Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

I asked for chickens for my birthday, in November, since I was 5.
I got some on June 5, 2013 when I was 12.
I had a ducks a year before but they were eaten by a raccoon, who I mercilessly shot to death after trapping.
For my 14 birthday I asked for another chicken coop. Did it happen? No. Instead my dad put in 2 windows, one you have to use a nail to close it and the top always falls down, the other window never stays up and leaks. We also painted it red, but I had to do 3/4 the painting...
This year hopefully I will get my new chicken coop, or even a chick coop
I love selling birds to younger kids though. The best was when I sold a family, who came for 3 ducks, one of my orange chantecler roosters they were so impressed with him

You kids are miles ahead of where I was at your age in that kind of stuff. It impresses me....... I wanted nothing to do with the farm then, I was going to be a doctor not a farmer..

I can understand your joy at having a family come and take 3 ducks! You do not find people that gullible everyday of the week!!!!!!!!

I had beef cows as a kid and I did like having them though. I remember being falsely accused by a music teacher one of 2 belly button teacher I had in 7th grade, of knocking over some drums. I have no idea who did it, I do know it was not me. He made a big deal of talking about the drums costing 300 dollars ( a LOT of money back then) and asking me if I had to pay for it where would a kid like me get that kind of money?

I being a stubborn kid, said I would not pay for something I did not do, but if I needed to come up with the money I suppose I would sell one of my steers. He looked at me shocked and made some comment about I had "steers"? And I could sell them? When I said yes to both the conversation ended. When I told my folks about this they were not happy, When I told the guy I baled hay for about it he was not happy. The teacher did something bad, I have no idea what but he was gone within about 3 months. (the guy I baled hay for happen to be the chairmen of the school board. I always wondered if that had anything to do with it.......

And to prove "karma" exists the other bellybutton teacher and I met some years later on hwy 10 just outside of Anoka, He as driving 68 mph in his fancy car, I was freshly out of State Patrol Rookie school and driving my pretty Maroon Ford. One of us enjoyed that chance encounter, the other did not......









Just to put this in context for all you younger people like BC and Erli,,,, Back then the state was very heavy into 55 mph everywhere!

 

[duluthralphie]

Oh, one more thing before my day starts for real..

I got a text from Coffee.

She has progressed so much in her chicken wrangling career!

Remember her two roosters, James and Roostie, and how much she loved them. The last time I saw her a month or so ago she was talking about James becoming a bellybutton and she was not sure what she was going to do with him. I simply said you cannot have a mean rooster around because of grandkids and they are not worth the bother there are too many good ones. I told her to do the same things I told Ivie to do with Tom Hanks. Ton Hanks learned to be good to Ivie. James did not take to schooling as well as Tom did.

This is the text I got from her word for word, (at 5:58 am)

Just letting u know James is going night night. He has been aggressive lately and this morning when I went to open the coop and take the water dish out of the coop he came at me. I had to beat him off with the water bucket.

In another text she just wrote:

He is a big boy


I am just amazed at her speed in changing from city girl that could never hurt a fly to a farm gal that will do what needs to be done. I wish she had internet so you could all see the transformation. BTW I see the same transformation in others too, being a "farm kid" it is fun to watch.

Now if what ever idiot made the rule in Minneapolis that coops have to be kept no colder than 34 degrees could make the same transformation...

 

[Siggie]

This was the worst week of my chicken years.

Today I lost one of the juveniles, a hawk probably.
5 minutes before I had counted all 7 then went to close the garden gate and came back to close the coop thinking they were all inside. The adults were but didn't see the juvies anywhere. Walked all around calling finally three came running and went in, then found 1 dead laying in the weeds. Puncture wounds to the head. Eventually found the other 3 hiding under a brush pile afraid to come out but got them inside.
Saturday I culled an old girl that wasn't doing well. Thursday Goldie died. Tuesday Edna died.
It has been every other day, I'm afraid of what might happen Wednesday

I have no words of wisdom except "things will get better. After all the cruddy stuff you have gone through lately, the odds are with you!"

I wish I had some GLW, they are so striking!

They ARE, aren't they

they are a little more stand offish though than my Barred Rocks or my Australorps.

You kids are miles ahead of where I was at your age in that kind of stuff. It impresses me....... I wanted nothing to do with the farm then, I was going to be a doctor not a farmer..

I can understand your joy at having a family come and take 3 ducks! You do not find people that gullible everyday of the week!!!!!!!!

I had beef cows as a kid and I did like having them though. I remember being falsely accused by a music teacher one of 2 belly button teacher I had in 7th grade, of knocking over some drums. I have no idea who did it, I do know it was not me. He made a big deal of talking about the drums costing 300 dollars ( a LOT of money back then) and asking me if I had to pay for it where would a kid like me get that kind of money?

I being a stubborn kid, said I would not pay for something I did not do, but if I needed to come up with the money I suppose I would sell one of my steers. He looked at me shocked and made some comment about I had "steers"? And I could sell them? When I said yes to both the conversation ended. When I told my folks about this they were not happy, When I told the guy I baled hay for about it he was not happy. The teacher did something bad, I have no idea what but he was gone within about 3 months. (the guy I baled hay for happen to be the chairmen of the school board. I always wondered if that had anything to do with it.......

And to prove "karma" exists the other bellybutton teacher and I met some years later on hwy 10 just outside of Anoka, He as driving 68 mph in his fancy car, I was freshly out of State Patrol Rookie school and driving my pretty Maroon Ford. One of us enjoyed that chance encounter, the other did not......









Just to put this in context for all you younger people like BC and Erli,,,, Back then the state was very heavy into 55 mph everywhere!

I grew up in Chicago (I hear the condolences coming) it wasn't so bad, my grandma still found room in her tiny yard to plant veggies and always canned her tomatoes and pickled her cucumbers at the end of the season. For as long as I could remember, I loved animals and wanted to live on a farm. I asked for a horse every birthday, finally got them on my own at age 44 - got tired of asking (ha ha ) At 18 I was going to go to school to be a veterinarian but got married instead so let that be a lesson to you youngsters - follow your dreams FIRST!!!! (because I am NOT a veterinarian) Unless of course you have no dreams...then go ahead and get married.

aaahhhh Karma..... the memories of meeting people later in life who made your life hell when you were younger! Been there and will always savor those moments of realization on their faces....priceless!

Oh, one more thing before my day starts for real..

I got a text from Coffee.

She has progressed so much in her chicken wrangling career!

Remember her two roosters, James and Roostie, and how much she loved them. The last time I saw her a month or so ago she was talking about James becoming a bellybutton and she was not sure what she was going to do with him. I simply said you cannot have a mean rooster around because of grandkids and they are not worth the bother there are too many good ones. I told her to do the same things I told Ivie to do with Tom Hanks. Ton Hanks learned to be good to Ivie. James did not take to schooling as well as Tom did.

This is the text I got from her word for word, (at 5:58 am)

Just letting u know James is going night night. He has been aggressive lately and this morning when I went to open the coop and take the water dish out of the coop he came at me. I had to beat him off with the water bucket.

In another text she just wrote:

He is a big boy


I am just amazed at her speed in changing from city girl that could never hurt a fly to a farm gal that will do what needs to be done. I wish she had internet so you could all see the transformation. BTW I see the same transformation in others too, being a "farm kid" it is fun to watch.

Now if what ever idiot made the rule in Minneapolis that coops have to be kept no colder than 34 degrees could make the same transformation...

I am hoping I have a couple of mean ones so I don't have to be upset when I cut their heads off! It will be tough if they are sweet and loving and then I have to kill them.....still working some of that city girl out of me as well

 

[Siggie]

Erli: my condolences that is a totally sucky week of chickening. Well maybe you've already grieved your older girls or something-- knowing they're future. But the young ones with so much potential--well that is sad.

Today I looked out and hens were everywhere. This flock without a rooster is not a good scenario. Loretta albeit a strong looking female welsummer chick has a pinking comb and darker feathers. I should get some photos and see what you all think. Her breast is still salmon color but compared to the chick in the brooder she looks different. Idk...

I've got a rooster or two that can be rehomed if you are interested

 

[duluthralphie]

I have no words of wisdom except "things will get better. After all the cruddy stuff you have gone through lately, the odds are with you!"
They ARE, aren't they

they are a little more stand offish though than my Barred Rocks or my Australorps.

I grew up in Chicago (I hear the condolences coming) it wasn't so bad, my grandma still found room in her tiny yard to plant veggies and always canned her tomatoes and pickled her cucumbers at the end of the season. For as long as I could remember, I loved animals and wanted to live on a farm. I asked for a horse every birthday, finally got them on my own at age 44 - got tired of asking (ha ha ) At 18 I was going to go to school to be a veterinarian but got married instead so let that be a lesson to you youngsters - follow your dreams FIRST!!!! (because I am NOT a veterinarian) Unless of course you have no dreams...then go ahead and get married. Was your Grandma by chance named Mrs O'Leary?

aaahhhh Karma..... the memories of meeting people later in life who made your life hell when you were younger! Been there and will always savor those moments of realization on their faces....priceless!v It took a considerable "hinting" and asking.. "gee, I think I should know you" type stuff for him to realize I was an old student of his...... I was not going to stop hinting until he knew.....Matter of fact two weeks ago I was at a party with some old school mates and his name came up...I was not the only one that thought he was a Belly button.. When the name came up I felt obliged to mention his illegal actions and the consequences. I got 3 free adult beverages and grats all around from them for this one act.. More Karma for a good deed done well.....

I am hoping I have a couple of mean ones so I don't have to be upset when I cut their heads off! It will be tough if they are sweet and loving and then I have to kill them.....still working some of that city girl out of me as well

If you grew up in Chicago and now live in rural Finland, personally, I think you have nearly completed the journey from farm girl.....

 

[Siggie]

Ha ha....no. She wasn't born yet. She was born in 1919

 

[duluthralphie]

Ha ha....no. She wasn't born yet. She was born in 1919

Youngun!!!


1919 is parent birth range not grandparents!!

 

[Siggie]

Soooo......the light in the coop worked like a charm last night....until I went in and turned it off. I had flash backs to when my kids were little and it was time to shut off the lights. AAAAHHHHHH they cried like I had stepped on their heads! My heart was breaking......I wanted to go back in and turn it back on but I don't have any spare batteries for tomorrow night

My attempts at chanting "they are only chickens, they are only chickens..." isn't working very well. But then I anthropomorphize all my animals. I actually think my dogs like me but I'm sure they only want food.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have rechargeable batteries because the cost gets too high otherwise.

I also had to use a light on my 4 week olds, They cried when I turned it off, so I left it on.

 

[Siggie]

Youngun!!!


1919 is parent birth range not grandparents!!

What are you 102???? jk Come on, I'm sure you don't look a day over 30....you are young at heart! Don't look at it as you are rolling down that proverbial hill....lets say you are "walking" down not in a hurry to get to the hole at the bottom

btw...I'm gonna live forever.