Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[chickenraiser24]

I know someone who has a large farm. He loves animals. I will ask him, but he is out of town until January. He meant well for his chickens but.... Yeah. Only problem is that he wants to keep them until January. I will care for them until January. I am bringing them meal worms tomorrow. I wish I could just foster them.

 

[cheeka]

hey CR, sorry to read about the troubles you're going through, but you're to be rewarded for it, you should sell them, and the saints are smiling over your doting.

the dogs...

the dogs are so freakin' adorable. Belle pooped in the house a couple of times, as we were told she would do on arrival. I watched her as best I could with all the going's on... she sneaked off and made a big one upstairs. then when I was cleaning that one up, my brother caught her making another big poop in the living room...!! but! since then, she has been very good. Peri actually scratches at the door, Chester taught her... once one wants out, they all want out. it's a lot of work with a bum knee. but I set up run wires between the trees in the front yard, and one to the lamp post. Chester always had one, but I set up 2 more. all the dogs can meet, but really can't tangle.
Peri likes to eat out of Chester's bowl. and she likes to bite. there have been 3 very scary moments when Chester gave clear warning and Peri went ballistic. Chester is a Perfect Dog. he listens to my commands and allows me to remove Peri. (who, at 6 months, doesn't listen to much of anything) I'll train her.
besides those moments over a toy or a food bowl, I have it figured out, it's working, Chester is in love and they are really good dogs. big responsibility... but I can deal.

Chester has finished his supper, so Peri gets hers in his bowl, because otherwise, she won't eat... I save a few kibbles for him and Belle, because they are not silly fuss pots... and that gives her a chance to get her meal in the Big Dog Bowl...

 

[Wishing4Wings]

They are freakin' cute and Chester is a saint! I figured there would be some adjustments to make, but doesn't sound too bad at all. I'm sure you'll have them ship shape in no time! Are there any cats in the house? No trouble there? Just one bit of unsolicited advice... Peri being on the step up above St. Chester puts her in the dominant position. Maybe not the best place for her considering she is already too big for her britches! Hard to resist that cute little smoodgy face, though!!

 

[BullChick]

The rest of the story...
Duckling was sent here Tuesday because she was throwing up. I told her mother to follow the BRAT diet, and no dairy. I also told her to cover the crib with towels and set an alarm to change them in the middle of the night. She returned Thursday, and had diarrhea overnight. She went home late last night. I saw her today for a few, and was told she still had the runs.

So I was saying that the ducks kept escaping, and I couldn't figure out how. Today there was a bird inside the chicken run when I went to open pop doors. I opened the run because it really wasn't figuring out how to get back out. JUST as I got the door open, it flew out the chicken wire.

Later I was watching for the ducks, and did see them. As I went out I saw all of the chickens near the duck run.

As I was asking how they got out, I figured it out. I hadn't latched the run door again. I did some work, was in and out of the house. Moved three hundred pounds of feed and some supplies to the coop. I think I finally found the duck escape spot. We will see tomorrow!
I have been getting a duck egg every-other day since they became fertile (I think it has more to do with her maturing and the season) but being a duck, I have come to expect extra eggs when she misses a day. I was rewarded today with two duck eggs. Unfortunately, one was soft. Not a surprise, but obviously wouldn't do too well in the incubator!

I later got a surprise when I was going into the chicken coop to rake out the straw. I really do have five layers again!

No green egg today to make it perfect, but still exciting!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Congrats on all the eggs, MC!

Ya, I figured you got the sick kid to care for her. What's the deal with the mom? Does she work or just inept? Both? Thank goodness for Jaz's sake that you are there! What would be her fate without you?

 

[chickenraiser24]

Sounds like you've got it all handled!  Sell the birds as compensation for your time and money spent.  He gave his permission and you are doing him a favor by saving him a visit from animal control and a potential cruelty charge.  They are probably fairly young if they are laying during this time of year.  Depending on where you live, pullet/hen laying well will sell for $10-$15 or more.  Try craigslist. 

Unfortunately, animal control really does not care about chickens. I have seen many chickens abused, but animal control does not seem to interested in that.

 

[BullChick]

Congrats on all the eggs, MC!

Ya, I figured you got the sick kid to care for her. What's the deal with the mom? Does she work or just inept? Both? Thank goodness for Jaz's sake that you are there! What would be her fate without you?

She is just too into herself. It's a family trait.
When I feel so low about the goings on of my marriage, I try really hard to concentrate on Duckling and how she is doing so well for me. Eating eggs, drinking water and using a sippy cup (not to mention a regular cup) are all small things, But they are also things she only does for me. Then you add in the chores she does (for now, because I doubt she will want to when she is older and must!

). The fact that her parents knew nothing of the BRAT diet (chicken nuggets for breakfast after a night of throwing up. Uhhhh....

)

 

[cheeka]

MC, you are the only one keeping Duckling going... hopefully it will be a decade or more before she loses interest in her farm life, if ever! Wrangler wants a big farm, horses, goats, chickens, and anything else she can think of at the time...

oh ya W4W, Chester prefers to eat a few inches up, but will snack from the floor... Peri knows better than to go anywhere near his bowl if his head is in it anyway, this morning, she ate from her own bowl at the same time that Belle and Chester ate, no goofing around, no waiting - that's my preference, but because she's so young, I'm sure her behavior will bounce over the next 2 years... puppyhood is a long long long time... but I do know that when Chester is finished, he's finished... even if there are a few kibbles left, he doesn't care who licks it. even the cats. which answers the other question. I have 2 male cats. Oliver and Hershey. Oliver has been hanging out in the workroom for weeks. he has his litter in there, it's cooler (he's a long hair) and he prefers the company of the little chick and her even littler babies... they don't mind him one bit. Hershey is a spaz, but he's come around already, suspicious of the pup, he tends to hide and watch... the cats are 12 and 9.5 respectively... they know pugs.
Chester does get extra reassurance that he's my great boy, so he tries extra hard to please me, it is quite cute until someone drives down the road and all three start barking... thankfully that only happens a handful of times each day.

 

[BullChick]

MC, you are the only one keeping Duckling going... hopefully it will be a decade or more before she loses interest in her farm life, if ever!  Wrangler wants a big farm, horses, goats, chickens, and anything else she can think of at the time...

oh ya W4W, Chester prefers to eat a few inches up, but will snack from the floor... Peri knows better than to go anywhere near his bowl if his head is in it   anyway, this morning, she ate from her own bowl at the same time that Belle and Chester ate, no goofing around, no waiting - that's my preference, but because she's so young, I'm sure her behavior will bounce over the next 2 years... puppyhood is a long long long time... but I do know that when Chester is finished, he's finished... even if there are a few kibbles left, he doesn't care who licks it.  even the cats.  which answers the other question.  I have 2 male cats.  Oliver and Hershey.  Oliver has been hanging out in the workroom for weeks.  he has his litter in there, it's cooler (he's a long hair) and he prefers the company of the little chick and her even littler babies... they don't mind him one bit.  Hershey is a spaz, but he's come around already, suspicious of the pup, he tends to hide and watch... the cats are 12 and 9.5 respectively... they know pugs.
Chester does get extra reassurance that he's my great boy, so he tries extra hard to please me, it is quite cute until someone drives down the road and all three start barking... thankfully that only happens a handful of times each day.

Anyone else itching to take a drive to New York, and keep going up and down Cheeka's road?!

 

[chickenraiser24]

Update: The white leghorn looked like she threw up. Is that even possible?