The Old Folks Home

[ronott1]

He's holding a hand saw. That was back when I had convinced him that I would die unless I had a chicken coop and back when he was trying to convince me that he'd be good BF material (hey it worked out, I got a great coop and a great BF out of it). Like I said, we don't have many pictures of each other. I think the only other one that I have of him face-on is one where a chicken flew up to rest on his shoulder. I couldn't find that one so you got him and his saw.

Dsqard, those pictures are delightful and I'm glad you're still smoke-free.

I've also been thinking about chicken pedigrees, and I've come up with a couple difficulties with them:
1. No way of permanently marking the birds to be associated with their pedigree (ie my goats have easily visible tattoos)
2. No way of knowing which eggs came out of which vent (there are ways around this such as those locked nest boxes or single caged animals)

In the chicken world we do have some sort of pedigree. Back when the marans fad was going on (is that still a thing?) I saw people selling X or Y line of birds. But they don't have a specific written pedigree and you really have no idea what you're getting. Also phenotype (what they look like) is different than genotype (what genes they carry). For example, I have a couple "pure breed" cornish. The hen that I have that looks the best color wise all over her body has 2 white feathers on her head. That's a no-no. She didn't start to express those white feathers until a few months ago. So we would all have to agree that birds couldn't be "pedigreed" until after the first molt (just randomly picking a time). Likewise I had an all black bird that has turned into an 80% white bird. I think that's pretty neat, but just because she looked like X bird and came from Y line doesn't mean the genes that she expresses are the right ones.

Yes, the Marans thing is still going on. Last year a new line showed up, Little Pedlar, and they were being sold in the hundreds to thousand dollar range. I do not have them because they die here without a lot of work (I do have a Blue Marans but she is cuckoo Marans based from Hatchery Stock).

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I just luv reading all the posts and stories....and looking at all of the pictures.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I am waiting for the turken fad to kick off.

I got back a little bit ago from BF's mom's house. She raises his niece and nephew. The niece is starting to be girly, and when I got there decided we just had to have "girls time." She put some colored chalk in my hair (apparently that's a thing now, too) of blue, green, pink and purple. I did hers, and her nails and put some makeup on her (she ended up looking like MiMi from The Drew Carey Show because the poor thing chose the wrong girl to be a girl with - I don't think she knew any better though, luckily).

It's too bad she doesn't want to learn how to clip goat toes, or shovel chicken poop because that's the kinda stuff I'm good at.

 

[pickitfarm]

I did hers, and her nails and put some makeup on her (she ended up looking like MiMi from The Drew Carey Show because the poor thing chose the wrong girl to be a girl with - I don't think she knew any better though, luckily).

That is too funny!

 

[Arielle]

Been stuck on FB where I only have to click a like button.

Not sure if the lavender eggs will show up this year from what I kept.most of them are now living in Oregon and Utah, since I have limited space. The older hens haven't started back up yet, so pics of those have to wait.

I'm checking pens in a little while to make sure I don't have any problems. Stuck pullets into their appropriate pens tonight. kind of worried about the SPPRs since my older hens like to peck others to death. I only left 4 of the larger lavender AMs in their pen. I got 5 in and went back to put 2 more in and Lavern had knocked them all off the roost. I took her out and stuck her in a dog crate for the night. I went back to put the other 2 in and Ambrose was sitting on one of the smaller pullets that had made it up on the ledge. I took that one out and didn't even bother with the other. None of the other birds budged. Lavern runs that pen, so many they were just relieved she was gone for the night. I put 4 FBCMs ans 2 Blue Coppers into the Marans pen. Two of the FBCMs were hens that they haven't let back in. One of them I had to nurse back to help for 2 months after they had clobbered her so bad that I found her close to dead on the ground. I really need another Marans pen. I have a BCM roo that I want to move those hens in with and give the FBCMs more room.

I'm having a really hard time with my Sumatras ans Phoenix. The older hens never let in a new girl and it's frustrating. I've tried everything with them and I end up with the new ones bloody and have to wait till they completely heal. Then I try again and the same thing happens. I'd get rid of the older ones if they weren't so nice, but at this rate, I'm just stumped.


So I'm up and keeping an eye on things and at the same time I'm worried I won't wake up early enough to check for any problems wen the sun comes up. I need to get this done and fast. I want to get rooster collars make in the next week, so my neighbors don't start complaining.


OH and I don't think I'll ever fit in in the Mid West again. BTW, I was born in Topeka and then lived in OK till I was almost 4. I'm the designated black sheep and I figure it's better to stick it out here with the family I already have figured all out and not have to figure out the ones I have back there. I need to know I can drive to the Bay and see the waves if I need to/

I need to figure out something though. I have 3 months to get something going or I'm seriously thinking I need to come up with money for some cheap eBay land and live in my Explorer until I can come up with a better plan. Problem is, most is either where it's very hot or very cold. I can't handle either one.

Wolfie, you have me curious now-- you listed pheonix. My son saw a silver pheonix bantam yesterday and is DYING to get pheonix. Even started coops drawings. Do you pic of the pheonix?? I need to do MY research as a mom too. lol

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Kudos for you!!! Quitting is hard work!!! One day at a time . . . .

Glad you could smell the pine. . . pine is Maine to me. . .

I am waiting for the turken fad to kick off.

I got back a little bit ago from BF's mom's house. She raises his niece and nephew. The niece is starting to be girly, and when I got there decided we just had to have "girls time." She put some colored chalk in my hair (apparently that's a thing now, too) of blue, green, pink and purple. I did hers, and her nails and put some makeup on her (she ended up looking like MiMi from The Drew Carey Show because the poor thing chose the wrong girl to be a girl with - I don't think she knew any better though, luckily).

It's too bad she doesn't want to learn how to clip goat toes, or shovel chicken poop because that's the kinda stuff I'm good at.

Having only sen the turken via pn line photos, I wan't to attracted to them; then seeing one at a show yesterday I ws repulsed. ( No offense to anyone that loves them. ) Just not the chicken for me.

HAa haa, I"m no good at girly girl either-- good of you to try!! I"m sure the neice loved the girls time together.

 

[drumstick diva]

SCG You brought up Mimi from Drew Carey show, I love it! I had forgotten all about her. What a character .I had a friend just like her - same personality & looks . When I was no longer useful I got back stabbed so severely I still spray pepsi every time I drink. TV was hysterical - real life not so much.

 

[tnspursfan09]

One of my little Buffies is missing. They were all out having free tie while DH and DD were cutting wood and before coming back in he noticed she was not with the others. They are always together. We've searched all afternoon and I've called and called till I'm hoarse, but to no avail. I think a hawk might have grabbed her, but I saw no feathers.

 

[ronott1]

One of my little Buffies is missing. They were all out having free tie while DH and DD were cutting wood and before coming back in he noticed she was not with the others. They are always together. We've searched all afternoon and I've called and called till I'm hoarse, but to no avail. I think a hawk might have grabbed her, but I saw no feathers.

I hope she shows up!

 

[Arielle]

One of my little Buffies is missing. They were all out having free tie while DH and DD were cutting wood and before coming back in he noticed she was not with the others. They are always together. We've searched all afternoon and I've called and called till I'm hoarse, but to no avail. I think a hawk might have grabbed her, but I saw no feathers.

Remeber to look in the crevaes between objects-- they can get caught in the weirdest places. DO hope she shows up tomorrow.