The Old Folks Home

[Cynthia12]

SCG I thought you were kidding about your neighbor releasing milk. Too bad your can't hear me cackling with laughter.

When I had my son, I'd only get to sneak to the store now and then when grandma watched him. I was in a checkout line and someone's baby started crying. Next thing I knew,, I had a stinging sensation- then "the girls" blew up like an inflatable lifejacket and I noticed I was leaving big white pools on the floor. I left my stuff at the counter and just took off - I was so embarrassed. I didn't know things like that happened . If I had a chance to do over, I probably would have ignored it and let other people be embarrassed. OR I could have shopped at Walmart and no one would have noticed at all.

You crack me up.

 

[drumstick diva]

I crack me up too but, scotch magic tape is still holding the pieces together

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: x2

 

[ChickenCanoe]

This is usually what happens to me, but it figures the day my alarm messes up is the day I'm actually sleeping.

I have 4 alarms set currently:
1. go out and feed the animals
2. no, really, you need to get up now
3. take your am dose of antibiotic
4. take your pm dose of antibiotic

I have an alarm at 6:50 Thursdays so I get the trash and recycling out on time.
Another that varies with the season but about an hour before dark to remind me to lock ALL coops.
Counting nest boxes I have 22 doors that need to be locked so it requires a checklist.

I set another alert for days to check leg bands and another for moving eggs to the hatcher.

DH and I no longer need alarm clocks either. We get up somewhere between 3 and 3:30 almost every day. Even on the weekends. Just way too many years getting up early for us to sleep in. Now we also go to bed really early too. We are usually in bed around 7pm and asleep by 7:30. I actually prefer being a morning person over being a night person although many would argue that getting up before the sun rises would make me a night person

I'm usually up by 3 or 4 so I never use an alarm for waking. My wife sleeps till 7 every day but doesn't use an alarm either.
I love being a morning person but that was difficult for most of my working life when I had to work nights.

No Way! I moved to the black hills of S. Dakota almost 3 years ago. I've been raising chickens for less than 2 years now. Before I decided to raise chickens my In-laws who live on the same property would say "can't keep chickens. Between the coyotes, hawks and mountain lions, they'll be all gone by the end of summer". So I forged ahead anyway and started with 17 production reds.

Now I have 25 hens and have only lost one to some mystery illness. The rest are doing fine if you don't count the current egg strike from the 1st year reds (I think they're upset that the Australorps have been laying eggs in "their" hen-house). The outlaws have come around. When the wife, kids and I took a vacation and left the homestead to Grandma and grandpa, they did great. When we got back Grandma and Grandpa carried on about how entertaining the chickens were.

I have a 12 yr old and a 9 yr old. My 9 yr old daughter is better at telling the chickens apart then I am. If I'm down in the garden, she's walking around with a chicken under her arm. My 12 yr old son is turning into a great farm hand. He heads down to the run in the morning to let the chickens range and feed them.

We are currently on a limited income, so my dreams of goats, sheep, horses and cows are on hold. But I don't regret my decision to get chickens, and I'm sure every animal I add to our little homestead will add to my children's love of the country life. I have a friend who told me "the best thing for the inside of a boy is the outside of a horse". I think that's spot on.

Your first year birds are probably getting ready to molt.
I only have one bird that is a different breed so all the rest have leg bands for telling apart. I'm going out in a half hour to put some numbered bands on one flock and remove the zip ties. Tonight or tomorrow morning I'll do another flock.
I started using different colored numbered bandettes based on the year they hatched. I use the same color code as for bee queen marking to make it easier for me to remember both. The year ending corresponds to the color. This year is blue 0 and 5. Next year will be white, then yellow, then orange (red for queens) then green.
Blue White Yellow Red Green
0 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9

 

[drumstick diva]

CC too much to remember, 0's , colors, when I write things down , I lose the list,

I have to check to see if my toothbrush is wet, so I know I brushed my teeth.

My toughest question when I am wearing a jacket, did I just come inside, or am I going outside. Despite threats of violence, jacket refuses to talk. I rest my case.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

 

[Cynthia12]

X'2....again.

 

[bamadude]

SCG  I thought you were kidding about your neighbor releasing milk.   Too bad your can't hear me cackling with laughter. 

  When I had my son, I'd only get to sneak to the store now and then when grandma  watched him.  I was in a checkout line  and someone's baby started crying.  Next thing I knew,, I had a stinging sensation- then "the girls" blew up like an inflatable lifejacket and I noticed I was leaving big  white pools  on the floor.    I left my stuff at the counter and just took off  - I was so embarrassed.  I didn't know things like that happened .   If I had a chance to do over, I probably would have ignored it and let other people be embarrassed. OR I could have shopped at Walmart and no one would have noticed at all.

Should have made some ice cream with it

 

[Beer can]

Should have made some ice cream with it

Why not, they make cheese and yogurt out of it....

 

[drumstick diva]

Should have gone something with it. when one spigot was in use, the other was shooting up to the ceiling. Think I was meant to have twins or triplets.