Coffee's Ready, Come and Sit on the Porch

[farmerjan]

@The Porch ... you can tell who is laying now unless they have just molted and no one is laying... The space between the 2 pelvic bones ... or pins some people call them... the 2 bones alongside the vent... for most larg breeds...1- 2 fingers between is not laying... 3 fingers between ...maybe... 4 fingers between means laying. Different for bantams and smaller breeds... but you get the idea...
Pick up the hen, cradle in your arm against your body.... head tucked in arm area... butt out... spread tail upwards... run fingers in between the bones...like laying the fingers from top to bottom of tail .... It is not hard, does not hurt and will be easier than you think.
Always checked ours when we were getting ready to start culling older hens.
Of course you already know about the red comb and wattles and such....

I am sorry for your DH losing his mother but 99 is a good long life. Sorry you didn't come with him... Bedford VA is about an hour from me... I would have come to meet you.... We lost a friend that was 80 to a severe stroke, and funeral is Thursday here in the Shen Valley... I had some good friends right near Bedford so have driven that direction several times in the past.

 

[farmerjan]

We had about 5" snow a week ago with another 1/2 inch ice on top... not as bad as @CrealCritter . Then we got another 2 inches this past Fri night/Sat morning. Temps in the teens nights, then low 40's days, some melting... but plunged down to 19 last night and only 36 today with the wind gusting hard. Tonight down in the single digits they say and wind chills in the 0 and minus temps. Then a little warm up and maybe some rain???? Then frigid next week....
Had this cold/crappy stuff ... thought I was past it in mid Dec but it came back and have been fighting it again... so many have been really sick... Oh well... part of life...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

but it came back and have been fighting it again.

Sorry it's still hanging on. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[flowerbug]

...
Had this cold/crappy stuff ... thought I was past it in mid Dec but it came back and have been fighting it again... so many have been really sick... Oh well... part of life...

yeah, viruses going around again.

 

[CrealCritter]

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[Hinotori]

Im sorry for all of you getting the nastiness.

 

[CrealCritter]

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[baymule]

Good morning all! It’s been beautiful weather this week! Wonderful because I have my little granddaughters from last Friday to this coming Sunday, also their 2 dogs. Parents went to Spain and Portugal. We are having a great time. 2 ewes obligingly lambed. Ewenique, 11 years old, had twin boys.

I ground up venison with a whole brisket and made pan sausage and links.

Tiny had triplets yesterday morning and we were out the door and moved them to a small pen. Of course the spotty one is a boy! 2girls, 1boy Tiny is a great mom.

Look at this face! Phantom of the Opera!

Girls are in love with him and want me to keep him, but he is for sale.

Girls sat in the pen, wrapped in a blanket on baby watch. They made sure that all 3 lambs were getting to suck.

 

[Mini Horses]

Slept until 7 this morn...after going to bed at 9:30! It was because I had only slept 3 hrs night before, tending goat kids born in freezing temps & brought inside to warm. Turned out great as Mom took them back at daybreak -- sometimes they won't. Then, all day watch on them, bottle feeding 2 others, and chores. I was a zombie -- sleep welcome and needed.

I'm savoring coffee while 2 bottles are sitting in hot water to warm for feeding..... I'll break ice on water tubs, tote hot water, toss out hay for goats. Then go for a load of feed I ordered yesterday, & home to unload. It'll be almost time for bottles again by then That's my day -- add in tending to unexpected "finds" while out there.

It's cold 20s and your sinuses keep you blowing your nose!! Farming is so much fun.

 

[The Porch]

@The Porch ... you can tell who is laying now unless they have just molted and no one is laying... The space between the 2 pelvic bones ... or pins some people call them... the 2 bones alongside the vent... for most larg breeds...1- 2 fingers between is not laying... 3 fingers between ...maybe... 4 fingers between means laying. Different for bantams and smaller breeds... but you get the idea...
Pick up the hen, cradle in your arm against your body.... head tucked in arm area... butt out... spread tail upwards... run fingers in between the bones...like laying the fingers from top to bottom of tail .... It is not hard, does not hurt and will be easier than you think.
Always checked ours when we were getting ready to start culling older hens.
Of course you already know about the red comb and wattles and such.... Yes, I have done this in the past, the ones bought July of 22 "should be laying. Things will pick up next month. All are over their molt and look great. 4 are laying. I am 4 eggs now. One hen has laid all nov. - now. but if by June 1, I don't have at least a few days where I get 14 in one day, I am going to have physically check each one and cull the non layers.

I am sorry for your DH losing his mother but 99 is a good long life. Sorry you didn't come with him... Bedford VA is about an hour from me... I would have come to meet you.... We lost a friend that was 80 to a severe stroke, and funeral is Thursday here in the Shen Valley... I had some good friends right near Bedford so have driven that direction several times in the past. Thank you so much, Tharp funeral is doing the service Audrey DeKorte, they did dads back in 2017?18