Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[chickendude]

Quote:

I did my part with the new generator.

 

[smkchick]

And we got the new plow.

 

[smkchick]

Got my delivery of dried mealworms yesterday. Kaytee 17oz bag for $15 through Amazon (free shipping because I spent over $25). At Agway a 10oz container was $35.

I added a layer of dried leaves to part of the run and sprinkled it with mealworms. Good times!

We installed 6" wide perches to keep their little toesies warm. I've researched heated waterers and I'm going to go with a 2 gallon galvanized one on a heated base. The heated plastic ones got terrible reviews and it just seems to make sense to spend the extra $30 or so.

Bobby's going to hook up the coop light tomorrow I think. We wanted to extend the "daylight" hours in case anyone decided they might want to, you know, like, lay an egg or something.

Mr. "You're on Your Own" a/k/a the Rooster, freaked out on Friday because the little girls (the henettes) squeezed through the slats in the picket fence and were in the front yard. He put up barricades and I got a text message at school. Today we let them free range again, but kept an eye on them. I think they were just messing with him...

Anyone ever use rehydrated alfalfa cubes as greens for their chickies? I was reading about it on another thread and I though it sounded like a good idea.

Whaddya think?

 

[stoopid]

I just bought a 50 lb bag, I thought it would make the yolk color a little deeper, since they have destroyed anything that was alive in their half of the yard, and I am trying to not spend so much money on lettuce at Costco.
They looked at me like...Whaaatt the heck is this CRAP??
I soaked it in hot water, and put a big blob of yogurt on top.
They ate the yogurt, and left the alfalfa.
So today I dumped it out on the ground, so I could have my bowl back, and they ate it like they never got fed this morning.
Go figure...

 

[ChickenAl]

Quote:
Suzanne, the Countryside Organics feed has compressed alfalfa that is broken up into small seed sized pieces. Our girls love them and we don't have to worry about them getting enough greens. If you break them up you may not have to rehydrate them.

We let them free range while we hooked up the coop side of the juice today. Thought we almost lost one but she was under my son's van. Took 10 minutes to find her, though. And I got yelled at for letting my off of them. Have got to put that silt fence back up until we build a fence in the spring.

Anyway, we got everything all working, and also added some 2" round vents up close to the ridge for humidity control.

I like the dry leaves in the run. I think that would be great to add to the compost heap later on. Going to do that tommorrow. See how much we learn here!

 

[smkchick]

Just came home from a short errand and checked in on them, since it's now deeply dark (at 5:30-ack!). All the girls are cuddled together on the top roost, nice and toasty.

I'm going to get a wireless "weather station" and put the outdoor part on the inside of the coop to monitor the coop temperature (from the comfort of the living room). We do love our gadgets around here!

I haven't tried the alfalfa cubes yet. Got a small bag in the rabbit aisle at Agway. (I want to call it Gagway now that I've done some price comparisons!)

Speaking of which, Bobby had a terrible bout of food poisoning last night. Terrible, but mercifully short. Nothing wrong with his appetite today!

Poor Roosterman.

 

[ChickenAl]

Hi all,

Just got back from talking to the vet. Jack is not doing all that well with his kidneys. We are bringing him home later today after they finish giving him fluids. He has not eaten the past day and if he does at home we can possibly do some things to keep him alive longer. We have to bring him back tomorrow for more IV fluid and med infusion. We will do that for a few days and see if he responds. We don't want to put him down but also do not want him to suffer.

 

[stoopid]

Sorry to hear about Jack, you have enough to worry about right now.
Hopefully he will do better while he's at home, instead of a strange cage.

 

[ChickenAl]

Thanks, Roberta, that's what we're hoping for.

How are you feeling, by the way?

 

[stoopid]

Went to work, but still feel crappy. Someone said that Whooping cough is going around, I am wondering if it's that?
I think since I am on prednisone, was told my immune system can be "comprimised"
Will try to stop taking it for a few days, but my joints are bothering me already, only been 2 days...

How about you?