Surviving Minnesota!

[Dandelioness]

I need to paint. And the other night I couldn't sleep and brainstormed about how to fix up my nesting boxes in the coop to give me better out door access. The top lid is rotting underneath the shingles and it's always so heavy. I'm going to make smaller drop down doors I think that will allow for easier clean outs and use gravity to help open the door. I've thought of insulating those nesting areas as well to help reduce cracked eggs. But it may just be my silver bubble wrap to get that job done. I don't like the idea of lining the boxes with that stuff though. I like keeping it homey looking in the nest boxes. It's the girls' private time in those boxes. LOL. You know what I mean. They sit in there and reflect, lay their little gifts to me. I want everything zen for them. Not ....silver Bubble wrap.

I've been thinking about retro fitting my nest boxes as rollaways. Every so often, egg eating is an issue. I am able to handle it, but it's such a nuisance. They don't lay on the ground too often, because the dogs tend to brazenly eat those. Good and bad - they are better about sticking to the nest boxes because of that. I'm thinking, because of your project, I should line the holding area with silver bubble wrap. Yay! Another project idea!

Hi everyone! I found wifi lol! Ralph I see u have trained Lucky well! He is hard core anti-waterfowl! He chases them all over!! Lol well I am leaving and wont have internet again for awhile so TTYL!

#ducklivesmatter LOL Glad to hear from you, hope all is well with the flock and the family

The flies aren't bad yet and neither are the misquitos.

I've noticed that, too. With the rain and nice temps, I feel like there should be more bugs. I'm thankful though. Maybe the random cool snaps we've had are playing a part...

Beings we are speaking of Siggie's imminent demise from bad sushi. I have to tell you I almost died yesterday from some "fish soup thingy" at a place near UMD. I ordered this thing thinking I was getting a variety of fish and seafood on a plate. I got a bowl of fish soup, with shrimp, crab and mussels in it. By the time we got from Mount Royal to Adolph I was sick. My daughter assured me food poisoning does not come on that fast. I am not so sure. Luckily I lived to tell about it and feel great today... EJB is correct about the Adolph store if you happen to be going by it on Hwy 2, stop and get some meats, they are great. It is one of those places I could just sit in and soak up the odors of the smoked meat. It is so good in there. I do not know of anyplace with better meats, but that place off the beaten path in Isanti comes close...

The Isanti butcher is one of the few with a rep for giving you back the correct animal and not holding back meat. Van Meters in Luck, WI, and Swanks in Taylors Falls are good, too. And Cherry Hill. I never order mixed seafood! One thing at a time, thank you. I'm glad you're okay

At the rate you are upsetting Judy this week you might want to consider digging that hole a little bigger for the potatoes. Then ensure they have a proper sun and rain covering because I think you are going to need it.

LMBO!!

With the hot weather on it's way....I am thinking about freezing some fruit and veggies in a couple of ice block things. Anybody try this before....what size containers would you recommend. I'm thinking sour cream size containers, possibly a couple of ice cube trays. Thoughts?

I freeze small fruits and herbs (and diced peppers!) on a cookie sheet, then toss them in a 2-1/2-gallon freezer bag. They are nice and loose that way and you can take out what you need. Dehydrating and then freezing (or not) saves a lot of space, too.

@Siggie , think twice if any of us Minnesota folks invite you out to lunch I Snapped a few pictures out in the "Jungle". My kid found two new best friends - I'm glad they're too heavy for him to carry around all the time. And he feeds them worms so of course they adore him. Ignore his Lacrosse/hunting boots look! My little ones are loving it outside. They're around 9-10wks right now. Once old enough, I feel they grow faster when let out to free range. I have one chick that doesn't leave the coop and she's noticeably smaller. Coincidence? Maybe. I still believe it though. And the ducks......

Don't apologize! Some of our best candids are in muck boots. That's a happy kid there. Nice chicks!

 

[lvie]

Good Morning Chickeners (and Ralphie). Gonna turn on the AC because of the humidity. Did anyone else enjoy the thunder and rain overnight? Such a summer sound.

 

[Cluckies]

Mother hen Amy was nasty to her orphaned children today, she wouldn't let them go into the coop at bedtime! they kept trying and she would yell and chase them out   one got by under her radar and was snuggled up with the broody Cocoa who is sitting on 8 eggs with another week and a half to go... Cocoa seems tired she's 4 so I hope she an make it!!!!  Eventually I took Amy out and put her in the part of the coop I use for brooding chicks, which normally is my side to keep supplies. It is cleaned out of everything waiting for Cocoas chicks except for a shelf of stuff. Then finally Amy's chicks went inside and I took the one that was with Cocoa and placed it with the others in a nest box. Now that it is dark enough I'll go get Amy off the shelf and put her on the roost.  I never had so much trouble with a mother hen! ggrrrr. 

I got my main garden finished and came up to the house and found Edna the SLW that had sour crop had died. I had drained her crop again this morning and gave her an eyedropper of olive oil and she had been slowly wandering the yard. Just too old to handle it I guess.

So sorry about your girl, It's is always sad.

Morning lvie, Morning peeps. A little tired today. Went to a hootenanney last night with my papa his wife my brother and one of my sisters. Never been to one before, it is an experience! Could tell the folks were loving it. but didn't get home till late. Didn't get to see the girls though, just cleaned the coop and went to bed. We had thunder and lightening, very little rain. Have a great day everyone!

 

[Cebarmlds]

GM all. No rain or storms here but it's a cloudy chilly morning.

 

[duluthralphie]

I liked the thunder and rain. I did not get up to see how hard it was raining, but it sounded hard.

I have no idea where I got them but I picked 3 ticks off me last night. Maybe the thunder brought them.

 

[destiny_56085]

G'morning. The storms down here started about 4:30. Got about half an inch of rain and reports of pea sized hail around town. It rumbled all night though. I think I finally have to cave and turn the AC on. Supposed to get mighty humid next few days.

For my 20 year anniversary at work I got to pick a present out of a catalog... I choose a 4 burner Char-broil propane grill. Invited my whole family over last night for steaks, burgers, and brats. Potatoes and onions in tin foil and used up a lot of the asparagus I picked last week too. My brother got stuck with most of the cooking since I had someone call to come get chicks too.

Officially shut down the big 600 egg Leahy last Friday. Its been on since last October and has been full most of the spring. So it felt good to finally say I'm done. Youngest batch of chicks shipped off to Oregon on Monday and rest went to that gal last night. All my downstairs brooders cleaned out and shut off. Most of chicks in garage went out to the barn now and tore down almost all those brooders too. I have just 1 brooder left out there with a few peafowl chicks and BL polish chicks that I'm keeping. Another 2 weeks or so and I can park my truck in there again....

I've been outside almost all week. Had to mow twice, the weeds are going nuts in the gardens all of a sudden, farrier came, and had 1 load of hay come yesterday afternoon. I'm happy to go to work for the next 4 days....it will feel like a break!

 

[MinnesotaNice]

You could probably do the frozen treat thing just in a cube tray also. Blueberries, rasberries, mint leaves...you name it.

That's an excellent idea. I have some early blueberries I'll have to freeze in water later.

 

[duluthralphie]

G'morning. The storms down here started about 4:30. Got about half an inch of rain and reports of pea sized hail around town. It rumbled all night though. I think I finally have to cave and turn the AC on. Supposed to get mighty humid next few days.

For my 20 year anniversary at work I got to pick a present out of a catalog... I choose a 4 burner Char-broil propane grill. Invited my whole family over last night for steaks, burgers, and brats. Potatoes and onions in tin foil and used up a lot of the asparagus I picked last week too. My brother got stuck with most of the cooking since I had someone call to come get chicks too.

Officially shut down the big 600 egg Leahy last Friday. Its been on since last October and has been full most of the spring. So it felt good to finally say I'm done. Youngest batch of chicks shipped off to Oregon on Monday and rest went to that gal last night. All my downstairs brooders cleaned out and shut off. Most of chicks in garage went out to the barn now and tore down almost all those brooders too. I have just 1 brooder left out there with a few peafowl chicks and BL polish chicks that I'm keeping. Another 2 weeks or so and I can park my truck in there again....

I've been outside almost all week. Had to mow twice, the weeds are going nuts in the gardens all of a sudden, farrier came, and had 1 load of hay come yesterday afternoon. I'm happy to go to work for the next 4 days....it will feel like a break!

I want a 600 egg incubator and hatcher!!


I am getting close to shutting down mine. I need more guinea eggs though. At the same time I need the guineas to run free and kill ticks for me. It is amazing what a difference they do on the bugs. I have the one Guinea hen for sale CHEAP!!!! This is the one doing life in prison with no chance of parole. I might just eat her this summer. I have 14 eggs under the PC, plus those in the incubator now.

I just received 25 turkey eggs from Porters Rare turkeys yesterday. They will go into the incubator today, I need to wash and disinfect them, then find space in the incubator.

I owe Coffee 20 Keets and A woman in Ogilvie wants some. Holm wants some eggs, other than that I am done, I think. If any of you want mellow well trained Guineas let me know before I open the gate on them. I would like to have another hen go broody so I could give her more guinea eggs.

I am going to let Ethel Jr and the un-named Hen out of their cage today, I think they have a nest in their cage/coop and will return to it when the sit. (At least I hope so). It is time to transition from spring to summer.

I hope to build fences today, unless it gets too hot and I do nothing.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Good Morning all.

No rain here yet...but the skies are threatening it. Little bit of sun peeking. But off to the west, I see rain clouds...we might get some drops.

Mowed the lawn last night until I couldn't see. I ran out of gas and left the mower in the middle of the yard. Need to finish that up.

Car is getting the AC fixed in preparation of our heat.

Cabinet maker came over and did measurements for my vanity in the downstairs bathroom. It's going to be cute. Can't wait. Barnwood and currogated steel! woot. Vessel sink is here. My vanity top is sitting at Menards --as I had to special order that. Bought the toilet! Never been so excited for a toilet.
Waiting on PVC drop ceiling tiles (they look like tin but are cheaper) And then I'm going to have to figure out my T-grid system. It's coming together~!

The chicks are growing so FAST! Last night we found a couple of June-bugs for June and Patsy. Patsy the little Wellie is high chick in the brooder and she took the first bug playing chase with June the little EE. We found June's June bug and threw that in. She is ferocious! No chase. She just started shaking and hammering on her June bug and had it down before Patsy stopped her chasing around--"you can't have my bug" manuevers. Lots of time out in my perreniel/herb garden which they love. I supervise much of the time. I don't trust the little hawks that have zoomed through the yard now and again. They can't take my big birds. But Patsy and June would make a nice easy snack I'm afraid.

 

[Siggie]

I try to plant cover crops in areas I haven't been able to plant some years, to keep weeds at bay. The beds where I don't get so weedy the next year I've got to throw down cardboard and a ton of animal bedding (okay, maybe a half-ton). You could even cover with cardboard or newspaper now and just start adding compost and bedding as they are available.

I'm still selling pastured meat birds, but I'm thinking of moving away from moving a pen or two each day and just putting a night house made of panels and pins so I can put them in the sheep/horse pasture when a pasture has been grazed. So far, they are doing a good job scratching up the horse and goat and sheep poo back into the soil. Not much for predators gets into no-climb horse fence, and our dogs walk the perimeter each night. Right now, I'm leaving a pasture pen as the night house and they put themselves to bed each night. But all that to say, having the shelter right on the edge of your step-in fence post area might help streamline your evening chores. Keep moving the fence, but keep the night house accessible. Kind of orbit the pen as long as you can, just move every week or so.
I've had good luck using organic potatoes as seed potatoes in the past. Between the gophers and low-carbing, I'm not messing with potatoes this year! But it's not too late to plant if you like new potatoes.
Hey, Jerry - it's so exciting to see young loved ones reach adulthood. I have one turning 18 this year, and it's been a real blessing to see him become a young man.
The wild strawberries are rampant at my place. I have some blueberry bushes I'm watching. The wild black caps are still green, but they are legion this year! I just send my kids out to eat some fruit while I make sandwiches this time of year. We do teach plant ID, and they're very good about it.
I loved the sushi/sashimi when living in Japan and Hawaii. Sakura in St. Paul is the best home cooking I've found in MN. Spendy, but worth it! Were you stationed in Japan at some point?

A friend introduced me to sushi about 8 years ago and I have been eating it ever since. I have never been over seas but hope to get to Germany and England some day before I die.

I've been thinking about retro fitting my nest boxes as rollaways. Every so often, egg eating is an issue. I am able to handle it, but it's such a nuisance. They don't lay on the ground too often, because the dogs tend to brazenly eat those. Good and bad - they are better about sticking to the nest boxes because of that.
I'm thinking, because of your project, I should line the holding area with silver bubble wrap. Yay! Another project idea!
#ducklivesmatter LOL
Glad to hear from you, hope all is well with the flock and the family
I've noticed that, too. With the rain and nice temps, I feel like there should be more bugs. I'm thankful though. Maybe the random cool snaps we've had are playing a part...
The Isanti butcher is one of the few with a rep for giving you back the correct animal and not holding back meat. Van Meters in Luck, WI, and Swanks in Taylors Falls are good, too. And Cherry Hill.

I never order mixed seafood! One thing at a time, thank you. I'm glad you're okay
LMBO!!
I freeze small fruits and herbs (and diced peppers!) on a cookie sheet, then toss them in a 2-1/2-gallon freezer bag. They are nice and loose that way and you can take out what you need.

Dehydrating and then freezing (or not) saves a lot of space, too.
Don't apologize! Some of our best candids are in muck boots. That's a happy kid there. Nice chicks!

I have an opportunity to get some scrap 2" rigid insulation...was wondering if I could build a next box system that is insulated on 5 sides (with the front open of course) do you think that could help the eggs from freezing in the winter or is it a moot point because of the front being open?

Good Morning all.

No rain here yet...but the skies are threatening it. Little bit of sun peeking. But off to the west, I see rain clouds...we might get some drops.

Mowed the lawn last night until I couldn't see. I ran out of gas and left the mower in the middle of the yard. Need to finish that up.

Car is getting the AC fixed in preparation of our heat.

Cabinet maker came over and did measurements for my vanity in the downstairs bathroom. It's going to be cute. Can't wait. Barnwood and currogated steel! woot. Vessel sink is here. My vanity top is sitting at Menards --as I had to special order that. Bought the toilet! Never been so excited for a toilet.
Waiting on PVC drop ceiling tiles (they look like tin but are cheaper) And then I'm going to have to figure out my T-grid system. It's coming together~!

The chicks are growing so FAST! Last night we found a couple of June-bugs for June and Patsy. Patsy the little Wellie is high chick in the brooder and she took the first bug playing chase with June the little EE. We found June's June bug and threw that in. She is ferocious! No chase. She just started shaking and hammering on her June bug and had it down before Patsy stopped her chasing around--"you can't have my bug" manuevers. Lots of time out in my perreniel/herb garden which they love. I supervise much of the time. I don't trust the little hawks that have zoomed through the yard now and again. They can't take my big birds. But Patsy and June would make a nice easy snack I'm afraid.

No rain, no rumbling here ....just a lot of sunny sky right now. your bathroom sounds pretty cool! I have corrugated metal and pallet wood on my TV-room walls in the basement and the bathroom walls in the basement. I want to change out the vanity and do a rustic cabinet with a concrete counter and galvanized metal wash tub for the sink! Money is the only thing holding me back ha ha!

Gave the chickens a bucket of grubs I dug out of my garden the other day....WOW what a party that was!! The whole chasing each other thing and stealing the bugs is a hoot!!