The Old Folks Home

[Pozees]

ChickenCanoe, when you have time, would you be willing to share pictures and/or instructions on how you set up your automatic watering system? As we battled fierce winds yesterday late afternoon to clean and refill waterers, DH said, "There has got to be a better way!" I know there is, I just don't know how to go about setting it up

 

[Bunnylady]

Congratulations Chickadoodles, and bunnylady on your new badges! I got another chick, and one pipping now. YAAAY! Went to the doctor yesterday. Doctor, and DH got very angry with me. DH has cooled off some. I go for all the testing tomorrow. I am praying my lymph receptors/nodes are fine.

Thanks, even though mine isn't new. I think I overlooked one, though - ChickenCanoe, isn't that "Spirit" award new? Well deserved; congrats!

Praying for good news on your tests.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sure. I don't have a lot of pictures yet and we're getting deluged with rain and hail today. Luckily no hail here yet but about 20 miles away, they had so much, it looked like snow drifts.
I use food grade 55 gallon plastic drums. I think they had pickle juice in them. Someone locally was selling a bunch of them for $30 each I found on e-bay and they even delivered them.
I have one that runs a breeder complex and lasts about 3 months when full. Another has lines running to a coop and a brooder house.
The first setup was fro the breeders. I used plastic tubing with drinker cups.



I really like them but don't work in winter. They're a snap to clean since they just spin off and you can wipe any debris with your finger.

For the other setup I'm using 1/2" PVC since it's cheaper than the tubing.

I also use another type of drinker cup with a float that is more chick friendly but is much harder to clean.
I have 2 types of nipples too, vertical and horizontal. I'll get pics of everything.

I have a plan for a redesign for next winter to heat and circulate so I don't have to shut it down. I'm not doing another winter like this last one.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thanks, even though mine isn't new. I think I overlooked one, though - ChickenCanoe, isn't that "Spirit" award new? Well deserved; congrats!

...

I have to say, I really don't know much about the awards.
Thanks though. What it probably really means is that I spend WAAAY too much time here.

 

[CanuckBock]

@CanuckBock - Okay, I get "Heel low" (Hello, right?) but what does "Chicken up" mean? I imagine that that's what you tell the dogs when it's time to go to roost. I also get "Doggone," been saying that in the southeast (US) as long as I can remember. Neither really NEED to mean anything, I was just curious.

Yes Wisher, you have nailed it. HEEL LOW is my way of saying "Hi" and because my canine breed (Australian Cattle Dogs/Heelers) are revered for the low scissor BITE or grip they use on cattle, I remind myself that the reasons I am posting most often are because of what the "stock" dogs herded us into...getting stock. Problemo was, we had the dogs, we got the land, we got the stock, and quite frankly, the sheep and goats KNOW when I come calling if a dog is not in tow, they will act up, but if there is a dog present, they practically salute my every whim. Stock dogs are only required to be present...the ruminants KNOW the route.

I do let Fixins (and all the dogs when they got older--like 5+ years older--and more mellow and behavin'--old dogs, no worries, no new tricks up their sleeves!) help me with the chores stil...especially in the spring/summer time when I am putting creatures away for evening. The ones being put away never figure it is time...but if I started when it WAS time and the last light was leaving...I'd be putting stuff away in the dark & I figure the predators would be more than willing to give assistance to much to my dismay!

SHOWDOWN of the HOT-headed RED GIRLS

RED dog Fixins...RED Chantecler standard Medusa​

​

"Ladies, ladies...keep it civilized please! I don't got all evening to stand here waiting..."​

We had chicken dinner last night. Fixins loses it EVERY time we have poultry...she drools (I know, I know, I don't feed dogs like that...this is a "Rick" thing...and he's allowed to do what he likes to do--his dogs too!), Fixins stands patiently watching for when Rick "finishes" his dinner and then she knows...it is HER time for DINNER. Rick laughed last night and repeated what we say often, especially during the CHICKEN dinners..."If Fixins EVER figures out that what is out there is the one and the same CHICKEN on our dinner plates...boy or boy are we going to have carnage!" Thankfully, the girl dog remains oblivious to "chicken = chicken!" LOL Turkeys too....what a blood bath and what a stuffed dog...better hush up...she might READ this. Bwa ha ha....

Red chicken and Red dog give each other the EYE...tough dog, tough hen!

ATTITUDES!!!



Feel the tension, feel the resulting SHOW DOWN and immanent B-fight?
Just add water for MUD and I could sell tickets to the event!

Ah but both then decide to take their differences OUTSIDE!

​

Needless to say, no dogs OR chickens made contact and their differences were resolved when Medusa decided she being the only chicken out and about still loose, it was better to give Fixins the dodge and head back in and coop herself. Teach me to let the Chants out in the middle of May...nice out and the Chanteclers LUV to free range. No self-control...that's why I am the keeper with the RED DOG!

And yes, the DOGGONE is about saying goodbye...because, well I am off to be with the dogs...outside. Reminds me I need to be gone, to the dogs. They initiated the troubles with Heel low and then conclude the payment of homage with a good ol' go round of dog play times being Doggone.

Not like the dogs are good at encouraging you to do things that need doing during the day...Rick comes home, need to unload the load of birch...look at the desperation and anticipation in these two faces? Yeh, all about play, eh?

"Well????"​

"You EVER gonna be finished toting that load, rolling that round...we got plans for you! Stop WORKING...play time already!"​

"Finally...at LAST...the whole reason for the DANG DAY! Toss that toy, watch us play!"




A tired ACD is a GOOD ACD!
​

Any and ALL behavioural problems begin with a lack of exercise...kids, dogs, me...all the same root of the problem...run off some of that pent up STEAM and we be good....good good good! Contented and calm...

So every day, I am "doggone to the dogs"...hafta or they would rip the place apart...bounce around misbehaving driving me more nutso than I need to be.



Now you wanna know what CHICKEN UP means, eh?

Another of Rick's lines. Back in September of 2008...I had become EVER so tired of hearing how the Fancy was not doing well...that young people were not being encouraged to have birds. That our oldtimers were dropping dead and the information and birds were dying with them. Well I am not the kind to sit by and just take it. Charity begins at home, so I decided I would start up a youth poultry club. Told Rick what I wanted to do and to my delight, he said he would help. Teach the kids how to build and such, totally support my dingbat idea. Kewl! I said so long as it remained FUN, we would continue with it. I drive school bus and there are rules; sit down, be calm...behave..yeh, so very lame. Well at the club, we could STAND UP, be wild/messy (can you say FINGER PAINT and race EGGS!), and never ever BEHAVE! Yee haw!

So long story short...I became APA/ABA Youth Program Adviser for Canada, we got our poultry club going (yes, introduced two dozen people to the hobby of birds...first hit is free...ha ha ha...what you do after that with your addiction, is your problem!), Rick not only taught all the kids how to build doors and pens and buildings, but he encourage the girls to become quite the going concerns...I will NEVER ever forget the confused, kinda scared beginnings of some of the girls and after that one meeting of "You can build a door" the empowered force these girls (no dissing the boys...but they were quite fine with power tools!) exhibited. I myself am a waster of building supplies, just not in me, but these kids sure have no problems making facilities...Rick's attitude is if you can build good facilities yourself, then it sure makes this hobby more doable...considering the hurdle it is to get good digs going. That is challenge number one and on it goes from there.

So we needed some marketing...what I think they coin labelling...promotion, that sorta thing. So I asked Rick for some input on maybe what we could do to get the word out about the bird club (not a sandwich but a group of enthusiasts!). For him it was easy.

We reside in cattle country...lots of these kids also did 4-H in cows...we had thought about going 4-H but there were too many restrictions, one being age. We had families with kids way younger than 4-H dealt with and I did not want to discourage anyone with an interest in the birds. Grab the eagerness and get them focussed and doing it. AND we had several OLD persons...yes, had a reporter come by in October and do a news article with photos and two of the wanna be members that contacted us were OLDER than I was! Well, if we went 4-H, the age constraints would limit membership...won't have that...discrimination based on age!

​

So cattle country...and horses, cowboys, cowgirls, cowpokes...WESTERN theme round about here in this neck of the woods! So Rick in his brilliance comes up with a quip for the bumperstickers and it became how we called all the meetings thereafter to order, too. Sure to bring a great big ol' country smile to your face ... Two dozen members all shouting out...

Chicken UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ​

CHICKEN UP and yellow! We all know there are lots of pressures growing up...so let's faced that full on. It is not nerdy to have birds, it is not weak and wimpy to LIKE poultry, do up chicken chores and like eggs and poultry meats...you are not a GEEK because you belong to a chicken club...you have to be tougher than any cowperson to be loud and proud to have poultry...no person entered in a rodeo wants to be seen wearing yellow, suppose to be BAD luck.

Well not for us...so all you cowpokes...no need to cowboy or cowgirl up...'cause we can all CHICKEN UP! Bock on that!

get your best oo and ahh voices ready

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

Thank you EVER so much for sharing your blessings...spring blessings...bountiful blessings. My dear Man, you reap what you sow! What a wonderful "ark of plenty." L00ks good on you & so love this.

One of her Brit friends that was with her there that night posted
"~ hannah showing us all up with her dance moves"

Dancing...yes, what a lovely talent to be able to share with the masses. Encouraging and nurturing your kids to do their best...nice CC...very nice to witness that!

Hmm, I dance and sing too...and best these are private renditions 'cause I sing like nails on chalkboards and Elaine from Seinfeld dances better than I (good at the two step--yes, but anything else--best I dance like nobody is watching -- oh my eyes). In my family, my sister got those talents. Does nicely too, she's an Opera singer and a model (yes, one envisions a large version as one that sings opera, but she works out--always has and has a six pack to show for it...to me, that's the half a case of beer we have in the cupboard from four Christmases ago...does BEER go bad...maybe better start to use it up in the next lasagne pie recipe?).

Pretty much I leave the "dancing" here to the creatures...which reminds me, I have not tortured anyone I know here with my DANCING critters...took these pics (and many others, clicky that day I guess) on Aug 5 last year...

While you scroll thru, y'all may begin humming that Creedence Clearwater Revival Looking Out My Back Door (written by John Cameron Fogerty):

Aussie Black girl swanny doing cartwheels!




Fixs and Foamy...dancing on the lawn. Them smiles & waggy tails make me laugh; such happiness!
​

Quote:

Conga line of one of the American Geese families--pair with six kids but not so "wee winged" in August!




Girl pens in quarantine--yet MORE birds high stepping around!
​

Quote:
Forward troubles Illinois,
lock the front door, oh boy!
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
Bother me tomorrow, today, I'll buy no sorrows.

...

Doo, doo, doo, Looking out my back door.

Sending out wishes that we may all get to do a bit of doo doo doo recovery and then spend a tad more time...

Looking out our back doors!

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

 

[Bunnylady]

Quote: If Nifty, et al. were to give an award for that, they'd probably have to give it to at least half of the members!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

​

Dancing...yes, what a lovely talent to be able to share with the masses. Encouraging and nurturing your kids to do their best...nice CC...very nice to witness that!

Hmm, I dance and sing too...and best these are private renditions 'cause I sing like nails on chalkboards and Elaine from Seinfeld dances better than I (good at the two step--yes, but anything else--best I dance like nobody is watching -- oh my eyes). In my family, my sister got those talents. Does nicely too, she's an Opera singer and a model (yes, one envisions a large version as one that sings opera, but she works out--always has and has a six pack to show for it...to me, that's the half a case of beer we have in the cupboard from four Christmases ago...does BEER go bad...maybe better start to use it up in the next lasagne pie recipe?).

Pretty much I leave the "dancing" here to the creatures...which reminds me, I have not tortured anyone I know here with my DANCING critters...took these pics (and many others, clicky that day I guess) on Aug 5 last year...

While you scroll thru, y'all may begin humming that Creedence Clearwater Revival Looking Out My Back Door (written by John Cameron Fogerty):

I always tell people, in her presence, that I taught her everything she knows about dancing. She just rolls her eyes in disgust.
I actually did modern dance in Kansas City back in the early 80s, so I'm not terrible.

Really? Elaine's a better dancer?

Beer definitely gets stale.
Pre-cooking brats or baby back ribs in beer before they go on the grill is a good use. Hopefully the beer isn't old enough to ruin the meat.

Singing, I have a few evil friends that tell me not to quit my day job.
I was at a conference once where they had Karaoke. After hearing me, one guy started a club called, 'gentlemen against karaoke'.
I was sabotaged though. People put my name on the slip of paper with songs I didn't know.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Hey...I just realized I haven't seen SCG...for ages!!! Did she get snowed in and not be able to get out?

 

[Bunnylady]

Hey...I just realized I haven't seen SCG...for ages!!! Did she get snowed in and not be able to get out?

Looks like the last time she was on BYC was a couple of days ago, but it's been a lot longer than that since she posted anything. I agree, such extended silence is uncharacteristic of her . . . frostbitten fingers, maybe?

 

[CanuckBock]

I always tell people, in her presence, that I taught her everything she knows about dancing. She just rolls her eyes in disgust.

Really? Elaine's a better dancer?

Beer definitely gets stale.
Pre-cooking brats or baby back ribs in beer before they go on the grill is a good use. Hopefully the beer isn't old enough to ruin the meat.

Singing, I have a few evil friends that tell me not to quit my day job.
I was at a conference once where they had Karaoke. After hearing me, one guy started a club called, 'gentlemen against karaoke'.
I was sabotaged though. People put my name on the slip of paper with songs I didn't know.

Yes...Elaine is a WAY better dancer.

In my mind's eye...it is this...





Sadly for anyone watching...it is more this...dance of the hippos and no baby here!

with the earth shaking the dogs like this...



Dancing and singing is good for the soul...but not always the eyes.

I loved Snoopy comics...always have...the inspiration of this alone...

​

Just a few strokes of the pen by Charles M. Schulz...to capture this feeling...we should have this kind of feeling at least once a day and twice on Sundays.

I bin meaning to add to your poultry feed discussion...some people don't know this, but if there is GRAIN used to make up their feed (even organically grown grains), there needs to be "oil" added to the grains if moved by an auger--dust is a fire hazard.

So, often the oil used is some GM oil like Canola that is economical to purchase. Which to me, is counter productive to lots of people that are trying to avoid these sorts of products.

If you shovelled your grains (like I do at home to move them), then I guess they would not have added oil...but if augered...you need to find out what kind of oil is used.

I personally gave up on trying to go organic. I don't feed animals to our birds as in we only feed them vegetable proteins but that is as far as I was willing to go. It would be costly to attempt to implement a "no GM and only organic feed" regiment with the amount of critters we feed here daily. I go thru about a ton a month, so 2,200 pounds of feed every thirty days (so 1 1/3 feed store 55 pound bags a day) not counting hay and such for the ruminants. Right now I am also going thru a 55 pound bag of oyster shell every few weeks---waterfowl bumping consumption way up to make egg shells.

I can only imagine what any of this would cost if we tried to do this all organically and GM free. My part time job would need to become full time and then who would do the chores?

Tara