Texas

[hensfortherapy]

I do plan on moving the geese to their own pen. I made the mistake of buying the chicks before I had lodgings for them. So we scrambled and built their pen in a week, after the brooding period they all moved in and plans were being made to make a goose pen next. I delayed because of how upset the goslings and the chickens got whenever i separated them (I am a big softie), and because I wanted to try making the geese as chicken tolerant as possible. When they free range there are pools available for the geese and didn't want to find drowned chickens in them.

Now, my 86 year old neighbor's house just burned down this Easter Sunday, so my plans to start the goose pen have to be moved back, again. He is staying at my place while we try to contact his son, and help him in any way we can. Everything he owned, including his money is gone, and he only got out thanks to my brother in law wrestling him out when he tried to run back in to save his momma cat and her 3 kittens. (the kittens are alive, have been checked by a vet, and are in my sisters care because she works at the vet monitoring them). We have yet to find/catch the momma cat and my neighbor is very attached to her. It has been a stressful, crazy, heartbreaking few days.

So sad. I hope Momma cat shows up for him. Fire is awful.

 

[cheepcheep riri]

@Chictastic

The eclipse was on the other side of the world I'm pretty sure. At least that's what my dad said. I didn't see it even though the moon was huge.

 

[orumpoultry]

I see. I'm so sorry to hear about you neighbors house and can appreciate you hospitality!

He's lucky to have a neighbor like you. I'd do the same for mine if they didn't have huge family.

Dh says do this for popups...
got to wrench icon
select options
select "under the hood"
click privacy
select content settings
click popups (its on the side)
select choose to block popups

Hope I got that right

Hope that works. I've done it many times and they still pop up when I'm on craigslist... target and stuff selling things. Ugh.

Why use chrome, when you can use Firefox and it has pop up blocker automatically!

My computer doesn't support firefox.

 

[Starfire669]

So sad. I hope Momma cat shows up for him. Fire is awful.

Yeah, I think I saw her but am not sure. I am baiting a humane cat trap at night. So far I caught 2 strays which will be fixed tomorrow morning, but not luck getting the momma

So, I was outside sitting in the grass in the shade of a tree, with my birds free ranging all around me, some in the shade some in the sun. I do this everyday around this time as a way to relax and laugh at their antics. As I was typing this message a hawk came down after 1 of my chickens! The chickens saw it first and panicked, I stood up to see what was wrong, and a hawk zipped by my body! Thank goodness it messed. I think because I was typing this on my IPad, the hawk didn't realize I was there until I moved and then it swerve to get away from me.

Accidental saving of th chicken but I'll take it!

 

[Chictastic]

Have your chickens been having a field day with June bugs?
I had a bunch of them get caught in a birdbath every night because it is located by a light that is on every night. So now I have every water holding container I could find under that light...I think I harvested about a pound of them this morning!! Between 15 chickens they disappeared in about 5 seconds!!

 

[Starfire669]

Have your chickens been having a field day with June bugs?
I had a bunch of them get caught in a birdbath every night because it is located by a light that is on every night. So now I have every water holding container I could find under that light...I think I harvested about a pound of them this morning!! Between 15 chickens they disappeared in about 5 seconds!!

No, but I will put some buckets out by my yard light and treat the babies tomorrow. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Starfire669]

My poor babies are terrified now. 3/4 of them ran back to their pen, which is roofed and covered by wire, and most of the rest won't leave my front porch even to chase bugs. The 2 geese and 1 chicken are glued to my hip.

I have no clue what type of hawk it was, it was small, and was a grey color with black stripes on its feather. I'd almost think falcon but we don't have those in Texas do we?

 

[hensfortherapy]

I forgot, when is the wedding?

May 31st Lisa.
Things are falling into place nicely. Daughter's nerves are getting a little frayed.

******************

  Welcome to the Texas thread PamelaTX and Starfire669!  We love pictures and we do enable. 

Lisa

 

[LightningTFarm]

Starfire669 - I have had geese, and I now have about 20 ducks. Because ducks don't roost and don't scratch, they just walk all over the poop on their bedding and mash it down. The best thing I have found is to put down a thin layer of Sweet PDZ on top of the bedding after I clean out their house every day. It helps the poop clump up and not stink. I go in every day and use a kid's garden rake to pick up the poopy bits and throw them out onto the pile. I rake through the bedding to fluff it up, add a thin layer of shavings on top, then put the Sweet PDZ on last. It really helps make the bedding last longer and keeps the smell down. I get the Sweet PDZ at Tractor Supply. I love that stuff!! And, it is biodegradable and compostable, so it's a win-win for me, the ducks, and the compost pile!

I had two Giant Dewlap Toulouse ganders, and I loved those guys. I had to sell them when I moved but I am already thinking about getting more geese. It is already breeding season for geese, and has been since about February. If nobody is getting it on they are either too young or you have all the same sex!

 

[ClovisMan]

Off-topic question....Are there any chicken related magazine subscriptions worth having? I already get Mother Earth News and they sometimes have chicken related articles.