it. I'm so mad at myself for not separating them yesterday. Tom is great with the ladies and my large Splash Orpington Cockerel, he's also never aggressive with people.

B:

I have a similar situation where junior is 1.5 times the size of my main guy...junior is a Godzilla sized boy and Main guy is normal sized,,so far main is dominant...I hope your guy pulls through...both of mine a good roos..I'd hate to loose one in a fight....hope you "Tom" get his game back.....


is either of them the English Orp you had sequestered? He's bigger than my gozilla boy....and I can't imagine any body challenging him? If memory serves, he's the roo in your latest pics...?

 

[wingstone]

I need advice. We want to move in the future, and want to know where is the best place to move that allows livestock and tax wise. Right now where we live, we pay a ton in taxes. We are on 1 acre and have a small house and pay $4000 a year in taxes. (and the heat in the school doesn't work and they don't have money to fix it BS) If you could give me examples like where you are and how much land and how much you pay in taxes it will help us narrow down where we want to go. It's getting too crowded here and we want to raise livestock, like raise a pig or 2 and maybe some cattle.

Speaking of cattle, anyone raise miniature cattle? How loud are they? (Hubby wants to know lol)

We were in the car together for ages driving down to pick up some fresh pork today. Made hubby really want to move so we can do our own.

It is hard to estimate taxes on amount of acreage, we pay twice as much tax on the 1 acre in town than we do on the farm....the farm is in the clean and green act, we do have to follow specifics on run off and pesticide use, but it pays off with the taxes..
That is about the same as our taxes on the house..but the farm is about 2800 all combined taxes on 32 acres... I think the zoning may also make a difference..
Keep in mind the cost of living and jobs can really differ from one place to another.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I need advice. We want to move in the future, and want to know where is the best place to move that allows livestock and tax wise. Right now where we live, we pay a ton in taxes. We are on 1 acre and have a small house and pay $4000 a year in taxes. (and the heat in the school doesn't work and they don't have money to fix it BS) If you could give me examples like where you are and how much land and how much you pay in taxes it will help us narrow down where we want to go. It's getting too crowded here and we want to raise livestock, like raise a pig or 2 and maybe some cattle.

Speaking of cattle, anyone raise miniature cattle? How loud are they? (Hubby wants to know lol)

We were in the car together for ages driving down to pick up some fresh pork today. Made hubby really want to move so we can do our own.

I recommend coming out here to the outskirts of Patton, Carroltown, & Chest Springs area. We're in chest township on 1.3 acres and taxes are around $1500. The Cambria Heights School District is absolutely wonderful and they do so many amazing things for the kids. They just had a huge mega party party at the elementary school yesterday for the kids with 5 big inflatables, a DJ, games etc. As for livestock, it's everywhere up here.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I just wanted to slow how big the babies are getting. They're about 6 1/2 weeks old already. That's Cookie on the right front and the rest in the picture are the babies. So big, so fast!

and just for some cuteness, Midnight teaching Wynter, Flurry, and Fria about food