Surviving Minnesota!

[lvie]

How do the gnats affect the chickens?

 

[lvie]

How do the gnats affect the chickens?

The sun is shining - I have to get outside to weed my garden! LOL - forget about catching up in the house! Attitudinal change! Move it - move it - move it. LOL

 

[Siggie]

We have almost always had good crops when we cared well for our gardens. One year though, I had huge pepper plants that didn't bear any fruit. That was a weird year for a lot of people though. We had a good crop of asparagus and ate it enough so I don't need any more until next year. I won't buy it in the store, I just like it fresh cut from home. The apple trees already have baby apples, and the fruit trees we put in last year, some already have baby fruits on them too. We have a pathetic raspberry patch near the hops. That ground just isn't good for those berries, they have never done well in that spot. We have another started and are moving plants to yet another spot as well on the East end of one of the gardens.

The garlic is looking awesome!!!! We can tell the variety we will NOT be planting again. it will still get eaten though and I can use more in the sauces I will be making this Summer. I LOOOOOVE me some garlic!!!

I love ducks, they are hilarious, but I am glad I don't have any this year.

The cool breeze feels good! The heat just makes me move slower.


Well, now that the first timers are 'broken in' with freshening, the next time shouldn't be as hard on them. I remember first time heifers who accidentally got bred to bulls that throw big calves and it wasn't pretty to see what they went through. Doing cow episiotomies wasn't something we did often, but there was an occasional one.
Your sis called me today. I have some dark color birds for her to pick from. That is sad, Daisy was such a cute little girl! She came from my project of bantams and was the only one with that color and bearded.


Well, I laughed. I have never known a group of chickens to do anything except the opposite of what I wanted them to do. I moved birds for most of the day and cleaned. I am covered from top to bottom with stink and dust. I should be in the shower, but had to get off my feet for a bit. You are best off moving them at night when they can't see you coming for them.

LOL! It was a hoot and a little scary at the same time, I had them freaking out in the dog crate as I pulled them from the brooder but as soon as we got outside they became little pancakes lying flat as we tracked out to the coop! - but all are in there new home safe and sound. They all explored the roosting bars and a few immediately made themselves at home, got up on a roost, tucked their heads in their wing and took a nap! When I fed them this morning they weren't all frantic waiting for their food like usual. They were all chirping and walking around scratching.

Good news. Daisy, my sisters white bantam turned up. Alive! Just as she was driving in with Viola a replacement from Minnie! Lol. Figures.

Sad news. My big beautiful orange rooster. My NH. Roger. Found dead this morning below the roost. I think the cough and sneeze was that chronic air sac disease. He was a gorgeous boy that took such fine care of his girls. I will miss him greatly. Oh my Big tootsie....

I'm so sorry to hear about your rooster, he was beautiful

but good news about your sisters white bantam!

LOL! That's great news! Excited for your MN Australorp project, too!
Cool, thanks for the update

The weather has been great for the garden this spring!
I need to go back and start weeding and also start getting perennials put in around the foundation of the house. My tree guy brought another load of chips and I am stoked!

It's sad when a good roo passes on. I still look for a couple of my favorites in the yard sometimes. Nice pics of him doing his thing.

Yes, it's always fun moving them around LOL
I'm playing musical chickens myself tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!

Good luck on your move! Got most of my veggies and herbs in their seedling pots (my greenhouse isn't built yet) I am way behind on that but oh well.... my potatoes and strawberries have to wait until tomorrow to be planted...my back couldn't take anymore yesterday!

 

[I Love Layers]

Loaded up all the birds that I'm selling and headed to Cole harbor!

 

[Siggie]

A few pics of my peeps just chillin' in their new home....
















Then the last pic shows my coop after I stained it and got the removable window in the door!

 

[I Love Layers]

What kind of wood shavings do you buy @Siggie

 

[Siggie]

they are just your standard pine shavings....it may look funny in my coop because I have about 4" of our own pine chips mixed with pine needles from when we chipped all are downed trees. I put that down first and then the shavings on top. Of course they are scratching and mixing it up good!! I am going to be doing the deep litter method, I just need to get more pine shavings because I can't take anything from outside because it is so wet right now

 

[I Love Layers]

 they are just your standard pine shavings....it may look funny in my coop because I have about 4" of our own pine chips mixed with pine needles from when we chipped all are downed trees.  I put that down first and then the shavings on top.  Of course they are scratching and mixing it up good!!   I am going to be doing the deep litter method, I just need to get more pine shavings because I can't take anything from outside because it is so wet right now :/

I tried deep liter but it didn't work for me

 

[Siggie]

what went wrong that it didn't work? What should I be watching for? I am hoping it does for me.

 

[I Love Layers]

what went wrong that it didn't work?  What should I be watching for?  I am hoping it does for me. 

My coop is an old grainery, and my ducks kept making messes with the water..