The Front Porch Swing

[lovingmyhens]

Here is a sight you DON"T want to see out the chicken house window.
This guy was sitting in the enclosed, [top and all] chicken yard, I just glanced out the window as I was opening the trap door!!!!
Talk about a two step!!!!! Yikes I slammed that door before anyone could walk out there.
He was with his back to the window, but when he heard me he did the swivel thing!! So cool!

Then I went out and got on the other side of him and he just stared at me!


Man, He could give you the evil eye!!!

I pushed him a little and he jumped up on the wire overhead, never got excited, just continued to stare at me, like I was annoying him

Well, I did not keep him for a pet, but I did keep in him that pen till hubby came home, We were fascinated by his size and his calmness, and amazed at the size of his FEET!!! All the better to grab my poor Silkies!!!!
Kept him long enough to get lots of pics and then opened the door and let him soar right out of there, Too cool he just took one step and up and out he went!
No harm done and we thanked God for allowing us to see up close the beautiful creature that came to "visit"

He is GORGEOUS! Simply AMAZING! I love birds. I am reading a book to my kids called Owl in the Shower. It is a FABULOUS book that I would recommend to everyone who loves nature.

 

[Blooie]

Thank you all so very much for your prayers ! So far we are weathering the storm, but boy oh boy, I haven't seen a winter storm like this in years. It's howling wind out of the North East at about 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph, and that's less than what it was earlier; it was gusting up to 70 mph+. The weather service is saying it will continue through the evening and into over night with strong winds and snow. So far I would say we have 18"+ of this white crap on the ground. Please continue your prayers as the good Lord is keeping us safe so far. What's amazing is that we still have power, although lots of communities around us do not - praise The Lord, He is good ! Chickens are hunkered down in the coop with food and water and still laying up a storm even in this weather ! Tough little buggers ! I hope ya'll are having a wonderful day

Still thinking of you and watching the weather! I agree - I want to know what kind of chickens those are too! Should do well here comparatively milder Wyoming!

Linda says One jumped out of the box on the table and fell to the floor. Didn't seem to effect I never know which one now. ha

I had one with the pasty butt and took him and cleaned him up with warm water and then dried him with the hair dryer and then dropped him in the waste basket and dropped the hair dryer in on top of him!

Fine as frog hair, never missed a beat. They are tough!

You two! Um, now I don't feel so quite so bad for having to fish one out of the toilet. Well, how was I supposed to know that Rosie couldn't swim?

The BCM pullet died.

I'm sorry.

 

[LindaB220]

Wowza, WBF!!! One of the disadvantages of living near the ocean, I presume....storms that rage. I be it's really beautiful, for all that. I'm so glad you are faring well and I knew God would protect you and keep you, so hold on and hold out....spring is coming. It is! Truly...really. It is.

Sorry.

You won't need a heater or second heating lamp, Linda....just one heating lamp, low to the brooder(about 18 in. above it) and pointed into a corner. Give them a cool end to the brooder so they can escape the heat and then just watch the chicks. They will really have a worse time of it when it's too hot than when it's too cold. It's 14* here today and I have 10 chicks in an outside, open air brooder and they have one heat lamp and don't even have a topper on that brooder.

If you are going to err on temps, let it be cooler than hotter or you will be having some major pasty butt. Watch the chicks and just raise or lower your one heat lamp to suit their needs. I never monitor temps in a brooder and I wouldn't try to keep it at a certain temp....just watch the chicks. If they are active and running around the entire brooder, they're good. If they are sleeping all the time or sprawled out, panting, it's too hot. If they are huddled in one spot together, they are too cool.

Make sure the floor of the brooder has good insulation against the cold...a blanket under the brooder, a thick piece of cardboard, thick bedding, etc. Warm feet are important...a hot brooder is death.

Good to know. I need to make sure that the 2" pine shavings and paper towels are dry. It's 95 in there now but I may lower it a little more if it get colder in the night. They are all over the place. AND totally insane over the fermented feed. I put out 2-3 T of it and they picked at it a min then they swarmed. I took it up for a few min an hour later. Then I put it back with another couple T's The brooder is plastic dog kennel. I've taken the top off and when they get a little bigger, I'll open the top part for them too. It's like 28" x 40" and will double to 80"
Ok Bee I'm listening to you. No heat. The brooder light is about 2' high and I covered a lot of the excess space with double cardboard. About 15" open to top. I'll check them once again to make sure everything's dry. My day has been long and I'll be sore tomorrow but there's nothing so rewarding. Love it.

I'll have better pictures later but this is what I have

https://plus.google.com/118137702100189482681/posts/7hMGrbRB2QU

 

[Blooie]

Ladies I want to tell you what a wonderfully sweet husband God has blessed me with. As you all know I have been wanting turkey poults so very much but could not find any anywhere. I had even tried the hatcheries and there was a waiting list and besides that you had to order a minimum of 15. I don't have room for 15 little eating machines. But when I got home today my husband had driven 55 miles to Chickasha and purchased 6 of the cuties little poults you have ever seen. He had them nice'n warm in the brooder with water and food and even put in a tutor chick in to teach them to eat and drink. Wow what a man.

They are so cute! And what a nice guy to do that for you!

Motel Chix is coming along nicely! Got roofing felt on the roof in preparation for the shingles, the door is done, the window is in (still needs to be trimmed) and any gaps are sealed with Great Stuff. All that's left is the soffit with the ventilation, the other vent grid, roosts and nest boxes! YAYYY for us!

I put 4 of the girls outside in an old X-pen while we worked - it was almost nice today. Out went Gladys, Pearl, Florabelle, and Beatrice. They loved it, so I'm hoping that when they suddenly end up out there full time they won't hate me forever!

 

[LindaB220]

Linda says One jumped out of the box on the table and fell to the floor. Didn't seem to effect I never know which one now. ha

I had one with the pasty butt and took him and cleaned him up with warm water and then dried him with the hair dryer and then dropped him in the waste basket and dropped the hair dryer in on top of him!

Fine as frog hair, never missed a beat. They are tough!

Bahahahaha That makes me feel better. I was frazzled for a while and getting the 1/2 gal waterer set up I screwed the top on and turned it over. Evidentally I was screwing the wrong side of the lid because I lost half of it on the floor, table, me not the babies thank goodness. Felt like an idiot.

 

[Blooie]

They are so cute! And what a nice guy to do that for you!

Motel Chix is coming along nicely! Got roofing felt on the roof in preparation for the shingles, the door is done, the window is in (still needs to be trimmed) and any gaps are sealed with Great Stuff. All that's left is the soffit with the ventilation, the other vent grid, roosts and nest boxes! YAYYY for us!

I put 4 of the girls outside in an old X-pen while we worked - it was almost nice today. Out went Gladys, Pearl, Florabelle, and Beatrice. They loved it, so I'm hoping that when they suddenly end up out there full time they won't hate me forever!

And while I was in here catching up on the doings on the Porch, he was out trimming the window. So that's done too! I just ran out and took a photo so I could add it to these. See how big they are? And I've got 22 of them in here! I need them OUT!

Front, Florabelle: Dark chick, Pearl: Back,Beatrice: Standing tall Gladys


I think Gladys is so doggone pretty!


Molly protecting the girls while they enjoy their snacks.


My favorite of all 22 chicks, Gladys. She has to be where I am as soon as she sees me!


Gladys again. Not a camera shy bone in her body. And of course Pearl dropped her head just as I snapped.


Pretty Gladys again. Camera hog!


He's done such a good job!


Inside is going to take a little time, but not too much more I hope.

 

[Blooie]

Bahahahaha That makes me feel better. I was frazzled for a while and getting the 1/2 gal waterer set up I screwed the top on and turned it over. Evidentally I was screwing the wrong side of the lid because I lost half of it on the floor, table, me not the babies thank goodness. Felt like an idiot.

But you're so adorable none of us mind a bit!

 

[Beekissed]

Lookin' good, Blooie!!!

You going to have straight roosts or ladder roosts in there? Outside access nest boxes or inside only? Nipple waterer or traditional? Deep litter or not? Electric or not? Windows? (the bigger and the more, the better...always) Ventilation? (again, the more you have, the better...can't have too much, really). What kind of pop door..sliding or swinging?

 

[lindz8504]

Good night everyone. I am feeling really crummy, so I'm going on to bed. Talk to you all in the morning.....

 

[Beekissed]

Good night everyone. I am feeling really crummy, so I'm going on to bed. Talk to you all in the morning.....

Prayers said for you, dear Lindz!

You feel some better by morning.