What did you do with your flock today?

[ChicksnMore]

I'm stuck at home recovering from surgery.

I went out to sunbathe a bit. I sat in a chair I have in the backyard and just stayed there with my eyes closed. I was in so much pain I couldn't help sighing or whining a bit.

Then I felt the sound of some wings flapping. My favorite hen, Bianca, had jumped to the armrest of the chair. She immediately started pecking my arm and staring at me insistently. It was probably her way of saying "hey, are you okay?".

It's funny because Bianca is chronically ill so I've always taken care of her, and at that time, I felt like it was the other way around.

Then, I looked down and all the other chickens were there too, surrounding me, staring at me.

Either they were waiting for me to die so that they could finally eat me (LOL), or they knew that something was wrong and they got close to check on me.

In any case, it's probably the best thing I've done with my flock so far: therapy.

Surgery recoverys never any fun. Hope it was a good surgery and you heal fast. Sounds like you have some special chickens My hubby likes to joke that the chickens want to eat me too...lol. I always respond that I'm so glad I look yummy

We have Kona's and it is raining HEAVY now. The thick sultry kind with the surf rumbling, cracking and relentlessly pounding in the background. I can feel and smell the salt mingling with my tended earth. The Eddie Aikau is on tomorrow!!! So I'm sure this is just announcing the arrival of this big swell. Most exciting!!
I was going to take a ride up Koke'e on Boo but don't think it will clear so will buckle down and combat sew some more bags as the Waimea Plantation Days Celebration is in another week and I need to fill 2 more stands.
The view from up higher of the surf wrapping around the curves of the island will be awesome if the skies clear.

The 2 little-littles with poxs are doing well, breezing through it so far .

13 eggs yesterday, very cool number. Had 12 yesterday with neither blue layers, basicly averaging a cool dozen a day now. A little up after the slow from the last storm. Though, slow eggs sales for me right now lol. I hear they are $10 a dozen at the regular store but my $5 per dozen for happy freeranging babies sales are slow lol. Maybe I should raise my prices so people will buy. Just kidding. I have neighbors after family. Rather give away then be an un-neighborly price gouger.

Picked up more empty feed bags. I have a major stash going that I need to prep and organize. Hope I find some new styles to get excited about! View attachment 3381611
Don't judge me lol.

Mochi looks so happy with his high perch I had a cat as a kid that'd climb pine trees then cry til I rescued her. She never got stuck anywhere when I wasn't around... but with me there, she'd cry and cry. My family all said she goes up and down the pines just fine if she can't see me . I know it's different with blind Mochi...but I enjoyed remembering my first kitty love.

I admire all your work with those bags. That looks time consuming. What a blessing both to the landfill and the charities

 

[ChicksnMore]

@kurby22 I was able to read some more about the mycoplasma test sold by the company I posted last night. The test is good for accuracy but it's not used to tell individual bird status, only flock status. Makes sense but I was hopeful for a minute. 250 tests for $90 beats the heck out of 3 tests for $90+. Going to read some more as to why they say it only tells flock status when it sounds like each bird is tested. But I assume they're right about what the results tell.

 

[TropicalBabies]

@Gammas Bearded Babies I meant the 2 different pitches or slopes on the roofs. Like maybe have less slope on your addition. It is a little nicer on the eyes, better for you the human, a little more space and easier configuring and it will be such little sq footage that you won't have to worry about weight load etc.
And here are some photos I took especially with you in mind to brighten your winter

Poinsettia @ my favorite feed store

Green overload @ the pasture this morning.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

You definitely don't need a door connecting them to keep breeders separate...but if you add a door while building it then you might find it handy later. Definitely not necessary though!

Would it be possible to raise the dirt level inside the run? That might fix the runoff problem.

Can hear your eagerness to get started and love it!

I'm not sure bout a connection...I guess it would make sense in case I needed more room for flock as a whole! N making the cut now would be much easier than after addition is built.

@Gammas Bearded Babies I meant the 2 different pitches or slopes on the roofs. Like maybe have less slope on your addition. It is a little nicer on the eyes, better for you the human, a little more space and easier configuring and it will be such little sq footage that you won't have to worry about weight load etc.
And here are some photos I took especially with you in mind to brighten your winter View attachment 3381982
Poinsettia @ my favorite feed storeView attachment 3381983
Green overload @ the pasture this morning.

LUV the green!!!
I miss green sooooo badly!

Oh the roofing...since I haven't got much idea of what I'm doing lol...I was just gonna slide the new roof under the edge of existing roof on the lower portion.
Here's a quick video I took...I think I should utilize the height on the opposite side of the main coop so that they have the run space underneath the cool. Cause on the other side it would be pushing to have even a foot of height under the addition.

20230121_095604.mp4

• Gammas Bearded Babies
• Jan 21, 2023

 

[ChicksnMore]

I'm not sure bout a connection...I guess it would make sense in case I needed more room for flock as a whole! N making the cut now would be much easier than after addition is built.

LUV the green!!!
I miss green sooooo badly!

Oh the roofing...since I haven't got much idea of what I'm doing lol...I was just gonna slide the new roof under the edge of existing roof on the lower portion.
Here's a quick video I took...I think I should utilize the height on the opposite side of the main coop so that they have the run space underneath the cool. Cause on the other side it would be pushing to have even a foot of height under the addition.

20230121_095604.mp4

• Gammas Bearded Babies
• Jan 21, 2023

You have such a pretty coop

 

[ChicksnMore]

@Gammas Bearded Babies I meant the 2 different pitches or slopes on the roofs. Like maybe have less slope on your addition. It is a little nicer on the eyes, better for you the human, a little more space and easier configuring and it will be such little sq footage that you won't have to worry about weight load etc.
And here are some photos I took especially with you in mind to brighten your winter View attachment 3381982
Poinsettia @ my favorite feed storeView attachment 3381983
Green overload @ the pasture this morning.

Heaven!

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

You have such a pretty coop

Thank u...considering my son-in-law took my insane drawing and ideas and got this close...I'm really happy!
The monitor portion of the roofing (that top section)...is that what u were referring to @TropicalBabies ? It wasn't supposed to have that much of a pitch...his lack of building skills and my lack of explaining.
But the new addition will only go up to that bottom roof line.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Thank u...considering my son-in-law took my insane drawing and ideas and got this close...I'm really happy!
The monitor portion of the roofing (that top section)...is that what u were referring to @TropicalBabies ? It wasn't supposed to have that much of a pitch...his lack of building skills and my lack of explaining.
But the new addition will only go up to that bottom roof line.

Oh I love your coop and am not sure why you run it down lol. Think your kiddo did a great job ♡
Yeah, basically NOT following the roof line. Making it more flat, not completely flat, just a less severe slope.
Loved your little video! So funny to hear a southern accent. Not a lot of them around here and usually watered down.

 

[kurby22]

@kurby22 I checked the npip resources and found something that might be helpful. Here in AZ the poultry owners do all the testing them selves right at home and report the results. We only test for salmonella so you can actually have an mg+ flock and stay npip certified.

At any rate, the site that sells us the tests does actually sell a mycoplasma test. I'm out of time right now so I'll have to finish checking price and test accuracy later but thought I'd share. It might be a cheaper way to test.

https://www.criver.com/products-services/avian-vaccine-services?region=3601

Thanks!!

 

[ChicksnMore]

I've named the little chick Snug. It likes to snuggle already...think because I keep picking it up to check it's baby feathers coming in to see if they look like I expected...lol. Given up on keeping some distance and just cuddling it off and on now. So far it's baby feathers are black and white...not a bright white...more of a tinted creamy white though. Really really sweet baby.