Texas

[RachaelS]

Hey CaliTex! I am from a smallish town South West of Austin LOL (AKA Dripping Springs) welcome to the group!

 

[Vickir73]

here's what I did this weekend - trimmed spurs using the baked potato method I read about here - it was easy as pie



and here are some pics of some of my gals and guys



mom & chick

 

[rosewolf22002]

Baked potato method? Can you share the link?

 

[ange92040]

I was curious so I looked it up and found these links:

http://www.ehow.com/how_8156470_trim-roosters-spurs.html


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/613260/baked-potato-to-remove-spur

 

[AussieGirl]

That's how I feel! It stays mid 80's in the store and I'm perfectly fine with that! I go outside and I'm like OMG! Its RIDICULOUSLY hot!! It was at LEAST 104* in the shade with the mister going in my coops today. The meaties were IN the shallow pool with the muscovies!







I'm low end management in a retail job. We're down two members of management right now ( both ASM positions ) and I'm filling in with another Team Leader. We're taking up all of the slack, and I'm easily putting in 60 hours a week there not including my second job cleaning houses AND all of the side jobs I do to keep afloat. My birds are going to have to go while I try to get my head back above water. I'm going to keep very few breeders ( five or so of each ) and pray I find a new Aussie rooster between now and then to replace the one I lost. Going to sell out pretty well completely of my Guineas. As much as I hate to admit it, the birds are VERY easily replaced. I only have time to clean pens once a week and I feel like I'm neglecting them even though they free range. They have plenty of food and water, don't get me wrong, and my birds are happy I just haven't been able to keep up with things the way I want to. Trash building up around the property, all the tree's I've cut down piling up and not being burned.... I'm just BEHIND. No sales, only ten hens laying and I'm behind on egg orders. I haven't even had time for my blog. I'm online now, trying to type quickly as I'm already up WAY to late considering I have to be up in three hours to take my room-mate to work so I can use her car tomorrow as my truck broke down AGAIN.

And now I inhale deeply and pray I got every thing into one post. Bear ( get it! ) with me guys... I'll post as much as I can.

Thats still crazy though I wish you good tidings this week. You seem to need it as much as I.

 

[Vickir73]

I'm still trying to figure out to copy and past links but Ange found it! I stuck the medium sized potato in the microwave for about 5 minutes (the first one we cooked 10 minutes and that was a bit too long

but 5 minutes was perfect; cut it in half; had the ex hold the roo in his lap and put the cut potato on the spur. We did both spurs at the same time and so it was a bit tricky since one was facing up and one was facing down - I'm sure there would be a better way to hold the roo, but that's just how we did it and so you had to hold one potato to keep it from falling off and you will did have to be careful not to let the potato touch his skin. After 5 minutes I used the pliers and twisted (just a little) and the spur popped right off. It immediately started bleeding pretty good and so I sprayed it with blue kote. We put the roo down (he didn't seem to have any issues with having purple legs) and got the other one. I was a bit nervous with the first one, but once I saw how easy it was, the jitters went away. It didn't seem to cause him much pain. When it popped off, he twitched just a bit, but that was all.

I'm going to try to trim the nails this weekend.

 

[ange92040]

Wow Vick sounds like you did a great job and easy too. If we ever get a roo its good to know an easy safe way to do it.

Angie

 

[MSchickenmama]

DANG TEXAS HEAT!!!​

I have a lot of chickens, yes they are just a "farm animal". I have 20 girls, all ages. But any chicken owner will agree they all have different personalities, and they become pampered pets. My first two girls were a Buff Orpington we named Fuzzy Butt & a Columbine Wynadotte that was named Boobies. Both of this girls were show girls- and held ribbons for Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion. These two had their own coop-​

after all the are the Queens, they are spoiled as well. They would follow me around the yard, eat out of my hand and sit on my swing with me. They also were very bad about raiding my garden- there was not a cherry tomato safe from them. Boobies did not like to be put in a cage for car rides-she sat in our laps. We have gotten many an odd look from people who look over and see a chicken in the front seat.

Well Boobies went broody last week-meaning she was wanting to sit on a clutch of eggs. Most of the time it's fine, they will spend most of their time in a nest box in a coop. But when it's in the triple digits outside-inside a coop it is hotter(even with a fan and add ventilation). No matter what we tried we couldn't break of her broodiness(there are ways). This afternoon Daniel found her dead when he went to give the girls & rabbits fresh cool water. I believe a cobination of our heat and her broodiness did her in.

Some people this would be a no big thing. But to me it is a loss of a beloved pet. Even Fuzzy is a bit noisy today cause she can't find her BFF. She will be missed​

 

[TexasLisa]

MSchickenmama, I am so sorry for your loss.

Lisa

 

[RachaelS]

MSchickenmama, I am soooo sorry for your loss, it is very hard to lose them. Yes they all touch your heart in their own individual way.

Poor Fuzzy, hugs to her also.