Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[ChickenAl]

Hi all!

Been browsing the past couple of pages.

So far, it's a fun, busy summer. Lots of barbeques and beach visits. Also trying to work, keep the kids occupied and exercise. 

Remember I told you all about my obsession with hummingbirds? Well, I'm happy to report we get them all day at our feeders now. I can't believe it really. We live in such a populated, busy area, I didn't think they'd ever want to hang around. Yet, they are here all the time now. Feels like I am in a happy dream state!

One of my australorps was broody for at least 6 weeks, maybe more. She got taken out a few times a day and fed specially so she was ok. But with very little or no dust bathing, she got some sort of mite. I was scared when I first noticed them. You could see she had been bitten around her vent and that's where they were in full force.

I changed out the laying boxes, sprayed them with some flea and tick spray I had laying around and put tons of DE down and took her and dusted her with permethrin. Happy to report, no more bugs! Whew! I am keeping a close eye on everyone else but am glad that the stuff worked so well. I've read so many nightmares.

I met a lady at a party last night who also keeps chickens and she is having problems with pecking. I am going to email her a link to this thread. Maybe Al can help her out with some advice. Apparently, one of her hen's head has been picked so bad, she was a bloody mess. 

I tried to lure in hummingbirds with hanging petunias and feeders and all sorts of stuff. I would sit there and watch at times throughout the summer. At the end of the summer I saw one come to the feeder and it stayed for all of about three seconds, then it flew off. I was so disappointed considering a friend of ours had one feeder out and had them coming in all day long. Every year I say we're going to try again, then I remember that one year and that ends it. I do have to tey again. Maybe planting some trumpet vine might be the key.

 

[ChickenAl]

Rosie, glad to hear your son is safe and sound. That had to be a freak out moment for you. Luckily, kids have more sense than we give them credit for.

 

[ChickenAl]

Got home about 3:30, been running around ever since.
EVERYONE thanks for the help...
They are resting in my bathroom.
I have to go out to a b'day dinner tonite, so must get off the computer.
If anyone wants a few, please let me know.

Chicken Fairy Godmother, you're the bestest!

 

[ChickenAl]

Cheeky Chick : Glad your son got home safe, but the coaches ought to have a phone tree for all the parents, so you can help each other in situations like today.
We had scary black, menacing skies with high winds, but not much rain in Dutchess County. Thank goodness it's leaving the area now!
Lindsey and I did another road trip today, before the storm hit. I had an opportunity to get a purebred Ragdoll cat for Lindsey, from a breeder who is retiring. This one year old kitty is just the most intelligent, sweet and loving snuggler. Her name is Willow and as I type, she is hiding under the couch due to the storm...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gorgeous cat. Glad you guys weathered the storm okay.

 

[highpointfarm]

Caleb, we got hammered over here (still are). Have to love living in the hills... How is it on your side of the hill?
What is that crazy circular thing on the doppler? Is it the tornado depression? I don't think i have seen a pattern like that before. Then again, I don't really keep up with a lot of what goes on around me...
That said, I wasn't aware it was going to be so bad, i don't watch tv or read papers and was not on the com all day. So, birds are out in this and i will be soon ad well so i can lock them in for the night. I hope the worst of this blows over before i have to go out there.

It was INSANE lol, no tornado though =/ it touched down in sullivan county.... and I didnt see the doppler BUT maybe it was the tornado that touched down in sullivan? evidentley it didnt hurt anyone, and it touched down in the middle of nowhere.... I was really looking forward to a tornado... DANGIT lol allwell

 

[ChickenAl]

It was INSANE lol, no tornado though =/ it touched down in sullivan county.... and I didnt see the doppler BUT maybe it was the tornado that touched down in sullivan? evidentley it didnt hurt anyone, and it touched down in the middle of nowhere.... I was really looking forward to a tornado... DANGIT lol allwell

Caleb, I've seen one up close. It hit our house in July of 1989. Trust me, you can live without the experience. It was only an F2 to F3 but it was enough to do $20,000 worth of damage to our home and car. It sent branches completely through the house. No power for almost a week. We were only in the house for 11 months at the time. It was not fun. Sorry to rain on your parade, but see one from a place far from your home to appreciate the awesome power of it.

 

[goldeneggtees]

Wow! Got caught riding my bike in that storm, stupid idea!!!

Hope everyone is ok out there.

Al, I'm sorry you didn't have luck with the hummingbirds. It could very well be the trumpet vine that got them coming here. I have to say though that I've been trying for sooo long. I even planted a trumpet vine at our old house to attract them and that was about 14.5 years ago. The new house we bought had a very old one growing out front. This is the first year I'm seeing them on a regular basis and it has been so extremely rewarding.

Sometimes it is the little things in life - right?

Stay safe!!!

 

[highpointfarm]

My whole family lives in the midwest, OH IL, so I understand the danger, but I have grown to appreciate the raw power that comes with those storms! It actually runs in my blood! One year we were visiting family in IL, and a tornado came through, so my dad and grandpa go outside and watch it xD it was actually rather close from what I am told, couldnt tell you how close though.... also I am sitting here with one of the two final puppies! what a traumatizing first day =]

 

[chrisf]

Just returned from vacation to find all our chickens dead inside coop renters took care not sure how or what got in... 2 questions what killed them and how if they we inside and where can we find pullets nearby to purchase. Sad in Putnam county

Sorry to hear this.....I know Tom and Jan very well, they did the best they could not knowing too much about poultry care....Jan was very upset when she told me the story and she actually paid a private company to come and investigate what could have done this as well as how it got in.............you are lucky the goose is still alive..........................all the best...........................................chrisf

 

[ChickenAl]

My whole family lives in the midwest, OH IL, so I understand the danger, but I have grown to appreciate the raw power that comes with those storms! It actually runs in my blood! One year we were visiting family in IL, and a tornado came through, so my dad and grandpa go outside and watch it xD it was actually rather close from what I am told, couldnt tell you how close though.... also I am sitting here with one of the two final puppies! what a traumatizing first day =]

Caleb, we just bought a thing called a Thunder Shirt for our Maltese who has gotten deathly afraid of Thunderstorms and fireworks. He goes around shaking and hyperventilating. We put the shirt, which is kind of a compression type wrap this morning and he handled the storm so much better twanthe one we had last week. I had thought this would not work, but it had. It comes with a money back 45 day guarantee. We got ours at the local pet supply store.

Here's the link. www.thundershirt.com.