Surviving Minnesota!

[EMorical]

The other often resulted in the above walk. He was extremely paranoid of birch trees or pieces lying on the ground. I had to constantly reassure him the "dead Birch tree/stump/log) was not going to jump up and get him. He would often bolt at the sight of them. Do you know how many Birch are lying on the ground in Northern Minnesota?

The normal routine was, He sees a birch, bolts, jumps, bucks, I go flying, he runs home, I walk home....


yeah, this was my favorite horse.

ralphie you always have a good story to tell about everything!!! YES I agree with all of you! Horses are an expense and never really pay for themselves like chickens or sheep...goats, etc. But they took me through some really dark times in my past so for that I let them remain. They are more trouble than they should be sometimes and DO NOT know how big and strong they are. Hence the bruise and swollen eye I got the other day because my brat (the quarter horse) decided to bully my other boy, he whipped around to run from the brat and smacked me in the face with his head! My jaw was out of wack for a while, I had a headache to rival any migraine and I now have a black eye and nose to show off! But....I love them and they are mine.

My quarter horse is smart and will begin to go lame when you put a saddle on him...but take it off and he trots away without so much as a limp! My Andalusian is great under saddle and both are pretty much bomb proof. My Andalusian spooks in place which is really quite funny to watch...he jumps straight up and lands with all four feet spread out a little but he never bolts.

Thank goodness he's gentle. Only things he spooks at are forklifts and squirrels.

Glad to know it's an epidemic of spookies and not just mine

They are great, except when they're not.

 

[BantyChooks]

Right?!!! When I post photos on facebook of our other livestock (yes, not pets. they make us $$ or if not, they at least need to be thrifty and entertaining haha) no one sends me info on cows and horses haha... Family have started gifting me Chicken themed stuff :/ Ungrateful? Maybe  I don't want fake chickens, just buy me more REAL chickens! Boy when I posted a story and photo of my Conway Dumpling Soup you should have seen some of the comments... They were scandalized that I would dare to EAT a chicken... Uhhhhh.... As someone who grows food for a living, the disconnect between consumers and what and where there food comes from is S-C-A-R-Y. I think we are leaning towards opening a farm store some day

I'll come on over and eat some of that dreadful dead chicken you so cruelly slaughtered

 

[BantyChooks]

They are great, except when they're not. 

Truer words have never been said.

Here's the forklift hater himself:

He's a Missouri Fox Trotter, about 10 or so. Gorgeous gaits & not hard on the eyes either

 

[EMorical]

Chickie-Chick photos!

"When mom's away - the kids will play" --- found some evidence that someone(bodies) are curious of their neighbors!



I have now removed all hazardous or potentially hazardous things from the brooder room (buckets of water, garbage bags etc) in case they get more adventurous. I figure they'll be fine without the heat lamp for a bit if they do get separated. I check several times a day haha. Side note - I spose I could integrate the banties and eggies (standard sized chicks) now....??? Right???


Apparently I'm very scary.



All the gophers!!!!!!

 

[Siggie]

Truer words have never been said.

Here's the forklift hater himself:


He's a Missouri Fox Trotter, about 10 or so. Gorgeous gaits & not hard on the eyes either

he definitely is eye candy!!!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I now have that picture burned into my mind - "dancing crazily within a flock of chickens in buffalo plaid pajamas"

a passer by might not understand the necessity of such a performance but who cares right?!?

I hope it doesn't leave much of a burn scar on your brain.... LOL.

Right?!!! When I post photos on facebook of our other livestock (yes, not pets. they make us $$ or if not, they at least need to be thrifty and entertaining haha) no one sends me info on cows and horses haha... Family have started gifting me Chicken themed stuff

Ungrateful? Maybe

I don't want fake chickens, just buy me more REAL chickens! Boy when I posted a story and photo of my Conway Dumpling Soup you should have seen some of the comments... They were scandalized that I would dare to EAT a chicken... Uhhhhh.... As someone who grows food for a living, the disconnect between consumers and what and where there food comes from is S-C-A-R-Y. I think we are leaning towards opening a farm store some day

EM: I am forever amazed by human beings and their disconnect from where their food comes from. I love animals and take care of them the best I can up until their last day. Lots of good days and one bad day. Not too bad in the life of a utilitarian animal. It's hard to get in a wits match with people who have none though.

For example DD who is a teenager-very self absorbed phase now- has no idea where about 4 sets of ipod ear buds have disappeared to. I've caught her with mine leaving my bedroom which I marched her back on and quickly re-comphiscated. But it seems it's affecting DS. Who is 1/2 self absorbed because also a teen-ager. But somewhat better than DD. So who was checking jean and jacket pockets this morning. Washed and un washed. Hung up or lying on bedroom floors. Me. Nada. And all I can envision is them left in classrooms or buses...etc etc. without a care in the world and it is going to cost ME money to replace them, while they go through life frooo-fa-la ing along. I complimented my daughter on her perfume this morning after our row. She said, "Oh does it smell like a thief?" LOL......

Can you tell it was a good day with my humans?



I was going to get into it with her after that comment. But then I thought of Mark Twain's advice. Plus DH pulled on my reins with her. He has to do that often.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Also I should just say that I don't hold it against people who buy stuff for their pets like that. But it's just not me. And I love a more natural life for my birds as much as possible. And I think personally they like being their natural selves. So that's my line of thinking. I also don't like being marketed to so heavily on social media. I know this is America and capitalism. But there is so much crap out there (probably from China) -- it just sort of gets sickening. And I don't know how to tell people that without sounding too rude. So many impose their thoughts and feelings to their animals so much. My rooster and hens have social behaviors that I know. But for the most part their brains come down to food and breeding. And a hen diaper just is not going to be found on this backyard flock.

Target: if you go to target in the animal section and look at all the dog toys: THEY LOOK LIKE BABY TOYS! WTHades? I shake my head and keep walking to the sports section for Tennis balls. LOL. Cheaper than the dog tennis balls. Did you guys know that?! its so bad how they get us on our Baby doggies.

 

[duluthralphie]

Also I should just say that I don't hold it against people who buy stuff for their pets like that. But it's just not me. And I love a more natural life for my birds as much as possible. And I think personally they like being their natural selves. So that's my line of thinking. I also don't like being marketed to so heavily on social media. I know this is America and capitalism. But there is so much crap out there (probably from China) -- it just sort of gets sickening. And I don't know how to tell people that without sounding too rude. So many impose their thoughts and feelings to their animals so much. My rooster and hens have social behaviors that I know. But for the most part their brains come down to food and breeding. And a hen diaper just is not going to be found on this backyard flock.

Not even your house chickens? I think the social stigma of diapers on Chickens disappeared right after Jerry and EJB got them for their house chickens...

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Not even your house chickens? I think the social stigma of diapers on Chickens disappeared right after Jerry and EJB got them for their house chickens...

LOL. My Roger (NH rooster) used to walk into the house and to the Snack cupboard and ask for a cracker. He got one. He was trained or I was trained. If he crapped on the floor I got some toilet paper and a spray bottle of cleanser and cleaned it up. And his red fluff got shooed back out the sliding glass door. Ahhh those were the days. Junior does not want to come in the house. I'm okay with that.

 

[BantyChooks]

Also I should just say that I don't hold it against people who buy stuff for their pets like that.  But it's just not me.  And I love a more natural life for my  birds as much as possible.  And I think personally they like being their natural selves.  So that's my line of thinking.  I also don't like being marketed to so heavily on social media.  I know this is America and capitalism.  But there is so much crap out there (probably from China) -- it just sort of gets sickening.  And I don't know how to tell people that without sounding too rude.  So many impose their thoughts and feelings to their animals so much.  My rooster and hens have social behaviors that I know.  But for the most part their brains come down to food and breeding.  And a hen diaper just is not going to be found on this backyard flock.

Target:  if you go to target in the animal section and look at all the dog toys:   THEY LOOK LIKE BABY TOYS!  WTHades?  I shake my head and keep walking to the sports section for Tennis balls.  LOL.  Cheaper than the dog tennis balls.  Did you guys know that?!  its so bad how they get us on our Baby doggies.

My dog would rip those fluffy things in two seconds....