Surviving Minnesota!

[holm25]

Good morning BYC!!! I have a feeling its going to be a long,cold day today!!

 

[Cluckies]

I am planning on planting catnip outdoors this spring for the cats

Oh, that's a great idea!

Cluckies:  I got a giggle looking at the long fur between his toes.  LOL.  He leads a leisurely life I see.  LOL.
yep, very leisurely!

Awe you guys are making me want a putty tat.


Well we lost to Red Lake. Both Boys and Girls.  They have great 3 point shooters up there and plus the reffing...well....LOL.  But they are good.
You'll get them next time!

No Bullhead fishing...but I kept watching my husband rubberneck at the lake ...little bit of twitching going on there I think.
Hahaha!

Well I'm motivated to start pecking at our unfinished basement some more.  It's high time.  Getting it cleaned out has probably been the trigger.  Priced some #3 tongue and groove pine panelling.  I'm going to line the bathroom horizontally with it and paint it white on the lower half (sort of a wainscote--sp?) Been on Pinterest like crazy and I've been pinning corrugated steel paneling.  Steam-Punk pipe bathroom lighting and toilet paper dispensers.  Sliding Barn door to access our Mechanical room.  Oh Gosh...it's like Christmas...being on Pinterest, getting these ideas. So the look is this sort of Barn sort of Steam Punk recycled thing I want to do.  We'll see if it all flies.  One thing at a time.  ....Must focus.

Sounds like it will be just wonderful. Can't wait to see photos!

I am planning on planting catnip outdoors this spring for the cats

Kloppers:  Last year I took an overgrown flower garden and tore it apart and put in herbs and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.  I researched beneficial herbs for Chickens actually and what is good for them is good for us, too.  I added italian types for cooking as well and just some things that were pretty.  But it sure was nice after I'd clean out the coop to go and snip some mint and lemongrass and put it in the nest boxes and know it may do them some good or go a ways to make for a healthier environment.  Very rewarding to have that little bit of dirt going to some good use.

What are good herbs to grow for chickens and nest boxes?

How do u guys like the farmy coat hangers my mom and aunt made fro stuff we found all over my grandpas farm??

Love it! How creative!

 


Kloppers:  Last year I took an overgrown flower garden and tore it apart and put in herbs and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.  I researched beneficial herbs for Chickens actually and what is good for them is good for us, too.  I added italian types for cooking as well and just some things that were pretty.  But it sure was nice after I'd clean out the coop to go and snip some mint and lemongrass and put it in the nest boxes and know it may do them some good or go a ways to make for a healthier environment.  Very rewarding to have that little bit of dirt going to some good use.

Bogtown I grew lots of herbs last summer for the chickens, dried it and have a bag full I mix into the nestboxes, it smells so good and they peck at it. I throw some on the floor too because they are eating it

Sounds like they love it!

Good morning BYC!!! I have a feeling its going to be a long,cold day today!!

Good Morning! My phone says it will get to 1 today... I hope it gets warmer than that! :/ well off to do chores!

 

[duluthralphie]

My phone says it is way too cold and getting colder.

My Thermometer is showing 5, way warmer than it is suppose to get,,,

Opps it fell back to 4.



Remember this little pullet I picked out of the Creamette pen the other day.





When I moved her to the new coop she went to an isolation pen in the coop, just so the other birds and her could get to know each other a tad. They have seen each other through fences.


And as I say this I know how she got in the creamette pen. I let all the "chicks" free range. last summer/fall. In October I grabbed all of them I thought were CLB's and put them in the creamette pen. Obviously I am not all that good at picking out CLB teenage chicks! I am relieved to have remembered this little tidbit. It means my CLBs are pure.


But I still think Ole could have gotten to they escapee hen last summer for an hour. Either way I am 99% confident I have the mislabeled birds out..


Anyways, back to the original thought. When I checked on her last night, I found an egg in her pen, The prettiest blue egg!






So who ever it was that said she looked like she had some Creamette in her might be right. My Ipone does not capture the blues as well as it should, but hopefully you can see the blue. It looks like a creamette egg.



This year creamettes will be marked as soon as they hatch for breed and sex.

 

[holm25]

Maybe id she keeps laying god u need to take a creamette or two and put them with oles son.

 

[duluthralphie]

Maybe id she keeps laying god u need to take a creamette or two and put them with oles son.

I have already thought of that. I want to up my egg production, and I like her looks. I think I can pick her egg out of the nests because of shape and color. (creamette eggs are not as pointy as normal eggs)

When I am ready to hatch I will just put the hens I want to have chicks from ( my barnyard mix ones) in a breeding pen with Ole Jr. Poor hens!

By then I will have Ed in with the Partridge Girls from Calgary. I know Ole Jr will get no chance to breed until Ed is out of the way. Ed is kind of a tyrant when it comes to letting another guy "date" his women.

 

[Rhetts]

What do you fine folks have planned for this chilly Saturday?

ME? Absolutely NOTHING. We have no errands or running to do. Just gonna stay home and make some quick breads to warm the tummy and fill the air with delightful smells!!

 

[KlopKlop]

What do you fine folks have planned for this chilly Saturday?

ME? Absolutely NOTHING. We have no errands or running to do. Just gonna stay home and make some quick breads to warm the tummy and fill the air with delightful smells!!

I am taking a snowmobile ride around lunch, otherwise, staying warm inside!

DW is going to the cities with some girl friends to do one of those wine and painting class things, so I can do whatever I want!

 

[holm25]

I am gonna wait for Rhetts to post some cow pics and thats about it

lol I'm jk its really cold with the wind.

 

[Rhetts]

I am taking a snowmobile ride around lunch, otherwise, staying warm inside!

DW is going to the cities with some girl friends to do one of those wine and painting class things, so I can do whatever I want!

Oh how fun for your DW! I have heard of those and how fun they are for us women folk. Hope she has a good time! And you too of course on your ride.

 

[duluthralphie]

1) There is no excuse for not posting a lot today, it is too cold to do anything, which means my coffee hour will last until noon or so.


2) I lost a creamette chick last night. I assume she froze to death, here is her picture:



I went out at about 8:30 hoping to prevent these needless deaths. Dang, it is terrible to have typical Minnesota weather back. The good thing is, it was lying just like in the picture crack up and no other egg in the nest so I know it is good. I am trying to convince my DW to fry it for me now. Along with a little bacon and maybe some French toast. She seems to be resisting.

3) here are the pictures of my "coop" for Bert and the gals. It is not fancy. It is effective and cheap. It is 4 sheets of 1/2 inch OSB, One sheet 1/2 treated plywood and a few 2x3s. and 2 2x4s










And here is the simple 2x4 roost a whole 10 inches off the ground for larger than life birds.






I made over sized nest boxes for oversized hens,



Here is one of Bert's gals, I think this is Bertha, If I recall she is a toad like Bert


And here they are talking around the water cooler. these are all CX's except Bert Jr who is a toad too.