The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Wow, gone for one day, alot to keep up with. I was going to say you need an editor, and it looks like you found one! I am not good with computors, all that cutting and pasting, never learned it...I would have to print everything out and go through it by pages., categorize, chapters and index. Once you have a format it all falls into place. And, it needs to be available for e books. This forum is set up for ongoing topics, so organizing a thread like this would be a technical nightmare. Some people are good at one thing, not another, its why actors have agents, and doctors have financial managers. The next thing is that everyone needs to give permission in a post if they will allow their posts, or portions of, and pictures to be used, if they don't mind. Some people might not want to find themselves or their chickens in a book. Credit needs to be given when quoting one of the experts when they cover a topic with their permission. There's really very little that needs editing for grammer and such. As for the honored title of granny? Well, we may all color that with our own experiences. A granny is who you ask for that recipe, wears mostly natural fibers with some blends for longeviy and stain resistance., knows what to do when and how, and when not to do., and has more secrets than you'd guess and seen a whole lot more of life than you'd ever expect. She doesn't mind white or grey highlights and if she did she'd do something about it. Of course, this granny doesn't answer the door with a shotgun, but you can bet there's one in easy reach. I never cried about anything, nothing, you couldn't make me cry...until my granny died at 97 years old. So you see, granny means a little something different to everyone.

 

[aoxa]

Lol! That is exactly what my MIL calls it. The septic tank is under there. There are two big dips in the ground right there and we were afraid one of our girls would break a leg or something if they stumbled into one. So, the last project this summer was digging out around the septic covers, and building the "coffin". It's got two doors as well, so they can be opened when the guy comes to...clean.

It does look like a coffin! Funny

It really is. Even if you have one chicken or two hundred. I never tire of watching them forage and explore. I have Great Horned owls that are hunting for smaller chickens in the wee dawn hours. I stopped letting my birds roost out doors after losing a few Call ducks. I was outside when it happened and heard the ducks desperate quacking as it was carried away. I later found his remains under an old growth Douglas fir tree in the neighborhood. Owls eat the crop of the bird. Ghastly.
The one predator I have that there would be nothing I could prevent during daylight are the Eagles. They are Federally protected and magnificent. I have never lost a bird to them yet but I saw one swoop into my yard and take a wild rabbit! It never even paused! Swoop, grab, and gone! Not a trace of that rabbit! Amazing to witness. Usually they feed on fish along the shore or in the Puget Sound. I think if one took a chicken it would be an adolescent or starving. They are so huge, they would have a hard time these days navigatiing the shrubs, clothes line, and Johnny ducking and hiding. Johnny  even  sqwawks and hides when the Blue Jays and Mourning Doves fly over head. An Eagle would give him a heart attack! Hah!

That is awesome to hear Mumsy. You don't know HOW awesome, as Eagles are the only B.O.P I have witnessed. We have a lot of bald eagles around here, and they do mostly nest by rivers/streams. They will eat cats that are near the river - as well as small dogs. None have ever even decreased height when they've flown over my property. They have circled and then went on with the journey. However, my bunny Frankle may be in danger :S I have this one lone rabbit that is free ranged. He's a bit weird, but I just can't keep him in a cage.

 

[just me]

You all are bringing up some fantastic Bee wisdom! Bee has kindly agreed to allow me to use her wise words in the Natural Chicken Keeping blog! Right now I'm going through this entire thread and cutting and pasting her most informative posts. I'll be adding to the blog bit by bit. (And just to make sure I stay busy, I'll be going through the OT and FF threads too - LOL.)

I'm also going to post the entire story of The Gnarly Bunch in there. I have to go through and edit so it will work in the blog format, but it will be coming soon! As I add content, I'll put in a tab with quick links to each subject for reference. Wish me luck - I already have 55 pages (15,948 of Bee's amazing words) recompiled (still need to edit) and I've only worked through page 78 of this thread - LOL. My head is already spinning so I'm going to bed now.

This will be a lot of fun to organize all of Bee's wisdom... perhaps a book will be coming soon

Just headed over to your blog again...you've been REALLY busy and are doing a GREAT job!!

 

[just me]

Wow, gone for one day, alot to keep up with. I was going to say you need an editor, and it looks like you found one! I am not good with computors, all that cutting and pasting, never learned it...I would have to print everything out and go through it by pages., categorize, chapters and index. Once you have a format it all falls into place. And, it needs to be available for e books. This forum is set up for ongoing topics, so organizing a thread like this would be a technical nightmare. Some people are good at one thing, not another, its why actors have agents, and doctors have financial managers. The next thing is that everyone needs to give permission in a post if they will allow their posts, or portions of, and pictures to be used, if they don't mind. Some people might not want to find themselves or their chickens in a book. Credit needs to be given when quoting one of the experts when they cover a topic with their permission. There's really very little that needs editing for grammer and such. As for the honored title of granny? Well, we may all color that with our own experiences. A granny is who you ask for that recipe, wears mostly natural fibers with some blends for longeviy and stain resistance., knows what to do when and how, and when not to do., and has more secrets than you'd guess and seen a whole lot more of life than you'd ever expect. She doesn't mind white or grey highlights and if she did she'd do something about it. Of course, this granny doesn't answer the door with a shotgun, but you can bet there's one in easy reach. I never cried about anything, nothing, you couldn't make me cry...until my granny died at 97 years old. So you see, granny means a little something different to everyone.

I don't have any grandchildren (that I know of, I have three sons, so there may be one or two out there that I don't know about LOL).

But, one of my sons had some friends over with their 2 year old son. I offered the little one some "toys" (just old kitchen pots and spoons and such) to play with while he was there. The next time the little one wanted my attention, he called me "granny". I have to say it did my heart good because, in my mind, "granny" is somebody who makes the little ones feel comfortable and at ease in a strange place.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: My 4 hens are the same way at home.....any birds in the area making noise or loud neighbors sends the hens running for their enclosed run. I am ok with it since we do have hawks in the area. And while I do have netting above them in half the area they range in the other half is open (veggie garden) so they need to keep aware & be ready to run. We dont have a rooster they are not allowed but I sure wish I could have one to look over the hens

 

[Beekissed]

I am blown away by how much you've got done on that blog!!!!

Man, do I wish I could focus like that!! I'd have three books written by now! Unless I'm working with my hands, my mind can't settle down to one task for long and wanders off by itself into realms previously unexplored. I would love to have drive and focus like this...my hat is off to you, Bulldogma. Your screen name is quite apt...a bulldog determination to get a job done.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't have any grandchildren (that I know of, I have three sons, so there may be one or two out there that I don't know about LOL).

But, one of my sons had some friends over with their 2 year old son. I offered the little one some "toys" (just old kitchen pots and spoons and such) to play with while he was there. The next time the little one wanted my attention, he called me "granny". I have to say it did my heart good because, in my mind, "granny" is somebody who makes the little ones feel comfortable and at ease in a strange place.

I agree! I can't wait until some small child calls me granny...I'll know that I have finally arrived on this planet.

 

[aoxa]

I am blown away by how much you've got done on that blog!!!!    Man, do I wish I could focus like that!!  I'd have three books written by now!  Unless I'm working with my hands, my mind can't settle down to one task for long and wanders off by itself into realms previously unexplored.  I would love to have drive and focus like this...my hat is off to you, Bulldogma.  Your screen name is quite apt...a bulldog determination to get a job done. 

 

You have a real fanclub Bee

 

[Beekissed]

I don't know how that happened and it would be the first in my life....

I'll not let it go to the head.

 

[aoxa]

I agree!  I can't wait until some small child calls me granny...I'll know that I have finally arrived on this planet. 

I was recently in the hospital, and the nurse called my Fiance (who is only one year older than I), my mother. I still giggle inside.

I have a baby face I guess. Funny, because she buys into all these face creams 'anti-aging' BS, and I only wash my face with water.

She couldn't wash the humiliation after being called my mom for the second time in a year. The first time came from a child in our neighbourhood. Oh I have so much fun with that