Sdwd

[NellaBean]

The grass is always greener apparently

Mine have a half acre fenced........as much grass as they can eat, trees and bushes to hide under, planters to scratch in, ladders to sit on, food to eat. And yet, they still apparently feel the need to squeeze through the fence to wander around next door. I have 4x4 goat fencing on most of the yard and the young or smaller bantams can squeeze through. I guess I need to go ahead and run a smaller diameter fencing along the bottom 2 feet but there is HUNDREDS of feet of fencing....so yeah.

I have never had a chicken HIDE a nest and go broody on it. I guess she realized I sure as heck wasn't gonna let her do that over here, so snuck next door.

Sad part is, if they can manage to avoid the hawks.....I have a chicken paradise here. LOTS of grass, lots of bugs, lots of shade, lots of sun, lots of room to scratch, lots of room to hang out, secure coop at night, food galore. I even make my own scratch (half boss, half scratch, with a scoop each of sweet feed and puppy food) and give them all my leftovers. Chickens should be HAPPY to live here. Instead they squeeze through the fence and get eaten. Sigh.

Here is my yard.....of which the chickens have full access to during daylight hours.

Not to mention the dog brigade.

Didn't you guys like Molly?

 

[Cetawin]

Good Morning! As most of you know, I have been helping Sarah aka scbatz33, by being farmhand when she needs a extra hand and part-time pet sitter for the critters. I wanted to share a few pics from feeding time last sunset...

I am in the circle of horsey love with Zen and her foal...I think my legs are all you can see

Zen getting rubs, pats and a carrot n apple treat

Buffy and her foal Soapy

Buffy being a goober and sticking her tongue out at Cheyenne

Zen investigating the flashy camera thingy....I could not zoom out fast enough to get her whole head in the pictures...lol

These mares are a hoot. There is always that farm alarm and guardian to deal with too...Fred, the goose.

Nella, I am sorry about your loss of your girl. That really stinks.

They should be very happy with their lot.

 

[crazyhen]

Oh Nella,
That is a beautiful place for the hens. I have a hillside a lot like you. Now I just have to save like crazy to buy fence post and wire to fence it in. Then the labor. But that is my dream for now. I really would like to free range my hens there. My area includes grapevines, blueberry bushes and two large 60'by 40' garden areas. I want to use the 1x2 dog wire fencing. Dogs are let go here everywhere so that would be my only way. The reg farm fence would not be tall enough so it would have to be 5 or 6 ft tall too. Lots of saving to do.
Sorry you lost your little hen.

I know what they mean to us. Gloria Jean

 

[Cetawin]

Beth....I know you are working today so I did not want to call...but here is our decision...


We will take Joleta Bey...we are working on details, talking to a driver etc etc...I want to leave Wisconsin with:

4 bags of the food she is currently eating
3 or 4 bales of the hay she is currently accustomed to
any tack (headstall, halter, lead rope, blanket, sheets etc.) that she uses
necessary paperwork


I do not want her taken away from everything she is accustomed to, handled by strangers, driven 13+ hours and then off loaded into a new environment with more new people and changes, without her having some things she is used to and are "hers" in her mind. Plus, I do not want her to colic or have issues with a sudden food change.


Now..if you all will excuse me...I must go begin demolishing one stall area of my barn for Ms Joleta Bey to have a stall she will be comfy and safe in. PlusI have fence to run, old chickens runs to demolish, a fire pit to move and a good month's worth of work to make ready.

I'm getting a purty horsey

I'm getting a purty horsey

she will be mine all mine

she will be loved and spoiled rotten

Must make a list and get 'er done.

 

[speckledhen]

Cruise over to this thread if you want to see pics of Gypsy with actual feathers on her head and neck, LOL. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4822115#p4822115


A horse for Cetawin! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Serrin]

I'm sorry you lost the little hen Nella. I guess I had eyes only for all of the wonderful new pictures from everyone, and missed that bit. Poor little girl.

I don't know what these girls get into their heads! Especially when they have a veritable paradise such as you have provided them. It just makes no sense! Silly birds!

But as you say, the grass is always greener to their little minds. And you can't argue with the drive of nature.

I just hope you can get a chance at that dang hawk. If he/she keeps things up, at this rate, he/she should be an easy target, considering how fat and slow they must be getting off of all of your sweet little birds! I loathe hawks!! They're a boil on the butt of chicken keepers everywhere!

Cetawin, I think we're going to have to change your nickname.......Dances with Horses, perhaps??

How about Lady Horse Sister? You sure can see how happy you are in those pictures. I hope things work out so that you can have Beth's Joleta Bey. She sure would be in heaven with you to care for her! Can you just imagine what Thor would have thought of that? "Oooh Mama! You got a mobile roost just for me? Way cool! Come on ladies! Let's go for a ride!"

Has anyone ever heard of, or seen a creature known as a "Wind Scorpion"? I've got one in a jar right now. This little nightmare paid me a visit early yesterday morning when it crawled across my computer desk. I was so stunned at seeing it then that I just sat there and watched it crawl back behind my desk, out of reach and out of sight. Well, the silly fool came back again last night when I captured it. For now, as I said, it's safely confined in an airtight jar and can't escape. I'll try to get a picture of it later today. It really is an ugly little creature! *shudder* Right now, it's time to go tend the babies. Y'all have a great day!

 

[Cetawin]

LOL Serrin! Thor would have probably watched her to see if she was a threat to flock security then gone over and called the girls to steal her food. Joleta Bey on the other hand would probably lay her ears back at him. Somehow I cannot imagine the fiery side of her allowing a chicken to ride. hahahaha



Here is a laugh for all of you...Beth already knows ... I am very very allergic to horses. But have ridden all of my life. So, Joleta Bey will think she is heaven with all the grooming she will get...once in the morning and after each ride and before bedtime. The dander is what I am allergic to.

So, as long as she does not mind my snappy goggles, she will be fine.

 

[Serrin]

Then I bet she'll be the cleanest little horse in a tri-state area at the very least! I'm so happy to hear that you will be bringing her down to live with you Cetawin! She probably doesn't know it yet, but that little mare just hit the lottery!!

How soon will she be making the big trip?

 

[joletabey]

Cetawin- YAY!!!!! Oh this just makes my day!!!! She will have the BEST life with you! Allergies or no allergies!
You might not need 4 bags of feed to start her off. She is an easy keeper and one bag would last her over a week - My friend uses Nutrena products, or did last I knew, and I always fed Purina, both easy to get, and pretty basic feeds, so you should be able to start switching her over to whatever you want to use by the end of the first week with you. I always rely on good quality hay rather than feed, fewer digestive problems. BUT we will do whatever you want to do. Also, this girl moves with ease. She likes people, she trusts people, having never been mishandled in her life, she thinks new places are fun, and she is not a diva about equipment or halters or anything. You gotta bag of carrots and some peppermints and you got a friend for life with this girl! She will uphold the family honor.
Let me know when you think you have a date down, as the paperwork needs to fall in a time frame! I will alert the WI end of things!

 

[Cetawin]

I shall let you know more specific dates when I get the scheduling worked out for the driver and the trailer. They are in two separate locations.

I would love to have the feed, a bale or 2, a halter and lead rope at a minimum for the trip. I am going to have her feed milled so I want to mix and wean her over the course of a couple weeks plus. I will start checking on the nutrena and purina lines here. How does she handle alfalfa?

Also, as I have never done transfer of ownership on an Arabian...who what where? Is it arabian national registry and/or ?

When does the weather usually start getting icky in WI? I want to get her here before it gets icky but I also need a month to get fencing done and stall done and and and

I am too danged excited, I need a cup of chamomile tea with a shot in it.

Focus grasshopper focus!