Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Cheeky Chick]

So, has everyone heard about this Hurricane Sandy we may be getting a visit from? I'm always good on food and stuff, but I have to get the boards out of the shed just in case-to batten down the chickens! I hope my gut is wrong, usually I don't get this nervous, but this time, my stomach is in knots. Maybe it's just age setting in...

Well better safe than sorry, so I'm going to make sure I'm ready, even if my husband makes fun of me.

(And he sure does!)

 

[Cheeky Chick]

My little froo froo dog, Clara's, first encounter with my first hen, Gladys, went like this: Clara ran outside and ran up to Gladys. Gladys got right up in Clara's face, stood on one leg, puffed up and froze, fixing Clara with a "look of death". Clara wimpered and ran away. Too funny. Now Clara acts like she's part of the flock.

These chickens are amazing aren't they? They are terrified when a stray leaf blow by, but goshdarnit, no small dog or common cat is going to bother them. My little Malty, Angel is terrified of the chickens. Won't go outside with me if they are ranging. Missy, the shepherd on the other hand thinks they'll play with her, and seems rather sad when they run away.

 

[smkchick]

Clara learned not to chase them. She just walks along with them and tries to eat whatever they are eating. When I open the back door and the chickens all run toward me, Clara won't go out. She knows she's outnumbered! (Heck, they even intimidate me when the do that!) She won't push her way through the flock when they're waiting at the back door either. I have to chase them away before she'll come in. My guard dog.

 

[smkchick]

So, has everyone heard about this Hurricane Sandy we may be getting a visit from? I'm always good on food and stuff, but I have to get the boards out of the shed just in case-to batten down the chickens! I hope my gut is wrong, usually I don't get this nervous, but this time, my stomach is in knots. Maybe it's just age setting in...

Well better safe than sorry, so I'm going to make sure I'm ready, even if my husband makes fun of me.

(And he sure does!)

Bobby worked for Nassau County Road Maintenance Department for 38 years before he retired. So believe me, he is Mr. Hurricane Preparedness. I'm surprised he hasn't started filling the bathtub yet! When there's something I don't want to deal with, I tell him he's in charge of that. I tell him he's in charge of FEMA around here.

But I guess we should take down the screen house...

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Clara learned not to chase them. She just walks along with them and tries to eat whatever they are eating. When I open the back door and the chickens all run toward me, Clara won't go out. She knows she's outnumbered! (Heck, they even intimidate me when the do that!) She won't push her way through the flock when they're waiting at the back door either. I have to chase them away before she'll come in. My guard dog.

Both my dogs are vicious guardians of the house and family. they stand behind me, peeking out between my legs and barking. Very scary.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Bobby worked for Nassau County Road Maintenance Department for 38 years before he retired. So believe me, he is Mr. Hurricane Preparedness. I'm surprised he hasn't started filling the bathtub yet! When there's something I don't want to deal with, I tell him he's in charge of that. I tell him he's in charge of FEMA around here.

But I guess we should take down the screen house...

yeah-I'm closing up the windows in the camper (I leave them open as long as I can to air out) I'm not covering it, but I will be taking some air out of the tires, making it closer to the ground.

The lacrosse bounceback has to go, and the chicken coops need protection. I think that may be all, except the lawn furniture and patio table has to be turned over-that's the husband job!

 

[Carolyn252]

So, has everyone heard about this Hurricane Sandy we may be getting a visit from? I'm always good on food and stuff, but I have to get the boards out of the shed just in case-to batten down the chickens! I hope my gut is wrong, usually I don't get this nervous, but this time, my stomach is in knots. Maybe it's just age setting in...

Well better safe than sorry, so I'm going to make sure I'm ready, even if my husband makes fun of me.

(And he sure does!)

Thanks for the alert. I was going to hold off on winterizing the ChickArena until late November, but now I think that I'd better batten down the hatches over the next few days. It involves wrapping heavy duty transparent tarps around the four walls (but not the ceiling) of the entire 15 x 9 foot wire mesh enclosure (a/k/a the aforementioned ChickArena). I keep the tarps in place with a zillion bungee cords. It takes four hands, two hours, and a few muttered swear words, to get the job done. Keeps the wind and wind-blown rain out. The entire slanted roof is raised up a few inches above the wire mesh ceiling, so there's plenty of ventilation. Tarps never get foggy with condensed trapped moisture. The free-standing plastic playhouse coop is in the middle of the ChickArena. Chickens are never locked in the playhouse coop, so I can sleep as late as I want. They can come and go as they please. It's the ChickArena that's locked against predators. Temperatures are just about the same inside as out; no extra heat provided except for the warmer under the waterer. You can see the setup in my avatar on the left.

 

[stoopid]

That's what I can't stand about Purina. Two weeks window for a coupon.
At least it wasn't the one that I usually get. I think it's $8 off of 6 bags.
Get real!

 

[smkchick]

Both my dogs are vicious guardians of the house and family. they stand behind me, peeking out between my legs and barking. Very scary.

Clara goes batshiRt crazy when the mailperson comes to the house. It's not like she doesn't come every day at the same time...Once I opened the door and she saw Clara and we both started laughing. "That's the vicious guard dog..."

 

[smkchick]

BTW, my cardiologist sent me a letter today dropping me from his practice. I guess he didn't like the fact that I couldn't afford to follow up on the BS tests he wanted me to have...