Actually I was adding up my premium check and if my girl did get the grand, I can buy two 50pd bags of Lay...WHOO HOOOO made it worth wild.. LOL
Its not the same on here without Haystack
Which girl?
The yellow one in the middle of the picture on my thread about the fair... I really dont like her, she tried to bite me at the fair, but I am going to assume it was the stress. She was the one who gave me 2 eggs in one day when she first started laying....
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=8109405
This message was edited Sep 21, 2010 9:37 AM
I haven't posted much recently.. I too miss Haystack dearly. If he did move to TN I hope he gets an internet provider real soon!!!
We need a like button to click on DG. After being on FB awhile, I find myself wanting to click "like". I LIKE what you said zz, I hope so too.
So glad your back MissJestr
I've been out for a bit because a.) our Internet provider was also sucky and we lost satellite uplink for almost a month. b.) I'm working a "real" job in addition to farming, so my days are pretty packed.
We've only got a few issues right now. The dog attacked a couple of our guineas and cut one on its back. I didn't realize it until I saw that she had a hole in her back. No joke. Like someone took a melon-baller and scooped it out. The other birds had been pecking at her all day. Then, when it appeared to be healed and no red was showing, we put her back in and they tore her up again. She's in isolation until further notice.
Along the same lines, we're trying to get our stuff together and get the "isolation chamber" coop's door back on so I can prep the buff o. guys for slaughter. They're terrorizing everyone and we need some meat in the freezer.
The dog also killed one of my banty's. I'm pretty much ready to rehome this guy, unfortunately, he's not my dog, so that's a no-go.
Egg production is down as well. My EE hasn't laid in almost two weeks, and I'm down to one banty egg a week (with three hens). Dunno what's going on.
Anyhow - I'll try to get back and active here. I'm no where near as useful for solutions as the veterans, but I'm great with questions! LOL
This is the second year we have kept the cockerels from our 25 straight run chicken order in the chicken tractor after we moved the pullets out. We aren't crazy about the idea philosophically because we like the concept of free range birds, but it keeps the meat a lot more tender, keeps them out of the pullets' and hens' hair (figuratively speaking), and it's still not a bad life for them. When it's butchering time (after we get back from France) it will be easy to scoop them all up along with the oldest hens and do the deed.
Sorry to hear about that dog! Why can't you get rid of him? A chicken-killing dog doesn't work well on a farm, for sure!!
I've missed several of you all and am glad to see you back! This summer has been soooo hectic
mevnmart, congrat on the job! Not fun to try and run a small farm and work full time. I'd love to semi-retire but that won't be in the cards for some time now.
Good luck with that dog! We're back to having problems with the neighbor's Great Danes again....This time one of them was running towards our yard (with me and the two Corgis in said yard) at dusk when it ran right into the electric fence. Got the shock of it's life and then went running and screaming across the pasture and out into the road--where it promptly got hid by a truck. Oh Bother! Now the neighbor's girls and blaming me.......GRRRR! They are down to seven Great Danes from a whopping fifteen (I think). Perhaps I shall win by attrition.
My hens are just getting over a mass molt as well as all of yours. I was hoping this was the right time of year for that as this was our first big molt. What a sight! And I also have to two surprise baby peacocks and we are getting ready for our first purchase of goats! Fencing, clearing, all of that. We were lucky in that we found a local fellow who wanted some work and is doing the heavy clearing and cleaning on the existing fence. What a bit help!
Eufaula, those hens are gorgeous! Thanks for posting the photo. Now I have something to look at while I'm stuck working inside =D!
It is good to hear from you all again! I find Dave's to be so helpful in so many areas I can't even list them all!
Can't get rid of the blasted dog because he's not mine, he's my FIL's. And it's their property - we live in the guest house. I'm not working full time - it actually works out good because I work from 4:30am to 8:30am and I'm home just as my husband and kids are dressed and ready for the day! Also gives me time to do my chores. I'm tired a lot, but I do like the job.
What's the deal with molting? I don't know if mine are. There are lots of feathers, but I figured that was because the stupid roosters had pulled so many out while doing their business.
Mine are molting too. Feathers are starting to come back in so maybe my eggs will pick back up. Only getting 1 to 3 per day right now.
I have had problems trying to get a couple pullets back in with the others. Chickens can sure be mean. I put a game pullet and a BSL in there with the established 5 and by the end of the day the game puller was mauled. Her tail was just hanging. I took her out and she is in a small cage. Looks to be making a come back but she will be alone for quite a while. All these single cages are killing me. I have 11 small cages with either 1 or a few birds in each pen plus 2 pens with multiple birds and some free range roos.
I was able to leave the BSL pullet in the pen. They had pecked her around the tail and would likely have done her a lot of damage but things took a poetic twist. I was throwing rocks at the offending pullets and happened to crack the queen bee in the foot. I hurt her toe so that she has been limping for a few days. Nothing permanent. It's getting better. But with her out of commision the others also left the new girl alone and the BSL pullet has now become one of the group. When i try to put a new one in I'll have to throw another well aimed rock. LOL
Keep a pile of throwin' rocks by the door LOL!
Hey ya'll.Just checkin in.I havent had much time to be online for a while but have missed everyone and hope to get back in more now.I cant wait to start posting some of my lil serama pics im getting some tiny lil bird's with great conformation.
Hugs
wolfie
HAYSTACK COME BACK !!!!
What we need to do is find his address and start sending him snakes. Tell him he either comes back or he gets a snake each day in the mail.
He hates snakes. :)
Hi Wolfie!
I'll start saving up snakes.
LOl I will make sure he gets the message..
i want to share part of a letter Billy received today from Mr. Haystack
Billy, I entered my pet Rooster Billy Bob in our state fair, he took first place in 2 different categories. They were for confirmation and also for social friendliness. The Judge asked me where he got his name and so I told the whole arena of spectators about my dear friend Billy Bob from Kingman Arizona. They loved the story and asked if I would be entering him next year. The judge asked the crowd if they wanted to see a picture of the real Billy Bob next year and the crowd went wild..
CONGRATS to Mr Haystack and Billy Bob... and I am sure you are wondering... HECK YA I am sending Mr. Haystack some pictures of Billy Bob... LOL Billy loves Mr Haystack, he use to write letters to him (Via Me) here on DG and Mr. Haystack would write him back.. It was a hoot...
I'm glad to hear from Haystack - even second hand. Tell him we miss him!
Awwww how sweet ! Haystack is so loved and missed!
Hi Wolfie, so happy to hear about your Seramas. I was counting on mine this year too! I had four pair. I even have a friend locally that traded with me , 3 little Cockerals for my 3. That gave me The parent birds of my Hens and 3 pairs Unrelated, So I had a great start. Saturday night some Head eating varmit got into my 10 by 10 x 6 foot enclosure that was surrounded and covered with heavy duty netting and killed my smallest Silkied Hen! It just knocked me for loop! Last night it went into another Pen and tried to take my Chicopea the Mama Hen but apparently She fought whatever it was and got away thank Heavens... but she lost almost all of her tail and back feathers. No real damage , thank Heavens. So whatever it was decided to take one of my Black Copper Marans instead.
Im sooo bummed out , it makes me want to just give up. If Haystack were here he would probably know right off hand what in the world this varmit could be. Sneaky , nasty thing , can climb, and is small enough to get into a chain link Kennel somehow, yet it can jump high enough to crawl into a nest that is 2 and a Half feet off the floor . The little body of my Silkie Serama was completely headless and neckless, All that was left was her tiny little silkie covered skin and legs. Has anyone got any idea what would kill this way? Oh and NO blood anywhere!
I`m guessing a weasle or mink,they like the blood,I had a cat years ago and the weasle got it by the neck and drained a lot of her blood,she was a long time recovering.They are small but vicious
I tend to agree with Green, if it was a cat, which can jump that high, it would have taken the whole thing... I will be writing Haystack in a few days, if anyone has a message for him, write it on here and I will cut and paste into a letter for him...
Back Yard Chicken
Welcome Sherman, glad to have you join us!
Haystack I miss your wit and all the information that you have to help anyone with a question about chickens or just about anything,you are so full of knowledge on just about anything.You truly are a kind and caring person and I miss you on DG.Hope you can find a provider soon its just not the same on here without you. green04735 Donna
Hi all/y'all ^_^ Blowing kisses to dear Catscan and ZZs who I haven't seen in FOREVER. I get TOO confused on FB so I have to keep pokin Cousin Grownut to get help. Also peoples have very strange names there. What is byc? Thanks muchly.
edit: forgot to say MISS YA HAYSTACK
This message was edited Sep 28, 2010 1:12 PM
Awww Dahlianut!! Kisses back!!! I'm Joyce on FB. :) I pop in here every now and then...
I miss Haystack too... I wish he would get dial up or SOMETHING!!
byc = back yard chicken to me. It may have other translations as well (?) I think it usually refers to the feathery type without stripes.
Hay, Sure do miss you. A dog got dropped off at my house and got into my pullet pen. I lost 5 pullets and a roo. Bought some replacement chicks from TSC, 8 GSL and 2 BO. They are growing nice. My RC pullet has started laying and one of my game pullets too. Still haven't got my new chicken pen built but I have hope. Are you moving to TN? How are your chickens and you wife doing? Hope all is well. You are in our prayers. Please keep us in yours. DH still battles his health.
I am back..Anybody miss me??? ...lol... Been taking care of my daddy who had a small heart surgery on Sept 22. He is visiting his family this weekend then comes back home so I can take him to his LAST doc checkup..none of his family likes driving in Houston..lol..Before that..I busted my hand in a shop fan when a person bumped me. I am fine now since it is healing great. I had to unjammed 2 knuckles that wouldn't quit hurtin so I had a friend popped them..LOL..couldn't even type with lefty hand here..
All my chickens are doing great and getting eggs..!!
Hi Moodene, yes it's great to see you again. That jammed finger happened to me once when playing basketball. My gym teacher knew to pull it straight out, it hurt for a second but then was fine. Obviously I still remember it.
Glad you and your chickens are well. WB. Tell your dad to get well soon.
Hi Moodene I mssed you!
I have been out to the henhouse and had to round up the roosters...they were getting too fiesty in this cool weather..GASP!..Yes, I am having cooler weather and I am cold..can't stand cool or cold weather...lol...give me my warm or hot weather back any day...lol...
I'm with you on the weather. I hate the cold. I have taken out my warm stuff the last few days.
I caught a roo off the roost and have him in a small cage ready to butcher tomorrow and cook for supper.
I think I'm building up the nerve to do something like that CajuninKy. I keep thinking about how much healthier they are to eat. I want my grandson to have good food, that's so important.
My grandparents raised and butchered their own chickens, surely I could. Without those chickens they probably would have starved to death during the depression.
Who knows what's ahead of us.
Wish I could send some of these roosters ya'lls way..cant even give them away here..nobody wants to kill and pluck their own chicken..too much trouble..sheeze...
Yep, Im probably going to be in the same boat! Got a lot of pretty , fat babies coming along and it seems that they all have begun growing big combs and waddles! Oh well if I get at least 5 hens out of the brood Ill be happy, to replace my older Layers for nest year.
As for the butchering... its gonna be hard at first, because Ive named most of them and have learned their little ways and a 'doins'. ....but Food is Food! I too believe that if we dont start learning and teaching the old farm survival techniques again, well... we are all going to be up the creek with out a paddle! ... let alone our grands and great grands!
Got busy today and didn't get to butcher the roo. We had stuffed baked squash and left over white beans instead. I'll butcher him tomorrow. I don't take pleasure in killing but it has to be done. Just a part of farm life.
To all my family here on Daves Garden: I have missed all of you so much, thank you for all your kind words and thoughts. It has been horrible these past two months. I could go no where else to get my fix...LOL. Sometimes you just have to pick your battles. I have now returned with the former provider and 1/4 of the cost they tried earlier to extract. It was not really the money as much as the principal of what they thought they could impose. I really get stuborn when it comes to principle, I told my dear wife I would just have to pay the price for my steadfast refusal to budge, it did pay off however...enough...it's just so good to be back with my family and friends and wonderful to see others returning also. I agree with Greenhouse_gal, facebook just does not get it for me either. Hugs to all of you...Hay