I have had one of those weeks that just make me want to cuddle up with a good bottle of bourbon and let the world melt away. With my luck, though, I'd probably trip over a chicken and break my silly neck.
oO(sigh)
Cricket and Dobby (formerly Dottie) have gone from being besties to being mortal enemies who try to kill each other every chance they get. I've been doing my best to keep them apart, but I can't keep them seperated forever. It's made my decision on which of my four roosters to keep a lot more difficult. I wanted to keep Dobby and Cricket, I love my little bantam menace and DD throws a fit every time I mention getting rid of Dobby. I love him, too...we hand raised him...but what she thinks is cute, like him dancing at her, is him trying to dominate her, which is not a good thing. He's going to be huge. He's already taller at almost 6 months than his father, Diego, and has that LH attitude. If I just keep Cricket DH is afraid he wil be useless when it comes to protecting the girls from predators...he's so tiny. Diego it a great protector, gets along with all the roosters unless they try to undermine his authority...then he wil put them it their place...but he's never violent about it. Unfortunately DD and DH are afraid of him. He was quite a handful when puberty hit, but has mellowed out and is a wonderful rooster...but he's not all cuddly and sweet. He's the boss man...and knows it.
Maybe Dobby will calm down once his hormones calm down. I just don't think that I can keep them out of each other's way till then. Right now I've been putting Cricket to bed in the little coop and having them take turns ranging with the flock. One day I'll let Cricket out and the next, Dobby. If I get rid of My two older roosters and keep these two will they calm down with less compitition? Or will it get worse? I wish I knew.
Yesterday we had our first bbq of the year. DD found my DS's old girlfriend on FB and invited her so I got to visit all day with my grandson, Draven, who I hadn't seen since he was six months old. He's the same age as Maddy. That was the high point of my week, watching them run around all day. Draven loved the chickens. Maddy had a ball showing him her room and all her toys. Both became buddies almost immediately. When it was time for them to leave they were both crying. Draven wanted to spend the night, but his mom decided against it since he didn't have any extra clothes here, but she did promise that I could see him whenever I wanted.
She agreed to let him stay here Easter weekend so that he could watch the chicks hatch from the Easter hatch-a-long. Yippee!!!
DH bought a new above ground pool so he dismantled our old one, which was damaged when a tree DH cut down this winter fell the wrong way. I plan on using it as a liner for the creek bed that is running through my garden, it will connect the two little ponds and give more room to the goldfish and frogs that live there. The chickens and I spent most of the week digging the creek deeper and wider and moving plants and rocks around. They feasted on all the creepies and crawlies that we unearthed. The below zero temps that we had this winter killed my lavender and rosemary. Almost killed off the oregano, as well...but it seems to be making a comeback.
DH and DD are also almost finished building the outside brooder/growout area.
But they hit a snag yesterday when they called me over to inspect it and I noticed that there was no door to the run. Door?
We forgot all about putting in a door. They are at Lowes right now, buying more wood. Hopefully I will have a door by the end of the day and can move the babies from the livingroom to their new home outside.
The dogs are barking, so they must be pulling up now. I'll try to get pictures of the new brooder (and door)this evening.
I hope all my TOFH friends have a good weekend. Oh...and a big WELCOME! to all our new members.
sandi