Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I am seriously considering selling all but my favorite 2 lavender orpingtons and just breeding blacks. I think the craze had kind of fizzled out and I'm not too keen on the color. And then last night my mom comes over with some lav chicks she bought in Green Bay. They were from a staggered hatch so all different ages. I scooped up the smallest one and kept it. I'm such a sucker. And she managed to leave a French Angora buck behind too.
Speaking of bucks, I need to get going on aquiring some goats!

 

[Dr HaHa]

Good Morning Everybody! BBP sorry to hear about your chick! Looks like it's done raining till this evening, might get some seeds in the ground.

mazo forgot to tell you we were sittin in the camper Fri morning having b'fast and silver fox trotted through the yard. Haven't seen one of those in a very long time. Very beautiful animal. The kids are all out lookin for worms haven't put the rain gauge out yet but we have puddles in the driveway. Sure enjoying the eggs with bugs and grass in them!

 

[chikenscratch]

Ok community, I hope that you can answer some questions that I have.

My chicks are between 7 and 8 weeks old, mostly feathered....so I figured that it would be warm enough last night for them so I switched the heat lamp out for a night light in the coop. Also, I decided that they had learned where the food and water in the run were located (so I took out the food and waterer that I had inside the coop) and left the pop door open for them.

Night drew near and I was in my kitchen and heard the chicks (almost in a panic manner) chirping loudly! I initially thought a critter must be tormenting them. I went out into the run and did a quick inspection and 6 of the birds were huddled in a corner of the run (by the coop ramp) whining and 4 were in the coop ( 2 on roost and 2 whining). I scanned the coop real well and then again the run....NO CRITTER PRESENT!

So, there I was trying to figure out what they were complaining about. I went through the check list: food and water (check), night light on (check), no critter invading the coop (check), and seeing that I had taken out the heat lamp I thought they might be cold, but it was 64 degrees out still. SO what the heck were they so bothered I asked myself? With no obvious answer, I closed up the run doors (we have doors that close over the hardware cloth) to put them asleep as they were making such a fuss, I was worried a neighbor might actually hear them.

They did quiet down by about half the volume, but still were complaining. I went out again into the run. All chicks had moved into the coop (2 were roosting and the rest were huddled together in the opposite corner of the night light (under where the heat lamp would have been).

So my questions are plenty. Does anyone have an opinion on what they were complaining about? Was it the temp? Too many changes at once? Or was it the oncoming storm?

BTW: They are all quiet and acting normal so far today.

Thanks!

 

[MustLoveHens]

Morning all!

BBP-sorry about loosing to little ckickie

CC-Glad to heard Ramses is better. He may just be a champ with taking his meds. I knew a cat that needed insulin daily and just stood still for his shot. He knew it made him feel better. My Lint cat had to have thyroid medication and she was impossible to pill. Luckily I could break it up an stick it in her food. She'd just chow it right down. I honestly think she knew it made her feel better.

Well, we got rain and thunder last night. Luckily everyone made it through just fine!
Argh! Bubba started a dog fight.....and he's the cat! I've gotta go....

 

[Terri O]

Morning all...it sure looks GREEN out there this morning! Nothing like a little thunder to shake up the ground and get stuff growing! We had a really loud banger last night just as I was drifting off....I think I elevated 4" off the bed! It rained a bit but not too hard I dont think. I wonder if we will get more today? It doesnt seem like it was enough.
Chickenscratch--no idea why your birds were acting weird. Maybe just because they are babies? Perhaps they didnt understand why the light "moved" They will get over it! At least there wasnt anything out there eating them!

Jim you better go and reread your post and fix where Nora was sleeping....I think it's too late for her already! (did give me a chuckle though)

I am just grinning (inside) because DH always yells about me not taking care of my computer...(got peed on, keys got scratched off the keyboard etc) Well guess who's keyboard got scratched last night? Yup, I did say, "how many times have I told you to shut it down at night?" Then I shut up!

Of course it is the *&%$)@ cat's fault when it happens to HIS! I am still smiling....little pleasures.

I dont know what I am going to do today...thinking about planting peas, spinach and potatoes. It depends on if I can make the furrows for the potatoes...maybe it's too wet yet in the big garden? I need to get the spray and do the edges of the tort garden and the surrounds of the other gardens to try and keep the creeping Jenny out. When it is this season how many of you wish you could be 2 (or maybe more) places at once? THat would be the neatest thing to be able to start the season with all things done...then maybe I could keep up with only one body for the summer!

On Wednesday night I am picking up my dd20 and going to look at a TN Walker...Carol and others...he is registered and 17 years old...do you think $1000 is too much in this market? That is, if he is all she says he is? I am sure I will have more questions for you all...

Well I think I am going to do a bit of other reading...everyone who is getting storms today--stay safe! And, as always, have a fantastic day! Terri O

ETA: MLH--I hope Bubba won the dogfight! I have a cat that does that too...WTH?

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Morning all!

BBP-sorry about loosing to little ckickie

CC-Glad to heard Ramses is better. He may just be a champ with taking his meds. I knew a cat that needed insulin daily and just stood still for his shot. He knew it made him feel better. My Lint cat had to have thyroid medication and she was impossible to pill. Luckily I could break it up an stick it in her food. She'd just chow it right down. I honestly think she knew it made her feel better.

Well, we got rain and thunder last night. Luckily everyone made it through just fine!
Argh! Bubba started a dog fight.....and he's the cat! I've gotta go....

I love your naughty kitties and their stories!

 

[EarthyLady]

It's chilly out this morning! Brrr damp and a bit windy

I haven't read everything yet, just wanted to say hi. I just finished posting my blog post and my garden preps and realized I hadn't been on here for a bit. If anyone is interested in what's going on in the garden you can read too. It's here http://homemadefamilyalifelessordinary.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-garden.html?spref=fb

Anyway, I'm gonna go try to catch up a bit and do some more work.

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

Here's my son's new bunny. I'm more of a jersey wooly, american fuzzy lop kind of person. But this is the angora my mom bought him. She got him cheap because his one ear is broke. We've been letting him run around the house supervised and he's being really good. He was born in December so he's still kind of a baby (a huge baby).

 

[Angiebubs]

BabyLady-would like the GF Chocolate cake recipe if you have time to PM it to me?

Question for the experts:
We used to have mini horse which found a new home last summer. We have a large pasture (part of which was converted to the chicken run). For the minis, we had an eletrical fence....my SO was asking if the eletrical fence was lowered, would this work for keeping the chickens in? Would the current be too high? Or would the chickens just duck/scoot under it? Just seems a waste of space to have all that open area and not be able to use it. (We have to keep the chickens fenced in when our hunting dog is outside).

 

[babylady4]

I suppose I should motivate and get dressed.....

Time to take DD out for another bit of drive time. Ducks are out mowing the back yard, and I am surrounded by sleeping cats..... not good motivation to get moving.

CC glad to hear you kitty is feeling better.