The Front Porch Swing

[Beekissed]

Sun, sun, Mr. Golden Sun please shine down on me.

It's almost 60* and sunny today. You have no idea what this does for ones mood after 4 months of -0* and snow.
I am in the process of hatching my first batch of eggs. I'm on day 15. I've had a lot of temperature regulation issues so I'm a little nervous about this. Last night I candled them and 80% of them had little chickies moving around. My kids think I need to be heavily medicated.... I was cheering the little chickies on if I didn't seem them moving right away~ I would start singing come on little chicky chicky you can do it. Once I would see them moving around I did a little happy dance. This is SO cool. Any body have wise words of wisdom for the brooder I will be building this week?? Jen

Did I miss meeting you? If so, I'm sure glad you came to The Porch!

If I have already greeted you, please just pat me on the hand and say, "That's alright, deary, we can meet again as many times as you need us to" and then roll your eyes at the gals over there on the swing. I'm used to them snickering at me and my forgetful mind......

I am doing the same thing! Talking to the chicks when I don't see them dancing around in that shell....I make them wake up and move so I know they are still alive.

"C'mon, little 22, move a little!" and then when I see movement I put that egg back, thank the Lord for little 22, and move on to the next egg/number.

Really bummed out. I mentioned that my babies came from Meyers and that the Delawares are really puny . Lost 2 the first 3 days and another 2 today. I thought I caught one by bringing her in and washing in warm water and blow dry. An hour later she was up and eating. Now she's gone also. 4 out of 7. Really bad batch this year. Golden comets and White rocks are going great. Sad.

Linda, it's not anything you are doing since your other birds are fine...just poor Del genetics at that hatchery. I'm sorry.

I bet you can score some chicks or eggs from the folks on Kathy's Delaware thread if you want to have some strong genetics on Dels.

Ohhh I'm TRYING to hatch some eggs too. The temp has been crazy - up and down, up and down. I don't know if I have killed them all or not. I have three thermometers in there and none of them agree! I'll be glad when time's up whether they hatch or not.

Next time you can hatch in a natural nest!

Temps are rock steady there most all the time. Why do you think this is happening? Is it this type of incubator? Why can't it maintain temps, you figure?

Could I join the Porch Gang? I've read this thread and really responded to the conversations. It's so good humoured and respectful and supportive throughout. Some of the other threads can be a bit daunting for a newcomer. Nice to have what feels like sanctuary. What can bring? I do compost. I have an open mind. I did castrate two rams, with vet help. Got 10 pampered chickens. Oh, how about homemade lemonade to celebrate spring?

Of course!!!

Thank you for the lemonade and pull up a comfy chair or hay bale...the buckets hurt your bum after a bit. That's why we reserve those for Blooie.....

Tell us about you and just jump into conversation, the more the merrier!

Pulling up a chair for a few seconds while I sip some lemonade on break...

They had a going away potluck for lunch for me at work today. It was very nice and calm, not where everyone spends $15 each at a restaurant... I like this better.

Everyone pinched in and got me a gift. It's a beautiful handwoven wool blanket for those cool days...

They said they'd thought about ordering me some chickens, but weren't quite sure how to go about it! LOL!!!!

Sarah, you leaving your job? Get another somewhere else or taking a sabbatical? Are you happy about this move?

I like the sound of this thread! Everyone seems so nice... I just joined BYC a couple weeks ago and I'm still getting used to things... May join?

Welcome to BYC and welcome to the Porch!!!

I love it on this Porch...it's always just right and lots of good food, laughter and friendship here. Dust off a seat and tell us a story!

Anybody want to split this cake with me? I am craving something chocolate! lol



http://www.countryliving.com/_mobile/recipefinder/hot-chocolate-meringue-cake

That is so decadent!!! Beautiful!!! Now I have to go hunt down something sweet to eat...thanks, TW.

 

[LindaB220]

That is so sad. I have a friend that ordered from Myers this year and lost half of her order.
I want to get Delawares too but I can't find any breeders near me. I'm getting a light Sussex instead. They look very similar.

Welcome! I love fresh made lemonade.

Where are you going?

We have buckets here now too? This porch has all kinds of seating.

Yeah, I've got Lt Sussex coming from Sandhill . I really thought about cancelling the order and emailed to do so, Never heard anything. So I called today and Owner Linda said on answering machine that their egg production was pretty flat so expect delays. I'll probably just tell them to go ahead and send them whenever. This winter has been so wretched that I'm sure all the smaller hatcheries or breeders are needing the business.

 

[LindaB220]

I like the sound of this thread! Everyone seems so nice... I just joined BYC a couple weeks ago and I'm still getting used to things... May join?

Welcome to the Porch. Always happy to see new faces. Here's a lot of wonderful intelligent caring people. You don't find that on a lot of the threads. Nothing like tooting our own horn.

 

[Blooie]

Ahem, so what did everyone do today? Ahem....I was a little busy......Ahem. Anything look, well, new?

Welcome to our new friends......my bucket is the one with big, um, hiney pad on it. Teehee

I'm really sorry about your babies, Linda. I thought that Meyer had a really good reputation. I didn't order the girls (and Charlie) from there, but don't they supply a lot of the places like mypetchicken, etc?

Glad so many of you enjoyed the Saga of the Little Spider. It got better today when they were falling all over themselves over a bee. (Not you, sweetie! I wouldn't let them eat you!)

Who am I kidding...I've been off here most of they day - I'll never get caught up. So pass the lemonade please, and here - in between the little project I worked on today I managed to whip up some chocolate pudding. Um, I might want to switch to Pepsi if I'm eating chocolate pudding. Nothing sucks my cheeks in harder than taking a bite of something sweet then drinking something not-so-sweet. But I worked up a colossal thirst today, doing nothin', ahem........ Dad used to tell us that doing nuthin' is hard work, 'cause ya can't stop to rest.

 

[enola]

Now that is just down right PURDY !

 

[lindz8504]

Its been a rainy day here.... We had our driveway leveled off to the house and ready to get some gravel hauled last week.(we'd been walking through a mud pit since we moved in) Well, now we are going to have to redo some of the work... I hope we can just do it with a shovel and rake if we can get it done and gravel on it soon! I didn't do a lot today... resting from everything we accomplished over the weekend! LOL. I did manage to do some laundry and put some eggs in cartons in the fridge! I have 12 dozen + in there now...

Before the rain.....



After.....

 

[LindaB220]

Now that is just down right PURDY !

x 2 Love the baby run. Perfect. For now.

 

[enola]

Did I see a purple egg in that bowl with all those pretty eggs!?

 

[Beekissed]

Ahem, so what did everyone do today? Ahem....I was a little busy......Ahem. Anything look, well, new?

Welcome to our new friends......my bucket is the one with big, um, hiney pad on it. Teehee

I'm really sorry about your babies, Linda. I thought that Meyer had a really good reputation. I didn't order the girls (and Charlie) from there, but don't they supply a lot of the places like mypetchicken, etc?

Glad so many of you enjoyed the Saga of the Little Spider. It got better today when they were falling all over themselves over a bee. (Not you, sweetie! I wouldn't let them eat you!)

Who am I kidding...I've been off here most of they day - I'll never get caught up. So pass the lemonade please, and here - in between the little project I worked on today I managed to whip up some chocolate pudding. Um, I might want to switch to Pepsi if I'm eating chocolate pudding. Nothing sucks my cheeks in harder than taking a bite of something sweet then drinking something not-so-sweet. But I worked up a colossal thirst today, doing nothin', ahem........ Dad used to tell us that doing nuthin' is hard work, 'cause ya can't stop to rest.

I LOVE THE COLOR OF YOUR COOP!!!! It's perfect, Blooie!

Give yourself two pieces of TWs chocolate cake with an extra dollop of your chocolate pudding, 'cause you done good, girl! That's my favorite shade of red...it just...speaks to me. Makes me think of fall, warm blankets, old barns, horses and chili peppers.

 

[lindz8504]

Did I see a purple egg in that bowl with all those pretty eggs!?

Yes, I have one Golden comet that lays a purple-ish egg... When you wash it, it is just plain brown though....