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jbenson said:
It is possible for a chick to be too big to properly turn all the way based on the size of the egg. I have had this a few times. I always thought this is why it is not recommended to hatch pullet eggs if they are extra small, but to select for uniform overall size. I have had some small eggs pip in the middle due too big a chick. They usually can't be saved when that happens. I also have had chicks get mostly out only to take too long and get glued to the shell resulting in my having to peel them and bathe them before returning them to the Bator to dry.
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I agree. That is the case sometimes. I toss eggs that I think are too small for people eating or just crack them and let the birds have a little extra treat right there.
That is the case also when crossing up the bantam hens with LF roosters. If you end up with chicks that are too large for the shell, they tend to perish before they can postition.
 
Cyrus83 said:
Ive been pitch forking that dirt for two days and a case of beer and my back is killing me. when Im walking I look like a frog that stood up and put on a pair of pants.
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I hate to say it, but if this is the first year from sod to garden, you have LOTS of grass and weeds to pull. Make your rows wide enough to get a walk behind tiller through and hand weed between plants. That is my advice. We do some huge gardens and I know from experience, trying to get more rows to cram more stuff in the garden is futile. You will hate it. And if your back hurts now? Wait until you have been weeding on your hands and knees for hours. We don't use chemicals of any kind near our gardens, so sometimes it does get away from us. Last year we had a jungle in the tomatoes, but with 60 tomato plants and as many peppers, it was insane while trying to do all my poultry stuff. This year, I am doing things a little differently though and cutting back on both ends so I can enjoy more of the birds and the blooms and the fruits of labor. Also, mulch, mulch and more mulch with help keep those weeds down. We have had success in the past with taking paper grocery bags, or feed bags, and then dumping grass clippings on those for mulching down the weeds.
BUT speaking of fruits....
My DH dragged me (like I would need dragging) to go shopping for fruit trees and perennials at Sagents in Red Wing. We are going back tomorrow with the trailer to bring home at least 4 fruit trees - pears, plums, and if i have my way, cherries. We already have 9 apple trees (which we have lost our property map showing which is what variety). We had to remove several big, old silver maples in the last few years, so now we are also planting to replace those areas with something other than more grass to mow. I just bought us a new John Deere lawn tractor last year to do the 8+ hours of mowing we have weekly, and even though we all love driving it, we DON'T need more grass.
We are both certain, my DH and I that I have lost all sense of reality and I live in a dream world where I can do EVERYthing there is to do around our property. LOL!!
 
So many exciting events happening! Puppies!!! Congratulations @Bogtown & @Coldupnorth. I love puppy training, start them out right from the beginning & have a great dog for the rest of their life.

@Rhetts & @holm25 congrats on the ducks/eggs.

And really I lost track on the turkey talk, so anyone that has turkeys hatching, woohoo! @duluthralphie your turkeys are beautiful.

Gotta love Spring! Can you tell I'm catching up again. BYC isn't real mobile friendly & I don't get on the computer that often anymore.
 
Minniechickmama said:
I hate to say it, but if this is the first year from sod to garden, you have LOTS of grass and weeds to pull. Make your rows wide enough to get a walk behind tiller through and hand weed between plants. That is my advice. We do some huge gardens and I know from experience, trying to get more rows to cram more stuff in the garden is futile. You will hate it. And if your back hurts now? Wait until you have been weeding on your hands and knees for hours. We don't use chemicals of any kind near our gardens, so sometimes it does get away from us. Last year we had a jungle in the tomatoes, but with 60 tomato plants and as many peppers, it was insane while trying to do all my poultry stuff. This year, I am doing things a little differently though and cutting back on both ends so I can enjoy more of the birds and the blooms and the fruits of labor. Also, mulch, mulch and more mulch with help keep those weeds down. We have had success in the past with taking paper grocery bags, or feed bags, and then dumping grass clippings on those for mulching down the weeds.
BUT speaking of fruits....
My DH dragged me (like I would need dragging) to go shopping for fruit trees and perennials at Sagents in Red Wing. We are going back tomorrow with the trailer to bring home at least 4 fruit trees - pears, plums, and if i have my way, cherries. We already have 9 apple trees (which we have lost our property map showing which is what variety). We had to remove several big, old silver maples in the last few years, so now we are also planting to replace those areas with something other than more grass to mow. I just bought us a new John Deere lawn tractor last year to do the 8+ hours of mowing we have weekly, and even though we all love driving it, we DON'T need more grass.
We are both certain, my DH and I that I have lost all sense of reality and I live in a dream world where I can do EVERYthing there is to do around our property. LOL!!
Click to expand...

Fruit trees require a happy dance! I understand the mowing situation. When we mow the front field, it's 5+ hrs. I have a couple of scary hills that I leave for my fearless son to mow. We have a commercial Steiner & I scares me on those hills. It started sliding one time on me so I just ran it into a tree & got my son. He rode a controlled skid down the hill. My vote is to get rid of the grass on that steep slope & to fence off the other hill for the Alpacas. I guess I can keep dreaming.
 
Unfortunately I wasn't in the Dakotas for pleasure, but rather to upgrade some AT&T cell towers. The Dakotas are about the worst place on the planet to go climb towers, the wind is always howling and most of them are 300 or more feet tall. I had to go up one that was 600 and to boot it had FM broadcast antennas on it so I had to wear a ghost buster looking RF protection suit so I wouldn't get radiation and lose my ability to produce children. So I guess all in all I'm happy to be back home too my lady, kids, chickens and soon to be groovy garden. But I do love the western Dakotas for fun visiting, beautiful country.
 
I have toads! (one toad) Just to refresh you Toads are CX and Dixie rainbow chicks.


Here are the proud mother(s):



And here is the proud father on receiving the news:




And here is the baby:




I am so glad I have this chicken genetics down pat!
 
Cyrus83 said:
Unfortunately I wasn't in the Dakotas for pleasure, but rather to upgrade some AT&T cell towers. The Dakotas are about the worst place on the planet to go climb towers, the wind is always howling and most of them are 300 or more feet tall. I had to go up one that was 600 and to boot it had FM broadcast antennas on it so I had to wear a ghost buster looking RF protection suit so I wouldn't get radiation and lose my ability to produce children. So I guess all in all I'm happy to be back home too my lady, kids, chickens and soon to be groovy garden. But I do love the western Dakotas for fun visiting, beautiful country.
Click to expand...


I cannot really think of anyplace I would call a "good" place to climb a tower....


That is why God made helicopters, so people would no longer need to climb.
 
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