Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[kjgoodman]

Hubby called me at work today... said the "life force" expired in one of my light sussex chicks...

everyone was fine when I fed them this morning......wish I knew what happened...

Did anyone else see that foreign object in the sky this morning... geesh it was bright!! Looks like it has been taken care of though... dull and gray here now...

 

[NDchickens]

I know! I feel the same way- I would love to rescue a cat, but I can't because they require you to keep the cat 100% inside, because that is their idea of humane. My idea of humane is a cat who can come and go as they please, hunt mice when they want, and see sunshine other than through a window, so we agree to disagree and I am looking for a cat on Craigslist...

Same with chicken rescues. I would love to rescue chickens, but because I sell eggs and raise meat chickens, and cull instead of paying hundreds of dollars in vet bills, no chicken rescue organization would let me, EVEN THOUGH my birds live in a secure clean coop, have three times the recommended space when they're confined to their run and are usually allowed to free range our 3 acres, get tons of high quality food and treats, and are treated with respect and dignity their entire lives.

I know what you mean about getting a rescue cat from a humane society, etc. Many years ago, I made the mistake of telling one of them that the cat would be allowed to go outside if it chose to. You'd have thought I said I was going to stake it on the center line of the highway! I was not ALLOWED to rescue a cat from that establishment. So from then on I crossed my fingers and said, "Oh, no. None of our cats EVER go outside." I know it's not right to lie, but I think it's more important to get the animals out of a cage and into a loving home. I have one cat that's turning 12 in 2 weeks. I think she's done alright for herself over the years! Just sayin'

 

[brandislee]

If I were you I'd just leave the eggs as is watch for the first ones to hatch, then pull all unhatched eggs within 24 hours. Sucks for the potentially viable eggs, but lesson learned- always mark eggs under a broody hen, or keep her away from other chickens. I'm sure you're not the first one to learn that lesson the hard way!

Personally I'm waiting patiently for a hen to go broody... one of my two broodies just died (I found her dead on the floor of the coop yesterday afternoon- I hadn't noticed anything wrong with her before)

One of the chicks I hatched last summer was thinking about going broody about a month ago, but it was still really cold and I just wasn't ready to hatch chicks yet, and she obviously wasn't serious because she gave up pretty easily. Here's hoping either her mama decides to sit chicks soon, or she decides to get serious. I also need to separate my hens- I only have one rooster (well, one in with the hens- how long is rooster sperm viable again? I just pulled the other rooster on Thursday, definitely don't want any of his mutt offspring!) but I have three breeds that lay brown eggs- the buckeyes, the faverolles, and the gold stars. I don't want to hatch any gold stars at all, and I don't know if I want any faverolle/buckeye crosses.

And as I was typing the above, I had an epiphany... I have two big pens (one is about 30x30 and one is 50x10), I just have to put the white Ameraucana rooster I'm getting soon into one pen with both the Favs and the EE's... I will be able to tell the difference between the eggs, AND since I won't be getting a mature Fav rooster this year (unless anyone out there's got a spare- anyone?) I may as well try out some Fav/Am crosses and see how they turn out. I'll keep the Buckeyes in the other pen, which has two areas that can be divided off in the coop (one with it's own mini run) where I can keep any hens and their chicks...

...if anyone ever goes broody.

And what's this bash everyone keeps talking about?

 

[jvls1942]

good afternoon, I could not get online since yesterday afternoon.. I fiddled with this and that and now all is working fine..

I had many comments, but will hold my tongue,, seems that I don't really know anything..
sorry I didn't have a camera to show my dead geese and the skunks I shot..

I have seen pictures of lions taking care of baby goats.. so I guess lions do not eat goats..

I have a lot more chicks hatched from this batch.. I thought they were finished.. good thing I always give them a couple days of grace.. Not that I am suggesting anybody else to do the same..

.....jiminwisc........

 

[judge]

I noticed today that one of the Rouen ducklings that I got Saturday has a gimpy leg. She is also smaller than the rest. I don't know if she was that way from the beginning, or if something happened, but when I hold her one of her feet sets flat on my hand like normal, but the other one folds up and she won't set it down. Any ideas? Can I help her?

 

[RBerryChicks]

Anybody know of a reason why my black cochin and my black cochin/ australorp mix both now have no feathers on their throats? are the others doing it?

hmmm, I'm stuck wondering about "purple softies"???

Anything like a "purple smoothie"??

Good "shiny" morning all! Nice coating on everything this morning but it appears to be melting quickly

Great news about the horse lady!!! Hope they make an example of her. I am sure all the "noise" got the authorities moving.

As for the woman w/the dogs that were shot. Sounds a lot like to me she is more concerned with the possible trouble SHE might be in more than about her poor animals (and trying to pass the buck on her blame for what the outcome was). Wonder what story the authorities seem to be buying for why her dogs were running at large in the first place?

My poor hubby. I'm getting a way too serious case of cabin fever!!! I have already drawn up the plans for the coop remodel and last night I fed him his favorite spaghetti dinner, let him relax, and when he was all comfy, I looked at him with my sweetest smile and asked, "honey,

do you think it possible for ME to move the greenhouse closer to the coop?"
Poor hubby

Guess I better go make him his favorite breakfast too if I am going to get away with this one!!!

I had to re-draw my coop plans . . . got carried away. Since hubby is off work right now I figured he'd have the time, but no amount of spaghetti would change the cost factor. Oh well, I'm getting the new coop so that's a good thing

Lunch break over - let's see semi-retirement is only eight months away . . . right now it seams like an eternity

 

[FrenchToast]

OMG I just stopped in but have no time to read everything !! ET is waiting for me to go to town.

Spent two days fudging... I mean doing taxes. Nothing like waiting for the last minute. Of course printer isn't working AGAIN.... I must have 6 old printers laying around. I think the chicken dust does them in !!! LOL

Will try to catch up tonight !!! Jim I think we're related. I have a whole bunch of parakeets too now... newest latest obsession !!!

Later.... sure hope I did the taxes right.... I hate that I couldn't print it out and look at a hard copy before I efiled it !!!!

Don't know why I feel a sense of relief.... We had to pay fed and state.... Dang unemployment..... wish I could afford to have the taxes taken out all year. I'll have to figure out where to plant the Money tree for next year.

Tomorrow is Spay/Neuter Day in Crandon.. Crap that means I have to go to bed early and may not be able to catch up with all of you !!!! Geezz !!!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Great news, BBP!

What do you use for a male?

The darkest lav I have. His tail is really dark. When I breed my lav roos to my black orp hens, they always turn out black. So far, anyway.

Brandi, you have a vet by you that treats chickens?

Cind, absolutely no need to apologize. It is completely understandible (not to mention a common occurrance) when we sometimes mix one poster up with another. But of all pople to be mixed up with. Sheesh!

As for shooting dogs, it isn't the dog's fault. It is the owner. If you can't be a responsible pet owner, then you have no business having pets. Period, and ignorence is not an excuse.

Bigfam, when you incubated your homegrown eggs, were there lots of clears, I take it? Glad your chocolates are doing well! That was fast. As for your roo not doing his thang, I say you need more roosters.

Oh, no, no, no, Vicki! You are going about this all wrong! No need to move your greenhouse closer to the coop. Just ask hubby to make your coop bigger in the direction of the greenhouse. That way you'll have more room for more chookies.

So sorry about your duckie, Amy. That's sad.

Can ya send some of that sun down this a way? Just a little?

Nice to see you again, Twiz. I was having that problem with my girls, but they finally started to pick up production about 3 or so weeks ago. Are you in the north of the state? What kind of birds do you have? Ages? Something/someone might be eating them?

kj, sorry about your chick. It happens sometimes.

Oh brother, Jim. The only real thing you don't know is how to admit when you're wrong. You're not very good at letting sleeping dogs lie either. Just keep poking............

That's alright. You're still ok in my book, despite your faults.

Now don't go getting all uptight with me. All in good fun, ya know. Poke, poke, stir, stir.............

 

[Gallus Sapien]

BBP-----good for you telling that dog owner about statute 174.01....I love dogs and I have live stock also.... i think this is fair for both parties....In my township that lady could also get a 250.00 dollar fine for each dog if they would have died in the shooters yard....On the other hand the shooter should have done a better/humane job...and prevented wounded dogs from going back home to be found by...possibly A young kid.....

Colton-----Everyone's opinions were great about coop design....If I could add one thing...a enclosed run (something small 8x8) to be used in those winter months when it is warm enough for the ckns out side, but the snow is too deep for them to walk in....It happened this year a lot by me...I was glad to have an enclosed run (roof and three sides--One side is the coop the two other sides are plastic I keep up just in the cold months over the wire ). The ckns then had the choice after I opened the coop...stay inside or go outside but be out of the snow and wind....FYI...I free range when weather permits

Brandislee---------Look at the bottom of TerriO's replies on this thread to find the "bash" thread (bottom one in blue)

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

Sunny and warm today I'm cleaning out the coop. Taking lots of breaks, its a long wheelbarrow push to the garden.

Today is Pond Ice Out Day for 2013. My suspicions about my duck that disappeared in Jan were confirmed; she dove under the ice. I fished her out of the shallows. Poor gal.

Hey BBP, remember a while ago we were talking about replacement rings for the red and white waterers? I could use a few if you can get them. How much?

It would only be a couple of dollars each. I think we only have 2 left in the store. I will snatch them up.