Surviving Minnesota!

[holm25]

Not feeling the best today. Just a bit of a head ache and cold... I am blaming the head ache on homework.

 

[MNChickMom]

http://vid35.photobucket.com/albums/d196/destiny_56085/20170201_130412_zpsghxoq0cc.mp4

I can't get the video to upload to watch directly so had to upload it to photo bucket. This is just a portion of the starlings flooding out of the barn every time I drive out. There is another group of them still in the barn that waits til I shoo them out. I just cleaned pens on Tuesday. Ughhhh so much for that.

Holy Cats...that is a lot of unwanted freeloaders. Weather they are stealing feed or not they are still freeloaders for enjoying the warmth and security of a barn.

 

[destiny_56085]

I cannot get it to load, I can hear the chickens but nothing opens up..Weird

http://s35.photobucket.com/user/destiny_56085/media/20170201_130412_zpsghxoq0cc.mp4.html?o=0

I'm not totally up on all this online stuff... posting videos to this site doesn't seem to work for me. Those dang birds are driving me nuts!

 

[Cebarmlds]

Three Eggs Monday - Zero eggs Tuesday - 4 Eggs Yesterday! (Technicalllllly - 3.5; one being an itty bitty pink egg. But it still counts!) Waiting in anticipation for today's results.

Also - side note - who brought up the initial "cold cure" topic

Germs were shared.

Layers; condolences....

 

[EMorical]

http://s35.photobucket.com/user/destiny_56085/media/20170201_130412_zpsghxoq0cc.mp4.html?o=0

I'm not totally up on all this online stuff... posting videos to this site doesn't seem to work for me. Those dang birds are driving me nuts!

....conflicting reports! I was told, at one point, that starlings are considered "song birds"....and there for.....ILLEGAL to shoot. (DH spent many hours doing community service in his younger and dumber years for shooting at flocks during duck hunting. Now maybe it was b/c they were floating down a river, shooting flocks of starlings.....who knows.....) BUT.....according to Wikipedia, "In the United States, common starlings are exempt from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits the taking or killing of migratory birds.[123] No permit is required to remove nests and eggs or kill juveniles or adults" -- but the footnote says that information was from the Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife in 2013. Check the MN regulations. Regardless. I shant tell anyone if your flock starts to decrease in numbers

 

[EMorical]

....the worst part of being the sick one is when you are the sick wife, you have to make your own soup, and wait on yourself. Also, apparently influenza is EVERYWHERE. I suggest not leaving the house for at least 2 more months

 

[lvie]

Quote:
What was the name of that honey again? I want to look it up and (although you may make me go back to find it) I don't want to read backwards to find it.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

x2

Something happening with my chest and a cough but no plugged or runny nose. I'm dousing myself in thieves, chicken dumplings, and did the hot brandy last night. Put me to sleep so fast I woke up at Midnight upright, neck sore with a cold 1/2 cup of brandy water lemon and raw honey. I'm getting cheaper by the month, apparently.

Layers: Sorry about Uncle Bill and Ellen.

I'm with Ed I don't light up my birds in the winter. I did my first winter, but then stopped because it didn't really do much for me, plus I had other things going on like frost bite, and overfeeding with scratch grains. Which was most likely the culprit for me getting not many eggs there after: Fat Hens probably with protein deficiency. Rookie year issues.
I understand those that do though. They need it more for business then I do. But around here we're hobby people with side perks of eggs from a pullet added in to the mix every so often, we get by and through the winter with enough eggs for us. Once in a while I need to go to the store and buy an Amish Farmer's eggs...but we've been pretty lucky and things have been timed pretty well.

Here's why I don't light up the birds:
In our Minnesota Winter they need extra energy to stay warm.
I'm sort of into letting them be their natural selves with their ovary cycles. Mother Nature designed them to lay in the spring for rearing offspring.
I want to see longevity in the birds I've come to care for. There are some questions if the lights create reproductive problems especially if used too much while the pullets are maturing which can lead to early losses or egg cessation.

My Silkie Dixie with her cycles of eggs and broodiness. On and Off. To me was the perfect set up on a pretty reliable hen of 5 years. Amazed me actually.

Just some thoughts and considerations. I understand feeding the family, believe me.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Here is a thread with probably 'too much' information and thought on lights on birds. But things that definitely should make you think.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/414015/to-use-lights-or-not-to-use-lights/20

 

[duluthralphie]

....the worst part of being the sick one is when you are the sick wife, you have to make your own soup, and wait on yourself. Also, apparently influenza is EVERYWHERE. I suggest not leaving the house for at least 2 more months

You are so lucky women do not get as sick as men do. Can you imagine as sick as you feel what your poor hubby would feel like if he had it?


I shudder to think how bad he would be!