All is Quiet on the Chicken Front

Think Spring
Sure am hoping the groundhog was right and we are going to have an early Spring. Still have snow from the last, well only big one we had this year. Just over a foot. But of course that melts, remelts, you get the idea. So now it's ice, snow and muck.
For some of the birds this was their first snow and they were not happy. LOL! The guineas and some of the Andalusians practiced their flying skills, a lot. Did have to keep them closed up for a couple of days mainly cause of the drifting. And we lost the cover for the run due to the heavy snow. That is next weeks project.
Last summer Sonny bought a couple of rolls of plastic poultry netting and we will be replacing the top with that.

Cabin Fever
It's been too cold to do much outside. And after breaking ice in all the waterers in the morning don't really feel like going back out until eve feeding time. The girl's were starting to lay again until the last snow, now for the most part they are on strike. Not like our first winter with just the Black Stars and I was giving away 18 counts weekly to Sonny's uncle.
So we have been keeping busy with inside projects. Just put in a wood stove. But of course that is just the beginning. Now we have to put up a half wall and counter where the wall between the living room and kitchen was. Tony of course loves not having it there. He thinks the dresser I use for counter/storage is just like a restaurant and things must be passed over it.

Smokey Bleu
Finally got a cage ordered for him. And since it was such a great deal (almost 1/2 off, X large "ferret" cage) it's on back order. Not sure when it's actually going to get here. Sonny would like to have our bathroom back. Over the last 3 years it has been occupied by some species of poultry. Now I wonder if he ever regrets talking about getting chickens. He, he, he!

I was using a pic of Smokey on my profile on FB and a girl I know from back home couldn't believe I had a chicken in my bathroom. Well doesn't everyone?
Smokey is almost black head and the rest grey, it's hard to tell in the pic. Bath lighting isn't the greatest.

Until next time, take care!

Change in the weather

It's fridgid here in the South East. I don't understand how the chickens can stand it. Seriously. But they, even the banties are out everday pecking over what green is left in the yard.

Smokey
Finally have our bathroom back. My house chicken is the only resident now. Still not sure how big Smokey is going to get. It reminds me of the Pidgeon in the Mo Willems books, tiny head bigger body. LOL! Mo is a children's author, one of our son's favorites.
Smokey has figured out how to get out of it's box and loves to range the bathroom. Is fasinated with the toilet paper holder. Not sure why exactly.

The Babies
Still have 4 of the original 7 chicks left. 1 Turkey, the Silkie and 2 X's. Finger's crossed they will be ok til Spring. They have the aviary to themselves. All seem healthy and happy. Joker makes it a point to fly out when the door is open to be nosey. Definately my Americanus X Black Star's child. Starting to get the muffs.
I have plastic coving the wire side and the front window since they are at the front of the house and a heat lamp for them.
The 2 smallest keets are now running with the Feathered footed bunch. Still not sure on the sex. One is a bit larger, but that's no real indication. They should start making noises soon.

The Juvies
The 3 juvie guineas are out with the big birds in the yard now. The Buff are a pair and the Lavender a female.
It has been interesting. After a couple of days they actually got around the yard after spending their days walking the fence of the run. First night out I found them sleeping outside. So much fun trying to herd guineas in the dark. They slept with the big birds for a few days. Then discovered that they could get under my MIL's deck. Couldn't get them out, and this is the first hard frost night, so they slept under there. They were out the next morning. Fred the male did it on more time alone. No problems since. They have attached themselves to the roosters. They really don't have anything to do with the adult guineas. Who did the same until the younger one's started it. I was watching them this eve following Nevermore around. He's #2 roo and has gone lame in on leg. They would follow him and when he would stop, they would graze, he'd start hopping along and they were right behind him.



Wintering and Progress
Got the houses mucked out and started the deep litter for the winter. Plastic and tarps put back up.
Sonny made repairs on the Silkie house roof. Finish up with new shingles in the Spring.
Got the roof off of the last house. Another Spring project. The weather got too cold to quick to do anymore.
Seems like we had Fall for a couple of weeks and now it's the deep freeze. Next week 20's during the day! Thankful for no snow.

Happy Holidays
This will probably be my last post until the New Year.
Wishing you and your's a happy, safe and blessed holiday season!
I also want to thank you for taking a few moments from your busy life to read my ramblings. Going to redo the site for next year and add some pics so you can get to know the tribe.

Until next year,
Gothy - Dawn

End of Summer

Sure has been feeling like Fall around here. Frosted a couple of times and freeze warning tonight.

Well, had 7 chicks hatch end of Sept. 3 Turken, 1 what looks like a Blue Andalusian, 2 cute little black ones - 1 is starting to get the Americanus feathers and 1 Splash Silkie. For now they are still in our bathroom. Waiting on Sonny to build a top for the pen out in the Silkie house.
We did get to watch one hatch as a family. That was cool. Especially for our 6 yr old.

One had to be put in a seperate box after I found it on it's side and foot messed up. But it's doing much better now. It did manage to escape last night. Still not sure what the problem was but hoping it will make a full recovery. I lost all 4 of my hatchery chicks. It has not been a good summer for hatch birds and probably will not be purchasing any this nest year. Down to 4 Black Star and 7 Delawares from that purchase.

I threw out the Halloween pumpkin today. Tony decided the chickens were having a party. We went to a farm last week and purchased 3. Only one carved so far and yes today is Halloween.
Guess I will be carving my white one for Dia de los Muertos. LOL!

Let the juvie guienas out today. Oh that was a mission to get them out. Silly birds spent a good part of the day on my FIL's van. Finally got down and made their way back to the run. I let them back in to eat tonight. Guess I'm going to have to go out one eve and move then. I would much rather wrangle a chicken than a guiena any day!

Starting on working on the deep litter for winter. Hopefully it will not be as bad as last. When we were measuring snow in feet not inches. I did learn an important lesson - Always take your cell phone with you. Took a couple of bad spills and almost knocked my self out once.
Still need to purchase another tarp for the Silkie house. Sonny put up screws on the front of the Bantie house last year so I can tarp up the front window with the gromets. Worked very well. I took part of it down during the day for air circulation.

Trying to write with a 6 year old popping in and out of  here tho we are supposed to be getting ready for bed, I almost forgot.
2 weeks ago last hatch for this year. A Bantie! I've been waiting almost 3 years for one to actually hatch. Out of 3 eggs it was the only one to make it. It's in a seperate brooder with a couple of small stuffies and a mirror to keep it company. It will be a house chicken! This is going to prove interesting since I also have house cats. But you only see them when it morning for the romp thru the living room and when it's time to eat. Since it's gotten colder they are spending most of their time sleeping.
Sonny did mention Sylvester and Tweety. But we do know who won out there.

Bye, bye Duckies

Finally re homed the ducks with my neighbor. I like ducks, but next time I will know that it's really a good idea for them to have a seperate housing. The smell would knock you on your butt. No matter how hard you work at keeping it clean. If you ever get ducks, they are MESSY, smelly, and will run over anything in their way. But they are entertaining. I think part of the problem with mine looking at you like you have 2 heads is where they were bought from. I think they were traumatized by that situation.

So I got 6 Blk Jersey Giant X Americanus, a white feather footed of unknown origins and 2 Cochins out of the deal. When she came to pick up the ducks, another black Silkie, who for now has a white spot on it's neck.

Yesterday was move the babies day. Oh, fun. Sonny cut me some new flooring to put down,which was deseprately needed. Now the McMurry chicks and the 2 of my hatch of keets are in the keets avaiary. Keets and newbies are all over the place. LOL! They actually started in the baby pen, but soon realized they could fly out. Only Iggy (new Silkie) and Frazzled (last of the Dark Brahma) are in there. Frazzled's wings have been messed up since the get go and she can't fly. So they are keeping each other company. They are about the same size.

One of the earlier Keet hatches if a female for sure. Now if I can just figure out which one. She made the noise yesterday. I kept the 2 Buff and Lavender and 2 of the wee babies and sold the rest. I think 7 of them running around will be enough.

If all goes well, should have new chicks this coming weekend. Got a broody settin a collection of all sorts of eggs. Fingers crossed that someting hatches. Haven't had any chickens hatch this year. Of course they have to wait until it's getting cooler.

Off to the beach tomorrow! Happy, happy, Joy joy! Yes, it does seem late in the year, but we go when the meters aren't working. You can spend more on parking than anything else. With hurricane Igor going on should be some nice waves.

Yay! Summer Is Almost Over

The temps are finally feeling like Fall here in DE. In desperate need of rain tho.
I will really be glad to see the official end of Summer. This has been a bad season. I've lost more chickens this Spring/Summer than ever. A few were my own personal birds. But regardless of personal or stock it still hurts. Especially those who die of unknown causes. Then you worry about it spreading.

I did sell off the majority of the keets over the weekend. Kept 3 of the bigger one's and 2 of the last hatch. Have a hen setting a variety of chicken eggs right now. Fingers crossed something will hatch.

My MIL had her shop closed for a couple of weeks due to illness, so the egg biz has been crap this summer also. Advertising on Craigs List hasn't done much either. They email and want hens. If I had them to sell that's what I would be advertising, not eggs.

I've had to deal with a chick buyer who  - it was MY fault one of her birds was sick. Wasn't when she bought it.
A guy calling me up and rudely inform me the hens I sold him were roosters. They were bought from my neighbor not me.
Another idiot who wanted to buy some of the last of this years stock. They aren't fully feathered yet. But we want to keep them in an unheated barn with no electric until the coop is done. I don't think so.
Damn I see stupid people!

Now I am starting to understand why so many people play Farmville. You in a very distant way get to experience some aspects of having animals/farm without dealing with the a-holes and idiots.
Yes, I do play it also.

I am ready for Fall. Our anual day down at the shore is quickly approaching. I really need it yesterday.

Guineas gone wild! LOL

Finally got the keets out of our bathroom. They decided it was more fun to free range than stay in their box. Oh, btw, they can fly over 5 ft high at less than 1 month.
Sonny built them an avairy in the silkie/duck/baby house. Still debating on where they will winter. I'm thinking of moving them in with the banties.

Playing Catch Up

Wow! The end of July already. Not going to be sorry to see it go tho. Something like 6 heat waves, 30 days of over 90*. Bring on Fall! No air conditioning on average 90+ inside.
Let's see. Sold off all the stock chicks late June.
Still have 3 Light and 2 Dark Brahma's in the baby pen. Starlight, the Jesery Giant has figured out how to get out of the pen and has been exploring the house. Thankfully she's fast enough to avoid duck feet. LOL!
Have a sneaking suspcion that the extra Light is actually a roo and the Dark are bantams.

The Silkies have started laying. It's funny watching Josette go in to lay. She has to check out every corner. She's also blind. Barnabus is right behind her. It's sweet.  The Blue's have also started laying. Egg production in general is Finally picking up. Ducks should start laying in a couple of months.

Had 6 keets from gifted eggs hatch July 11 and 12. Had 3 broody hens attending them. They are in our bathroom for now. Have learned to escape and are leaving poultry pudding everywhere. That is tomorrows project a new pen in the Silkie/duck house.
My adult Joon has nested somewhere under our trailer and is setting. This should be interesting. Benny seems lost without her until she makes an apperance. And then spends most of the day down here instead of running with the chickens.

New chicks from McMurry here in August. Black Stars (back to the beginning), Delawares and a roo, and some Turkins for fresh blood.

Thinking along the lines of hatching out my own chicks next year and selling eggs instead of ordering. But then again we shall see. Definately want some Runner ducklings in the Spring.