About Me

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I am a 42 year old woman that is about as happy and content as one person can be. My husband of 21 years and our 15 year old daughter live on five and a half acres out in the country. We moved from the city four years ago and never looked back. I homeschool our daughter. We also love our animals. Our daughter has a miniature horse and two rabbits. We also have a border collie, two cats (again), two pot belly pigs, four peafowl, three emus, 2 llamas and an undetermined number of chickens, lets just say ohhh about 200. I have many breeds, from layers to fancy chickens. I love poultry shows, I love fowl in general as I have come to find out through having more than just chickens. Chickens will always be my first love though. I do show some of my birds occasionally.

Friday, March 7, 2008

No Chicks For Now

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Thanks to Judys Jems for the graphics.

 

Here it is, finally Friday. There was the distant rumble of thunder in the middle of the night here...then the steady rain followed. The standing water is unbelievable here. The talking heads say we need it. I don't know if I believe we need it all at once.

 

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Last night Ian got us one of those wonderful weather stations that tell all. We forgot batteries for it though...duh. He is bringing home some today.

 

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I called Tractor Supply last night and they said the chicks wouldn't be in until afternoon. I asked them what breeds they were getting. Always heed your instincts when it comes to that funny feeling that you are about to waste your time and should think ahead.

They were only getting in Rhode Island Reds, not interested, and Cornish Rocks, why they were getting these in I have no idea...these are meat birds and not really a good dual purpose bird for eggs and meat.

So I called the one in Hiram...and they are getting in Rhode Island Reds also...and get this.

PULLETS says the little girl who answered the phone.

"Yes I know, pullets, what breed?" I say.

"pullets" she answers.

"Pullets are not a breed...pullet is the term used for any chick that is female and under a year old."

"Oh well I don't know that is just what they told me."

Okay, fair enough. Then she proceeds to tell me that the batch is not all 'pullets'. I say, how do you know?

"I can just tell" she says.

"How old are these chicks?" I ask.

"Oh they are just little babies" she says.

"Well then how can you tell?" I ask this because I am asking myself how can she know the sex of a chick, when she doesnt even know that a pullet is a female chicken under a year, and not a breed.

"I can just tell, by..you know, looking at their parts underneath."

OKAY, I say. I dont believe a word of it.

In hatcheries they have trained eyes to distinguish between the two sexes of chicks. It is NOT easy. I have looked up information on the internet about it trying to learn how, but I still don't know how.

 

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So. No Golden laced wyandottes. She tells me I can order them through them. I said well yeah, I can order them through the mail from any number of hatcheries, I was just going to get ten GL Wyandottes now, since I thought you would have them right there at the store.

Oh well, guess its just time to start up the incubator for my fancy chickens soon.

I will end up with some chicks...just not these they have available at Tractor Supply.

 

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Once again, I will be gone all weekend. Ian is taking weekends off now. It is supposed to be really really cold all day tomorrow, but we are still planning a day of it. Going to try to go out to the Fernbank Museum sometime this weekend since the weather won't cooperate to be outside.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I am going to start mine now. :)  I leave you with a video of Blue. I was trying to capture the blue sky and clouds behind him the other day...but it reflected badly on the video, so I apologize for the poor quality. I thought I would post it anyway...he does have a great flapping and crow closer to the end of the video. He is just a sweet sweet man. He always comes running when he sees me come outside. He lets me pick him up and hold him, rub him under his wings. (They really like that.)

 

 

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Picture of Blue

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry you got so messed up about getting your chicks. I agree, anyone who don't know what a pullet is certainly can't tell the sex of baby chicks LOL. Blue is really pretty and he did come through with a good crow for you. Have a nice weekend reguardless of the cold and maybe some snow. Hugs, Helen

Anonymous said...

Blue is a beautiful bird, have a nice weekend. Bill

Anonymous said...

Blue has a fantastic tail!

Anonymous said...

Blue is so handsome.  That girl from Tractor Supply sounds funny!  Linda

Anonymous said...

Blue is pretty. Good picture. Sorry no babies.
Take care, Chrissie

Anonymous said...

The story about the gal at Tractor Supply is priceless.  Can't tell if they're a pullet but she knows if it's a boy or girl.  So sorry you didn't get new babies.  Stay warm, avoid the tornado warnings, enjoy your weekend.

NELISHIA
http://journals.aol.com/nelishianatl/PRAYINGANDBELIEVING/



Anonymous said...

Blue looks so beautiful. Don't ya just love how trained some to the people are in stores? Enjoy you outing this week-end with your family. Paula

Anonymous said...

People should be taught from birth that if you don't know the answer, keep your mouth shut.  I've never met anyone that could tell male and female chicks apart so I doubt some sales girl that didn't know that a pullet wasn't even a breed could tell by tipping them upside down a few times.  ;)
Jamie

Anonymous said...

Ah, well, we have one almost grown in our chicken yard that Pete still can't tell which sex it is!  LOL   -  BArbara

Anonymous said...

LOL, the conversation with that girl sounds like something out of a comedy routine!  I went to our TS this weekend and all they had were rabbits, people will buy them ~ amuse their children and then turn them loose or into the shelter when the thrill is gone.  Anyway...I got off track, I went to see the chicks and they didn't have any.
xxx
Lisa

Anonymous said...

He is really pretty! I like that black and white. Wishing you a wonderful day. Janie

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