Texas

[Cassie Collins]

Bad phone call from the doctor just now.

My blood work that was pulled yesterday morning came back with no signs of the hCG hormone having changed. Going in for an ultrasound, they think I lost the baby. Wish I'd have said yes, sure, go ahead yesterday when he asked if I wanted an ultrasound. I was in a hurry to get DF to work and it's early yet.

This is a link to what he thinks was happening, and tomorrow it will be confirmed on way or another.
http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/ectopic-pregnancy-topic-overview

I swear. Just when things start going right it all comes toppling out of control again... On a good note the electrician fixed my ground wires and I can run my A/C again. AND wash clothes. Now to obsessively wash clothes while trying to pass time and not think about the news from the doc...

I'm so sorry . I will be praying for you.

 

[magpiesing]

Well the folks roof is done...Hurray! New aluminum roof sure is bright!
Half done with the mowing...mower whooped me!
Chickens having a blast sorting through the clippings

We got FIL a 7" tablet for his b-day. DH loaded it with games and cajun music and a ton of pics of great grand son
I think he'll like it once he gets comfortable with it...I love mine...even been using it at bible study...it's faster than paging through my real bible and alot lighter too
Taking a break for a snack and then going to buy plants...can't do all work I need a reward..LOL
I'll be working in the house tomorrow as I've let stuff go to work outside so going to have fun for awhile today.

 

[tcmstalcup]

baby Marans. I sold 7 yesterday and pulled 22 out of the bator today. Math

 

[TexasLisa]

I am North West of Austin, Texas in Leander.

Welcome from Rosenberg! What kind of chickens do you have? We love pictures. We are strong in enabling!

Lisa

 

[Starfire669]

Well, I let the 2 groups of geese mingle today. Jasper and Snow gave a few nips to the younger ones butts but were not grabbing the necks. It looked more like a "I'm the boss and don't you forget it" type thing. Still I'm going to let them free range together and sleep separate for a while longer to be sure all is well between them. But I'm excited! I hope soon to take the divider out of their pen, which will make cleaning, feeding and all that so much easier.

I also let out all my chickens except for the 4 week old BA chicks. They are having a blast in my rose garden, but I seriously need to fence off my herb boxes soon.

 

[A1momof3]

David, Harley.... Who ever else was telling me about bees back when u had the bed problem. I found them!!

What kind of bee digs holes in wood like this. They are all over the barn and you can just hear them digging away in them and what ever else they are doing in there!!!

 

[Cassie Collins]

David, Harley.... Who ever else was telling me about bees back when u had the bed problem. I found them!!

What kind of bee digs holes in wood like this. They are all over the barn and you can just hear them digging away in them and what ever else they are doing in there!!!

Nasty hornets will do that .

 

[Brookshire11]

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

x2!

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!!

Mine love them! but I have to catch them for them. That's a great idea!

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.

"Chickens" ? I saw it at Sprouts, but..I'm cheap and couldn't spend the $7...lol
Subscriptions are cheaper than off the rack though

I use cornmeal. You sprinkle it on where they are and when they eat it their stomachs explode

it sounds barbaric but who cares they are ants, and it is all natural. If within 1 week they aren't gone I use the boiling water method

I read baking soda somewhere...I swear it just made them multiply..lol
I'll have to try cornmeal

Off topic question, I have been entertaining the idea of getting a rooster. I have read that a Jersey Giant would be good for predator protection, and also good for their personality towards people. I have 4 RIR's, an EE, an Americauna, a Barred Rock, and a Buff Orpington. Not really worried about cross breeding, just protecting my ladies. Any advice????

I had an EE roo for a bit...not long enough to have advice.
I have READ though that a breeder bird is better since the hatchery types are bred more towards makin' babies than other roo duties..such as manners and being a lookout. Not sure how true that is..but might be worth the research

FYI...Chickens love mint and it is good for them...any kind of mint and there are many from common spearmint to lemon, apple and chocolate mint. Spearmint is the easiest to grow, in fact it can become invasive if you let it. I grow it in pots but am going to plant it around my coop and let it go. It dies to the ground in winter but then comes back. Hangs bundles of it in the chicken coop, it smells nice and repels flies and other bugs. Oh and you can eat it too, tastes great in tea!

I need to try mint! I want to line the run with cinderblocks and plant flowers in the holes..Now it looks like I should use marigold and mint!
I have some chocolate mint that's for me but once in awhile I let them have a few leaves..it's small still so I'm stingy lol

Hey, I'm in the Allen area too!
-Susan

Welcome from McKinney! There's a coop tour here this weekend $5

Well I always look on craigslist cause you never know what you will find. I have seen people on here looking for Marans so thought I would share. And yes I am always looking for more chickens it's to late to try to resist getting to many. I am already there so like Hillary said what difference does it make anyway.

I always look lol

Hi ya'll!
I'm a newbie from Richardson (real close to Dallas) and lived in Houston for most of my childhood. I read through a lot of this thread and excited to see that there are a lot of us!!

I have 3- 8 week old hens (2 EEs and 1 BSL) I posted about the EEs over in the gender/breed? forum.
We can't have roos here, but sure wish we could 'cuz we sure have the hawks watching. GRRR! I wish my dogs got the memo and wouldn't try and eat the girls, then maybe they could free range a bit more. They've only been outside for a week and they sure like it better than the dog crate in the garage!


This is Cora (BSL), Sandy on the left and Abigail on the right.


I'm sure I'll be looking for a way to expand the coop/run because I'm loving this so much! I want more

For "ANTS" I was going to suggest the diatomaceous earth as well. I have it sprinkled all around the house. My front porch looks like a bottle of powder exploded, but the ants are gone! I've also heard of using baby powder and cinnamon.

For "mint" do ya'll plant around the outside of the run (on the fence line). I wonder with my set up if I should put some around the small run on the inside of the big run.

Welcome from McKinney! Pretty girls you have!

Bad phone call from the doctor just now.

My blood work that was pulled yesterday morning came back with no signs of the hCG hormone having changed. Going in for an ultrasound, they think I lost the baby. Wish I'd have said yes, sure, go ahead yesterday when he asked if I wanted an ultrasound. I was in a hurry to get DF to work and it's early yet.

This is a link to what he thinks was happening, and tomorrow it will be confirmed on way or another.
http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/ectopic-pregnancy-topic-overview

I swear. Just when things start going right it all comes toppling out of control again... On a good note the electrician fixed my ground wires and I can run my A/C again. AND wash clothes. Now to obsessively wash clothes while trying to pass time and not think about the news from the doc...

I'm so sorry...hoping for the best! I know news like that is scary....

Well the folks roof is done...Hurray! New aluminum roof sure is bright!
Half done with the mowing...mower whooped me!
Chickens having a blast sorting through the clippings

We got FIL a 7" tablet for his b-day. DH loaded it with games and cajun music and a ton of pics of great grand son
I think he'll like it once he gets comfortable with it...I love mine...even been using it at bible study...it's faster than paging through my real bible and alot lighter too
Taking a break for a snack and then going to buy plants...can't do all work I need a reward..LOL
I'll be working in the house tomorrow as I've let stuff go to work outside so going to have fun for awhile today.

I love the way they sound when it rains

baby Marans. I sold 7 yesterday and pulled 22 out of the bator today. Math

...and where are you at again....? lol

 

[Belott]

David, Harley.... Who ever else was telling me about bees back when u had the bed problem. I found them!!

What kind of bee digs holes in wood like this. They are all over the barn and you can just hear them digging away in them and what ever else they are doing in there!!!

If they are actually making the holes then they are Carpenter Bees!!! If the holes were existing before then they could be Mason Bees!! Mason bees will use holes to lay their eggs in and are beneficial. They also do not sting unless you really, really agitate them.

Carpenter bees damage is strictly cosmetic and the book I have on them says they are beneficial also. The hole the Carpenter bee makes is generally only about an inch deep and up to 1/2 inch wide.

Hope that helps

Also too the carpenter bee resembles a bumblebee.


David

 

[Cassie Collins]

T

If they are actually making the holes then they are Carpenter Bees!!! If the holes were existing before then they could be Mason Bees!! Mason bees will use holes to lay their eggs in and are beneficial. They also do not sting unless you really, really agitate them.

Carpenter bees damage is strictly cosmetic and the book I have on them says they are beneficial also. The hole the Carpenter bee makes is generally only about an inch deep and up to 1/2 inch wide.

Hope that helps

Also too the carpenter bee resembles a bumblebee.


David

Thanks David!!