Surviving Minnesota!

[Cluckies]

 


I agree.  I am just trying to get some "show birds" for myself and a few select others right now.

When MnChickMom was here the other day, we watched Weinerhead do his job, So he is one step ahead on Ed.  I really think you had him as a lapper.  When I pick him up and move him or do whatever I need to, he never fights and just sits in my arms.


I think it is time for you to come clean on your Rooster hugging activity...


He is actually more people friendly than the hens are.

I have to disclose the first comment out of her mouth on the way home.

12 year old daughter: "I just can't believe Wienerhead actually mated the hen while I was there to see it, now hopefully he did his job correctly and picked a hen that throws females." 
10 year old son: "Well it's not like you were there (Ralphies) this morning taking care of his manhood....like you did to all those poor bulls."

The stories that go down in a farm kids car. I just roll my eyes.

Disclaimer: Earlier Saturday morning we were casterating bulls.

and to this I say, hahahaha

 

[Cluckies]

5 below? No no no no no. Someone did not get the memo that I am done with winter and have moved onto spring now...

 

[Cluckies]

So! Working on my hens twice today. The first time I cooked them oatmeal-scrambled eggs with black strap molasses into it and broccoli and added calcium and grit. I applied bag balm to anyone with skin showing. They were so good about it I gave them meal worms as a treat. Gave plain water (no electrolytes) with ACV. I swear I am going to nip this featherlessness NOW.  What made me do all of this was picking up my RIR that has been in molt for almost four months and being able to feel her keel (?) bone. And she just looks unhappy. Well, she was not unhappy when I left the coop an hour later. And there was something in her crop. Looking for Nu Stock. I Marties is going to order in a case just in case anyone out there is looking. I should have called that Feed Store in Clear Lake. Just thought of that.

Gave the same meal again tonight plus their regular food.  Runnings tomorrow to pick up feed and dog food.

Been doing 'office' stuff. Ralphie, you may have 12 mgbts also - we do - and they updated the firmware this a.m. What a huge difference! It affects the internet speed and even on the Apple products in the house.

Okay - just about ready to hit the hay. Good night chickeners.

Do you have scaly leg mites maybe?

 

[Cebarmlds]

It's 12 below.

Ralphie of coarse let the grandkids name the kitties !!

 

[duluthralphie]

I might call them OC and GC as nicknames but they still need formal names Like "Orange Cat" And "Grey Cat"

Those might work Ivie., If I can get the Grandkids to agree. Fabian will not be presented as a choice to them.



My first thought this morning upon awakening was of you Erlibrd and my wondering "In what world did she think I would ever like the name Fabian for a my mouser? Those first thoughts are so weird, right? The closest I ever got to one of those kind of names was the white turkey I sold Coffee. I had named it "Snowflake"

It took Coffee all of 4 minutes owning her to change her name to "Pearl". I think she named it after my Black Lab, which is weird because my White Lab is named Reagan and the turkey is white....sooo...


I should have a hatch starting at noon today. Not many birds. I have had a guy emailing me for some of my Silver Duckwing Yokohamas I advertised on Craigslist. I even put on there they are not APA recognized. After a half a dozen emails. He says he wants some but he would like to buy some of the gold duckwing and not the silver.....


WTH??? Did I say I had them? NO.... I Listed all the other breeds I had, the only gold listed is the Gold Crele Legbars, which I sell with the Cream because to me they are the same bird. Just depends how the pattern turns out.



Other important things:
I am baching it. Judy went to Shakopee yesterday to provide Grandma Daycare services. She was jealous of all my Grandpa daycares and took this one from me. I have been alone in the house for just over 24 hours and it looks more like 72 hours, I hope to get to the dishes today, maybe.

I have been working on a new feeder, that wastes less feed and is harder for rodents to get into. I think I have found it. I have a video of them eating out of it. Please forgive the Poop and Feed encrusted frozen floor. I hope I can muck it out next warm spell, (this weekend) if it thaws.

Try to look at the chickens and Guinea when they eat there is almost no spillage. Also I can hang the feeders higher so the rodents can not reach it. It is still a work in progress, but I think I can hang it high enough even the grey squirrels cannot reach the feed. I am so tired of mucking out half the feed I buy.

It is a simple feeder a 4 inch PVC pipe with a reducer to 2 inch with a chick feeder crammed on the end. I found by using long cord to hang it I can fill it hanging by putting the funnel between the cord. The cord then holds the funnel in place.

It does not work as well on the turkeys, Watch them eat and you will see feed flying out, however, the chickens seem to clean up under the turkeys. Also I feed the all the time They seldom run out of feed. To watch this video you would think I have starved them for a week. When I fill the feeder they all rush it. Its the same stuff that was in it but it is more important to crowd a feeder when it is freshly filled....Stupid birds.

 

[Cebarmlds]

I might call them OC and GC as nicknames but they still need formal names Like "Orange Cat" And "Grey Cat"

Those might work Ivie., If I can get the Grandkids to agree. Fabian will not be presented as a choice to them.



My first thought this morning upon awakening was of you Erlibrd and my wondering "In what world did she think I would ever like the name Fabian for a my mouser? Those first thoughts are so weird, right? The closest I ever got to one of those kind of names was the white turkey I sold Coffee. I had named it "Snowflake"

It took Coffee all of 4 minutes owning her to change her name to "Pearl". I think she named it after my Black Lab, which is weird because my White Lab is named Reagan and the turkey is white....sooo...


I should have a hatch starting at noon today. Not many birds. I have had a guy emailing me for some of my Silver Duckwing Yokohamas I advertised on Craigslist. I even put on there they are not APA recognized. After a half a dozen emails. He says he wants some but he would like to buy some of the gold duckwing and not the silver.....


WTH??? Did I say I had them? NO.... I Listed all the other breeds I had, the only gold listed is the Gold Crele Legbars, which I sell with the Cream because to me they are the same bird. Just depends how the pattern turns out.



Other important things:
I am baching it. Judy went to Shakopee yesterday to provide Grandma Daycare services. She was jealous of all my Grandpa daycares and took this one from me. I have been alone in the house for just over 24 hours and it looks more like 72 hours, I hope to get to the dishes today, maybe.

I have been working on a new feeder, that wastes less feed and is harder for rodents to get into. I think I have found it. I have a video of them eating out of it. Please forgive the Poop and Feed encrusted frozen floor. I hope I can muck it out next warm spell, (this weekend) if it thaws.

Try to look at the chickens and Guinea when they eat there is almost no spillage. Also I can hang the feeders higher so the rodents can not reach it. It is still a work in progress, but I think I can hang it high enough even the grey squirrels cannot reach the feed. I am so tired of mucking out half the feed I buy.

It is a simple feeder a 4 inch PVC pipe with a reducer to 2 inch with a chick feeder crammed on the end. I found by using long cord to hang it I can fill it hanging by putting the funnel between the cord. The cord then holds the funnel in place.

It does not work as well on the turkeys, Watch them eat and you will see feed flying out, however, the chickens seem to clean up under the turkeys. Also I feed the all the time They seldom run out of feed. To watch this video you would think I have starved them for a week. When I fill the feeder they all rush it. Its the same stuff that was in it but it is more important to crowd a feeder when it is freshly filled....Stupid birds.

I think I was very sure you would seriously dislike that name. I am wicked.

Interesting feeder.

 

[BantyChooks]

Cool feeder, Ralphie.... It sure wastes less than what I do.

 

[duluthralphie]

I put the cords far enough down and cover the hole with duct tape for the outside feeders, then I can put the PVC cap on to keep rain out.

Instead of gluing the reducer onto the pvc pipe I use duct tape to keep the water out, so if I have to take them apart I just cut the tape and rip it off..



Also if you make one, use the metal chick feeders they slip right on, with the plastic you have to trim the reducer.

 

[duluthralphie]

Cool feeder, Ralphie.... It sure wastes less than what I do.

Thanks, I think for every pound of feed I was feeding I was wasting 4 pounds, They cannot flip it out like they can my other feeders. The best part is it is cheap to make, cheaper than a hanging feeder from the store.

 

[bantiesrule]

Where is she . I am interested in Evans also . When do they arrive for her . Need to figure timing . I will be up in early May . Maybe she can hold them in cold storage until then on barefoot . The mail order places do until shipped .

She lives right in the middle of Minnesota, between Browerville and Randall (about 50 minutes NW of St Cloud). She actually has a bunch in her orchard, just has to see for sure what survived the winter and how big they are. I shouldn't really say "survived the winter", they are all cold hardy. The problem is all the deer and mice that like to nibble on everything. So she just won't dig them until you are ready for them.