The Old Folks Home

[Arielle]

Quote: I can't remember the details but As I remember in Europe these sanitisers are not allowed because of the antibiotic properties could build up the super bug properties. In the younger grades the teachers line up the kids in the classroom for handwashing and then sit down in the classroom to eat. THe kids headed to the lunchroom can use handsanitizer but who oversees this--my son tells me not everyone uses it. I wish the kids were sent to wash their hands at the bathrooms or create wash stations. SOrry one of my pet peeves. ( I have several. )

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Ok, change of subject of potty training. I got some SG/Silkie eggs to set. I thought I would ask here as well as on the other site, as to how you have incubated these eggs, if you ever have. I usually do pretty good with incubating eggs when the air sacs and fertility look good. But, have had the hardest time ever hatching the silkies. It's been a while, I gave up, did get a few here and there from buying those shipped eggs.
Any secrets I don't know about? More..less...humidity during incubation? Less heat? I thought I had tried it all, but maybe I've missed something.

I've found they just get stuck easier when hatching. If I were to hatch them again, I'd go in to assist earlier. Last time I had a few dead in shell because I didn't assist.

The rat's out again. It's huge. I want to pop a cap in its butt. Stealing food from the ducks bowl. So I go outside and my flock of 80 run to the gate. Can't get a good shot off. They finally realize I'm not going to feed them and go back under the coop. The rat comes back out... and then the ducks wander over. I can't get a clean shot off.

I took the screen out of the kitchen window so I can shoot inside and not entice the animals to come over, but it's too long of a shot for the rat shot. I'd have to take it with a 22 long and be really accurate. I may just do that, but I wanted to give the rat shot another chance.

 

[ronott1]

I've found they just get stuck easier when hatching. If I were to hatch them again, I'd go in to assist earlier. Last time I had a few dead in shell because I didn't assist.

The rat's out again. It's huge. I want to pop a cap in its butt. Stealing food from the ducks bowl. So I go outside and my flock of 80 run to the gate. Can't get a good shot off. They finally realize I'm not going to feed them and go back under the coop. The rat comes back out... and then the ducks wander over. I can't get a clean shot off.

I took the screen out of the kitchen window so I can shoot inside and not entice the animals to come over, but it's too long of a shot for the rat shot. I'd have to take it with a 22 long and be really accurate. I may just do that, but I wanted to give the rat shot another chance.

Get that rat!

 

[Arielle]

That rat is asking to be a chicken dinner!!

 

[gryeyes]

Yesterday, I found another carcass in the yard: a Speckled Sussex cockerel (from the Easter Hatch). And some of the flock was snacking on it. I got complacent and didn't move the youngsters off the porch steps.

Last night I hand-carried the youngsters into the coop. Because most of the ducks and the geese do not coop up, and one duck has a very young duckling, I was up and outside several times during the night doing a walkabout security check. No signs of the skunk or any other predators.

However, before I started the first security check, something spooked the chicks which roost on the deck railing and they all came into the office. (I leave the door open onto the deck because the chickens inside all go outside during the day.... And they get up before I do, usually.)

Anyway, the turkey poult came all the way into the living room. Dooley wasn't happy about that and barked at him. Nigel the Narraganset flew to the top of the flat screen TV set to perch there. He was very interested in the movement on the TV screen. I gathered him up and put him on the rabbit hutch where some of the chicks roost ( in the office).

So of course I had to make a security check. Dunno what spooked 'em but their behavior spooked ME.

Also this morning, I removed a not-very-warm, newly hatched & wet chick from an unattended DUCK nest and tucked it under one of the broody hens on eggs. She got an odd look and sat up straighter, then started to peek beneath her at the chick. No pecking. I will check on her later.

Gonna need to turn on the misting system pretty soon.

I tossed one of those little rubber duckies - a pink Breast Cancer rubber ducky - into the pool. The geese wre thrilled and played with it for quite some time. . I think it's a better water toy than the bits of wood branches they take into the pool for play.

In the coop, Sister 2 is still taking care of Alice's chick. Buffy has two chicks. Sister 1 and Monica continue to co-raise the duckling and chick. Sister 1 has brought them to the coop people door but doesn't want either of the babies to go outside of the coop yet.

Kevin the Free Peacock has been watching the youngsters go into the office off the deck. I fully expect him to come inside to check things out, eventually.

Beth continues to come inside to lay her egg in the linen bin. Paprika and Belinda come inside to lay in the nest box where Sparkle hatched her chicks. Sparkle and her chicks sleep in a pile on the office day bed. I am glad I gave her bantam eggs for her second brood. The four Hooligans she hatched previously are HUGE. Punkin is broody in a wicker cat bed under the incubator table.

Two of Sparkle's first batch - those Hooligans - are cockerels and both have started to crow. Not good. They will have to go live with HHandbasket's flock for "finishing" pretty soon. I have not listened for their names, not even the two pullets. It doesn't seem fair to name just two of the brood-mates..... But one of the Hooligan cockerels has been trying to tell me he would like to be called Brewster. <I><*whistling innocently*></I>

 

[Arielle]

Yesterday, I found another carcass in the yard: a Speckled Sussex cockerel (from the Easter Hatch). And some of the flock was snacking on it. I got complacent and didn't move the youngsters off the porch steps.

Last night I hand-carried the youngsters into the coop. Because most of the ducks and the geese do not coop up, and one duck has a very young duckling, I was up and outside several times during the night doing a walkabout security check. No signs of the skunk or any other predators.

However, before I started the first security check, something spooked the chicks which roost on the deck railing and they all came into the office. (I leave the door open onto the deck because the chickens inside all go outside during the day.... And they get up before I do, usually.)

Anyway, the turkey poult came all the way into the living room. Dooley wasn't happy about that and barked at him. Nigel the Narraganset flew to the top of the flat screen TV set to perch there. He was very interested in the movement on the TV screen. I gathered him up and put him on the rabbit hutch where some of the chicks roost ( in the office).

So of course I had to make a security check. Dunno what spooked 'em but their behavior spooked ME.

Also this morning, I removed a not-very-warm, newly hatched & wet chick from an unattended DUCK nest and tucked it under one of the broody hens on eggs. She got an odd look and sat up straighter, then started to peek beneath her at the chick. No pecking. I will check on her later.

Gonna need to turn on the misting system pretty soon.

I tossed one of those little rubber duckies - a pink Breast Cancer rubber ducky - into the pool. The geese wre thrilled and played with it for quite some time.

. I think it's a better water toy than the bits of wood branches they take into the pool for play.

In the coop, Sister 2 is still taking care of Alice's chick. Buffy has two chicks. Sister 1 and Monica continue to co-raise the duckling and chick. Sister 1 has brought them to the coop people door but doesn't want either of the babies to go outside of the coop yet.

Kevin the Free Peacock has been watching the youngsters go into the office off the deck. I fully expect him to come inside to check things out, eventually.

Beth continues to come inside to lay her egg in the linen bin. Paprika and Belinda come inside to lay in the nest box where Sparkle hatched her chicks. Sparkle and her chicks sleep in a pile on the office day bed. I am glad I gave her bantam eggs for her second brood. The four Hooligans she hatched previously are HUGE. Punkin is broody in a wicker cat bed under the incubator table.

Two of Sparkle's first batch - those Hooligans - are cockerels and both have started to crow. Not good. They will have to go live with HHandbasket's flock for "finishing" pretty soon. I have not listened for their names, not even the two pullets. It doesn't seem fair to name just two of the brood-mates..... But one of the Hooligan cockerels has been trying to tell me he would like to be called Brewster. <*whistling innocently*>

Linda, you need a web cam!!

 

[LFchixranch]

A sign so the kiddos get it right

 

[dsqard]

Quote: Yes she did!

 

[dsqard]

Had to send out one of my lenses for repair. Finally got the chance to test it out today. It is back to perfect working order!

 

[ronott1]

Had to send out one of my lenses for repair. Finally got the chance to test it out today. It is back to perfect working order!

I want to go there!

Great pictures.