The NFC B-Day Chat Thread

[JaeG]

Bet it takes longer than 2 minutes for the temp to change - guess that's like a watched pot won't boil?
Can't wait to see your babies with some feathers.

Cicada at 3:30 am - do y'all have daylight at that time? Regular/annual ones are not so bad here, but the 13 year type are obnoxious

.

I don't do hatching ( wish I could).

Yes, nothing like an over anxious 'parent'! At least my other two finches had feathers. These poor ugly bugs are still bald so I'm worried they'll get too cold. They've just had a really good feed so I'm pleased about that. Their mouths are huge!

I wondered if the full moon is what set the cicadas off so early as it doesn't start getting light here until 6.30ish am. It was a very warm night too. Though the temperature looks like it's going to be a little cooler later in the week. Hopefully that'll keep them quiet until a respectable hour!

 

[drumstick diva]

Jaeg Maybe you could make them little sweaters - they would be adorable. Is the little one doing well also? I am trying very hard not to bother you -if they take long to feather out - it's not your fault. I have to contain myself.

When I was very young I used to go out in the garden and pull the petals apart on my mom's roses to see what was in the middle. As soon as she got a glimpse of them she hollered at me. I was a very sensitive kid but, curiosity always got the better of me.

I raised Cockers many years ago and used to trim their heads at 10 days of age - couldn't wait to see who had the best head etc. Also tube feed every chance I got - well one female had gorgeous puppies but, she was a terrible mother. As soon as they popped out, she was finished with them. I think like your birds it made the pups more social and outgoing and believe it or not, her daughters turned out to be good mamas.

 

[drumstick diva]

We get some annoying cicadas every year. Then we get the 13 year ones that are more irritating. But the 17 year cicadas are the absolute pits.

They hatch by the billions, there are not enough wild birds to finish them off. They fly back and forth like cars in heavy traffic. If they land on you they screech, if you brush them off they screech louder. Their continuous racket is damaging. It was said that one hour of their noise could permanently damage your hearing.

We are surrounded by forest preserves so loads of trees for them to erupt from the bark. Don't know about yours but, ours have red eyes- the ugliest things I have ever seen. Always step on as many as I can. Sometimes I'd find two of them doing things we don't mention here. So I could stomp on them - two for one. Not that it made any difference.

 

[Blooie]

We get some annoying cicadas every year. Then we get the 13 year ones that are more irritating. But the 17 year cicadas are the absolute pits.

They hatch by the billions, there are not enough wild birds to finish them off. They fly back and forth like cars in heavy traffic. If they land on you they screech, if you brush them off they screech louder. Their continuous racket is damaging. It was said that one hour of their noise could permanently damage your hearing.

We are surrounded by forest preserves so loads of trees for them to erupt from the bark. Don't know about yours but, ours have red eyes- the ugliest things I have ever seen. Always step on as many as I can. Sometimes I'd find two of them doing things we don't mention here. So I could stomp on them - two for one. Not that it made any difference.

Bet it did to them!

 

[JaeG]

Jaeg Maybe you could make them little sweaters - they would be adorable. Is the little one doing well also? I am trying very hard not to bother you -if they take long to feather out - it's not your fault. I have to contain myself.

When I was very young I used to go out in the garden and pull the petals apart on my mom's roses to see what was in the middle. As soon as she got a glimpse of them she hollered at me. I was a very sensitive kid but, curiosity always got the better of me.

I raised Cockers many years ago and used to trim their heads at 10 days of age - couldn't wait to see who had the best head etc. Also tube feed every chance I got - well one female had gorgeous puppies but, she was a terrible mother. As soon as they popped out, she was finished with them. I think like your birds it made the pups more social and outgoing and believe it or not, her daughters turned out to be good mamas.

They would look so cute in sweaters! I'm not much of a knitter though (utterly useless in fact). They really squeak to let me know when they are hungry - and they really are Ugly Bugs at the moment, though I cluck over them anyway because they are so utterly helpless. They are just starting to open their eyes. I'm wondering if the mother wasn't keeping up with their demands as their skin was quite wrinkly when I first brought them inside and they are looking a lot smoother now. I checked on the other one and it's being looked after well. In fact it had the most in it's crop that I've ever seen in any of them in all my days of checking on them. The male hangs around and stands guard but I don't think he's contributing with the feeding duties.



I love Cocker Spaniels - they are so sweet. Sounds like your maternal instincts made up for your girls lack of maternal-ness. I think I'd jump at the chance to hand feed puppies too!

I looked up your 13 and 17 year cicadas. One site had a bit where you could play their 'songs'. I was using my phone and had my volume turned right up (which is usually fine) but I just about busted my ear drums when the sound clip started! We just have the regular annual ones. My chickens love to eat them but I never catch many as they are quite smart and fly off if I go anywhere near them. I think they are on to me!

And a couple of cute pics for everyone...

Rosie chewing on Pie's tail


And Luvy enjoying a massage - he loves being scratched all round his head.

 

[drumstick diva]

Looks like you are relieving Luvy's headache. Rosey is a tubby- she must love to eat. I should talk

 

[sunflour]

So those lucky chicks are getting wine in their brooder? What goes better with crumbles, white or red?

(The girl is the one that is planning on coming back to the course, haven't heard from the guy yet.)

Pink Wine

I thought it was the girl (teenager) , the guy was 20 or so. Hope he comes too or you can find another to help with all the other chores.

Hi Sunflour! Can't wait to see your new chicks

Me too, getting egg-cited

You're on a roll there! Well, except for the wine...everyone knows margaritas go better with chick starter crumbles than wine! Can't wait to see the chicks!

Molly was an English Setter, and she was incredible! She died in the fall of 2015, at around 13 years old - not too long after that photo of her and Tank was taken as a matter of fact. She loved everyone, but Kendra was her special buddy! Not getting another dog while our travel schedule coming up is so hectic. Not fair to do to a puppy -hard to train if you aren't here all the time - and definitely not fair to adopt an older dog when we're taking off and just having someone come over to let him/her out and do the feeding and watering. Poor thing wouldn't even be used to us and the new surroundings yet. Molly was so used to it it didn't bother her, but she was broken into it more gradually than we'd be able to do now, and she knew the kids, Kenny and Jenny, and Tammy.

I knew you would mention margaritas

.

English Setter - I knew it, I could remember the English part but not the Setter.

I haven't had to train a puppy ( my dad always did that chore) cats and chickens are so much easier to "train"

 

[sunflour]

And Luvy enjoying a massage - he loves being scratched all round his head.

That is such a sweet pic.

I had the same idea as DD, the featherless one's needs some sweaters. Hopefully they'll grow some feathers soon.

 

[N F C]

Good morning!

Blooie, you're absolutely right...it's margaritas with crumbles and wine with dried meal worms. What was I thinking?

J, love that picture of Luvy getting a massage!

 

[DigMyChicks]

We get some annoying cicadas every year.  Then we get the 13 year ones that are more irritating. But the 17 year cicadas are the absolute pits.

They hatch by the  billions, there are not enough wild birds to finish them off.  They fly back and forth like cars in heavy traffic.  If they land on you they screech, if you brush them off they screech louder.  Their continuous racket is damaging. It was said that one hour of their noise could permanently damage your hearing.

We are surrounded by forest preserves so loads of trees for them to erupt from the bark.  Don't know about yours but, ours have red eyes- the ugliest things I have ever seen.   Always step on as many as I can.  Sometimes I'd find two of them  doing things we don't mention here.  So I could stomp on them - two for one. Not that it made any difference.

I would absolutely freak out!!