About Me

My photo
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.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Keets Find A Bug

When the keets were two days old I was watching them and one found a big bug. Another keet saw it too and a tug o' war ensued. It was quite a battle on a tiny scale! Unfortunately I didnt have my camera out at the time. This short video is not as good as that bug find, but still, they really go for the bugs. :)

 

This was at four days old.

Apparently the dad has his roll the first couple of days and then is free to roam leaving mom in charge of everything. Here are dad and the other male guinea having a bite to eat.

 

Photobucket

Yesterday was a full work day outside, but I made it through, staying soaked from dips in the pool helped make it tolerable. It got up to 96 yesterday with a heat index of 115.

I redid the nesting houses nests and put up some old sheer curtains over the fronts of the two so it would provide privacy without getting too hot in there. It seemed to work. I got more eggs in there yesterday than in the dirt on the chicken house floor. I hate when they do that. I am going to put down some chicken wire on that dirt floor today to discourage laying in there. Its very frustrating to have to throw away eggs that get rolled around in poo and dirt.

I did the usual feeding and watering. I put some two liter bottles of frozen water into the water pails and buckets to keep the water cool for the animals.

I am in the process of setting up pens for the individual breeds. I have those moveable pens I will put the show birds in. If I keep the pens moving over the grass they won't get dirty. I managed to get Elvis Jr. and the other two young Silver laced Polish into one of those pens yesterday. I will stretch some netting around the pen today. You cant be too careful. A predator can reach in between those bars and snag a chicken. They are still small, so it could kill them if that happens, even if the predator is not successful in pulling the body out of the pen. Everything has been quiet lately, so I am not too worried, but it pays to be prepared, just in case.

I mowed most of the back yesterday afternoon. I left a good patch for the emus, goats and horse to graze on. Then I started on the front but a storm was coming in. I saw lightning off in the distance so I didnt get to finish that half of the front. I got to get some more GAS (ugh) in the can anyway. That has become a dirty word hasnt it. Whenever GAS is mentioned it makes a person flinch, maybe even become sick to their stomach.

I hope everyone is having a nice Tuesday. I am going to go and make the most of my day now. I got plenty to do, and I am never done, so I am going to get going. A BIG HUG from me to you. :)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those little ones are so cute.  You get so much done in a day & in that awful heat.....I feel like a big slug!  Linda in Washington state

Anonymous said...

Kelly your little keets are adorable (Don't they make a lot of noise :o) ~ It definitely pays to be prepared for predators ~
We had a storm here last night the rain hitting the windows woke me up ~ and the Lightening and thunder went on for about an hour ~ I didn't have to fill the Bird Baths up today as the rain had done that for me :o) ~ I am off to visit my Sister Joy and will stay with her for about a week maybe a little bit longer ~ will catch up with you on my return ~ Ally x

Anonymous said...

They are quick and smart learners LOL. You certainly got a lot done out in that heat. We haven't had any rain the last few days. I hope you don't get to hot working outside. Hugs, Helen

Anonymous said...

My Father-in-law bought 12 keets at the stock sale but we lost all of them i think they got chilled. I dont know how you stand this heat to get any outside work done.
terrie

Anonymous said...

BOy you have it hot there!  It actually got up to 76 today and it was ok cuz it's not so muggy out.  The hens seem to love bathing in the sun out in their run.   Those keets are SO cute!  Loved the video!

Anonymous said...

You have been really busy!  Those keets are cute!  Gas, yea, I wish I could hook my butt up to a hose and run my car on that!  :)

Anonymous said...

I'm glad that you have the pool to help keep cooled off.  You better not over do it in this heat.

Hollie

Anonymous said...

Just like in human life. The Mom seems to always end up with the responsibility. Paula

Anonymous said...

Cute, thanks for sharing. Janie

Anonymous said...

Love the video & pics, the babies are so cute.  Too bad they don't stay like that, they would be irresistable wouldn't they?  I feel for ya with the heat, we have hot days but not with that kind of heat index.  I bet you are counting the days till fall.
Take it easy.
xxx
Lisa

Followers