Random Pics of My Lil Flock

[Sapphire Sebright]

Well, now Bryony, my poor bottom-of-the-pecking-order Welsummer has bumblefoot. Pretty bad, too. I check often, but she is the hardest of my flock to handle, so I missed it because she always runs away and flails whenever I have to inspect her (yes, even at night). I feel so bad. I noticed it today when I wet her down because she wasn't doing well in the heat. I feel so bad... And she looks terrible. My rooster has done a number on her feathers. She'll be getting surgery tonight.

It's okay -- sometimes things take a while to get noticed. It's not your fault.
Good luck with the surgery!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Goodness! So much time has passed since I last posted! Things have been crazy. I work almost non-stop anymore. Teaching during this pandemic is truly awful. I'm not tech dumb, but the district gave us zero training and very little time to prepare for the school year. I work close to 24/7 planning and grading. And if I hear one more person tell me that I need to "get back to work"...

Anyhoo, the new house is AMAZING. We hired a landscape crew to come out and clear out part of our woods, and our usable land doubled in size. It's unbelievable. Now we have about 1.5 usable acres in addition to the acre on which our house sits. It's not huge like some of the farms described this site, but it's more land than I've ever had.

So we're expanding! We are going to fence in an acre (including the ravine, which is sloped but not so steep that it can't be used/maintained) and we are getting dairy goats. I'm also adopting a couple of llamas from a nearby ranch. We will be moving the chickens down into that area as well. I'm in the process of planning now so we can start building once winter is over.

I am trying to be deliberate in my planning because this is a dream come true for me. But I don't know where to start. I'm a complete noob when it comes to this.

Im thinking about building a large animal shelter - half for the goats and llamas and 1/2 for the chickens. But I want a raised bed garden, too. Wondering if I could build the garden inside a "chicken yard" inside the goat/llama area (hoping that will help keep the flock safer from the gazillion predators we have). Or maybe a chicken garden next to the goats/llamas.

I really don't know where to start, but it's all very exciting!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Whew! It's been a while since I have visited BYC. Remote learning has destroyed my life. All I do is work 24/7.

Only reason I have time to visit now is because I am STILL dealing with COVID. I am over the COVID, but developed a chest wall infection that set me waaay back. Can't teach right now because I can't really talk, so I have 2 weeks off. This is after 2 weeks off for COVID in addition to the 2 weeks of winter break. I've been dealing with this crap for months. Ew.

New developments:
Magnolia, my rescued Australorp, died late November due to a terrible case of salpingitis. Worst part was that I might have been able to save her if I'd given her antibiotics when I first got her in June. Someone pointed out that I'd posted pics of what looked like squishy lash egg material that she'd passed. It was small and very soft. I had completely forgotten about that. The last few months have been insane. Mags paid the price for it. I still feel guilty. I will do a better job tracking my flock's health from now on.

Another new development:
My flock is growing! I ordered 3 chicks and 3 ducks! DUCKS! I said I'd never own them because they are so messy, but screw it. I love ducks. Imma have ducks. Ducks arrive next month. Chicks arrive in April.

Didn't want to order them after the disaster with MPC last year. But no one around here is selling live birds because of the stupid pandemic (and, for a few, various other reasons). There are farms that will sell large quantities of 10+, but I don't want that many right now! So I ordered them. I hope they arrive safely.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Here are more random pics.

I have more pics of chickens on my phone than of anything else...

Here's Jessamine (aka Jess the Mess), my rescued sexlink:

Here's Zinnia after show-and-tell with the freshmen:

Aster, preening after she FINALLY finished molting:

7/9ths of the flock in their temporary digs:

The masticator clearing the ridiculously overgrown ravine we affectionately call the Sarlocc Pit. This is where the chickens and future ducks, goats and llamas will eventually live:

 

[Waves]

I'm very sorry for your Magnolia!
We all do something wrong but this 3d shows you are a so careful person, don't feel guilty

Aster, preening after she FINALLY finished molting:

She's so cute! mines have finshed the molting right now. It's gorgeus to see them happy in their new feathers! It's like buying a new dress, isn't it?

 

[Fatimetta]

Don’t feel too bad! I’m teaching virtually this year too and it has absolutely squashed my passion and desire to be a teacher. This year is absolute insanity and I know I forget about things for the birds too. We have to forgive ourselves. Hugs to you and only five more months! The pictures of the birds are so beautiful! I wish my hens would sit nice for show and tell. I brought one in who had to come in (and doesnt like being handled) and after that it was no more showing chickens on live lessons

 

[Aunt Angus]

Don’t feel too bad! I’m teaching virtually this year too and it has absolutely squashed my passion and desire to be a teacher. This year is absolute insanity and I know I forget about things for the birds too. We have to forgive ourselves. Hugs to you and only five more months! The pictures of the birds are so beautiful! I wish my hens would sit nice for show and tell. I brought one in who had to come in (and doesnt like being handled) and after that it was no more showing chickens on live lessons

There's joy in teaching? I think I vaguely remember that....

What grade do you teach?

I find that my desire to be a teacher is also squashed by the parents' constant harassment. Social media here is awful! Apparently, teachers are lazy who get paid too much since their jobs are so easy, shouldn't get paid at all of they aren't working, are union lackeys who don't want to teach, are failing our students and/or are indoctrinating them. It kills me.

 

[Fatimetta]

There's joy in teaching? I think I vaguely remember that....

What grade do you teach?

I find that my desire to be a teacher is also squashed by the parents' constant harassment. Social media here is awful! Apparently, teachers are lazy who get paid too much since their jobs are so easy, shouldn't get paid at all of they aren't working, are union lackeys who don't want to teach, are failing our students and/or are indoctrinating them. It kills me.

Yes!! Here too. I stay away from the community pages/the school site here now. They gave me two grades this year (yet I deserve less pay right?!) kindergarten and 1st grade. A full class of each and I’m a general ed elementary teacher so expected to teach all their content. It’s ridiculous. I actually started with 3 grades but fought with HR to get rid of one. It’s amazing what they can get away with when in a pinch with distance learning. The other teachers and I set up the whole program with no guidance from the district/principles. What grade do you teach? I am just counting down the days now! Lol. The kids are fantastic and so resilient but I feel like I have no actual connection to them like I did before in person.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I am so bad at this....

I've been ridiculously busy.

Here are updates:

Duckies arrived mid February

Figgy (Fawn and White Runner)
Marmalade (Welsh Harlequin)
Clementine (Black Swedish)
Peanut (Saxony)

Goaties joined the ol' homestead in mid April

From left to right:
Nudge
Sunshine
Cricket
Weezy (all Boer/Nigerian/Nubuan mixes)

AND I got a NEW JOB! I'll be teaching at a school 5 minutes from my house! That's more time with the flocks and herd!


Random pics:

Picotee

The duckies

Bryony

Mingus and Seamus

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

I am so bad at this....

I've been ridiculously busy.

Here are updates:

Duckies arrived mid February
View attachment 2725169
Figgy (Fawn and White Runner)
Marmalade (Welsh Harlequin)
Clementine (Black Swedish)
Peanut (Saxony)

Goaties joined the ol' homestead in mid April
View attachment 2725170
From left to right:
Nudge
Sunshine
Cricket
Weezy (all Boer/Nigerian/Nubuan mixes)

AND I got a NEW JOB! I'll be teaching at a school 5 minutes from my house! That's more time with the flocks and herd!


Random pics:
View attachment 2725171
Picotee

View attachment 2725172
The duckies

View attachment 2725177
Bryony


View attachment 2725178
Mingus and Seamus

Ducks!
And Picotee.