Surviving Minnesota!

[Nikasha]

I'm in Nowthen, welcome to the banana belt! You must be very close to me...

*waves* I bet we are close!

JEWEL WEED if you can find it anywhere. If it is the actual weed break open the stem and apply it to the poison ivy. Works like a charm. Maybe it would be available in essential oil form? Good stuff.

I used to try and find the ripest seed things as a kid.... Was fun to make them explode.

As for the poison ivy... Blending the touch me nots up with plantain works really well. Haven't used it in a while so I forget the exact recipe, but I do remember it worked.

I didn't know about jewel weed, but you almost certainly have plantain around you. Here are a couple links/recipes that you could adjust to ingredients on hand.
https://www.mommypotamus.com/diy-poison-ivy-remedy-2/
https://wellnessmama.com/5387/plantain-healing-herb/

 

[ejb3810]

There has recently been a commercial on TV for something that the Boyscouts and US Military apply to poison ivy to relieve the itch and heal it. Sorry I don't recall the name of it, but you could probably find it on the internet ?

 

[I Love Layers]

Went to town today after we put up some hay this morning. Ran some errands and got some minnows for the tank. It's 102 and windy so we are waiting til it cools down to go out and hay again

 

[lvie]

Here is the RIR I keep telling you about. She is broody and has five eggs under her. Today I pulled them out to check them as they should be hatching today and tomorrow. Yes, she lets me do whatever I want and just purrs at me as I do it. I talk to her and tell her how good she is. Isn't that unusual that she lets me handle her and her eggs? I did not know they do that. I am excited. These eggs are fertilized by Copper, my handsome EE from Ralphie.

 

[lvie]

I will definitely mourn when Rosie passes which I hope is not for a long, long time.

 

[lvie]

Oh and one is pipping!

 

[lvie]

I just went out to check on Rosie and yep - she let me see her chickie for two seconds and now touchy is all done. She did peck so I am glad to see that she is very protective. So now what chickeners? Will she keep the rest of the hens away or should I separate her out from them? There are four more eggs that should hatch before Sunday. Very cool.

 

[Tfred1399]

Cheers from Central MN. Looking to start a flock of 6-8 layers. Building a modified Purina coop, 4x8, probably a 6x8 run. My question....insulate the coop or not needed?

 

[I Love Layers]

Ivie what I do is once the first one hatches I move them somewhere else, away from the other birds. I wait a week to even have them be introduced to the new hens. By then the chicks are stronger and less affected by things like getting stepped on or pecked. I've never lost a chick doing this.

Got done raking tonight and I saw the last skunk scurry from out under the coop. The dog went after it and I sat and waited to see what the skunk would do. It sat there and just stared at the dog while the dog is literally contemplating whether or not to kill this skunk. At one point I called the dog off so that she wouldn't get sprayed and here the skunk is breeding out of the leg and it's also at a weird angle. I'm assuming the dog took a bite out of it. By time I got back out I didnt know where the skunk was so I set a trap. Hopefully i can finally get this one.

Yesterday I started putting the rare breeds together. Since I don't have enough shaded areas or green grass for them to be on I put the Swedish Flower Hens in half of a rabbit hutch, the Bresse are in another rabbit hutch, and the Icelandics are on top of one of the rabbit hutches in a short cage. Since these aren't sturdy enough to withstand a predator the hens go in my one empty conditioning cage at night and the roosters go in the coop.. they are all laying really well so hopefully i can hatch eggs when i get back from state fair

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Depends Tfred. Welcome.

Is the coop out in the open to some northwest winds? Or blocked? Will your breeds of layers have large combs that can frost bite? Just layers so if they do nip a bit your okay with that? Or will they be showed in a fair?

Personally I did insulate my roof. And left my walls uninsulated the first winter. Brutal winter on my single comb birds. About two years I put up reflectix on the walls. About every two years I need to tear out my ceiling insulation due to mice nests. - A reason to not insulate I guess. I guess it's really up to you. Many do not. Ventilation in the winter is probably more important than insulation.