Surviving Minnesota!

[MinnesotaNice]

I am going to add some darker eggs I think to my layer flock, even as I cut down numbers and breeds. I have some Cuckoo maran roosters outside and I am noticing even with the larger single comb theirs is not taking damage like some other breeds. I am going to start saving some Maran eggs for hatching soon. They have been laying a couple weeks but they still seem a little small.

I had to bring another SS rooster into the barn last night. He was lethargic and the pain must have been terrible on his head.

This has been a nasty year for comb damage. Even Sven (my 2 year old EE) has taken some damage to the top of his comb. When a pea comb takes damage it is bad. But I have never had such a bad year for egg laying either.


I have important duties assigned me today by my supervisor. I need to go to the Pharmacy and pick up drugs, We met our deductible this year so we want to get them before the new year starts us all over. Judy has one that she is not sure if she wants to continue because she does not think it is working any better than the old cheaper one. I will get her last dosage of it today for her. The co-pay is $250 bucks on it. (Isn't getting old fun).


The other duty is more important, I ran out of Yukon Jack on my second hot cocoa last night (layers and Holms do not read this your too young) With New Years eve coming I need it so I can have my last good Hot Cocoa before bed tomorrow night. I am thinking I might try to stay awake until 11 or so. Not sure why, I for one will be glad 2016 is over, it was no better than 2015. Hopefully, next year will be better. I might even notice that huge 1% raise I got on my pension.

I also have to fill my "barrels" and waterers today so they are full when the cold hits next week. I so need to get the hydrant in the barn working this summer, or drive a sand point.(shhh do not tell the county).

Anyone have exciting New Years eve plans? I have to live vicariously though you young'uns that still party.

I also noticed a few of my pea and rose combed birds got a bit of frost bite during our cold snap. I really should have put bag balm on all of my birds. I was too lazy.

Yukon Jack! DH brought home some straight rye whiskey by Hochstadter's. I'm a bit of a snob and prefer Jameson's, but it's actually good. Has a good honey and orange flavor after taste....but not too foo-foo. I've taken a liking to 2 Gingers as well.

New Years Eve? Pffft. I just had a baby, so I think that excludes me from New Years Eve fun for at least 3-4 years now. I also hope to make it until 11p. Lol

 

[duluthralphie]

Kloppers your egg customers will love the variation. Once you discover your culprits you'll have to do your little write ups for the customers.

I know the Wellie will be a dark colored egg...but I'm thinking I should get some BCM's --I think they do lay darker if you get them from a breeder that has them dialed in for egg color. IDK...

Ralphie I bet those Air inversions were interesting to fly into coming into Rapid city.

I should also clarify (so she doesn't kill me) But she is 5'6'' and weighs 115 lbs. She's a whip of a thing....but I just had to chuckle the other night watching her with those two chicken breasts. I have to be creative with my food shopping. She's not a big Milk drinker. But she loves yogurts, cottage cheese, etc. So trying to keep those in good stock. She likes to drink Kefir too. which is like a yogurt smoothie with bubbles.

Ok Cluckies...so I did this Ancestry.com DNA for FIL and on the website you can also build family trees (free) and there is opportunity to scan in photos. I do have some photos of DH's and Mine Great Grandparents and maybe some just beyond. But I need to get a few scanned. I got a text from my first cousin who is doing some Ancestry.com stuff and he saw my scans of our Grandparents in common. So he is wanting to show me what he's uncovered so far. I'm beyond intrigued by it all. DH's is a bit of a mystery. But so far we're finding out He's 1/4 Swiss 1/2 Norwegian (we already knew MIL was full) and then the rest is looking English or Irish. Some family here before the revolution in New York and Connecticut. Very interesting.

Air inversions are never a big thing as long as icing is not bad and you can make the minimums. BUT that scud running to Pine Ridge increased the pucker factor some.

I think it is amazing what you find on Ancestry.Com. I had thought our family had only been here a few generations until I did the search there. I found one that came over in 1635 just 15 years after the Mayflower! However, he did not come of his freewill. He was a prisoner sentenced to serve (sort of) on the ship, he was expected to return with the ship.

I guess they gave prisoners a chance to serve on ships because so many ships never made it.. He hid out until the ship left, and for several years every time a ship was in the harbor, based on what it said on Ancestry.com.




Edited to add: The Royal Palm hen just flew back up into the wild bird feeder. If this becomes a permanent action of hers she might have to move somewhere else. Coffee called yesterday with a Guinea/turkey problem and said she wants more turkey hens, maybe this one could move to Isanti.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I think DH's Great Great Great Grandfather was poisoned by Mrs. Garvey in Iowa..... One person found a blurb on him. That's okay...he was one of the New Yorkers.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Ok Cluckies...so I did this Ancestry.com DNA for FIL and on the website you can also build family trees (free) and there is opportunity to scan in photos. I do have some photos of DH's and Mine Great Grandparents and maybe some just beyond. But I need to get a few scanned. I got a text from my first cousin who is doing some Ancestry.com stuff and he saw my scans of our Grandparents in common. So he is wanting to show me what he's uncovered so far. I'm beyond intrigued by it all. DH's is a bit of a mystery. But so far we're finding out He's 1/4 Swiss 1/2 Norwegian (we already knew MIL was full) and then the rest is looking English or Irish. Some family here before the revolution in New York and Connecticut. Very interesting.

I work with a lady who is really big into Ancestry.com. She has a lot of extended family still in Finland and everyone is very active with scanning in photos and updating information regarding the family tree when they find stuff. Once a year they get together and go through photos and information. That's solid commitment right there.

@Cluckies , does your scanner give you the option to color black and white photos as well? That would be cool.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

These are the eggs I get from my Black Copper Marans (obviously not the olive, blue, or light brown eggs). My goal is to get a BCM rooster this spring from a nice dark egg. I just don't know who has the breed locally and sells fertile eggs/chicks.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I work with a lady who is really big into Ancestry.com. She has a lot of extended family still in Finland and everyone is very active with scanning in photos and updating information regarding the family tree when they find stuff. Once a year they get together and go through photos and information. That's solid commitment right there.

@Cluckies , does your scanner give you the option to color black and white photos as well? That would be cool.

I felt overwhelmed doing up the family tree. There was ALOT! And then there were dead-ends too.

These are the eggs I get from my Black Copper Marans (obviously not the olive, blue, or light brown eggs). My goal is to get a BCM rooster this spring from a nice dark egg. I just don't know who has the breed locally and sells fertile eggs/chicks.

Yeah see. I do think these BCM eggs are darker than the wellie pic I got a couple days ago. Gorgeous. Let me know how you do for Rooster finding and if you get some fertile eggs eventually from these guys. Love it.

 

[jerryse]

For all we know only 3 of them lay blue eggs! 13 out of 16 isnt so bad

ed by duluthralphie



Sure Kloppers! As if It isn't bad enough you brag about getting eggs, you have to show my breeding hero Jerry how poorly I did trying to make a pea comb Black Australorp! All I succeeded in doing was making a Black Easter egger!~

Ahh you are to hard on yourself . 13 out of 16 beats the odds . On a cross back to Australop only 50% should lay brown eggs . You may move to the head of the class .

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I felt overwhelmed doing up the family tree. There was ALOT! And then there were dead-ends too.

Yeah see. I do think these BCM eggs are darker than the wellie pic I got a couple days ago. Gorgeous. Let me know how you do for Rooster finding and if you get some fertile eggs eventually from these guys. Love it.

I think Ancestry is a cool website. It's not super cheap if you just plan on using it to just look a few things up.....like what I would use it for. Is the only information on there is what was provided by others using the site?

You hatched those Wellies from Minnie, right? I might break down and buy some BCM eggs from Ebay and hope the people are honest with the egg color they have pictured.

 

[KlopKlop]

Making progress on my chimney. Have the wall hole cut and the single wall pipe built. opened one of the $75 lengths of triple wall pipe and it is smooshed that will have to go back. I think i should have enough without it but still frustrating.

One the good news.... I finally heard back from a GC! he asked me to send over my rough plans and he will see what he can do with them and that I should get someone to draw me hard plans. woo! progress. taking a warm up break to gather all my sketches and info to send over. yayayayaya

 

[duluthralphie]

ed by duluthralphie



Sure Kloppers! As if It isn't bad enough you brag about getting eggs, you have to show my breeding hero Jerry how poorly I did trying to make a pea comb Black Australorp! All I succeeded in doing was making a Black Easter egger!~

Ahh you are to hard on yourself . 13 out of 16 beats the odds . On a cross back to Australop only 50% should lay brown eggs . You may move to the head of the class .

These are f3 chicks so I should be at 75% if I have it correct. Which I guess is where I am,,DUH..