Texas

[tcmstalcup]

The guineas were sounding the alarm yesterday. I ignored at first since I was in the front and knew no dogs or anything were in the back with them or chickens. They didn't stop so I stepped out on the back porch. A hawk was sitting in my back yard on the edge of the porch 10 ft from me. He just looked at me like I owed him money!!! The chickens had all gone to cover. I chased him off and did a head count. Everybody accounted for including baby bantams with their mama. First time we had ever had a hawk.

 

[Heidisgran]

The guineas were sounding the alarm yesterday. I ignored at first since I was in the front and knew no dogs or anything were in the back with them or chickens. They didn't stop so I stepped out on the back porch. A hawk was sitting in my back yard on the edge of the porch 10 ft from me. He just looked at me like I owed him money!!! The chickens had all gone to cover. I chased him off and did a head count. Everybody accounted for including baby bantams with their mama. First time we had ever had a hawk.

they have been hovering over our place the last several weeks UGH!! we have a tree canopy that helps with shelter a lot but I have witnessed them trying to swoop. Last evening when we were closing the coops we saw at least 6 trying to roost in the neighbors tree!! so I got the air gun out and kept shooting until them moved on!!
UGH I hate when everything is trying to fatten up for winter....they think we run a buffet

 

[jajeanpierre]

they have been hovering over our place the last several weeks UGH!! we have a tree canopy that helps with shelter a lot but I have witnessed them trying to swoop. Last evening when we were closing the coops we saw at least 6 trying to roost in the neighbors tree!! so I got the air gun out and kept shooting until them moved on!!
UGH I hate when everything is trying to fatten up for winter....they think we run a buffet

Are you sure they aren't vultures? Most hawks are pretty solitary or at most a pair. I've never seen a pair roosting together. I think Harris hawks will hunt together--unusual for hawks--in pairs or a trio.

 

[Melissa Rose]

Quote: Hi

!
I live North of San Antonio and we are on the raptors migratory path. They will settle in large #'s in our oaks sometimes to rest and refuel. When they take off to head North you can see huge #'s flying in circles way up high - this is called "kettling" and what they are doing is gaining altitude to reach the strong air currents way up high then they use those to head South and can glide for miles without using a lot of energy. To keep them from getting a swooping space at the free range birds you can place your unused lawn chairs in the large clear spaces here and there. This prevents them from swooping down to attack sometimes. Happy Happy Day to all

 

[jajeanpierre]

Hi

!
I live North of San Antonio and we are on the raptors migratory path. They will settle in large #'s in our oaks sometimes to rest and refuel. When they take off to head North you can see huge #'s flying in circles way up high - this is called "kettling" and what they are doing is gaining altitude to reach the strong air currents way up high then they use those to head South and can glide for miles without using a lot of energy. To keep them from getting a swooping space at the free range birds you can place your unused lawn chairs in the large clear spaces here and there. This prevents them from swooping down to attack sometimes. Happy Happy Day to all

Duh!!! I completely forgot about migration! When is migration? I'm near you--281 and 46.

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: they aren't huddled together they just all sat in the same huge oak tree...and I don't want them settling there for any length of time!! I've lost several little ones to hawks and raccoons this year...I'll sit up at night to fight the good fight if I have to!! the turkey vultures are not after anything alive! remember I said I witnessed them swoop after my fowl family!!??

 

[LBejaran]

I am a soup nut. I grew up in Mexico where this soup was common. The recipes is my wife and I don't know it. She puts her own spin on things. My favorite soup in the world though, is Fish soup the way I learned to make it while living with the Aztecs. I know that to most Texans it is almost a sin to mention fish and soup in the same sentence, but it is trully the best soup I know of. I invites a friend over once to try it. After he controlled his gag reflex and tasted it, he his wife and two kids stayed all day and finishes off the 8 quart pot I had cooked. They beg me to make it all the time now, but the main ingredient, fresh caught scale fish, is difficult to come by in this drought.


on may smartphone. Sorry for the typos.

Oh, I love fish soup! Maybe it's because I live so close to the border or my heritage, but I love caldo de siete mares (soup of the seven seas). It is delicious and has so much incorporated into it. We used to enjoy it at a local restaurant before it closed down. Now, it's darn near impossible to find a decent one.

I've never tried making it myself, though...maybe this is an opportunity! Now to find out how I am going to get 7 different kinds of seafood.

 

[RachaelS]

There are places in Austin that make that, they charge an arm and a leg for it though. My sister said when she went over to visit her hubby's family in France, she was surprised to see it a "poor mans" food over there. The soup was made using the leftovers of what the fishermen did not sell. The same with escargot, only people that could not afford meat ate snails, and here we pay a pretty penny for them. I know it is like that in all counties, LOL!

 

[TammyTX]

It's supposed to get to the mid 40's tonight here east of Austin!

We have a big dead tree pile that I KNOW has snakes and rats living in it so we are going to burn the pile with the help of my BIL/SIL, nephew and a couple of his friends. We need the help to chase down the rats as they run out of the pile!

The chickens are going to be kept in their chicken yard 'cause...sometimes chickens are not too bright! Although, I had to BUY eggs the other day.

But, because of the lovely soup that JungleExplorer posted, I am making everyone some beef soup with little ears of corn (love the look of that)! I'm going to make a triple batch of biscuits, too but they have to be done separately to get great results. I have an apple pie with sharp cheddar crust in the oven and that's dinner! ....okay, and caramel corn for later on, but THAT'S IT!
...................except maybe cappuccinos and hot chocolate!
....................................................and gingersnaps.

Oh, did I mention I can't have any of it?

 

[RachaelS]

Oh, did I mention I can't have any of it?

How it is going for you? You have been on the diet for a week right?