Sdwd

[Cetawin]

The incubator is full...how many does it hold? Heck if I know 42 I think. LOL

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Laura, I'm glad you're getting such great weather. I just hope it isn't the calm before the spring storms that the upper midwest is so notorious for. You know the kind.....the ones that dump two feet of snow just when the tulips and daffodils come into bloom!

[ I just bet that got a dirty look!

] Sorry sweetie. And lord knows, I probably just put the whole snowball in motion simply by saying it. You know that old addage: Say it and it will probably happen.

It was colder than a well diggers fanny here this morning. At least it hasn't rained [yet] today. And I'm very happy to report that all of the tile work in the master bathroom is now laid! All that is left to do is grout it tomorrow and then seal 72 hours later! And then....AND THEN.....BATH TIME!!!! The shower in the guest bathroom has been done for quite sometime. But it's just a shower. A nice long soak in the tub is going to feel sooooooooooooo good!!!

Pictures coming soon!

Amy, that is what the farmers are worried about with the fruit trees. My lilac bushes are budding out and the daffodils are starting to bloom already. Some of out trees in the fruit orchard are starting to bud out. It is too early for here. I am just going to enjoy the sun for now.

Way to go Amy...tub time. Do you needs a lil Rubber Duckie?




Just in case you want male companionship in your tubbie

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Afternoon all.....

Just stopping by to "check in". All is well here. No headaches for Colby since we left the hospital and he seems like a new child (praise glory).

Rex is back to "himself" as of yesterday.....took him a while to recover from whatever it was, but he is totally recovered and out chasing the girls , when he's not lounging in the sun, LOL. My Rex"lettes" got out Saturday. They didn't much care for the sunshine. They quickly headed for the shade and hung out there for an hour or so.

Looks like "Spring sprung here and already left"!!! We had daffodils blooming a month ago. Temp yesterday was 86 here. Around 85 today and the pollen is awful, well over 8000 which is a new record for the Atlanta area. No wonder my eyes feel like they are full of sandpaper. My azaleas are in full bloom, lilacs almost blooming. Redbud trees are in full bloom as are the dogwoods and cherries....the mild winter was nice, but I am FEARFUL of the heat to come. Nearly 90 deg in March???!!!! Its crazy.

Hope everyone is well

Pray for some rain down here....we need something to wash this mess away

 

[peepacheep]

So glad Colby is doing better!!!!

Have a question about Delawares and thought this would be the best place to ask. I am surrounded by dense NW forest, the predators range from weasels to cougars, red tails and bald eagles. One night a bear waltzed through one side of the run and out the other. The chickens were fine in the coop but the hardware cloth will never be the same. My neighbors free range their chickens thorough out day but also lose a lot to predators. I only free range mine when I can be working in the yard and garden with them so they spend a lot of time in their run. I am wondering how Delawares would do with a fair amount of confinement? They would be in one of my 2 small mixed flocks, in with either an EE roo or a Brahma roo. Size-wise would one roo be better than the other with Del's? Thank-you!!!

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

So glad Colby is doing better!!!!

Have a question about Delawares and thought this would be the best place to ask.  I am surrounded by dense NW forest, the predators range from weasels to cougars, red tails and bald eagles. One night a bear waltzed through one side of the run and out the other.  The chickens were fine in the coop but the hardware cloth will never be the same. My neighbors free range their chickens thorough out day but also lose a lot to predators.  I only free range mine when I can be working in the yard and garden with them so they spend a lot of time in their run.  I am wondering how Delawares would do with a fair amount of confinement?  They would be in one of my 2 small mixed flocks, in with either an EE roo or a Brahma roo. Size-wise would one roo be better than the other with Del's?  Thank-you!!!

I've found that ALL my breeds have preferred to "free range"....do you have any timber, brush, etc that they can hide in if necessary?? I too have predators (mostly coyotes, foxes, dogs and hawks) and I have lost a few. However, if you have a good flock rooster without too many girls to look after he should keep them safe. I do lock mine up at night though

 

[peepacheep]

There is some cover in the yard, a fenced acre, none of which is very bobcat proof. The bobcats have come to view chickens as fast food take out. A creek runs along one side of the yard, it's a super highway for wildlife. The Ginger, Brahma roo, only has 4 hens that drive him to distraction, they constantly go in 2 different directions. Edgar the EE roo has 12 hens and is insanely protective, he tried to run down a low flying red tail. This is the only reason he is still alive. He is a flogging fool and would have been evil rooster and dumplings a long time ago. Unfortunately both roos can not free range at the same time.

 

[Cetawin]

I do not recommend Delaware for confinement. They are very active, mouthy and tend to get into trouble when bored. LOL

 

[kathyinmo]

I am happy to be home from work, and off until next Monday. Rainy, stormy, muddy mess here. We are under a flood watch. Then again, every time it rains it is a flood watch here.

I just made a pot of coffee and am gonna try to get caught up on reading a few threads.

Hope you all have a great day!.

 

[rancher hicks]

Hi all,

My Dels seem ok in confinement but of course we all like our freedom. I have a small flock in a large run.

My dang BR rooster is a fighting man when it comes to the girls. He's flogged me three times and last night was the worse. I grabbed one of the girls and I felt it for a while after he ran into my leg. I gave him a kick but not hard of course. I was putting them into the run for the evening. Or at least trying too.

Saw a hawk the other day and they went crazy. It never came down but was up in a tree.

Scott , glad Colby is doing ok. Nothing worse than a sick child to make you lose sleep.

Lock down today. It will be interesting to see what happens.

I love this weather but it give my allergies the fits. I'm home too. Two day and didn't go into volunteer. I do have a coop to finish and two to clean. I wear a mask when I do it. The dust is just to much.

I hope to get some cold greens planted so the girls have some spinach and swiss chard.

Moving on, have a nice day all,

Rancher

 

[Cetawin]

I guess I should clarify...Delaware needs a good sized run and area to be outside. Confinement as in a small run or inside all the time and there are gonna be problems. They are really good foragers. In your neck of the world, as I just moved from Oregon a couple of years ago, and am all too familiar with the cougars, bear and critters up there. Bear proofing is a danged near impossible feat but the worry over the mountain lions is very small if your coop is secure. Just make sure the birds are safely tucked away at dawn and dusk. I had one that came through my yard right beside my coop daily...hung out in a tree above my coop at night too. I never had a loss from the cougar or predator.

Just secure them from nighttime predators and make sure they are as safe as you can make them during the day. Delaware are full of personality and great layers. They are good birds. Not the best for heat hardiness so I am learning but they did well over the winter.