Beware
Some people speak of Bigfoot, some speak of the lochness monster, Here in Maine we have something much worse, and today, it was spotted in our backyard. Beware, this picture is not for the faint at heart.
June 21, 2007
June 18, 2007
Latest Addition
We had our first chick from one of our own eggs.
Might have as many as 3-4 more, but so far only one.
Mom is doing fine and Dad is about to be fried.
May 21, 2007
Zooo update with pics
Pissing me off is usually a pretty bad plan. The rooster has been attacking me only when I am walking away for a bit now. I was going to just wring his neck, but we are trying a different tact.
Now I just laugh at him.
The chicks are doing fine and growing daily. The Araucarias are being very hand trained…
All the new birds got together for a few mins the other day.. so you can see how they have grown..
The twits signed up for Kinder the other day, and I got pics.. One with his nametag on, the other with a flower… Sigh. Why do the words alternate lifestyles come to mind…
Ok I’m done doing pics, it’s a pain in the butt.
May 13, 2007
More chicks
So I have been searching for new chicks for days.
Well a week or 3 actually.
But for some reason no one had any, I was looking for Araucana Chicks. They are the ones that lay Blue eggs.
Just cause I thought it would be cool to have some.
Well I finally found some today and now we have 4 more chicks and get to do the inside chicks thing for a few more weeks. Sigh.
But damn are they cute.
Our other three chicks are now outside full time and in the hen house. They have some protection from the big ones still though, but that should only last an other week or so.
Other than that things here on the farm are fine.
May 10, 2007
More chicks, less roosters
So we have a rooster. His name is Marshmellow.
Or well might want to start using the past tense since I think I am going to kill him.
Sad to have to take out one of our chickens and he is a glorious bird, but he also has gotten VERY aggressive, towards me mostly. Or well almost only, but I am sick of not being able to turn my back with out him attacking me. And he might go after one of the kids so I really don’t see any other options. He also is beating the crap out of a few of the hens and they are not brooding so no point in keeping him.
Maybe we will get an other chick and let it grow up and see if it has more sense.
I went out to get some chicks today, we want to add a few more (when I say we, its totally me…) and I really think it would be neat to get some Araucana’s.. they are the ones with colored eggs. And I think that would just be fun.
And well buying chick rather than hatching them is a bit of a pain, but since they are about 1$ each it is not exactly expensive.
But the chicks hadn’t came in yet so maybe tomorrow.
Oh and Alex lost a tooth today, he is SOO excited.
May 07, 2007
Red Letter Day
So big day in two respects. One Zach got to play outside alone for the first time.
After a lecture from Dad about what he can and can not do and so forth.
And I am watching him like a hawk still.
And the chicks are moving into the big pen tonight.
I set it up so they have some space only they can get to, and food and water the big ones can’t touch. The big problem will be getting them in I have a feeling. They are not quite smart enough to know they are supposed to go back there yet.
And they are still scared of the big chickens, I swear they think they are ducks.
So fun day for all, nice day for outside time and the kids wore them selves down a bit I think.
And I did 50 more chores, that narrows it to bout 50k left to do.
May 06, 2007
The sky is falling...
Chickens (and teenagers) are mind numbingly stupid at times.
I have my sprinkler going in the back yard. The chickens wander into the reach of its water and all start to beeline for the porch cause it is raining, get 1/2 way there, and Magic, the rain stopped. Wander back and OMG its raining again… Repeat for 30 mins or so.
Almost like a teenager, “I have to do the dishes?” yeah you have done em every night for a year but today magic happened and they cleaned themselves.. Arrgggg.
Or a darling baby girl who started to cry when she was getting her hair washed tonight cause she just does not like it, and then listen while daddy explained that every time you pour tomato soup on your head your hair get washed…
Oh well, at least the twits haven't actually broken any thing since about 3. Progress.
Thank you sir may I have another?
Well that was a long day but just what I needed I think.
Doubled the chicken coop yesterday, still have to make the roosting box and make the roof more watertight than plywood, but other than that its about done.
Last few weeks I have been getting prob 3 hours a night of actual sleep. Rest coughing and so on and just not feeling well. Last night I fell asleep on the couch at 7:30. I missed putting the kids to bed. And Wow. They are not exactly quiet, Putting the kids down is a highpoint and we have a routine we follow and it involves lots of hugs and kisses and so forth. And conversations and lectures and well all that stuff. I am sure I was jumped on at least once or twice before they went upstairs but I was dead to the world. Didn’t even cough. Then finally woke up at 10 ish, we went upstairs and I went right out again till 6 am and her royal highness singing me a song. Not well mind you but she was singing and the word Dad was prominent.
So it was about time for the cold to break, and looks like a day outside did the trick. And the chicken house looks better too. An other day or two of cleanup, building the roosting pit and painting oh yeah and the pesky roof and we should be all done for a bit. And then I have to figure a way to make the duck house more cleanable. They are the messiest creatures in the world. I think SHE should clean it out for a few years so SHE will listen when I say, um, no ducks.
Ok pics will be forthcoming soon. Least in theory. Its on my list. And if I ache to much today I might come in and play computer.. then again I might roll on the floor with the monsters.. never know.
April 30, 2007
Farm Central
So another fun weekend. Nice to have babies in the house again, shame they all have feathers though. Built a duck house for the ducklings Sat. Used the original chicken coop, that was modified for a dog house, has now been modified again to a duck house.
The little buggers are cute I have to admit, but they are SOOO MESSY. The 3 chicks inside are not nearly as messy, almost clean in fact. And they are growing so fast it is incredible. You can see a difference each morning.
The ducks are now outside and the chicks spend the nights inside. Boy are they excited to see each other in the morning. The big chickens are not that impressed, they pretty much ignore the whole group.
Amusing to hear the parakeets try and talk to the chickens though.
Ok that’s enough from farm central.