The Front Porch Swing

[Alice28]

When someone we all care about has had such a horrible shock and loss, it's kind of hard to think of much else. So I hope that a post on a lighter note isn't inappropriate. If it is, I apologize and hope you will forgive me. Miss Rubber Egg gave me her first very perfect egg, and it was a very nicely sized one besides. The outer two eggs were from Ida. The one in the center is from Beatrice. I'm pretty pleased, and relieved for her. She had a relatively easy time of it, too. I went out to clean the poop board this morning and she was in the coop. She hopped up into a nest box, fussed around for a bit, then tossed some pine shavings on her back. So I went ahead and finished cleaning, fluffed the litter a bit, and leaned against the wall to watch her for more problems. Within just a very few minutes she scared the bejeebers out of me with her "egg sound", and stood up, looked behind her, then left the box. This is what rolled out.

Congrats on the first real egg from your girl. That is wonderful and I'm happy you shared. Sad times are brightened by happy news. Life has to go on.

 

[LindaB220]

I don't even know how to post this. My husband, Doug, committed suicide this morning. I am still in shock. We do not even know why. Please Pray for him and for me. He was my life. I have no way of knowing how I will go on. If someone can contact bee, please PM me for my phone no. Her son was planning on apprenticing with him to be a gunsmith.

Prayers go out for you. We all love you and are so sorry. Keep in touch when you can.

 

[perchie.girl]

.Thank you everyone, I am not even able to process this yet. I have friends and family with me for awhile, I will post when I can, I do feel you are my porch family. Your prayers are appreciated,
Deb W

 

[lazy gardener]

rrrmamma: PM sent. Praying.

Blooie, I told you that she'd settle down and get it right! She'll likely be your most dependable layer!

 

[perchie.girl]

@perchie.girl just scrolled through and saw everyone chatting about panthers! Wow! How scary having those lurking around! We have dingoes and foxes here in australia but they're just like dogs x

I am more fearful of a pack of dogs than any other predators out there.... Mountain lions have visited my place twice The first time I only heard them. The goats had made their own gates in the chainlink and were getting out alot. Even so a Mountain Lion could kill one and haul it over the six foot fence if it wanted. Bobcats take chickens too same deal up and over or up the tree for the guineas.

Mountain lions main prey are deer. The deer here are mule deer. 3 foot tall or 1 meter tall and 130-280 pounds or 59-127 kilos. With our drought we are seeing alot more in the open.

Up where my house is there are more issues with people letting their dogs run.... I had a pack of dogs try to get my goats they ran the goats up and down the yard. Domestic dogs running in a pack will chase and kill and once the critter is dead they will look for another to chase and kill. So they will murder a whole flock of chickens without taking a single one for food.

At least we don't have bears....
deb

 

[perchie.girl]

When someone we all care about has had such a horrible shock and loss, it's kind of hard to think of much else. So I hope that a post on a lighter note isn't inappropriate. If it is, I apologize and hope you will forgive me.

Miss Rubber Egg gave me her first very perfect egg, and it was a very nicely sized one besides. The outer two eggs were from Ida. The one in the center is from Beatrice. I'm pretty pleased, and relieved for her. She had a relatively easy time of it, too. I went out to clean the poop board this morning and she was in the coop. She hopped up into a nest box, fussed around for a bit, then tossed some pine shavings on her back. So I went ahead and finished cleaning, fluffed the litter a bit, and leaned against the wall to watch her for more problems. Within just a very few minutes she scared the bejeebers out of me with her "egg sound", and stood up, looked behind her, then left the box. This is what rolled out.

Whew.... BTW those egg colors are fabulous. As dark as my Wellsummers. I forget what breed chickens they are from.

deb

 

[Tomtommom]

And those dogs will go home and eat their bowl of kibble

Atleast a wild animal I wouldn't mind so much... us humans have encroached into their territories for a long time, there's few places left for them to be truly wild.. You're bound to bump into them at some point.

 

[Blooie]

Whew.... BTW those egg colors are fabulous. As dark as my Wellsummers. I forget what breed chickens they are from.

deb

They're from the Red Sex Links, Deb, and I was pretty relieved this morning!

 

[Alice28]

I hope everyone was able to enjoy a few fire works. It was wet enough here that fires weren't a concern. We took our son to an aquarium a little over an hour away where you get to pet the sharks.

We've been there before, but was still exciting. Then drove another half hour to a town my husband has been wanted to visit for some reason. Took my son to a big park, got him ice cream, walked around there Fourth of July festival, then drove home and stopped to play at another park, then the beach. Got clam chowder and home to put the ducks away and find are cat before fireworks started. Then sat in the yard and watched fireworks for a bit before bed

 

[perchie.girl]

And those dogs will go home and eat their bowl of kibble

Atleast a wild animal I wouldn't mind so much... us humans have encroached into their territories for a long time, there's few places left for them to be truly wild.. You're bound to bump into them at some point.

I am of the same opinion. Its sad to loose livestock but The only predator i would shoot would be a dog. Or something that looked rabid. Thats why my coops are large and built like fort knox. So the chickens can live there without stressing each other and still be safe.

My next poultry house is going to be a combo house.... Guineas and Sumatras.... then the egg layers will be a very few this time. The Sumatras will be the Broodies and my dream chicken... I hope to breed Sumatras as well... Aiming for that Dark melanistic skin and meat.

My poultry house originally was designed for eight partitions... But now I am scaling back even further.... I sitll have an area set aside for me to do "Stuff" And the foot print will still be 24 x 24. Going to set aside space for Broodie pens now as well as a partition for goats.... I am going to convert the back yard to a critter paradise.

I want to build a goat tower. Think Playstructure/fort Tall enough to get up at least ten to twelve feet in the air. with surfaces only goats can climb. And places to hide treats to keep em busy.... I want nigerians again....

But the fence around the yard has to be changed to "goat proof" and tall enough to affix the Aviary netting to the top and be able to walk in without ducking.

Then the outside of the fence will get Hotwire Up high for climbing predators and down low for Dog type. Because my land is so dry hot wire has to be biPolar running either two strands close together with hot and ground sides.... or BiPolar Tape that has the hot and ground woven in.

My first step is deconstruction of the existing space... I have let alot of Junk accumulate....

deb