Washingtonians

[tomato lady]

I am relieved also that this murderer is no longer on the street. From the reports I heard it looks like he may have been trying to get one more officer before he met his fate.

This kitten is very friendly. Our little dog, who chased her everytime he went outside, is now the kitten's new best friend. Kitty slept with my granddaughter last night.

Rainplace, if I can't determine his gender, maybe we could introduce him to your queen cat and let her figure it out. She could probably tell right away, and from what you say, she would let us know!

The presence of a cat in the house was discovered last night by my DH and this morning by my DD. I just know I cannot keep it in the house because my son-in-law is allergic and my DH just doesn't like cats (or the goats that have taken over his smoking bench).

 

[weaveagarden]

I am also relieved to hear that he won't have the chance to do any more harm. It does sound like he should never have been let out so he could do this. Unfortunate that it sounds like he may have been part of a politically motivated release in Arkansas.

How old is the kitty tomato lady? And what does he/she look like?

I would love to see a pic if you are able to do that.

Have a great day Washington! GOOD MORNING!!!

 

[RonB]

I called in for a bag of feed for Michael this morning. just to let everyone know where we stand. Not sure how much he has. but that should do him for at least a week.
I've been nailing cardboard to the walls of the coop this morning, but have to keep stopping as my girls are taking turns coming back in to lay. want to give them a little privacy

six eggs so far this morning. I have two white ones already, BUT one of my leghorns lay's in the afternoon. Her last THREE eggs have had NO shell. I got in there just as she had layed one yesterday afternoon. she was starting to eat it so I took it away. I know this is common a shell-less egg. so I'm not too concerned yet.
Well back to the coop

Have a great day ALL !! stay warm

 

[brennant]

Looks like next week is going to be cold... NOAA models are predicting low 20s at night, a few are predicting teens. Thought I would share if anyone is thinking about winter weather... No snow seems to be in the mix, just frigid temps.

I might break out the lamp to give them some warmth.

 

[rainplace]

I'm going through a ... mood. Been in a constant state of anxiety since day before yesterday, can't stop crying today, and I can't sleep.

In other news, I'm happy that psycho is dead.

On the home front, I'm going to turn down the kitten. I leave for Florida on Friday, and when I come back, I'm house sitting almost till Christmas. I'll have to take my two new ducklings with me. Anna, I'll be able to drop them off at your place unless you want to come over and see the island. I'll be at an extremely peaceful house and we can have tea... lol. Nah, I make kick butt lunches. Either way will be fine.

On the poultry front, besides the ducklings I'm getting, I'm getting a few more black east indies (picture posted below) and thinking about some mini geese. I'll have some extra black east indie drakes after christmas if anyone would like to buy one or two. I can probably get you a female also.. they are spendy.

Harold and Maude, my show quality black east indie ducks

Did I mention I am in a mood.

Here's a poem:

Your Catfish Friend by Richard Brautigan

If I were to live my life
in catfish forms
in scaffolds of skin and whiskers
at the bottom of a pond
and you were to come by
one evening
when the moon was shining
down into my dark home
and stand there at the edge
of my affection
and think, "It's beautiful
here by this pond. I wish
somebody loved me,"
*I'd* love you and be your catfish
friend and drive such lonely
thoughts from your mind
and suddenly you would be
at peace,
and ask yourself, "I wonder
if there are any catfish
in this pond? It seems like
a perfect place for them."

 

[Nyrial]

Ohhhh beautiful duckies!

Dropping off might work better.. I have class on Wednesdays, and I'll be darned if I can remember if I have finals that week or the week before. I'll let you know.

ETA: At this rate, I'm going to own more ducks than chickens. Darn enablers!

 

[Chicken Rustler]

rainplace VERY pretty ducks I have never seen any colored like that. I bet they give them suckers away don't they (NOT) ? Just made me think of a story about farmer who sent his 2 sons to town each with a duck to see how they did at selling. That's as far as I can go here.

I also am so relieved that the "suspected" cop killer is off the streets.

I put a timed light in my coop sunday to see if it would help with production. We had dropped to 7-8 from 15. I put a 90 watt lamp on timer to come on at 4 am. Sunday we got 8 Monday 7 today we got 10. Hopefully this is from the light. This morn I went out about 4:30 to see how things looked and the chickens were all kind of standing around sleepy looking and discussing "why in the heck do we have to get up this early". There were a couple who had already reported to duty (in the nest boxes). Maybe they were just fooling me and were really sleeping.
note to self check to see if eyes are open next time.
I will check better tomorrow. Since we will be leaving for Portland about 5:00 I can check em before we go.

 

[weaveagarden]

Pretty! Are you sure those aren't Peacocks?

On the flock front. So I got a Muscovy drake from kittymomma. He was supposed to be 'dispatched' today. My friend who helps with my chickens was keeping him until after the holiday festivities for me. Today, he tells me "that is a pet duck!" I am not sure what he thought kittymomma was keeping him for if not. He tells me that he won't be able to help me with the deed because he has fallen in love. If we could keep ducks, I know he would be wanting to keep him on my mom and dad's lot (which is where he lives). I also noticed that this duck is very personable. So the goal is now to find a home for Mr Drake, who I was calling smoke (as in smoked duck). I think I may change his name to Con Man.

My light burnt out in my coop a couple of days ago. I was using it mainly for heat, as the coop is still not insulated at all. I didn't rush to change the bulb because the rain and wind were manageable lately. Well, I got only one green egg today. So, I went out and put in a new bulb tonight. I leave the light on all night, but have it below the roosting boards pointed into a corner, so it is subdued lighting in most of the coop. I am sold, the light will be changing to a smaller wattage and going on a timer as soon as the insulation is done. I think I will give them more light time at night. I am trying to get Pinky to stop the wake-up crows in the early morning and the middle of the night. Planning to keep it light in the coop until 9:30PM. The noise ordinance here is from 10-7. So maybe we can get Pinky to sleep then.

Did I mention that I had some heritage breed cockerels for meat birds this winter. Well, one had spraddle leg, so I kept him here with me while I sent the others to my parent's house when I first got the flu back in late October. I kept the little limp guy over here so he didn't get trampled in the mix. I also kept an Australorp/jersey giant type chick who seemed to be protecting him from the much larger brothers. Well, Archie, the buddy cockerel is about the 3 times the size of the lame chick. He sits on the side of the box and visits with me while I type. He rarely leaves the box or his perch. So funny, acts like a parrot. Needless to say, he will be probably also be needing a home late this winter. I know he isn't going to be a chicken that I can dispatch myself at least.

1 for 12 today. The light is returning!!!

 

[justbugged]

Quote:
I know you asked Tomato lady about the kittens. Oh! Drat I thought I had a picture of 2 of their litter mates, or maybe kittens from a earlier batch. The 3 kittens that are still needing homes are between 8 to 12 weeks. They all look very much alike. They are all short hair exept the one that is most likely going to be a medium haired kitten. He doesn't look like he will be long haired. Vicki is a little uncertain about that kitten's gender, and I have not been out to her house in the past week to look at the kitten either. I looked and looked for the picture that I took to post the kittens on craigslist. But now I can't find it.

The kittens look like Russian Blue mixes. Their mother is either a gray kitty or a black tabby type cat. So the daddy must be the Russian Blue cat. Vicki has said she has never seen a tom cat that looks like that though. The kittens have a thick double coat of fur. All of the kittens have been easily tamed, and have been able to understand a litter box as soon as they come to live at my house.

If I knew where Misery was I would just take picture of her. She must have got out of the sewing room today, and now could be hiding anywhere in my house. This is the story of my life tonight. I also made the mistake of opening my front door, and the neighbors cat walking right in, and is now sleeping under my bed. I don't have the heart to throw him back outside. It's so cold tonight, and I think he must be very elderly. I'll put him back out in the morning.

He must be part my cat, because he is apparently been eating at my house for awhile.

His coming in thing though, is new as of tonight. Even the puppies didn't phase him. I hope I find Misery, and then I will post a picture.

It's time to put the puppies to bed. They are driving me crazier tonight, and the fish still need to be fed. Goodnight all

 

[rainplace]

Well two bottles of wine after I posted, I finally made it to sleep. I woke up with my gander in my arms. I need to find a better way to get some sleep, or I'll end up with the whole flock in here one night. I jest, but I do need to find a better way to get some sleep. I'm beginning to remember why I quit drinking so many years ago... lol