Oh Mrs Chicken Dad, been there done that! Full length face down in the mud that sucked my boots off my feet. Since DH has taken over some of the chores, primarily morning and night duties, I have avoided that- though tonight I did the almost fall down dance after sticking my foot in one of the dust bath holes that run along the back porch. Last count there were 7, averaging 5 inches deep. The girls have taken to hanging out on the back porch since the house faces due north, they sit on the porch out of the wind and lounge in the sun. They also think that we have provided them w/ interesting nest boxes, much more handy than the 50 ft hike to the coop. I have a square pet food storage bin set up for a nest box, but they also lay in any empty box awaiting recycling, or an empty flower pot or the recycle bins for plastic. I think I will make a nest box set up midway down the porch and hope they stay out of the chairs and recycle bins.
One of the two hens I have from my first chicks is now 3 years old, and it is her year to lead, she has taken over head hen in the red coop, and really enjoys the lack of roosters at the moment (Punket, her hatch mate was killed by the dogs down the road protecting the girls last month, and Nikki attacked me and made good soup) More boys are coming in Feb when the NN chicks arrive, and maybe I will call Privitt back and ask them to toss a NH boy in the order. Anyway, BeBe (my one last NH) has started waiting by the back door for DH to carry her to the coop at bed time. I was out there tonight breaking up kindling for the wood stove, and boy was I getting the stink-eye. I was obviously interfering with her plans for attention.
After the next rain is done I will put serious efforts into getting Super Brooder completed. 54 chicks are due on the 22 of this month. Good thing that the brooder project is a conversion of a 5x8 trailer that has a solid wood sides and bottom. Will get crowded as they near 6 weeks, but then 20 of the EEs will go to a friend, leaving me 5 NH & 5 EE pullets and the 24 NN babies I am getting from Nava. If I haven't built the coop for that batch of girls, I will move the boys to the green coop (grown out pen for the boys) and wheel the Super brooder out to the yard where the coop will go. The Super Brooder is really secure, since I will brood the chicks outside.
So much for this months new bites.
Take care and follow the weight limits on lifting after your surgery. I know how easy it is to cheat.
Hope your surgery goes well and you heal quickly!
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