Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Cheeky Chick]

Wow. I missed a lot!

Great to see Al back on.

Welcome to all the newcomers.

Coop advice: Go big. Let's face it. Chicken math will take hold and then you won't have enough room. No chicken person I ever met turned down chickens because the coop wasn't big enough. They just built bigger coops. I recommend checking out the coop building sites. They have instructions and ideas for reusing and recycling materials to keep costs down. Think BIG!!

Carol, I agree with your assessment of hatching. Too stressful. I would rather invest the money in a sure thing...

Heather, the 18th is carved in stone!!

I moved my NJ chicks outside. My husband (have to get used to that word!) built a partition and we turned the water heater on for them. I swear they doubled in size since I put them out there. Even little Pearl, my only bantam, is doing great. Now I'm thinking she needs a bantam friend....

Yay you're back! How are Mr and Mrs SMKCHICK doing? I could call him Mr. Suzanne, but there's that whole "boy named sue" thing...

 

[Imprfctme]

My girls are probably feathered enough to spend the night outside, but I'm a wreck about leaving them out there. Am I a nut?

Well, you're a chicken lover now... you're hanging out here with us nuts... chances are, you too are a nut. But I don't think you're a nut for putting the babies outside.

I think they'll be fine as long as they have a wind break.

 

[Imprfctme]

Wow. I missed a lot!

Great to see Al back on.

Welcome to all the newcomers.

Coop advice: Go big. Let's face it. Chicken math will take hold and then you won't have enough room. No chicken person I ever met turned down chickens because the coop wasn't big enough. They just built bigger coops. I recommend checking out the coop building sites. They have instructions and ideas for reusing and recycling materials to keep costs down. Think BIG!!

Carol, I agree with your assessment of hatching. Too stressful. I would rather invest the money in a sure thing...

Heather, the 18th is carved in stone!!

I moved my NJ chicks outside. My husband (have to get used to that word!) built a partition and we turned the water heater on for them. I swear they doubled in size since I put them out there. Even little Pearl, my only bantam, is doing great. Now I'm thinking she needs a bantam friend....

Yay! Say My Husband My Husband My Husband until it doesn't sound funny anymore.

Now for the 18th, I'm thinking you need to bring a carrier with you cause you're going home with a bantam..... ;-)

 

[Harborview Hens]

Hi Everyone! I have been MIA or really, just "in action" because I wasn't missing, I was in Texas. Man that was a long week but as of 9:25pm I can honestly say I have a grip on the most important stuff and the still important but not quite as urgent stuff is also getting done. We apparently have roof rats and killer spiders, yuck, not liking that aspect of southern life already. Husband was complaining about the possibilities of there being snakes, I said, be quiet, they might take care of the rats. Monday I spent the whole day at the zoo and got to hang out with my favorite Emu Kevin for a bit again. She has already grown up since the fall, and if I said that that to anyone but poultry lovers they would think I was crazy but I know you know what I mean. She was a bit more focused and less toddler like. The bantams have settled into their new digs nicely apparently. Reading through all of the posts I missed it is clear that I will have to get some silkies when I move, because no-one will realize that they are chickens. I'll just call them parrots and leave it at that. I am still "head down, ruck forward" mode but am fiercely guarding the 18th on my calendar and will be in NJ to say hello / goodbye to all that can make it. I may not make it on to chat for awhile again but just know I'm reading, and sending you all hugs and love and chicken kisses! Keep posting the pictures of your new fluffy babies, love them all! Kevin was looking at sparrows out the window, I think This blue macaw was the model for "Blue" in the movie Rio Seriously, how could you not love a face like that? This is Eliza the Fennec Fox And this is her very soft and cuddly daughter I will be driving past this bull every day on the way to the girls' new school! Mama duck and her 11 babies in the shopping center fountain. I love that they put wooden access ramps in for them. It was beyond adorable.

Texas isn't New York but it has it's distinct advantages.......lots of critters all year long! BTW....love zoos and try to visit them wherever I travel.

 

[queenchick16]

Morning all,
Well one on the little Aruacanas isn't doing that great. Been giving it fluids with a syringe. The others are doing fine.

Topped my potatoes off yesterday, planted my radicchio, and got all the perennials in the ground that followed me home.
Just have my woodland garden to clean out and I'm good to go. Ya right who am I kidding- power wash everything, stain the shed, clean the patio furniture. Man I'm tired already.

When my husband and I traveled together, before the ultimate spoiled dog, we would always seek out the zoos . We'd also try and catch a baseball or football game in any city we visited. Chicago stadiums for the Cubs and the one for the Bears are both amazing places to watch a game.

Enjoy the day it's suppose to bea beauty.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Morning all,
Well one on the little Aruacanas isn't doing that great. Been giving it fluids with a syringe. The others are doing fine.

Topped my potatoes off yesterday, planted my radicchio, and got all the perennials in the ground that followed me home.
Just have my woodland garden to clean out and I'm good to go. Ya right who am I kidding- power wash everything, stain the shed, clean the patio furniture. Man I'm tired already.

When my husband and I traveled together, before the ultimate spoiled dog, we would always seek out the zoos . We'd also try and catch a baseball or football game in any city we visited. Chicago stadiums for the Cubs and the one for the Bears are both amazing places to watch a game.

Enjoy the day it's suppose to bea beauty.

I'll pray for your little baby.

Everyone is doing spring stuff, and I'm so wrapped up in baseball I've done next to nothing...Today, my middle son has a make up game and then we are going to see the Long island Ducks take on the Sugar Land Skeeters. (A friend of mine is a chef at the Skeeters stadium. We have a friendly wager!) My BIL had extra tickets so my kids and I get to spend the day with my SIL, and nephew, which will be good for my oldest son-they are only 11 days apart.

I'm ready for a gorgeous day. Of family and sports. If there was a way to incorporate chickens (not DUCKS) into the mix...but I suppose it's poultry!!

 

[warmheart]

Rosie, have a fun day enjoying the games and your family!

It's a tough day here. We need to humanely put down our beloved lead hen, a friendly, sassy Golden Comet named Prudence Cluckworth. She was born with an unusual congenital condition that we've been treating, but she's stopped responding, and is beginning to have more days feeling ill than well. My heart is breaking. I'm able to prioritize her needs over my feelings, but it hurts. Pru will be given a tasty spring mix and scratch grains party this afternoon with her friends in attendance. I'll love you forever, Miss Pru.

 

[magsrags]

Rosie, have a fun day enjoying the games and your family!

It's a tough day here. We need to humanely put down our beloved lead hen, a friendly, sassy Golden Comet named Prudence Cluckworth. She was born with an unusual congenital condition that we've been treating, but she's stopped responding, and is beginning to have more days feeling ill than well. My heart is breaking. I'm able to prioritize her needs over my feelings, but it hurts. Pru will be given a tasty spring mix and scratch grains party this afternoon with her friends in attendance. I'll love you forever, Miss Pru.

You've done your best.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Rosie, have a fun day enjoying the games and your family!

It's a tough day here. We need to humanely put down our beloved lead hen, a friendly, sassy Golden Comet named Prudence Cluckworth. She was born with an unusual congenital condition that we've been treating, but she's stopped responding, and is beginning to have more days feeling ill than well. My heart is breaking. I'm able to prioritize her needs over my feelings, but it hurts. Pru will be given a tasty spring mix and scratch grains party this afternoon with her friends in attendance. I'll love you forever, Miss Pru.

I'm so sorry! Miss Prudence will always be with you, and I'm sure you are doing exactly the right thing.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Today was an interesting day. Good then horror, then relief that it had a happy ending.

My sons game was a great one. We lost, but my son got a few really great hits and hit that home plate 3 times. He also got to catch in the last inning, so he was thrilled. We then raced to the Ducks game-as we were coming off of the LIE, I noticed smoke in the distance, from about where the stadium is. Hmmm, as I drove closer, the smoke plume got wider and wider and blacker and blacker. So when we had to turn off of Lowell onto Eastview to get there, there were lights and there it was-right on the corner! A fully engulfed house. SO, we got detoured, the EMT's were rude and no help, and I have no clue about Central Islip as far as directions. Finally we saw a nice man in his driveway, with his ice cream truck. I asked him how to get around the area to the other side of the stadium, he gave me great directions and we got there-at the top of the 3rd, which was fine with me-games are long. The Ducks lost, but we had fun, ate cotton candy and pop corn, and I saw a few of my friends from football (small world, huh?)

So, as we left, the road was still closed and I had to go back around, and I found my way to the LIE. My phone buzzed at me, it was a voicemail from my tenant, she's actually more of a dear friend that lives in my spare apartment. She said my neighbors Boxer got into the yard and he got one of my girls, but her boyfriend saw what was going on, and jumped up and banged on the door before getting it open and the dog ran away-the chicken (who they though was dead,) go up and ran away too. My daughter called her back and asked what color the chicken was, and she said beige. I got all upset-my Buff Orp, Lovey is tan and she's the mama of the new babies from New Jersey. The ride home was silent, the people who own the boxer just moved in right before the Blizzard, and the dog is a nice dog-never barks, always wagging at me and Mac when we walk to the bus. I was upset at the thought of having to knock on their door and telling them what happened.

So, we got home, and the only chickens we could find were May, who was on top of the coop, and the babies, who were under a bush and peeping and peeping. so we got them into the coop, and searched for the rest. we found Flower almost immediately, Diva came out when I called her name, and then I found Merriweather under a Bush in the front of the house. She ran right to me, and let me pick her up-she is never THAT friendly. Miss Boots was still in her nest box/bed, so now we started searching for Lovey and Ducky. I was ready to cry, my sons were climbing through the brush desperately trying to find Lovey because they know how attached I am to my girls, and she's really special. There were tons of feathers outside my back door! Definitely Loveys feathers.
Finally, my tenant/friend, came out and we were talking about the silkies, and my daughter heard something, and there was Lovey, hiding behind the airconditioning unit. She has a HUGE bald spot on her back, but she came right to me to be picked up. Clucked and clucked, I checked her over and she's FINE! No skin broken, just feathers pulled out. We put her back in the coop with her babies, and they were all happily reunited. Duckey finally came out when I called her, and everyone is present and accounted for. Flower looks a little stressed, but I'm hoping she'll be ok. I just checked on them and all are perched, cuddled and happy. Ugh. I'm so stressed I think a glass of wine will be in order as soon as the cherubs go to bed.

Thank god for happy endings, I couldn''t have asked for a better outcome. OH, and my neighbor came right over and apologized profusely-the dog broke off the leash when he saw the girls, and he will be getting a better leash and walk in the other direction. I will be discussing a fence-just on one side to keep the girls in the back. They stay only on my property, but I don't want them in the front anymore, as a temptation for anyone else's dogs.

What a day!