Surviving Minnesota!

[CindyinSD]

Thanks, guys! I had to run and check to make sure my bag wasn’t medicated. You know, usually they’re proud of it and post it prominently but I hadn’t examined it minutely. It was the only meatie one I could find at Runnings, but it’s pretty haphazardly arraigned there. It has probiotics and it’s (yuck) *vegetarian* (sigh). (No meds, though) I may take it back but like I said... only one they seemed to have. There are a couple other stores—TSC and another one, starts with a D, can’t remember but it’s a big brand of feed. Maybe I should take it back. It’ll be full of soy and hence, Roundup. Plus I’m already hypothyroid so the last thing I need to be eating is soy. (I just drank too much coffee... can you tell?)

So, how long can I wait to put the meaties (basically Rangers) out? We’re supposed to have a high in the mid 30s today... low in the 20s, so not so bad, but still... There’s teensie bits of grass if you look close, but even the (many) cow pats aren’t attracting flies yet. Not much in the way of bugs available. Did I mention what a fan I am of the promised/threatened global warming???

I actually have more questions but I’ll shut-up now. I don’t want to OVER over-do it...

TIA!

 

[jerryse]

Whatever you do, do not mix a medicated feed with a non medicated feed. The medicated feed is at the proper concentration of medication and mixing it with a non medicated feed makes it so that the medication is below the required levels making it ineffective. It can also lead to the possibility of developing medication resistant strains.

X2

 

[I Love Layers]

Dad just texted me that we have our first calf, exactly 9 months after too

 

[holm25]

Dad just texted me that we have our first calf, exactly 9 months after too

Exciting. We just had number 7 an hour ago.

 

[CindyinSD]

Yay!!! Congrats on all the babies!

 

[duluthralphie]

Thanks, guys! I had to run and check to make sure my bag wasn’t medicated. You know, usually they’re proud of it and post it prominently but I hadn’t examined it minutely. It was the only meatie one I could find at Runnings, but it’s pretty haphazardly arraigned there. It has probiotics and it’s (yuck) *vegetarian* (sigh). (No meds, though) I may take it back but like I said... only one they seemed to have. There are a couple other stores—TSC and another one, starts with a D, can’t remember but it’s a big brand of feed. Maybe I should take it back. It’ll be full of soy and hence, Roundup. Plus I’m already hypothyroid so the last thing I need to be eating is soy. (I just drank too much coffee... can you tell?)

So, how long can I wait to put the meaties (basically Rangers) out? We’re supposed to have a high in the mid 30s today... low in the 20s, so not so bad, but still... There’s teensie bits of grass if you look close, but even the (many) cow pats aren’t attracting flies yet. Not much in the way of bugs available. Did I mention what a fan I am of the promised/threatened global warming???

I actually have more questions but I’ll shut-up now. I don’t want to OVER over-do it...

TIA!

Bad news for you..

Runnings only sells big brand names. They get the "cheaper" store brand but as I recall that is Purena too.

I cannot get game bird feed at Runnings, I need to go ST Cloud for that or to TSC.

I have never understood the vegetarian chicken feed, other than to make liberal citified vegans feel good about denying their birds meat....... I wonder what they do when their birds find a mouse or mole? Do they stop them from chasing them?


I have no idea if there is a Heim's dealer out there (the name of the St Cloud place many of us go) If there is grab it, they make a great feed at a lower price...Maybe you could become their dealer and just drive to St Cloud once a month!.....the road trip would do you good....say around the 26th of April????




I bottle a little over 2 quarts of syrup yesterday!!! Life is good as long as it keeps getting below 30 at night....

 

[ejb3810]

Wrangler Ralphie, I suspect that Maple sap gathering is still happening ?
It was chillier here last night and is forecast to be so tonight as well.
It is quite significant the lower consumption of feed when the birds are free ranging. Even now it is evident, and the snow is still substantial in most spots.

 

[duluthralphie]

Wrangler Ralphie, I suspect that Maple sap gathering is still happening ?
It was chillier here last night and is forecast to be so tonight as well.
It is quite significant the lower consumption of feed when the birds are free ranging. Even now it is evident, and the snow is still substantial in most spots.

After last nights low 20s the sap is running hard today, I had one tree gave me 5 gallons in 5 hours..(three taps in the tree).

I cannot keep up on boiling it down, I need bigger fire making machines!

I have noticed the reduction in feed also. I still have a few in breeding pens but that will end soon.

Last night we got all but one hen into the proper shed. I left her out and told her " I hope the owl feasts on your old bones"...

I am so much better at putting the birds away than Judy... I even put Pocahontas away twice last night, same as Bertha (the 1st). They escaped from the coop while Judy was watching the door......she has no idea how they got out either.... It was a lively husband wife discussion..........

I carried Pocahontas to the coop the first time, but chased her the second, I carried Bertha instead she looked like the walk would kill her. Her comb was that blue color I hate to see. Bertha is old and most likely smoked as a chick. So her circulation is wanting.

We had chicken proofed under our deck a year or two ago. The chicken I offered up to the owls found a way under the deck but could not get out. I had to take apart the lattice work from below the deck for her to get out. I doubt she will go into the coop tonight. She is low on the totem pole, the back of her neck is pecked raw from every rooster think she is there for their pleasure. I feel sorry for her but she still needs to go into the coop.

 

[holm25]

Got some special eggs coming that should be shipped on Monday....

 

[CindyinSD]

@duluthralphie Hmm... they (Running’s) do have gamebird feed and I asked the poultry lady once when she was there whether they carry it year round. She said yes. If I remember right it was 21% but I could be wrong about that. Would that be an option for meaties? D&M sells Hubbard feeds and there’s a mill in town, but I don’t know whether they do custom mixes or whether that would be cost effective. I don’t know anything about Hubbard products’ reputation. Anyone here familiar with them?

BTW, congrats on the sap flow. I’ve wanted to try that ever since I read Little House in the Big Woods loooong ago. LOL I hate to think what it would be like if one boiled down pine sap, but alas that’s all we’ve got.