The Old Folks Home

[Beer can]

They still make Zima?!? Reminds me of adult 7-Up.
- - -
No big plans for the Fourth other than attending the Village's parade in the morning. It's a real down-home affair with marching bands, bagpipe bands, Civil War reenactment marchers, tractors, old cars, new cars, goats, dogs, horses, kids on trikes, kazoo band, Fire trucks, Police cars, rangers and the occasional politician in a convertible. It's a lot of fun for both watchers and participants.

Probably a nap in the afternoon, small bbq, and making sure the dogs aren't freaking out with the neighbor kid's pyrotechnics.

They quit making Zima in '08, just started right now for a limited time. Just saw it in the store so had to pick it up. I think I tried one in the early 90s and yeah if I remember right adult 7up Lol.

 

[microchick]

So my Speckled Sussex hatched out three of 4 eggs. The other three that somebody snuck in under the radar are in the incubator. The 4th, when I slipped it out from under her this morning was showing some strange cracks at the pointy end. My first thought was that it had pipped at the wrong end and died. I eggtopsied it and still don't know what went wrong. The egg shell in the sunlight wasn't the best quality-very porous with micro fractures or what looked like unperforated cracks all over it. The fracture looked like a pip though but when I candled, no movement. When I got into it, there were no veins in the membrane and the chick was dead with quite a bit of yolk sack still apparent. No idea. As the saying goes, sometimes they just die.

The three she hatched are adorable little blonde chipmunks. I partitioned off the nursery pen into two apartments, one for Specks and one for Dolly who's chicks are a week old now. I went out later to check on everyone and Dolly was over with Specks and her three babies who were sitting near the feeder like they were old hats at this 'life' stuff. I have no idea how Dolly managed to get over the partition along with her 3 babies. They couldn't get through the chicken wire I'd put over metal cage panels that I'd cable tied into place. Everything was secure.

Maybe my hen and her babies have the ability to pass through solid matter, lol.

I expected chaos but much to my surprise the hens and chicks are cohabitating without conflict. Maybe nobody has told them that they are supposed to be more protective of their little ones and I'm sure not going to tell them.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the three eggs that were donated to my first broody are happily occupying the Brinsea doing nothing. I candled them twice yesterday just trying to get a handle on where they are gestation wise. Two are about day 15/16 and one could pip at any time.

Maybe I'll get a little 'firecracker' chick and it will hatch tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July!

 

[getaclue]

So my Speckled Sussex hatched out three of 4 eggs. The other three that somebody snuck in under the radar are in the incubator. The 4th, when I slipped it out from under her this morning was showing some strange cracks at the pointy end. My first thought was that it had pipped at the wrong end and died. I eggtopsied it and still don't know what went wrong. The egg shell in the sunlight wasn't the best quality-very porous with micro fractures or what looked like unperforated cracks all over it. The fracture looked like a pip though but when I candled, no movement. When I got into it, there were no veins in the membrane and the chick was dead with quite a bit of yolk sack still apparent. No idea. As the saying goes, sometimes they just die.

The three she hatched are adorable little blonde chipmunks. I partitioned off the nursery pen into two apartments, one for Specks and one for Dolly who's chicks are a week old now. I went out later to check on everyone and Dolly was over with Specks and her three babies who were sitting near the feeder like they were old hats at this 'life' stuff. I have no idea how Dolly managed to get over the partition along with her 3 babies. They couldn't get through the chicken wire I'd put over metal cage panels that I'd cable tied into place. Everything was secure.

Maybe my hen and her babies have the ability to pass through solid matter, lol.

I expected chaos but much to my surprise the hens and chicks are cohabitating without conflict. Maybe nobody has told them that they are supposed to be more protective of their little ones and I'm sure not going to tell them.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the three eggs that were donated to my first broody are happily occupying the Brinsea doing nothing. I candled them twice yesterday just trying to get a handle on where they are gestation wise. Two are about day 15/16 and one could pip at any time.

Maybe I'll get a little 'firecracker' chick and it will hatch tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July!

Congratulations!

 

[pennyJo1960]

so far shes very sweet and reserved. At six years old shes been through alot. I read up on the breed and they are a pretty independent dual purpose dog.... Family flock and guardian duties .... Shes crossed with something that has speckles on the legs. But all in all shes very much like a Greater Swiss mountain dog. Except her size. Right now shes about fifty pounds. Swissies range from 110 to 150 ish.

someone taught her good inside manners... the only begging she does is a long soulful stare.... She will ask to go outside with a gentle touch of her paw....

She was raised on acreage along with chickens and goats.... but she was attacked by a German shepherd that ripped her up to the point that they didnt expect to survive. She was surrendered to the Humane society because they couldn't afford a vet.

Long recovery time and she was adopted out to a family.... She was there six months untill the baby became the toddler... Which made her nervous... So they broght her back.

We are starting slow with her... PTSD along with too many changes have been a liability. As I see her shes what I call Shy... My last dog was shy... and as long as their personal safety needs are met they thrive. Right now sharp unfamiliar noises startle her... A ride in the car seems to be agonizing...

This is going to be good for all four of us...

deb

I hope your very happy for both you swissy are great animals

 

[drumstick diva]

Perchie if we don't see a picture of your dog, she doesn't exist. What's her name?

 

[perchie.girl]

Oh Sorry Her name is Brandi...

not so good a picture but it shows her whole self

Dean made her bed back in the corner two walls with the table in front. She seems to like it alot sort of den like. She can see all that goes on in the room... Though she does lay in the living room too. She seems to check on grandma periodically.

She stands around eighteen inches... she is under weight but they said her appetite was not all there. I put down Canned dog food next to her dry as an appetizer at first. She ignored it all till the evening...

This is a very quiet family no drama... a good place if your nerves are on edge. She goes for a physical follow up part of her recovery. With a vet here in town. We will discuss her paperwork on the surgeries. As far as i can tell she is physically in great shape. A bit underweight but not worriesome.

her only issue is itchies... No red patches no fleas... just occasional itching... It may be the food they sent home with us... I have already bought a No Grain food for her but am loth to switch right now till I talk to the vet.

deb

 

[chickisoup]

I was talking about where to vote for BYC members.

yep, me too!

 

[perchie.girl]

Wishing you nothing but success there Deb. I love dogs, especially the big ones.

Outside of my Greyhound shes the biggest so far. As far as Swissies I am sold completely... When we did the research on the breed We found out Four breeds come out of Switzerland all serving similar purposes but four different sized dogs.

After seeing pictures of English Shepherds I suspect there is some Swissie in that blood line as well.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dog

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

and
Appenzeller Sennenhund

all from the Alps

deb "who just found out you can copy and paste in the new format" Yay

 

[chickisoup]

They still make Zima?!? Reminds me of adult 7-Up.
- - -
No big plans for the Fourth other than attending the Village's parade in the morning. It's a real down-home affair with marching bands, bagpipe bands, Civil War reenactment marchers, tractors, old cars, new cars, goats, dogs, horses, kids on trikes, kazoo band, Fire trucks, Police cars, rangers and the occasional politician in a convertible. It's a lot of fun for both watchers and participants.

Probably a nap in the afternoon, small bbq, and making sure the dogs aren't freaking out with the neighbor kid's pyrotechnics.

Wow! Hilarious you bringing up Zima. My DH retired from Miller Brewing. They did a test run on the "new" Zima way back when and he came home with some. I actually really liked it which totally surprised him since I've never been a big alcohol fan (just never cared for the taste) and totally disliked beer. Next thing I know he comes home with several cases they gave away to any of the guys working 2nd shift in distribution that wanted them.

 

[room onthebroom]

Anyone have fun plans for the 4th?

Laying low here tomorrow trying to avoid the crowds. The illegal fireworks the neighbors will be shooting off don't do anything pretty, they just sound like cannon fire. The dogs don't like it, but it REALLY freaks the duck out, poor girl! I have some new quail & pullets in the coop that will probably think the world is coming to an end. I've never paid attention before, but wonder if egg production drops off in the few days after the 4th???