What a LONG day!! But fun!! We brought my grandpas bull to a livestock auction andthat was really fun. Its funny they call the cows that sit in a feed trough all day natural and the ones with hormones not natural. Neither are natural!
Minnesota!
- Thread starter foxhollow
- Start date
The ones in the Daisy Dukes and halter tops?BC!!!!
Did you know you posted Cyrus and my pictures on BYC without our permission??
You can clearly see us at the family reunion. look!
See us back there right in front of the motorhome?
We are the ones drinking beer.
Here I blew it up a little so you could see us better..
We are right behind the guy in the flannel shirt,,
Hahaha!
Having been at the fair 4-5 days every year for the last few with the kids, I can attest that having BO does not keep the crowds away! Not that I had BO, but I had the misfortune of getting a whiff of a few who did.
I like getting there in the morning and not on a weekend. I had a nice time clerking at the poultry show last year, not many people until about noonish in the barn. Of course, trying to judge and having people in there was no fun, especially when they didn't heed the ropes and signs put up to keep them out of the alleys that were being judged. All in all, it wasn't too bad.
I hate being there in the afternoon and evening though. In fact, it is insane that they release 4-H exhibits in the afternoon when the place is mobbed. WHY???? I don't mind crowds terribly much but they aren't my favorite thing either.
I just took a short walk by the garden. Tied up some tomato vines that got blown down or were not trellised at all. Some are turning red, mostly the small slicers and cherries though. The peppers are going to need to be found again. I had been keeping them weeded pretty well with DDs help, but about 3 weeks ago, the weeds and grass went berserk. The worst is the catmint. I hate that stuff! Well, that and the quack grass. There was a strip the other day that DH went through with the sickle bar on the two-wheel tractor and took those down. He didn't know where the row ended, exactly, and cut off some of my Cipolini onions. I didn't get many to grow this year (started them from seed), and I had to have a talk with him. He made up for it by setting the strawberry runners though, or at least most of them. Yesterday I found a watermelon that was almost ready to pick. There are some melons out there too I need to double check the variety, but they are prolific!!!!
I feel like I am about 6-weeks behind, but I know it is only mid-August.
I am making some raised beds near the patio so I can plant some fall crops and be able to cover them with a hoop and still get something from them. The dang cottontails got our carrots and beets the first 3 times I planted them. Some of the carrots have come back, but not enough to make me happy. The cabbage needs to come in and kraut needs making. That is the man's job though
We will have a good crop of apples, and even one of the plum trees we planted this Spring has 4 plums on it!! We have a couple of American Plums that should give us something too. I will make some jelly or something with those, I think. We dug potatoes for DDs gnocchi for the fair. Those can be dug any time, but I think I will wait for the ground to dry a bit. It was like powder the other day, now it is mud. We got over an inch and a quarter today, so added to the 4 tenths or so the other day, it is a bit wet.
I have been getting as many pullet eggs lately as eggs from the older hens. The hens are starting their molt though, so that is justified. I do know that it isn't the heat as much that knocks them off laying as storms or big weather changes. I noticed that the first year I was breeding. The day a big low pressure system was rolling in, they wouldn't lay for beans. That goes for winter too. However, the heat does slow them a bit and some more than others.
I like getting there in the morning and not on a weekend. I had a nice time clerking at the poultry show last year, not many people until about noonish in the barn. Of course, trying to judge and having people in there was no fun, especially when they didn't heed the ropes and signs put up to keep them out of the alleys that were being judged. All in all, it wasn't too bad.
I hate being there in the afternoon and evening though. In fact, it is insane that they release 4-H exhibits in the afternoon when the place is mobbed. WHY???? I don't mind crowds terribly much but they aren't my favorite thing either.
I just took a short walk by the garden. Tied up some tomato vines that got blown down or were not trellised at all. Some are turning red, mostly the small slicers and cherries though. The peppers are going to need to be found again. I had been keeping them weeded pretty well with DDs help, but about 3 weeks ago, the weeds and grass went berserk. The worst is the catmint. I hate that stuff! Well, that and the quack grass. There was a strip the other day that DH went through with the sickle bar on the two-wheel tractor and took those down. He didn't know where the row ended, exactly, and cut off some of my Cipolini onions. I didn't get many to grow this year (started them from seed), and I had to have a talk with him. He made up for it by setting the strawberry runners though, or at least most of them. Yesterday I found a watermelon that was almost ready to pick. There are some melons out there too I need to double check the variety, but they are prolific!!!!
I feel like I am about 6-weeks behind, but I know it is only mid-August.
I am making some raised beds near the patio so I can plant some fall crops and be able to cover them with a hoop and still get something from them. The dang cottontails got our carrots and beets the first 3 times I planted them. Some of the carrots have come back, but not enough to make me happy. The cabbage needs to come in and kraut needs making. That is the man's job though
We will have a good crop of apples, and even one of the plum trees we planted this Spring has 4 plums on it!! We have a couple of American Plums that should give us something too. I will make some jelly or something with those, I think. We dug potatoes for DDs gnocchi for the fair. Those can be dug any time, but I think I will wait for the ground to dry a bit. It was like powder the other day, now it is mud. We got over an inch and a quarter today, so added to the 4 tenths or so the other day, it is a bit wet.
I have been getting as many pullet eggs lately as eggs from the older hens. The hens are starting their molt though, so that is justified. I do know that it isn't the heat as much that knocks them off laying as storms or big weather changes. I noticed that the first year I was breeding. The day a big low pressure system was rolling in, they wouldn't lay for beans. That goes for winter too. However, the heat does slow them a bit and some more than others.
I like wearing my daisy dukes, I think they are fun and not many guys my age can pull it off like I do!
Uh ha! I see you Ralphie in your cut offs.
Fed the chickens some treats in the run this evening. They tucked themselves in down there with the afternoon showers we were having. Kinda cozy down there and fun to mingle with them again. The busy-ness of summer has not allowed me as much time. But we're slowing down again and hopefully can get more chook time in. Plus they are out and about in the woods ranging so they keep busy themselves too.
Made some goulash tonight for supper. It was good. Kids loved it.
Interesting info Minnie on fodder. I'm always learning more. Love it. KlopKlop I would do the special fencing like you mentioned until the sprouts are more fibrous as you mentioned. Ralphie your field project sounds awesome too. Now I want to do DH loop over again with oats and such! Great ideas!
Fed the chickens some treats in the run this evening. They tucked themselves in down there with the afternoon showers we were having. Kinda cozy down there and fun to mingle with them again. The busy-ness of summer has not allowed me as much time. But we're slowing down again and hopefully can get more chook time in. Plus they are out and about in the woods ranging so they keep busy themselves too.
Made some goulash tonight for supper. It was good. Kids loved it.
Interesting info Minnie on fodder. I'm always learning more. Love it. KlopKlop I would do the special fencing like you mentioned until the sprouts are more fibrous as you mentioned. Ralphie your field project sounds awesome too. Now I want to do DH loop over again with oats and such! Great ideas!
KlopKlop
Crowing
One other thing I am looking into for this winter is Haylage. It is basically fermented chopped greens. I learned about it from a local guy and some research led me to this article:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...scale-silage-production-for-chicken-feed.aspx
I am thinking that I will wait for the second cut on my alfalfa field then give it a week or two to grow back. Once it comes up and is still tender I will mow a few strips off the end and catch the clippings. I will mix the alfalfa/grass clippings with some grains then bag it up in garbage bags and remove the air. It will then ferment and I can feed it on occasions this winter to add some additional variety to their winter diet. From what i understand the wont eat every piece of the haylage but the grains will provide nutrition and it will give them something to peck at for entertainment.
I usually dont like talking about things I am trying until after I have had a chance to test them out and see if they are even worth sharing but I figure we are all in this Minnesota Winter Wonderland together and our chooks deserve the best
http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...scale-silage-production-for-chicken-feed.aspx
I am thinking that I will wait for the second cut on my alfalfa field then give it a week or two to grow back. Once it comes up and is still tender I will mow a few strips off the end and catch the clippings. I will mix the alfalfa/grass clippings with some grains then bag it up in garbage bags and remove the air. It will then ferment and I can feed it on occasions this winter to add some additional variety to their winter diet. From what i understand the wont eat every piece of the haylage but the grains will provide nutrition and it will give them something to peck at for entertainment.
I usually dont like talking about things I am trying until after I have had a chance to test them out and see if they are even worth sharing but I figure we are all in this Minnesota Winter Wonderland together and our chooks deserve the best
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I am so buying an extra plastic garbage can to do this and start raking up those grass clippings. What a great idea. Cant wait to try it out this winter. I did try to put a decomposing hay bale in the run one year. they say the micro nutrients from decomposition and such are so good for the birds. Well the darn thing froze solid after the first week of winter of course and all I did was trip over it everytime I went in the run. I hope this Haylage at least leafs off or what have you. I wont be happy with silage-bergs that the chickens can't break apart and wasted effort. fingers crossed. What do you think Klop Klop? Do you think it will break apart easily even in frigid temps? Or do you think it will break down and get pretty moist then freeze up?One other thing I am looking into for this winter is Haylage. It is basically fermented chopped greens. I learned about it from a local guy and some research led me to this article:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...scale-silage-production-for-chicken-feed.aspx
I usually dont like talking about things I am trying until after I have had a chance to test them out and see if they are even worth sharing but I figure we are all in this Minnesota Winter Wonderland together and our chooks deserve the best
KlopKlop
Crowing
well based on what i have read you should mow the clippings in the morning when the dew is still on. they should be good and damp to promote the lactic fermentation. that said, I think you are right about them freezing solid. I hadn't even thought of that. I intend to do mine in very small garbage bags since one you open them they go bad quickly (once exposed to air). I think I may consider putting a few extra bag layers on and storing them in my basement then feeding the whole package to my two coops. They should be able to do work on it before it freezes.
sigh... at least they say we are looking at a mild winter this year
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