You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Watcha Doin'? 2024
Saar The Book owl wrote: "Janice wrote: "Truth be known, it was the Conqueror Challenges that inspired the 2024 annual challenge. They kept popping up on my Facebook feed."That's where I saw it too :) Funny that it inspir..."
I recall that people were mentioning the Conqueror Challenge, and when I saw them on FB, it was like I was hit with a lightning bolt.
@Esther: humans, really? That's interesting! I did that with my horse too, but how are you training your chickens, because I've got 2 of them and I'm curious to try that out.@Janice: I can imagine, it's a great inspiration for the challenge. Maybe I'll start next month, because I need to do more exercise.
Might have to get me a clicker then. Thanks Esther, good to know
It's something psychological, like with Pavlov, the bell and the dogs.You can start with something you want that your cat is doing (f.e. putting her paw on the wheel, start small. That's important.), then you click and immediately, don't hesitate, because the reward has to come right after the click, then you give her a little treat. After a while, you can replace the treat with a kind word. The goal is to let her get into the wheel and walk. You only need to divide the goal in smaller pieces.
Saar The Book owl wrote: "@Esther: humans, really? That's interesting! I did that with my horse too, but how are you training your chickens, because I've got 2 of them and I'm curious to try that out.@Janice: I can imagin..."
The woman who trained me works with zoos and similar places to train animals so its easier -and not a stressful for them - to groom or give them medication. So I did a quite a few animals. Foxes and porcupine. You name it.
Same as with your cat really. I had never interacted much with chicken before this and god do they get it fast. And if I was too slow giving them their treats I sure knew it.
Sarah wrote: "Might have to get me a clicker then. Thanks Esther, good to know"If you decided to go for it and want a few tips to get you started, let me know and we can do a quick zoom.
Esther wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote: "@Esther: humans, really? That's interesting! I did that with my horse too, but how are you training your chickens, because I've got 2 of them and I'm curious to try that o..."This is really interesting! I think I'm going to do this with my chickens too. Yes, I know it's used for medicating and grooming animals. May I ask if it's part of your job, because you've trained porcupines and foxes? I'm interested, because I'm studying for veterinarian assistant and it's an interesting topic to use for assignments.
This is super interesting, Esther! We have looked into the whole sound training of chickens as obvious reasons *waves hands around house*. But the training seemed intensive, constant, and all consuming for weeks - as in following the chicks around constantly clicking or with a bell to toilet train them. I know some people train their chickens to poop on a click.
Sounds like that's not your experience? But maybe depends on what you are training them for. We have trained ours to jump on our arms if held in a certain way for carrying/feeding for example. Is that what you mean?
Rusalka wrote: "...We have trained ours to jump on our arms if held in a certain way for carrying/feeding for example...."This sounds adorable. I can just picture it. 🥰
Saar The Book owl wrote: "Esther wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote: "@Esther: humans, really? That's interesting! I did that with my horse too, but how are you training your chickens, because I've got 2 of them and I'm curiou..."It is not, I did a certification as a animal behaviour consultant. This was when I had the opportunity to work with a few species. See it as a plan for when I retired.
I did mostly agility with chicken. jump through hoop, pick up a particular card in a deck, etc. I had the feeling they were more training me anyway. :)
This being said, there are a lot of training session / workshops for vets around here. I had a bit of a overview in my certificate and I would say it is worth it if you find a good teacher.
Today I just stayed home doing some chores and keeping warm. Since it so freezing outside, I couldn't go out for anything, I really can't stand the winter weather. When I cleaned up my home and I got cozy reading my book and now just surfing the web.
BurgendyA wrote: "Today I just stayed home doing some chores and keeping warm. Since it so freezing outside, I couldn't go out for anything, I really can't stand the winter weather. When I cleaned up my home and I g..."I hear you! We had it so nice until two weeks ago when we were dumped into the deep freeze. Now it's snowing. I guess Mother Nature is making sure we don't miss cabin fever, which usually hits in February. I think I already have it.
Freezing here too. We've been below freezing, day and night, for 8 or 9 days now. It is supposed to get a little better next Tuesday but just 3C/37F.
Esther wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote: "Esther wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote: "@Esther: humans, really? That's interesting! I did that with my horse too, but how are you training your chickens, because I've go..."Thanks, Esther, when it gets warmer I see if I can clicker train my two chickens. Looking forward to it!
It has been very freezing and cold with snow (1 day) for the last 2 weeks. Now it's suddenly 10°C warmer and it's storming.
We're about 10c also. We got a right battering from the storm yesterday and through the night. We like on a will so We're very exposed to the weather and it always sounds worse then it is, but we got no sleep last night with rain pounding the windows and howling wind. There is another storm on the way too. A lot of homes nearer to the coast have no electricity. Close to me, there a lot of trees down so roads are blocked.I'm listening to a book called We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast and it's really hitting home with all the storms. I'm almost vegetarian (I eat a bit of oily fish), but this guy is making me think seriously about going vegan. Not sure I live without milk and cheese though!
@Margo: Ah, that's the book you're reading! I took a peek at your profiel, but I've got it already on my TBR - list. Have you read Eating Animals from the same author? It's for a part about where our meat comes from, about slaughtering animals, undercover work...It's storm Isha that is now passing through, with a fatality in Scotland. Normally, it'll calm down by the evening here.
Hope you're all doing okay! We've finally hit some sort of summer after a month of rains and storms. Not looking forward to the next two weeks.
Esther wrote: "... I did mostly agility with chicken. jump through hoop, pick up a particular card in a deck, etc. I had the feeling they were more training me anyway. :).."This is fascinating! And what a cool thing to have done! Not to mention just working with all the animals you did!
Chicken agility sounds crazy and wonderful. They are so easy to train if you can get them interested in your food, so I have no doubt they were training you in the end. Someone just tried to eat my pinky tonight as I ran out of treats and she was not done, thank you very much!
That said, they are so easy to train but so easy to break. We were doing really well with these two, and I was by myself one day in the yard with them and they wouldn't cooperate to come inside. I lost my patience with them, and got big and scary and chasey, and two months later they still are wonky when it comes to picking them up. They'll fall asleep on us if they choose, or jump on the outstretched arm in the house, but if you want to pick them up outside, hell no.
More ongoing, consistent training needed. Just so annoying 5 mins of frustration screws everything up.
Thanks Esther. I'll let you know. I've added a clicker to my shopping basket.We were hit by the storm here lastbnight too Margo. 60 mph winds. It was so noisy and kept me awake. Not sure what the damage was here. I think everyone must have jumped in the car to get to work and school thought this morning as it took me 55 minutes to do a 20 minute journey into Bristol and i was late for work. I also seem to have hurt my back. Started last night so I'm not a happy bunny today.
Janice wrote: "BurgendyA wrote: "Today I just stayed home doing some chores and keeping warm. Since it so freezing outside, I couldn't go out for anything, I really can't stand the winter weather. When I cleaned ..."You could say that again Janice. Cabin fever or the winter blues is definitely getting around.
Today I went to work and after that returned home to eat, relax with my Grandmother, watching TV and then reading. Afterwards do an hour in half of cardio workout.
Saar The Book owl wrote: "@Margo: Ah, that's the book you're reading! I took a peek at your profiel, but I've got it already on my TBR - list. Have you read Eating Animals from the same author? It's for a par..."I'll have to check that one out, thanks Saar.
@Margo: You're welcome. It just came to my mind that I already own the book that you're reading, but the Dutch translation. I've totally forgot about it. *red cheecks of shame*
It's January 28 and I'm sitting outside, in my garden, reading a book! Exactly one week ago there was still a few cm of snow in this garden. Weird.
Yes, it's very weird. I'm almost done at work and the sun is shining with a 11°C outside. I've found a little hedgehog yesterday in my garden. Noramlly they sleep from November until April, with occasionaly a moment awake. But he was fully awake and hobbling around in the garden. From first sight he looked okay, a bit heavy breathing though. I left some extra cat nibble and water for him.My grandmother said yesterday that there are places in France where it's 25°C, but I found that hard to believe...
I read somewhere that there was a chance it would be warmer than 30C in Valencia, Spain this week, which would be the first time ever for temperatures to be above 30 in Europe in January.
It was 77 degrees here on Friday and tied the record for warmest day in January ever. We were sitting outside and bumble bees were flying by. I had to tell them to go back to sleep because there is nothing to eat and it's going to get cold again, but they didn't listen. It's cold again.
It's strange and I feel for the animals who are waking up now. I'm entending to buy a hedgehog house for next winter, so they are much comfortable and don't have to travel that much.
We are having a few very warm days for January too, right after being below zero for 10 days. Insane. Temperatures are supposed to come back to "normal" this week, but it is unsettling. I can't even imagine how much worse it is for animals. Squirrels here have been all around as it was spring. They do not completely disappear in winter, but they are not so active at all. I haven't seen bunnies, or the three groundhogs that live under our shed, though, and that is good. I hope they hang in there until it is cold again.
Yes, our weather has been strange recently too. We've had some very cold days and some unseasonably warm days as well. My berry plants have tried to start blooming 3 times this winter. I hope they survive the confusion.
Peggy wrote: "It's January 28 and I'm sitting outside, in my garden, reading a book! Exactly one week ago there was still a few cm of snow in this garden. Weird."Three weeks ago, we were deeply in the freezer at -40C. Today, it's 3C. And it's not even February.
I spent the weekend at warwick university on a residential study weekend for my degree. It was a lot of fun and i learnt lots too. Doing a distance learning degree can be isolating so nice to meet some other real people. My journey there and back gave me the opportunity to listen to audiobooks. There was a second hand psychology book stall there and i was able to be restrained, just got 1 textbook and 1 general book about the brain. Feeling pretty wiped out though today and had to take a day off. My brain isn't functioning too well. Agreed, the weather is being a little strange. It has been very spring like. Yesterday, when i was driving home around 9.30pm, my car was saying it was still 11C outside so no idea how warm it must have been when the sun was actually out.
I am going to a new Korean restaurant this evening with my friend, it was her birthday earlier in the month and its my treat. Her husband doesnt like asian food so she misses out quite often, hence the chosen cuisine. I've never had Korean food at a restaurant before so I'm excited.
My daffodils are close to blooming. This was still doesn't bode well for summer temps. @Saar, I've never heard of a hedge house. It sounds great. I haven't seen a hedge some I moved to ireland so no point in me buying one :-( I wonder if it's because I moved from urban to rural?
@ Sarah, glad your weekend was enjoyable. Hope the meal tonight is good, I've never eaten Korean.
@Sarah: getting a distance learning degree can be lonely, indeed. I've got that feeling to and sometimes lack of motivation/discipline. We've got a What's App -group and a Facebook - group, but that's not the same. We've got some lessons together during the academis year, but not enough.How was the Korean restaurant?
@Margo: I think it's indeed because of moving. In rural areas they've got more space to forage and they are night creatures (or early morning or evening). In urban places they go from garden to garden. The problem is that more gardens are enclosed, so organisations to protect hedgehogs are suggesting to make hedgehog roadways: little entrances in the fences to get from one to the other garden. Ahedgehog house is like a cat house for outside: a little entrance, a bit above the ground and filled with straw.
Me too, Christine. It’s been pretty mild here except for a few days, but I’m ready for spring.
Well, the Korean restaurant gave off a vibe we weren't keen on, so we left and went to a Thai place instead which was fantastic. So, I'll have to find another Korean option to go to at some point in the future. It was a shame really. The menu wasnt great, i think their main focus was on the bbq aspect, plus it was freezing in there, and it smelt damp. So yeah, not ideal. There is a korean cafe in walking distance of my flat though which has a sewing shop in the back so i might check that out at some point instead.My back was bad last week but the physio fixed it ahead of my trip to warwick which i was very happy about. Unfortunately, it has started to ache again today after sitting down for too long. I have purchased a standing desk which arrives in the next few days so hopefully that will help it, as well as my focus as i can move about. Then i just need to exercise more.
Shame about the Korean place Sarah, I love Thai food though! Hope the new desk helps with back.
It's Brigit Day today and we have new holiday to celebrate next monday. Saint, goddess, wise woman, whatever you believe, we're getting a new long weekend because of her!
I had never heard of this, Margo. So, of course I had to look it up. :) Sounds like a fabulous celebration!"That's because this 1 February marks 1,500 years since St Brigid's death – which will be honoured with two weeks' worth of celebrations in the town, from fire and light shows to guided meditative walks, craft workshops, music concerts and storytelling for kids."
From this article: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/20....
I'm going to a celebration on Saturday morning. There will be yoga, dance, chanting and meditation. Should be enjoyable but there won't be beer lol
That sounds so fun, Margo. Have a great time.
Margo wrote: "I'm going to a celebration on Saturday morning. There will be yoga, dance, chanting and meditation. Should be enjoyable but there won't be beer lol"Sounds great!
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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Clicker works for every animal (and human... don't ask). I am training my cats this way. I also did chicken, rats etc.