The Old Folks Home

[pennyJo1960]

 

[microchick]

No septic system humor to pass on other than I remember my mom saying that she "had to call the honey dipper" to pump out the septic tank. I never looked at honey the same way after she told me what the honey dipper was going to do.

I had one of those 'who's on first' kind of days. Chick group A had to be moved because they were fighting with chick group C meanwhile Chick group B's mother hen decided she had enough of the chicks and wanted to party with a rooster so I had to move her, only chick group D's mother hen is not happy with group B being in the broody pen with her and her chicks without mom being there to keep the little heathens in line so out they come. Then group C had to be moved because group B was joining in the bloodshed. Meanwhile, my two OEGB pullets want back in the grow out pen but only if all the fledglings are gone-that's their pen by golly and they shall have it even if they have to beat up all the fledglings. Pretty funny to watch. These little girls are not much bigger than the fledglings and they are standing up on tip toes to peck them on the head. I can only take so much pecking order crap, especially when there is a lot of babies crying and combs bleeding before I have to step in and start separating the parties involved.

Then I pitched my Welsummer rooster out of the hatchling pen. He had been Daddy bird body guard to the hens and chicks and doing a great job until he trampled one of the new week old chicks to death in his zeal to court their momma. My husband was surprised that I didn't dispatch him on the spot and I told him I didn't need to. The bantam roosters were taking care of his attitude for me. For some reason, this poor rooster is on the bottom of everyones pecking list and frankly, the bantams hate his guts. They spent 24 hours swarming him like ants on a cube of sugar before I took pity on him and put him back in a pen with a few hens to watch over. He really is a super nice bird. I just don't know what got into him with the hen....except him being a rooster that is.

So at the moment I have 9 fledglings under 8 weeks old and 4 pushing 2 weeks. Hoping that nobody gets the broody itch for awhile.

God, I just jinxed myself.

 

[chickisoup]

Wow Al! I am SOOOOO glad I homeschooled mine many years ago. There were more downsides like my girlfriend kept getting arrested for homeschooling because her ex kept turning her in which forced the local law to act. We all finally won the fight, sort of, it wasn't "legal" back then BUT it wasn't illegal either so they were trying to nail us on the truancy law. Finally they just agreed to pretend we didn't exist and leave us alone. Turned out it was only all about the dollars, of course. We were getting thrown in jail (I was one of the few that didn't only because my town didn't want to pay for the legal fight I made clear would be a good one) because our little towns didn't want to lose money from the state they received for our kids. We got it made OFFICIALLY legal eventually) but at least it was a whole lot cheaper back then. My daughter started homeschooling right when all the computer stuff really started so "grandma" had to come to the rescue!!!

 

[Alaskan]

Wow Al! I am SOOOOO glad I homeschooled mine many years ago. There were more downsides like my girlfriend kept getting arrested for homeschooling because her ex kept turning her in which forced the local law to act. We all finally won the fight, sort of, it wasn't "legal" back then BUT it wasn't illegal either so they were trying to nail us on the truancy law. Finally they just agreed to pretend we didn't exist and leave us alone. Turned out it was only all about the dollars, of course. We were getting thrown in jail (I was one of the few that didn't only because my town didn't want to pay for the legal fight I made clear would be a good one) because our little towns didn't want to lose money from the state they received for our kids. We got it made OFFICIALLY legal eventually) but at least it was a whole lot cheaper back then. My daughter started homeschooling right when all the computer stuff really started so "grandma" had to come to the rescue!!!

Crazy!

Not sure what I would have done with that much crazy going on.

Stuff sure changes fast.

I started almost 17 years ago...and from then until now...wow! An entire different world.

We are still setting up all the new shiny computers. Crazy fancy.

 

[getaclue]

I homeschooled my girls for several years. It's totally legal here, because the county found a way to recoup some of their money. To homeschool here, one must submit an application, along with intended curriculum. They process it, and send you an approval letter for the upcoming year. That part is free. At the end of the school year, you must pay to have your child tested. The child must be able to pass all the tests for their grade level, or higher, to get approved for the next year. While not overly expensive, it's still costly for the testing.

 

[chickisoup]

Morning everyone
I'm rising but far from shining this morning! Seven hours of slapping paint on all the new "stuff" we had built for the coop, interrupted only by working on adjustments and patches or installing the new latches, hauling away left over concrete blocks, etc. in the heat and humidity really sapped my energy. Oh, and my nose is so burnt I look like Santa's lead reindeer. The dear DH is so considerate. When I came to bed he told me I had to put my head under the covers because the glow from my nose was keeping him awake .
At least all the construction is finally done, at least on this project, so now I have to paint like mad (yes, the painting is my job)all the stuff that didn't get painted earlier because of all the rain and construction projects before the weather turns too cold. At least the rest of the week is supposed to drop back into the 60's. Still warm but a great deal more comfortable, whew.

 

[chickisoup]

I homeschooled my girls for several years. It's totally legal here, because the county found a way to recoup some of their money. To homeschool here, one must submit an application, along with intended curriculum. They process it, and send you an approval letter for the upcoming year. That part is free. At the end of the school year, you must pay to have your child tested. The child must be able to pass all the tests for their grade level, or higher, to get approved for the next year. While not overly expensive, it's still costly for the testing.

Pretty much the same way here now except the whole thing is a lot easier because the state operates the Rural Academy which is a free online K thru 12 school complete with live access to teachers. It is not required that you enroll, you can choose to do your own thing or join another online school, you just have to participate in the annual testing, which also can be done online. Boy, like Al says, things sure have changed!

 

[microchick]

Morning all.

I seriously thought that after working on the north wall for three weeks, my body would be used to the manual labor.

WRONG!

Just getting out of bed is a challenge. I keep thinking that coffee will help, but I don't know wether to drink it or soak in it.

Maybe both?

 

[chickisoup]

Morning all.

I seriously thought that after working on the north wall for three weeks, my body would be used to the manual labor.

WRONG!

Just getting out of bed is a challenge. I keep thinking that coffee will help, but I don't know wether to drink it or soak in it.

Maybe both?

Hmmmm. Caffeine soak, never thought of that! Wonder if that would work to get all my antique parts moving again?

 

[getaclue]

I just drink enough coffee that it seeps out my pores.