Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[smkchick]

Good Morning all you chicken lovers!

I'm heading off to another sub job - working through Tuesday. A blessing. Got to keep the girls in chicken feed!

Gladys is going into day 2 of her lockdown. So far no major freakouts (me or Gladys) although I miss her a lot. I brought her some frozen peas, cracked corn and Happy Hen treats. She got a little anxious coz she thought I was going to take her out, I guess. But she got into the treats and then went back upstairs for a nap.

The little girls are putting up quite a racket and a stink in their brooding pen. I'm looking forward to moving them to the coop. Now I'm concerned my Australorp is looking a little rooish. Long tail feathers and she walks more erect than the other two. Too soon to tell, I guess. Maybe when I get home I'll post some pics so you all can tell me to stop being such a jerk.

Have a great day!!

Suzanne

 

[ChickenAl]

Quote:
Suzanne, happy to hear you are working into next week. Things may be looking up.

Sounds like Gladys is calming down and getting used to her new surroundings. A great thing, for sure.

Let's see those pics of the little roo to be.

 

[smkchick]

Here's my little Aretha (who I hope is not Arthur)...

And here's Wanda showing off her new barred feathers.

And Shirley sporting her brown feathers

 

[stoopid]

I don't see anything roo-ish yet, too soon to be sure!

 

[smkchick]

I told you I was just being a jerk.

Gladys is going into day 3 of confinement. Will let her out this afternoon. Or maybe tomorrow morning. She seems okay. Gave her frozen peas yesterday and she seemed to like them - after they thawed!

Figured I'd give her a little broccoli today. Not a lot of greens in the run. Can't wait to let her free range again. I miss her.

 

[newchick13]

Morning!
I don't have much by the way of greens in the run any more....they demolished it quickly! I have been giving them the overgrown swiss chard and nasturtiums from my garden. I figure if my family won't eat the bitter tough leaves the girls would. Yesterday I also gave them a small halved pumpkin. They are like piranas! Big seeds and all!
Stay dry!

and BTW, they look like girls to me!

 

[smkchick]

Gladys has a half pumpkin in her run but she doesn't seem interested. She like the peas and I gave her some broccoli this morning but had to head out so I didn't get to see if she'd eat it. Can't wait to let her out! I miss hanging around in the yard with her.

She "talked" to me when I came out to the run this morning, so I guess she's not mad at me!

Hate this weather. I feel so depressed this morning, despite the good outlook on the job front. I miss being in my own classroom, and I know it's not likely I'll ever get back for good.

Guess I'll have to write that book or start that farm after all!!

 

[stoopid]

Do the farm thing, there's a bunch of us, we all have that on the back burner....
I think if there's a spot with some acreage we could all lease together, we could all share the burdens.
And the JOY! I've got almost 2 acres. If I had some help, I'd love to build some barns, lease out some stalls, HMMM...
I'm setting up brooders in the basement, and after the bator is up and running, we could have a small scale hatchery.
C'mon everybody, I'm IN, get another few of us. WE COULD DO THIS!!

 

[smkchick]

Quote:
Don't tempt me~

I've come to the conclusion that teaching on Long Island - anywhere in NYS in fact - is a dying field. It's my second career. Now I'm thinking of a third? Really? At my age?

Bobby and I had a whole discussion one night about getting a small scale farm upstate and working it not for profit but simply to live off. Chickens, goats, couple of cows, veggies, etc. Solar power to keep off the grid, like that. He's retired, so his pension could provide cash for whatever we can't grow/make on our own. Like cable and coffee.

My mother laughs about this. Three of her five kids have vegetable gardens, one started with bees and another with chickens. Considering we're the children of English majors/teachers/opera buffs it is sort of funny. My brother (the beekeeper) in Buffalo has been talking about getting chickens too.

It breaks my heart to have to give up the profession I felt I was called to, but I just don't see a future in public service anymore. Now way I'm going back to being a lawyer, though. Farmer first!!

 

[ChickenAl]

Did someone say farm? Looks like plenty of folks are going to go that route, especially if this economy continues to falter. What used to be a dream is becoming a necessity. Also, the Amount of stress in daily life is adding to the want to drop off the grid and go it alone. It is great and sad at the same time. We know the importance of community and all that, but many are feeling isolated and becoming islands of their own.

I would want to do the farm for self sufficient living, but I worry about getting too old to maintain it. In the old days it was the children of the farmer who carried on and kept the thing running. Now, the rules have changed and it could only wind up being a farm as long as you can run it. Then what happens? And, what happens to our significant other?

Stuff like this runs through my head now that I have gotten older. The rebel is dying...

I'm home to day with the nastiest of sinus infections. Hope the antibiotics kick in soon. This weather and whatever is floating around in the air are doing me in.