Surviving Minnesota!

[lvie]

I feel guilty having to keep my birds in the breeding cage. Those birds holm posted turned my stomach. 5 in a little cage. I have 3 in a 4x4x4 coop with a roost and 2 nest box, with a 16x6 ft run and I think I have them crowded.

Yesterday, we went shopping ( one of my least favorite things to do) I got my wife a size 28 sweat shirt for Christmas just to liven things up here. We left at 3, I had my problems putting the turkeys away at three, Blackie was not going into his coop after his victory over Penguin. (BTW Judy said she broke Penguin and three other turkeys up when they were picking on Blackie yesterday, I missed that)

Anyways about 6pm, as my wife was in old navy, her 40th store of the afternoon, I was sitting in the car, I had had enough of shopping and shoppers. I remembered I did not shut the door on Bert and his bunch either. I was scared to death something would get them. Where Bert's coop is, an open door is not good. Of course I thought leaving for shopping at 3 we would be home buy a little after 4. Foolish me...

When I got home they were all safe sound and snuck in their coop. Another space I hate keeping them in. I think it is two small. They have a 8x4 coop, a 8x6 covered run another 4x4 coop and a 12x6 run set up in an L shape. I have 8 birds in there.

So I have no idea why a person would keep birds like those Sussex were, and even worse why advertise the way they live but showing them in the cage. It is no wonder City people ( no offense to city people, and by city people I mean people without and never having animals) get upset with farmers when they see those type of pictures and think we all raise our animals like that.

Hey - I went to Cabala's with my DH on Saturday. I took a book to read thankfully. I read for 2 1/2 hours while HE shopped and that was after I shopped with him for a while. So MEN shop too! LOL. But I got a good Mexican dinner out of it. Savored every bite!

 

[KlopKlop]

I have been reading up on incubating and hatching with my new 'bator
I have resolved that I am going to try to get some quail eggs from the quail farm up the road and start with that. Should be a good practice, plus then I have quail

We met the guy at the farmers market this summer and he was eyeing our eggs saying how he would love to crack only 2 eggs instead of 10 for breakfast I bet I could swap him chicken eggs for quail hatching eggs

 

[duluthralphie]

And a word of caution, NEVER buy anything too large for her
You will not live long enough for her to ever forget that​

Yesterday, we went shopping ( one of my least favorite things to do) I got my wife a size 28 sweat shirt for Christmas just to liven things up here.

Whatcha doin' here Ralphie. Going against your own advice?!

Poor Judy.

I tell you what. For my 30th Birthday my Husband bought me a beautiful flower arrangement...





Spraypainted all black.
I hated it. It smelled like paint fumes and he spent money on something I could not appreciate. It was dumb. I get that he was trying to be funny but I didn't think it was worth all the effort and expense.

Just a thought....

And good luck with that Christmas Present.

I Was STRETCHING the truth there a tad..I was thinking of getting her a sweater like that,, I, in fact, have nothing for her yet, I will never buy real clothing, it would be wrong, Just like I would never buy anything for the house, it would be wrong...

I did think about a way too small something to wear, but I thought that would be wrong too.

I learned long ago, kitchen appliances and gadgets, which I love, is wrong..

A new vacuum is wrong, I learned that a few years ago.


I have no idea what to get her. BTW Flowers are always a waste of money they simply wilt and dry up and need to be thrown out.


I bought her a new rod and reel one year...That was wrong...

What am I to do?

 

[duluthralphie]

I have been reading up on incubating and hatching with my new 'bator
I have resolved that I am going to try to get some quail eggs from the quail farm up the road and start with that. Should be a good practice, plus then I have quail

We met the guy at the farmers market this summer and he was eyeing our eggs saying how he would love to crack only 2 eggs instead of 10 for breakfast I bet I could swap him chicken eggs for quail hatching eggs

A few things I learned. Get a remote thermometer and those things that read moisture, the name slips me.... Put that in the incubator and put the readout somewhere you see it all the time.


I also have 2 of the thermometers, digital with wired probes in each one. It lets me know the temps are close. Next put the incubator somewhere the temps and humidity are relatively stable.
Take the turner out about 2-3 days before they are to hatch and lay the eggs on the wire bottom, do not turn again.

Do not chase the humidity, anywhere between 20-35 works for me until the last 3 days when I start raising it to 40-45 when they start to hatch it will increase to 60-70. Keep it there until hatching done.


Good luck have fun.. BTW what works for me may not work for you.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Does Judy have a hobby? Supplies for her hobby?

I understand your predicament. LOL.

A nice scarf or winter coat.

I have a thing for winter coats.

I do not mind kitchen gadgets or appliances.
Finding a place to store them is another thing.

I don't know...I wish I knew Judy better....right now. LOL.

 

[duluthralphie]

Does Judy have a hobby? Supplies for her hobby?

I understand your predicament. LOL.

A nice scarf or winter coat.

I have a thing for winter coats.

I do not mind kitchen gadgets or appliances.

Finding a place to store them is another thing.

I don't know...I wish I knew Judy better....right now. LOL.

I could get her and her mother matching new rides, a couple brooms would not break the bank either.......

 

[KlopKlop]

A few things I learned.  Get a remote thermometer and those things that read moisture, the name slips me....  Put that in the incubator and put the readout somewhere you see it all the time. 


I also have 2 of the thermometers, digital with wired probes in each one. It lets me know the temps are close.  Next put the incubator somewhere the temps and humidity are relatively stable.
Take the turner out about 2-3 days before they are to hatch and lay the eggs on the wire bottom, do not turn again.

Do not chase the humidity, anywhere between 20-35 works for me until the last 3 days when I start raising it to 40-45  when they start to hatch it will increase to 60-70. Keep it there until hatching done.


Good luck have fun.. BTW what works for me may not work for you.

I was reading a thread that recommended not adding water until lockdown and let the humidity do its own thing. Thoughts?
My basement is constantly in the 40% range in the winter, which is where I was thinking to put it

 

[duluthralphie]

I was reading a thread that recommended not adding water until lockdown and let the humidity do its own thing. Thoughts?
My basement is constantly in the 40% range in the winter, which is where I was thinking to put it

That should work great. The 40% in your basement when warmed in the incubator should get you right at the 25-30 range.

I find I do better in my basement than I do upstairs.

 

[duluthralphie]

I am truly stupid!

I decided I would let my rooster free range today. These are extra roosters that will most likely end up as stew or smoked. They live with the evil guinea hen that is on Death row. I have her with the roosters hoping against hope to get a chicken Guinea hybrid.

I knew I could not let my layers out, so they are upset with me along with the dozen Guineas that live in that coop.

I figured what harm could be done letting the turkeys out.


WOW, am I dumb. Gang wars! The turkeys were just killing the poor roosters. I had to break them up. It was terrible, I had to actually kick/push at them with my feet and legs to get it to stop. I finally got them all separated and uses treats to get most of the turkeys back in the pen. I have Ginger another tom and 3 hens still out. At least the odds are more even now. It was 20 on 5 now it is 5 on 4 or 5 if you count the Creamer.

After I had that mess taken care of, I decided in my drug and alcohol free brain, Let Bert and his girls out, what harm can that cause..... Do you know what 6 roosters that have been locked up staring at hens running around them all day long have on their pea sized brains??


Well, I made the error and let them out, Dumb dumb dumb...... When the roosters tried to do what they had on their minds I had to break them up. I do not think any actually completed the act, I hope my toads are insemination free. I got Bert and the girls back in there run. Luckily Bert Jr and his girls are very compliant and almost lappers. They are at least tolerants that like being played with.

I wonder what more I can screw up today...



BTW I am going to Menards to see if I can find my wife a nice Christmas present there. Besides I need a couple tubes/bags of that gravel for the pick up boxes for grit. It is cheaper and works as well for me as buying grit in a feed store and a lot cheaper.

Here is a picture of the extra roos enjoying being free..

 

[Cluckies]

Ralphie, so sorry about your Grandkids other Grandpa, Prayers sent, that is way to young, i'm assuming not even retired? Terrible.