Surviving Minnesota!

[I Love Layers]

Hen was locked in a barn...

 

[duluthralphie]

I Love Layers , Hoping you find your birds..

Cluckies, Maybe you should put a cot in your coop and just move in with them, it seems you get stuck in there a lot and would let you get some rest while watching them...

Ivie I find it amazing to see your DH and Tom getting along. Well, if not along at least laughing about it. He might be a keeper after all, (the DH not Tom) the way he is getting into the chickens.

DW is making progress here as well, last night she was talking about retiring and just staying home to raise chickens. Of course, she was delirious and said "Maybe we could earn enough extra money to not need my income".... Silly woman. chickens never make anyone money, they are a place to get rid of money.


Erli, I think you should not have to use an outhouse, that is so below a woman of your status. I suggest you get a commode and have you DH run the contents to the outhouse and dump them into it whenever you use it. I would do that for Judy.

I have to build a new outhouse in Togo this fall, BigFoot has the current one almost filled. (overly filled). We have a tower of bigfoot pooh in each hole. I plan to build a nicer one. I am thinking a 4 holer instead of a 3 holer like we have. With four holes we could play cards, or most board games while taking care of business.

Ethel lost a baby yesterday, the baby was with the turkeys crying and crying, I could not find Ethel. I called for her but she did not answer. So I got the bright idea of catching the Baby and going for a hunt to find Ethel and the other babies. Did you know baby Guineas are fast and can fly a lot faster than an old man can run? It took me 4-5 tries to catch it over a couple hours. The sound of her crying was driving me nuts so I had to get her.

When I did get her the crying changed to a God Awful screech and scream. It was piercing my ears and I am half deaf as it is. The screaming must have been something the other birds understood. I had 3 roosters come running at me, 2 Toms, (Sidekick was too busy with his domestic chores to leave the nest). and all the adult guineas. They were all yelling at me. The Guineas were in full PO'd mode. They screamed as loud as they could, and surrounded me.

The roosters and Toms calmed down when they saw it was just me holding a baby, they are kind of use to me holding a bird and it complaining. I almost think they know I would never hurt one. BUT the Guineas are not that rational. They followed me screaming at me the whole time I was looking for Ethel. The good thing is Ethel heard the racket and started my way, but she was coming slow, as she had the 5 other babies with her. For those of you that have been here, Ethel was in the far South east corner of the 40. (what's left of it) Where the tall pines make a right angle. The grass and wild flowers are 2 feet tall and thick the whole way.

When we (the guineas and I) got to a place that had a mowed path, and I could see Ethel and she could see me, I set the baby down, and the baby ran to Ethel, Ethel lumbered (dinosaur style) to the baby and the dang Guineas finally shut up. I am sure they have made my tinnitus worse with their loud yelling. Peace was restored though.

It is interesting times here, Margaret has decided or her chicks have that they do not need to be right next to each other. Margaret is following me a lot during the day to get held and petted ( She is a SS and we all know how they thrive for attention and touching). She just wanders off and forgets the babies. Last night at bedtime she only had 5 babies. The other 6 were under my Mom's clothesline (200 ft or so away from her). Herding chicks is like herding cats. They are not afraid of us but do not want to be held or touched, so they run ahead and squirt out in different directions from the herd the whole time. I may have to get a pony to ride during chick round up time each night.

That was the whole yesterday story,,,,,,,

And for those of you still marveling at the fact I would empty a commode for my beloved, I would like to thank you for thinking that.....And wonder if I could interest you in a bridge I have for sale, fairly cheap...

 

[jerryse]

Got over a inch of rain overnight . 93 yesterday . Another hot one predicted today .

 

[I Love Layers]

Great Day for the 31st Annual North Dakota Ukrainian Festival!!

They're predicting softball sized hail, and 80+mph winds. It just started raining

 

[duluthralphie]

The forecast here is to only reach 91. should be pleasant compared to last few days.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

All this talk about chicken pedicures had me thinking.....

 

[Violetsfeathers]

All this talk about chicken pedicures had me thinking.....

I have painted my chickens nails but I don't paint them red or sparkly because I'm afraid the other chickens will peck them.

 

[Cebarmlds]

Little roo was not missing he was there all the time, must have been hiding from me last night. I counted them 3 times and never saw him. Maybe he's a Houdini. So I still have 3 to rehome or eat.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I have painted my chickens nails but I don't paint them red or sparkly because I'm afraid the other chickens will peck them.

The only chickens I have that would even tolerate a nail painting have feathered legs and feet. Sounds like a lot of work....we'll see how bored I get on my maternity leave =)

 

[lvie]

DH left for Aitkin. I have quilt projects that need to get done. I am happy.

But before he left he told me that Tom's three hens were out front in the grass eating, Tom was back by his coop, and an eagle was circling overhead. He (the DH) herded the girls into the lilac bushes alongside the pole shed so that they would be safe. Hmmmmm. WHAT in the world is happening?!!!! Is this the same man that hates Tom and Tom hates? Tom and his three ladies are out free-ranging to stay as cool as they can.

We go to the state fair the first day, August 25th because there is a Don Henely concert that night at 7:30 and guess who has tickets? (Said in same tone as in How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days). I spoke up and said I will not go twice so we will need to go earlier in the day to see the chickens and quilts. He is interested in seeing the chickens. IDK. This interest is throwing me off kilter. Is this a reverse psychology thing? Is he actually interested? He seems to be. I am quietly watching the body language and facial expressions to see if there is actual sincerity. Baffling. Enjoyable.

Betty White laid her first beautiful pearl white little egg today. It is a SS that is laying a somewhat pink egg. What is that about Ralphie? Do they stay pink or turn brown? That SS started to lay a couple of weeks ago. Have gotten about a half dozen from her. Little, little eggs which is what I would expect in the beginning. Shaped well and strong shell. All the pullets are getting very red comb and wattles. Suddenly there will be alot of eggs.

Sent up a dozen eggs for the DS and DDIL plus the DH took a half dozen for breakfast this weekend. I have collected seven eggs today already. Like - WOW! I have never had the priviledge to collect seven eggs in one day. Its amazing how impressed a new chickener is. Having a great time doing this.