Minnesota!

lal, fortunately, we are having this great weather so putting her back out in a few days won't be quite so bad as if we were getting normal temps!

I lost one of my two my oldest hens during the night, Sweety She has been acting fine, running around still with the few birds that haven't been locked up for winter, since she kept flying the coop, by going over the tops of the outdoor runs and out the end until I closed it off Monday. Then yesterday, she was all hunched up and her comb was looking an off color. I picked her up and she weighed nothing. Usually when there is something that causes them to be physically stressed and have their breathing cut off or a heart attack, they are laid out with one leg stretched. She looked like she just passed in her sleep, sitting with her head down. Poor baby. I knew she was too far gone when I found her yesterday like I did. I hate that too when they are fine, then just up and die.
I don't really name my birds, but she was from when the kids were still as excited with chicks and the birds as I was, so she got a name. I will miss her.

I sold the last of the excess Silkies I had, a rooster and 3 hens. I cleaned some of the brooder house out and moved the birds in there. I discovered that one pullet had to be put down. Ticks me off. It was a Faverolle pullet that when I had tried to combine her and her sisters with some other bantams, she got her vent pecked up really bad. I had cleaned it and sprayed it and let it heal. Well, there was too much damage I discovered when I saw poop just plastering to her back side. That makes me angry to find because it is just aggressiveness in birds to do that kind of stuff.
I have been working on deworming and treating for creepy crawlies with a topical similar to Frontline. Almost everyone has molted and gotten their feathers back in, so I need to get that finished up and get the eggs rolling out again. I got a new pullet laying, one of the Blue Cochins, and I got an egg from one of the New Hampshire hens too. So, the lights are apparently working.
I hate this weather in that everything is so damp right now. I can't get all the pens cleaned fast enough to make sure there isn't anything from the dirty litter that can start up a problem. I have finally got my plans all figured out for how I am remodeling the interior and putting different doors in the bid building where the breeders will be, but I also have to replace a section of the floor in one end pen since the door was used and poorly installed and moisture ruined to floor right inside of it, and mice have had a feast chewing the floor up along that same corner. I think I am going to put down Hardibacker rather than just more wood. If the weather forecast is right, then I should have enough good days to get that all done. I sure hope so.

I should go figure out something for dinner. I made cookies with my oldest last night when he came up with his girlfriend. Since he took those with him, we can have that ;)

You all have a fine evening.
 
still think those are sooo gorgeous.

Just wait until you see the hammers! i just got in from the shop. the handles are currently setting so i left them out there. I am very happy with how they turned out. I need to get some length of dowel so i can make the tool totes for them next. Our family is gathering next weekend, so i am on a deadline! more photos to come later on, i've got to get chicken chores done now then dinner plans in town with my BIL.
 
Just wait until you see the hammers! i just got in from the shop. the handles are currently setting so i left them out there. I am very happy with how they turned out. I need to get some length of dowel so i can make the tool totes for them next. Our family is gathering next weekend, so i am on a deadline! more photos to come later on, i've got to get chicken chores done now then dinner plans in town with my BIL.
Tada! Cherry heads with hickory handles



 
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minniechickmama, sorry about Sweetie.

I'm not so fond of this wet weather either, snow melting and my driveway is muddier than all get out.
THe chicken run is doing ok because of all the leaves I threw in there

Klopklop,......keeps getting better. what ages are the lucky kids getting your mastercraft work?

And Scandiafowl, hope you get to sit down with a decent whiskey to relax after your day.

Got half the xmas decorations out. So the place is in that mess with boxes, etc. Plus sick chicken stuff (towels, blow dryer, electrolytes, feed containers). CHristmas cookie tins everywhere. I kind of get restless and cranky when its a mess because my place is small so one thing out is bad, and this... and I don't forsee a good shot at getting it looking good for a few days at least.

Tomorrow I head to the cities for the day, my elderly mother wants me to fix her xmas light strings and I'm having a heck of a time convincing her that we will just go get some new ones She's adamant that surely I could fix the wiring (???). And, I get to see my grandaughter.
 
minniechickmama, sorry about Sweetie.

I'm not so fond of this wet weather either, snow melting and my driveway is muddier than all get out.  
THe chicken run is doing ok because of all the leaves I threw in there

Klopklop,......keeps getting better.  what ages are the lucky kids getting your mastercraft work?

And Scandiafowl, hope you get to sit down with a decent whiskey to relax after your day.  

Got half the xmas decorations out.  So the place is in that mess with boxes, etc.  Plus sick chicken stuff (towels, blow dryer, electrolytes, feed containers). CHristmas cookie tins everywhere.   I kind of get restless and cranky when its a mess because my place is small so one thing out is bad, and this...  and I don't forsee a good shot at getting it looking good for a few days at least.  

Tomorrow I head to the cities for the day, my elderly mother wants me to fix her xmas light strings and I'm having a heck of a time convincing her that we will just go get some new ones  She's adamant that surely I could fix the wiring (???).  And, I get to see my grandaughter.  


My nephews are 2, 2.5, and 5. I also have nieces 8 and 11. They younger 2 will grow into the toys :)
 
Minnie sorry to hear about the loss of your birds
sad.png
how old was Sweety?

Thanks. She was coming up on 5 years. I don't think that I have ever had one die that just looked like it bowed its head and fell asleep like she did. It almost look peaceful, but I am sure she was feeling bad from her appearance yesterday. It is all part of this whole deal of raising animals. Now the oldest one is one of my two remaining Minorca hens, Minnie. LOL My DH laughed at me whenI told him about her. She was the one that laid eggs for almost a month in the corner of the granary in the dark before we discovered her. There were 24 bright, white eggs in that nest. Next to her in age are two roosters, my now calico, one-eyed, combless, wattleless Welsummer rooster who is going to be 4 and a Blue Cochin I called Old Blue (cuz there is a younger Blue rooster I kept last year, but now I have to figure out what to call the two Blue ones I kept from this year's hatch!
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) I am pretty sure Sweetie and Minnie are the last of the hatchery birds I have left out here. I have about 5 that I bought from other breeders and the rest are all birds I hatched myself from my own flock. That is kind of cool, now that I think of it.
 

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