Surviving Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

I got my chicken self down to brainerd yesterday.
Roads just wet but I found most folks were driving cautiously just the same. Probably overhang from the day before.
I didn't find the same yarn so will have to fill in with a mismatched color. It's the toe left so whatever.
Horse chores yesterday. Family went to Fargo for cousin's college bb game. Just me and Sadie Mae this weekend. Kind of nice to have remote control and new couch to myself. Snuggling with a 50 lb Labrador.

The hens are liking the warmer weather. Miss kitty is giving me her olive egg again. So now there's 3.

I have an egg buyer asking me about extras. I think we're getting close.

Enjoy the day!

 

[duluthralphie]

Something took my "loaded" egg. Not even a shell left.

I am going to load up a couple more. I did get an egg for hatching from there today.

I am going to put a live trap in there and bait it with an egg. Also if I can figure out how to set the game cameras up I will use them.


I have a feeling I am not going to like what ever I find is taking my eggs.


I have 4 dominiques hatched today so far and one is almost unzipped.

 

[holm25]

Sorry for the photo bomb. Just was out taking some pictures over the weekend.

 

[holm25]

Something took my "loaded" egg. Not even a shell left.

I am going to load up a couple more. I did get an egg for hatching from there today.

I am going to put a live trap in there and bait it with an egg. Also if I can figure out how to set the game cameras up I will use them.


I have a feeling I am not going to like what ever I find is taking my eggs.


I have 4 dominiques hatched today so far and one is almost unzipped.

Awesome Ralphie! I have a time lapse going of chicks hatching right now and will post them when theyre done.

 

[lvie]

Good Day to you chickeners . . . .

I cleaned the coop partially this morning. Klean Koop was good until I opened the door this morning. Holy Moly! So I removed half of the floor of the coop and turned the rest of the coop floor. I am going to waste my money and put in the second bag of Klean Koop. See what happens with that.

With the first bag, after removing the front - closest to the gate - part of the floor (which was six inches deep) I raked the KLean Koop from the front of the coop and mixed it into the remaining floor matter. The residue of the Klean Koop located in the front half I turned into the floor of front half of the coop. The front half is where they scratch and lay. Yesterday I did put a small amount into their dust bath area but that area stays pretty clean because, well, because they like to bath with their contortionist moves in that bath area. The back half has the night roosts and of course that is where they poo. I am considering cleaning the poo up daily until spring thaw.

Now I am writing you as if I know what I am doing. I am really questioning you and asking about what you do during the winter. I am of the mind to start half-cleaning during every January thaw. What the hay? Thinking of all that I have read about leaving the residue from the hens because it heats up the coop . . . . I have not experienced more heat from the floor matter composting. It freezes. During my future chicken years I, as I have previously stated, hang heat lamps if I think it will be very cold. Never again when it is going down to 20 below will the birds go with out heat.

 

[lvie]

Hmmmm Ralphie - I wonder what is getting into that nest box and taking the eggs. I am glad that it is only the eggs that it is taking. Waiting to hear with anticipation.

 

[Momof3plustwins]

Freezer confession. I have a store bought turkey that has been sitting on the bottom of my deep freeze for a long time. Sort of has become part of the freezer because of the thaw time and my inability to plan a meal in advanced has not been used. Today I was wondering how long ago I bought that turkey. It appears 4 years almost exactly. Horrible I know. Now I am wondering if there is any chance it is any good or if I should just put it out for the chickens to peck away at. I am leaning not good, but it has been frozen so who knows Thoughts?

 

[Momof3plustwins]

Also, I have told any of you how much I hate writing papers? I really, really hate writing them.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Hi

I have a rooster that will soon be joining us for supper, his main infraction is he is a midnight crow-er...just simply annoying the rest of the day. I have processed birds before - but it was with a crew and they had their nice shiney water boiler dipper thingy; and pluck-o-matic barrel. I was just having discussions with my DH yesterday or the day before about the "best" (aka, easiest) way to do just a single bird. Still best to cone them and dispatch via neck cuts??? And just heat a pot of water to for plucking?.....(Mainly I want to know if my ideas were right and his ideas were not quite

haha....nothin like some good ol competition to keep a marriage happy....)

EMorical. I have not had luck with knives when culling a bird. I've had a bantam rooster jump out of the cone with a half cut neck. A mini nightmare for him. I'm a wrap the bird in a dish towel (control wings) Place Neck between two nails on a stump. Pull neck straight and axe down. they are bled out and have no connecting spinal sensation (for pain) after. Very fast. Very effective. Very humane. I do the heated pot for plucking also.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Ralphie! Glad to see Dominique Babies!!!!