Changes......

Well, the chicks are well on their way to having to be called chickens now and the Beast is hoping that he can make their food and water last longer than two days.  So today he went and got a three gallon water container which should last them three to four days just going on their present consumption of it.  He hasn't purchased a larger feeder as of yet but he has plans to do that in the next few days.  He has thought about hanging the water from a board that he would install across the inside of the barn but he's afraid that the chickens would spill most of it with the way they can crowd around it in that jerky way that chickens have.  So, for now, he's going to just put it on the floor of the barn like the one gallon container he already has.  Ditto for the feeder.  Although, in the case of the feeder, they would eat any seed they spilled on the floor of the barn since they already do that.  They are messy feeders and they spill out a lot of their seed even now.  They also eat it so we know that they clean it up and it doesn't go to waste.

This global warming thing has sure changed our weather here.  It's almost like we are having an early Spring.  Our daytime temp was up around 55 today and it is expected to end up in the 60's for the next few days.  Then, however, our night time temps will drop but we will still end up with daytime temps in the 50's and 60's.  

The chicks are managing very well so far with just the heat lamps at night.  We've had temps down into the teen's and there's no sign that they have suffered with it so far.  They DO huddle together, all fluffed up, when the temps drop down into the low 30's but, if we come into the barn, they will rush to be around our feet to greet us.  It's so cute!  They seem to recognize that we are the source of their food and water and that we will not harm them.

Today the Beast bought some things for the nesting box that we needed.  The *bedding* for it as well as a couple ceramic eggs that you place in the nest when you have a broody chicken.  It encourages her to go ahead and lay her eggs.  You remove them after she has laid a few.  All this new information...and I think the Beast never thought it would be more difficult than providing them with food and water.  I was reading about different things you have to watch for and that you have to make sure to provide them with an area where they can *dust* themselves to help remove mites that get into their feathers.  It also says that sand and dolomite will help kill of any mites and even ticks that might plague them.  It pierces their bodies and they die.  You have to watch for any injuries to their feet and other areas.  Also loss of feathers from any fights they may have.  There are diseases that they can get.  It sounds like a nightmare.  I'm just glad we only have 12 of them...so far.  That gives us time to get used to watching for things that might require a visit to the vet's office.  

The Beast is talking about making a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  It's only about a 5 hour drive from here so he says we can drive up, find a motel, have dinner and then go to bed fairly early.  If we get up early (around 7), have breakfast and then hit the park, we can take a car tour of it (they have marked roads for that) and get out when we find a place that interests us.  I know he just wants to take pictures but, hey, it's a trip.  Another lunch and dinner while there, a night in the motel and home the next day.  He doesn't mind starting out driving before full light but he hates to drive in the dark so that's the only reason we will be spending two nights in a motel....LOL.  Otherwise, he would do what we used to do back in the days when we would make those kind of day trips.  The park closes at dusk and we would have just headed home and gotten home late at night, exhausted but HOME.  Home is always more comfortable than a motel but now that we are older, we do things differently.  LOL!

Post time.  Love you all.  I'm heading back to bed.  I'm making a trip over to Cee's tomorrow.  We talked earlier and she has a pair of new reading glasses for me (we both use the same strength).  She got a deal on a pack of three so she says I can choose one for myself as long as she has a spare.  She has a pair of prescription ones but it's made of metal and it's heavy on her face and the ear pieces fit too tight and make marks in back of her ears.  I had the same thing happen to me so I know how painful they can be.  I thanked her for that kindness since both pair that I have here needed replacing due to scratches on the lenses that actually hurt my eyes.  I used to have cases for them but the little gremlin that shows up here from time to time has spirited them away somewhere.  *Sigh*

Be good.  Drive carefully is you are in an area that still has snow on the ground or has the possibility of black ice.  There have been some horrific accidents from drivers who weren't cautious.   That would be just awful to see happen to anyone.  So drive carefully and save yourself from that, please!  ***Hugs***