Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[magsrags]

Maggie, please don't feed avocados to your chickens! They are very bad for them. I read that a long time ago. Here is a link from BYC.
http://www.backyardchickens.coan-chickens-eat-avacado

Oh my!!!

You'd think O'd know that already???
These brain farts are killing me. (or my peeps)

Thanks Al.
The chickens know best then.... they wouldn't even touch it.
Darn smart critters. Gotta luv 'em!

 

[Imprfctme]

Good morning people!
Brrrrr.....chilly here.

I have gone missing this past week trying to get paperwork/shopping etc. out of the way before the holidays. sigh......no rest for the weary as usual.

The eagle video was really scary....my son saw it just yeaterday and had me watch it. Wow was all I could say and am I glad it was a hoax.


Heather:
I LOVED the 2 videos you linked and watched them both.
That hawks were so agile is amazinl and beautiful to watch.

I can't claim responsibility for the hawk video, just the private lives of chickens and the funny voices for animals one. (Nightime... Daytime! Nightime.... Daytime!)
The private lives of chickens was fascinating. Sort of makes me wish I could adopt a battery hen but I doubt you could in the us. Plus they might have disease.


The Private Life of Chickens story was really interesting and I watched it all. How smart they truly are.....amazingly so. Their pecking order is fascinating.

Sewing Machines........hmm.......my suggestion would to be to begin simple straight lines and practice....practice before trying "curved" patterns like saddles and such.
Take a small 4 patch square quilt pattern found anywhere online for free and it will teach a lot of the basics in  that one simple piece of  patch work. Including ironing, trimming etc.
She can then make it usefull and use as a little trivet....table topper.....and save her first piece work.

Making it square....simple .straight line sewing and sharp points will give your daughter "polished" skills in a few easy lessons before she tackles complicated things.
And remind her that "As we sew, so shall we rip". That meaning we take out a lot of seams till we get it just right.... and not to be discouraged. I still rip seams all the time...sigh. Hate whan that happens.

I think that is wonderful philosophical advice. Making mistakes is part of learning. So is learning the real meaning of measure twice, cut once. She could also make a very simple cube and stuff it. I did a rehab project on an old kitchenette set by recovering the seats (unscrew seats, cover with fabric, staple gun fabric on) and then making matching tablecloth and napkins. Maybe you guys could make a play set for her?

Most of all to have fun!

 

[Imprfctme]

The predators are really bad this winter so far. Geesh. First the hawk and now something took the neck out of one of my hens, crop gone, head still attached, breast skinned. What the hell does that? Coon? Mink? I set the trap. Whatever ends up in it dies. I am ready to quit chickens. First the fox thing, then the illnesses, now the hawk and some other predator. I need to build a bigger run and not let them range anymore I guess. I really like them to get the greens though and I cannot afford to feed them bought forage. Maybe I will fence the entire 1/3 acre with electric fencing. Probably the least expensive in the long run, I just didn't want a yard full of fence. UUUuuugh. Thanks for letting me vent.

I am so sorry. This sounds very rough. I think if you are going to keep free ranging that much you need a guard animal, either a roo or dog or llama or something.

 

[Imprfctme]

Oh my!!! You'd think O'd know that already???
These brain farts are killing me. (or my peeps)

Thanks Al.

Al glad you caught that, I was jumping up and down here myself. I just did a quick check on google for breweries or distilleries on SI but didn't find any. There seems to be plenty in Brooklyn though. You can ask for spent grains, it's excellent stuff. Also Sour milk, slightly old yogurt - maybe ask your local grocery store?


The chickens know best then.... they wouldn't even touch it.
Darn smart critters. Gotta luv 'em!

 

[stoopid]

Peter Brown just e-mailed me, he has 600 bottles of Mareks vaccine due in tomorrow.
http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store2/vaccines/live-vaccines/

 

[JerseyHen]

I am so sorry. This sounds very rough. I think if you are going to keep free ranging that much you need a guard animal, either a roo or dog or llama or something.

I have several roosters. They did sound the alarm which is why I probably only lost the 1, but I didn't get a look at the perpetrator. We have been discussing doubling or tripling the run size (from 400 sq feet to about 1000 or so). That is a lot of fencing to put in and unless it has a roof... well, back to more of the same. So, that is why we think a split rail with garden fence or chicken fence stapled on the inside (to keep them in) and electrical lines on the outside at 6 inches, 2 feet, 4 feet, and on top. That should keep most of the animals out. Of course, I have several chickens that can fly out of the 8 foot enclosure they are in now, but it might help to protect most of them and act as a deterrant for the critters. Then I can let a large dog live out there with them. I just hate to leave a dog outside all the time. Especially with our winters. I suppose I can train them to protect them all day and then let the dog in at night. I heard that flock dogs are supposed to live with their flock though.

On a positive note, thanks for all the ideas! The sewing machine came in today and it looks like a perfect machine (it is one of those smaller ones). I know it won't do everything a fancy full sized machine will do, but we only need it for learning the basics. I need to find a finger guard, I think. I bought a bunch of squares so she can do little pillows or napkins or babydoll blankets or whatever else she comes up with. She draws pictures of dresses for her fairy dolls all the time so I imagine that is where we will be headed. Talk about difficult (tiny and curvy and full of findings, yikes).

So, what is santa bringing everyone? I was going to ask for an incubator, but I think that might earn me some coal next year.

 

[goldeneggtees]

Hi everyone, just went out to try and coax my silly hens in from this crazy weather but they're not havin it! I think they are nuts of course.

After quite a few years on BYC, I have changed my profile pic, whaddya all think? That's my new twitter avatar too.

Heather, thanks for the link to that incredible documentary "The Secret Life of Chickens" loved it! And the guy was cute too! Do we still have any plans to visit the zoo this coming week? Let me know as I'd love to do that.

Hope everyone is having a good day, be careful out there!

 

[smkchick]

http://biggeekdad.com/2010/12/snow-dogs/

Here's a fun winter video for all you dog fans out there. Makes me miss my labs! By contrast, I went to let little Clara out this morning. The wind was blowing so hard I had to push the door open. A gust of wind blew her froofroo fur back and she looked up at me with this look of "You're kidding,right? Me? Go out there?" The hens didn't venture out of the coop at all.

Jersey, I'd go with making the run bigger. My girls have plenty of room to hang out when there is danger overhead, but I let them out to free range most days. Of course, we don't have nearly the varmit problem here. Our biggest concern is neighbors.

I'm happy to report I've been getting around 7 eggs a day. Rhonda, the EE, is still not laying, and I suspect some of the other "molters" haven't started again. I have 10 hens, all of which are laying age. Someone's holding out.

I actually dreamed last night that I started getting green eggs again...

 

[Carolyn252]

Hi everyone, just went out to try and coax my silly hens in from this crazy weather but they're not havin it! I think they are nuts of course.

After quite a few years on BYC, I have changed my profile pic, whaddya all think? That's my new twitter avatar too.

Heather, thanks for the link to that incredible documentary "The Secret Life of Chickens" loved it! And the guy was cute too! Do we still have any plans to visit the zoo this coming week? Let me know as I'd love to do that.

Hope everyone is having a good day, be careful out there!

Love it, Donna. But then I think all your designs are stunning, clever and so very charming. I loved your old avatar, but this one is just as adorable. Your graphics are more than just cute; I think they're wonderfully proportioned, eye-catching and amusing. (Can you tell that I'm a fan??)
-Carolyn

 

[goldeneggtees]

Love it, Donna. But then I think all your designs are stunning, clever and so very charming. I loved your old avatar, but this one is just as adorable. Your graphics are more than just cute; I think they're wonderfully proportioned, eye-catching and amusing. (Can you tell that I'm a fan??)
-Carolyn

Aww, thanks Carolyn for the very kind words. Makes me feel good to know people like my work. I know I love doing it, just wish I could make a better income with it.

Did I tell you I rented the book your husband took a part in about the mad potter? Very interesting read. He was quite an artist!