The Old Folks Home

[BantyChooks]

that could make or break it for me

I agree. My hand strength isn't always the best.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Really

get the truck checked out before you count it out

Wow, that is probably a good idea. Gives me a little hope. I love my poor mangled truck.

 

[ronott1]

Ron, What breed were they? What kind of dressed weights?

They are Delawares and are not big--They are about 12 weeks old but I have to get red of them because they are crowing--Neighbors have turned me in to the code enforcer this year already...

 

[ronott1]

that could make or break it for me

Nice to see another positive review on it. About how much hand pressure is needed?

I squeeze quickly with one hand but I do not have hand strength issues. I think it is easy though.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I squeeze quickly with one hand but I do not have hand strength issues. I think it is easy though.

I've got terrible arthritis in my hands. Currently flared up, can't squeeze much of anything at the moment. I think I'll stick with my hatchet. Looking for a better way to cut the neck off than scissors, almost took a finger with the neck last time.

 

[ronott1]

I've got terrible arthritis in my hands. Currently flared up, can't squeeze much of anything at the moment. I think I'll stick with my hatchet. Looking for a better way to cut the neck off than scissors, almost took a finger with the neck last time.

It is not too expensive and if you ever have to cut pvc pipe it serves that purpose too.

It works much easier than scissors

 

[microchick]

Same with me, SCG. Rings that I was wearing this time last year won't fit over my knuckles this year. I know how bad they can hurt when they set their minds to it.

My #2 egg is hatching is slow motion. I swear I can hear my hair turning greyer just watching this little bird slowly crack its way out of it's shell. It's like it doesn't really want to come out but knows it has to. In the mean time, Little Burd continues to thrive. She is eating and drinking on her own and loves attention. It's amazing how they can turn around. Two nights ago she was literally at death's door. Today she's climbing on her cuddle monkey's head and chirping her brains out.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Gee, It's interesting to hear what people use to kill their chickens. We've always used an axe. I like the hatchet idea. Better control if it's only one doing the job. My axe handle is bent now anyway.

@superchemicalgirl The is what we do so we're holding the chicken by the legs.
We use a chunk of railroad tie. Hammer a nail in one side.
Use a length of cord to create a girth hitch for the chickens neck.
Make a knot further down from the hitch to hook on the nail so the chicken's neck is positioned squarely on the tie. Hold the chicken by the legs (we also hold the ends of the wings), hook the knot on the nail and pull slightly so the neck is stretched over the tie.
Saves your hand from the hatchet. Cord is quick release from the head.
We use plastic baler twine and usually do it as a two person job, but it works well for one.

 

[BantyChooks]

I squeeze quickly with one hand but I do not have hand strength issues. I think it is easy though.

Thank you.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Don't worry SCG, you won't be alone.

My second eggs has an external pip. Little Burd is snuggled up to her comfort monkey and doing well. 3rd egg should be hatching late today or tomorrow.

Wicked, all kidding aside, those yellow legged wasps are nasty characters that you just don't want to have around. My first sting from them was while picking blackberries in our arbor. It was hanging upside down on a cane and I didn't see it. I sure felt it. Their sting hurts like all get out. My little finger where it got me swelled up like a sausage and turned blotchy purple. The rest of my hand swelled halfway up my forearm and anywhere where the skin turned purple, it pealed off. When I told the doc about it he just shook his head and told me that the venom reaction is cumulative. The more often you are stung, the worse your reaction gets and just handed me an RX for an Epi Pen. I've had them swoop down on me and sting me just for walking within 10 feet of their nests and last year one attacked me while I was picking apples. I wasn't anywhere near it but it came swooping out of the tree.

Best thing to do with them is use extreme prejudice whenever you see one because sooner or later it will come after you if you don't.

So far I've been pretty lucky and haven't had another sting where I take full venom but when I know I'm going to be around the fruit trees or arbor or in the barn, I make sure to stay alert and carry a supply of Benedryl, Singulair and one of my 564$ Epi pens along with me.

That was one of those times where I was glad I had insurance. LOL

We have some nasty spray...we're going bomb them at night so we get most/all of them.

I had one inside today against the window. Except this one's all black.
I promptly killed it.

Little Burd =