Surviving Minnesota!

[ejb3810]

BC, as the old adage goes in relation to the weather " we are not out of the woods yet ".

Ralphie I am not hugging any poultry.

Jerry, it is very difficult to find good employees. It was that way during my professional career. I hired and fired hundreds of people, and only about 5% were outstanding. 25% were HS !
My wife finds the same in her business. I tell her to retire so she doesn't have to deal with the idiots ! As is to be expected she does not listen to me. She has offers to buy her business but will not do so. She is concerned that new owners would ruin the good name and reputation of her company. My son is thinking of taking a leave of absence from his work to work with his mother this summer and possibly take over the company. I tell him don't do it. It is not worth the headaches !!

Went to the Carlton Swap today. Lots of stuff, but not too much of good quality. My friend bought a Black Copper Marans rooster and some chicks. I was tempted to by a pair of Rose Combs but did not.

 

[jerryse]

Well we got the log out before the rain started . Only took half hour . Now no worry about how soggy it gets . Now to move on to trip prep . Lots of things to get done this week .

 

[duluthralphie]

BC, as the old adage goes in relation to the weather " we are not out of the woods yet ".

Ralphie I am not hugging any poultry.

Jerry, it is very difficult to find good employees. It was that way during my professional career. I hired and fired hundreds of people, and only about 5% were outstanding. 25% were HS !
My wife finds the same in her business. I tell her to retire so she doesn't have to deal with the idiots ! As is to be expected she does not listen to me. She has offers to buy her business but will not do so. She is concerned that new owners would ruin the good name and reputation of her company. My son is thinking of taking a leave of absence from his work to work with his mother this summer and possibly take over the company. I tell him don't do it. It is not worth the headaches !!

Went to the Carlton Swap today. Lots of stuff, but not too much of good quality. My friend bought a Black Copper Marans rooster and some chicks. I was tempted to by a pair of Rose Combs but did not.

So hard to believe I was wrong about that...

 

[BantyChooks]

I was wrong about that...

Finally. You admitted it.

 

[MNChickMom]

In for short lunch break then back to creating a rooster condo. Ok well maybe just sectioning off a part of the shed to grow out the roosters. Oops scratch that thought over to the farm to send some steers through the chute. Then off to work, where I am volunteering my time checking people in for a black tie event. Hopefully, I can transition quickly from farm clothes to cocktail dress. (There will be no pictures of cocktail attire and I'm not excited about the event.)

 

[BantyChooks]

In for short lunch break then back to creating a rooster condo. Ok well maybe just sectioning off a part of the shed to grow out the roosters. Oops scratch that thought over to the farm to send some steers through the chute. Then off to work, where I am volunteering my time checking people in for a black tie event. Hopefully, I can transition quickly from farm clothes to cocktail dress. (There will be no pictures of cocktail attire and I'm not excited about the event.)

Awww, c'mon...

 

[duluthralphie]

In for short lunch break then back to creating a rooster condo. Ok well maybe just sectioning off a part of the shed to grow out the roosters. Oops scratch that thought over to the farm to send some steers through the chute. Then off to work, where I am volunteering my time checking people in for a black tie event. Hopefully, I can transition quickly from farm clothes to cocktail dress. (There will be no pictures of cocktail attire and I'm not excited about the event.)

I really am having trouble picturing you in a cocktail dress,.. I think we need pictures.

 

[Siggie]

Afternoon all!

Got a question.... I finally broke down and let the broodies out of their cage with the chicks and they had a ball! The problem I had was one of my barred rock hens came in and pecked at the chicks, one time it was hard! The poor little thing squealed! She pecked at 3 but the last one looked like it really hurt. The broodies ignored her?????? The low on the totem pole rooster came in and was feeding right next to them, pecked a couple and they learned to stay clear. The broodies ignored him. Then there were two other hens who they wouldn't even allow into the riun, they attacked them???? Is it safe to leave them all integrated now? I took the cage apart thinking I was going to leave them out because the broodies are very restless and they are done sitting on eggs. I created a "safe place" where the broodies and chicks can retreat under a small shelter but if the other hens wanted to get in they could.

...do I put the cage back together or leave them out with the flock? I don't want to lose any chicks but I don't want to continue to keep the broodies locked up anymore either?? They all looked so happy sitting in the sun out in the run.

Thanks

 

[ChcknNurse]

You are very close to correct, however the toad says it was self defense. I am trying to finish up my rapid whole blood test for the state. I am about 2 weeks behind due to weather, injuries and procrastination. I had left the toads to close to the end. The process of taking a sample is pretty straight forward. I have to put identifying leg bands on the bird, flip it over on its back holding it down with one hand while plucking the feathers out from under it's arm (wing). Then locate a blood vein and stick the bird with a needle and get a drop of blood. Then transfer the blood to the test plate and mix with a reagent. I was on Chicken number 106. Better known as Bert's kid. I wish there was a way for you guys to all understand just how huge a toad is. Without seeing and lifting one it is hard to comprehend a chicken as big as a turkey in body size. They are squatter than a turkey with legs 3 times as thick. They are generally friendly birds without a mean bone in their bodies. However, that can change when you try to tip them over, lay them on their backs and pull the feathers out from under their arms. I assume this would be about the same as someone flipping me over and pulling the hair out from under my armpits. I would probably resist a little too. Well, 106 was not happy with the whole idea. In addition to trying to hold him down finding a blood vein on a toad is hard to do. They are not like a layer where the vein just sits there for you to see. I know where the vein should be. I just could not see it. The toad was getting upset after about 15 repeated attempts to blindly hit the vein. Again to better understand this imagine having a blind lab tech Freshly out of school with no experience draw blood from your arm. I decided I had injured the left wing enough and went to flip hm around and pull the feathers off his right wing while searching for the vein. Number 106 was not happy with this new attempt. Now in retrospect I might have made a minor error. I had just put a new needle on the sticker (technical term for the blood drawing thingy). I could not find a decent vein, My wife, the nurse, was helping me. She was not holding the bird she was pulling feathers and trying to see if she could see a vein. (So now the Toad has two people pulling the "hair" out from under his arm) He had a frown on his face mixed with a grimace. I needed to get a better look so, (here comes the error) I laid the needle/sticker thingy down on top of the toads wing (the far end)...... And was searching and pulling feathers like a mad man, thinking where else can I find a blood vein. When the toad decided enough is enough. He flipped the end of his wing up, at an incredibly fast speed. The needle thing being far out on the wing tip was launched like an atlatl. It flew about 9 inches straight up and through my finger. I remember looking at the top inch or so of the needle sticking out the top of my finger. Thinking this is not right, followed by intense pain. I pulled the needle out, but being single minded found a vein and stabbed the toad! I got my blood and carried the toad back to his pen. By then my finger was starting to turn an interesting shade of purple/blue. I thought I should call the state poultry lab and see if I have to worry about any side effects of being stabbed with a dirty needle. In my former life being stabbed with a dirty needle was not a good thing and an immediate trip to the ER. The lab just laughed when I told them a toad stabbed me. They had never heard of anyone being stabbed by a toad before. She even said " tell me again how this happened" I know she had me on speaker phone as I heard someone giggling in the background. She told me she is just a lab tech and I should talk to Dr Voss. Dr Voss is Veterinarian with a master degree in Public health. (She is a real genius) She laughed when I told her the toad stabbed me too. BUT she at least control the laughter enough to tell me "Luckily with chickens A human cannot catch a herpes or aids from a dirty chicken needle." She did say I should go to the urgent care and get a prescription for antibiotic and a tetanus shot if mine is out of date. I am pretty sure mine is out of date, I think I had one in Junior high. I went to the urgent care, I had to fill out a form on what happened. The receptionist said "we do not do needle stick here" I said "it was not a human needle but a chicken needle"... I could see somewhere in her mind she was confused, however she seemed to be the kind of person that would get confused counting the proper change when paying with a dollar bill for a 99 cent candy bar. She went and asked the Dr. I heard the Dr say " a what?" The Dr came out and asked if it was a new needle or had been used on a chicken" She had that smile that says " this guy is an idiot" I know the smile I had just used it on the receptionist. She said I needed to go to the ER. That ain't gonna happen. I refuse to go twice in one month to the ER! I reasoned to Judy the needle was almost new. it was not like a rusty nail so the tetanus shot is not needed. Also I can't get AIDS from the chicken so lets go home. Of course, all the way home I received a lecture on going to the Dr, and how she was going to get me an appointment today to see one. (bet I miss the appointment)... Anyways that is the story of how I got stabbed by a toad... And why I cannot sleep right now, my headaches and my finger is throbbing. I still have more chickens to test today too... At the rate these accidents are happening I will never make 90. let alone 100 like EJB did. This is how my fingers looked after the incident: Judy claims I am exaggerating, but we all know how she lies.

Rotfl!!! You are a gifted story teller! Oh how I wish I could help with these lab draws... so much more interesting than sticking people.

 

[duluthralphie]

Morning all..

I think my Iphone lied to me. It said it would be a nice day. It looks like rain and yucky snow coming from the Southwest..

I guess I will have to find something to do indoors. I could just work in the barn, which is what I do most days anyways,,

Nothing new, except Heidi has taken to sitting on my head while I type. I am forced to wear an anti-poop in the hair device. AKA stocking cap while giving her the quality time she needs.

Judy is becoming a tad unreasonable about Heidi's living in the house. I suppose I will have to move her outside. Maybe even today. Not sure how to break the news to Heidi that she has to go live with the chickens.



I saw online a lot of morels were found yesterday in this area. My mistake I worked here instead of looking, I might go today if the temps are halfway decent for it.