Texas

[LBejaran]

Yep, I have my priorities stright!

Growing up we got a pot belly pic, her name was Vicky. She was potty trained and super smart, the problem was, she was, well a pig and ate anything and everything she could. She would get into both dog food and cat food by ripping apart the containers, when she got over weight mom tried to put her on a "diet", by putting all the food up out of her reach and she then TORE UP the back yard, I mean destroyed it. So we found a nice farm for her to go live on. My fav trick of her, was when I said "Vicky, give me love" and she would sit down (which is funny for a pig) and stick her snout as high as she could then wait for me to kiss her nose, she was so sweet!

Hehe, that reminds me of when we had a pony named Bologna. He would get frustrated when we wouldn't feed him at a specific time, so he'd come onto the patio and knock down the big tin dog food container. If he was really trying, he'd open it up and eat the dog food. Other times, he'd find the horse feed. The container it was in was elevated, but he'd still rear back on his hind legs and lean his front on the edge of the container and eat his fill. We'd see him afterwards looking very satisfied, haha!

I really want some big heritage pigs, but I know I'd need more land to do that. I would want a big pen for them that they could wallow in and then they'd get to go and grow on pasture where they could root and munch to their heart's content. Of course, they'd eventually have to be eaten....the sad part of raising normal pigs on pasture.

Awww! How sweet! I do that to my dog and she does this weird lick but her tongue is slimy and it's not very fun, haha!

 

[lovingmyhens]

You got a lot done today!  I wish I was that productive with my garden.  Instead, I did some stuff I'm not very proud of.  I'll elaborate at the end of the post, haha!
So adorable!  I'm such a sucker for ducklings, haha!  I see their little bills and eyes and fuzzy bodies and I just melt into a puddle. 

I did something really silly today.  We went out for lunch and the plan was to go to the farmer's market to see if they had any tomatoes yet (sometimes they get them in early).  Well, Mom and Nivia decided that they'd prefer to go to the feed store a couple towns over rather than look for veggies, so I conceded half-heartedly.  I didn't want to bring home more chicks right now.  I'm pretty weak about resisting and I'd already spent $20 for lunch and beads for painting eggs.  I was torn.

Well, we went to one feed store (the Moreno's feed store in Weslaco, a part of a small chain) and they didn't have many chicks.  Good, I thought, I can keep my word and not bring home any birds.  It's okay. 

Then Nivia said, "Hey, let's go to the other two feed stores!  They always have more!" 

Dang.  So we went to Karl's Corner in Donna and I bought 2 bags of feed (I won't be going there again for awhile.  The man helping me insisted that the Nutrena Nature Wise feed I wanted was medicated and I said, "No, it's not.  It even says on the bag that there are no antibiotics.  It has probiotics for digestion!" and I was trying to explain because I wanted the Nutrena but they were closing up shop.  However, I made the mistake of saying I didn't want medicated feed and he insisted it was.  He ended up giving me Acco brand feed that I didn't want and I had to take it.  I was so frustrated, grrr!  Not gonna buy feed from there for a long while.  I hate dealing with people like that.  I told him I wanted Nutrena brand and he should have given it to me.  I was even willing to pay more for it and he just wouldn't listen.  Gah!)

Anyway, frustrated, we decided we'd go the the other Moreno's feed store that resides in Donna.  Mr. Moreno, the owner, was actually working there!  He's kinda awesome.  So we went inside and in the pens, they had full grown pheasants, a pair of peacocks, a couple roosters, fan-tail doves and a month old piglet!  It was so cool and I loved the pheasants, but I knew I wasn't looking to buy.  However, suddenly, I turned around and saw the chicks.  They had actual Ameraucana pullets. 

I gave up.  I bought 5.  I couldn't help it.  The knowledge that they were actual Ameraucana (that were pullets) got me.  Now they are with the gold-laced Wyandotte chicks and I'm such a loser for not fighting the urge, haha! They are so cute and I was super selective and made sure they tried to run away from me before choosing them.  Mom was angry with herself for saying out loud for me to get the gray pullet because when I went to get it, someone else had taken it.  It was my favorite, but it happens when you express excitement over certain colors.  I still got a good set of healthy looking chicks, which is good enough for me!

It's probably out of the way but why don't you just save the bag and receipt and take the food back??

 

[LBejaran]

It's probably out of the way but why don't you just save the bag and receipt and take the food back??

Donna is about 45 minutes from Harlingen. It wouldn't be worth the trip, unfortunately. I'll just keep the feed and use it until I run out. It's annoying, but I'll deal. I don't want to talk to these people for a long time, haha! My local Tractor Supply might even carry Nutrena and though it may cost more, I'd probably save the money on gas anyway. Either way, I won't need feed for awhile.

Dealing with people like that is a waste of time and, in this case, money. I've got more important things to work on right now (like a bigger space for my new chicks to hang out until they are big enough to be out with the flock). I'm so glad I was too weak to deny the call of chicken math. It made me feel loads better after all the feed store nonsense.

 

[hotrodflash]

I'm going to cheat a little. Instead of building nesting boxes, I purchased some plastic ones from Tractor Supply. Should be easier to keep clean. Do you think 4 is enough for 15 hens?

I left mine open and it helps keep the coop a little cooler in the summer and makes for great ventilation. I stapled chicken wire to prevent my chickens from getting out, nothing can get in unless it can scale a slick wall that is 8 feet tall.
I think 4 nest boxes will be enough, you can always add a basket on the floor if needed.

 

[hungnguyen]

Today:

Positive: Have a new dog in the ranch. This is a 2 yr pit bull, been raised with chicken so she is calm, a friend fixed her prior to donate to us.

Negative: all sudden a rooster died, maybe of the cold, I couldn't find any other reason. Still, we went around the brood pens and spread out the snake repellent.

Got back into soccer refereeing, so working tomorrow with my son.

 

[TexasLisa]

Today:

Positive: Have a new dog in the ranch. This is a 2 yr pit bull, been raised with chicken so she is calm, a friend fixed her prior to donate to us.

Negative: all sudden a rooster died, maybe of the cold, I couldn't find any other reason. Still, we went around the brood pens and spread out the snake repellent.

Got back into soccer refereeing, so working tomorrow with my son.

Good Morning Hung and Fellow Texans!

Congrats on getting a new dog. Keep us posted on how she is doing.

Sorry about the loss of your rooster.

I hope you are in shape for soccer refereeing!

Have a great day ya'll!!

Lisa

 

[lovingmyhens]

I've got a couple of free loaders-do some hens never lay? Both I've had since thanksgiving and I got them in a three pack! They were about 10 weeks old at the time I got them and one has started to lay a couple of weeks ago. She's an EE. the other EE and BA-nothing

 

[RachaelS]

I've got a couple of free loaders-do some hens never lay? Both I've had since thanksgiving and I got them in a three pack! They were about 10 weeks old at the time I got them and one has started to lay a couple of weeks ago. She's an EE. the other EE and BA-nothing

I have heard that if they reach the POL (Point of Lay) age during the winter, it can sometimes push out when they actually lay eggs. they are just after 20 weeks now right? I would give them a lot more time, 6-8 months is not unusual.

Good luck

 

[hungnguyen]

I hope you are in shape for soccer refereeing!

Lisa

Yes I am in shape now.... kind of round shape

 

[granthamkk]

I've got a couple of free loaders-do some hens never lay? Both I've had since thanksgiving and I got them in a three pack! They were about 10 weeks old at the time I got them and one has started to lay a couple of weeks ago. She's an EE. the other EE and BA-nothing

I've hears of EEs that wait until 33-36 weeks, but usually do amazing after that.