BYC Café

[Mtn Margie]

Ugh, that bites! We have had a couple years in a row that the pit fruits have suffered from a late hard freeze. It is hard on the bears if the apples fail.

The coldest temps I have experienced were -45F with wind chills of -65F. I, of course, was milking cows. None of the tractors would start and I thought my toes were going to fall off, but they didn't.
Ice and snow act as insulation from the colder air, like a down coat with lots of air pockets or insulation in a house. It works for the short term pretty well.

 

[3goodeggs]

Ahh. Like an igloo.

 

[krista74]

Sinkholes?

Bears?

And I thought we had it rough in Australia, lol.

In contrast to you all, I will be carrying buckets of cold water back and forward to the coop today. We are in for another hot one (95F) today, which granted is much cooler than what we've had of late - but it's still pretty warm!

I have a broody hen too, who has been consistently broody for about 8 days now. Poor girl, she is miserable. I've had her in the raised wire buster cage but it's not working, so now I've resorted to Buster Camp.

Buster Camp is the huge cage I have way across the other side of the yard, so she will be in isolation for the next couple of days. I find that will work when nothing else will. I hate doing it, but the cage in the run is not working as the weather is so hot. I am giving her cucumber slices to make her confinement more bearable!

- Krista

 

[3goodeggs]

aw, the poor thing. I imagine being broody is miserably hot as it is.
And I think you guys win hands down on rough.
Everything is poisonous or will eat you.

 

[krista74]

aw, the poor thing. I imagine being broody is miserably hot as it is.
And I think you guys win hands down on rough.
Everything is poisonous or will eat you.

Yes, when I picked her up this morning she was all sweaty and hot under her (naked) breast. Poor birdie.... I might even break my exception to the rule and give her a cool bath this afternoon when the sun is at it's hottest.

I heard someone from the US on the Aussie Board say once that they thought Australia was like a helicopter - many moving parts all trying to kill us at once!

I had to laugh, but when you think of the snakes, the spiders, the floods, the bushfires, and the cyclones (a category 5 is due to hit land in Queensland in less than an hour) he wasn't far wrong!

- Krista

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Krista- have you considered feeding the broody some cold grapes? Mine can't resist grapes, and it gets pretty hot here in the Southern USA in the spring and summer.

 

[krista74]

Krista- have you considered feeding the broody some cold grapes? Mine can't resist grapes, and it gets pretty hot here in the Southern USA in the spring and summer.

They've never had grapes before, but I'm going to the grocery store later this afternoon so I'll pick some up then.

Right now Broody is eating a chilled corn cob! She LOVES corn. When I gave it to her she did that excited "Book, book, book!" call that Momma Hens do for their babies.

My flock also love sliced chilled cucumber and cabbage, and whole tomatoes.

Broody is in Buster Camp on her own now. She actually seems quite happy in there - especially since she got a whole corn cob to herself! She is a persistent broody and has spent 2 spells in there before, so it's not new for her.

So much for RIR's not being inclined to go broody though. Pffffft! I have 6 RIR's and 5 of them have been broody this Summer, most of them twice!

If it wasn't so darn hot I would give this girl some eggs to sit on, but it's really too hot for her to have chicks right now. If she's still feeling that way going into Autumn though I might be tempted to let her have her way.

- Krista

 

[starbuck123]

Grapes - who knew? I need to find some sort of list as to what they should and shouldn't have. I've heard they *will* eat almost anything but it doesn't necessarily mean it's good for them.

Well, it did warm up a bit here today and the thermometer on my phone says -12* C (that's 10*F) and a lot warmer than it's been. my crazy son went to school today in shorts. His reasoning was that because he has a knee brace on (knee is hurting, probably growing pains), it's tough to adjust it when wearing pants. He's almost 17 so I just have to let it go. But jeez..lol.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Yep, my sons like to wear shorts too! Except in the blowing or fresh snow- that makes them think twice. We are supposed to get at least more 2 feet starting tonight. I suppose we need it and I should just buck up and quit whining..., and drink more coffee of course!

Frozen grapes last a smidge longer than cool..... I think because even a tiny brain can get froze too!

Oh, Terry - there is a treat list somewhere on BYC. Some say avocados are a no no, but mine pick the skins clean and my neighbor feeds her chooks citris, which mine won't touch.

I just trust their instincts and let them be. After all, they eat who knows what kind of yuck out of the compost pile.

 

[starbuck123]

2 more feet of snow? Wow!

I'm a little worried about what will happen come April and May. I have an awful feeling we in MN will end up being in a drought this summer while the people out East - Boston - will have major flooding. I don't know what their infrastructure is as far as sewage pipes, etc but do know it's an old, old city. I hope they've replaced pipes along the way because that amount of water they will soon have is really going to take a toll on an aging system.

As far as coffee - I have mine. Every morning I have a 30-min round trip driving the kids to school so I usually take my to-go travel mug. I bought it while living in CA and have happy memories when I see it. I have the norm - coffee with coconut oil and cream. I love that coconut oil. I started using it back in 2005 and there was a bit of a learning curve at first but now my body has adapted and I really do enjoy it.

ETA - thanks margie, i will look for that list as a general guideline!