Surviving Minnesota!

[Cebarmlds]

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.

Ralphie you just built that in a few hours yesterday?? impressive!!

 

[Rhetts]

@The BlanchRanch If you aren't going to back and catch up on posts the important thing to know is that @duluthralphie got a newer bigger incubator and is going to be swimming in chicks before you know what happens

LOL!! you know it!

That is good that she has a ways to go, right? hoping the weather is better on delivery day!!!

Yeah, I am hoping they hold out for awhile and the weather will be warmer for her and the calf. So exciting!

 

[holm25]

Rhetts she looks like she is about 3-5 weeks away. But sometimes they fill up over night though.

 

[The BlanchRanch]

@The BlanchRanch If you aren't going to back and catch up on posts the important thing to know is that @duluthralphie got a newer bigger incubator and is going to be swimming in chicks before you know what happens

CXs??

 

[holm25]

I am really liking the colors in my cross roo. Will show pics in a lil' bit.

 

[KlopKlop]

CXs??

sounds like any and every egg he can get his hands on

 

[KlopKlop]

Just got in from my sled ride and boy is it cold! we planned on going much further and heading north but there is less cover on the trails up there and the wind is wicked. we ended up screwing around to the south. there are wild drifts in the ditches from the 3 inches of snow we got plus this wind. good for goofing off with and jumping over. all snowmobiles need to get some air under their tracks once in a while

 

[KlopKlop]

Before i left i got more work done on my sprout/fodder setup. I was looking at lights and realized i had made a fatal flaw in v1.0 I want to add one or more shelves above the fodder for seed starting and other plants. well those shelves are 2'x4' osb sheets and they didnt fit in with the stud legs i had put up. brain fart! well here is v1.1






I think i fried one of my light fixtures while i was getting it set up. it wont light now and i tested with other bulbs. I need to strip it down and look for a short or damaged connector.

I intend to add at least one more shelf 18" over the top shelf yet. DW will be happy because i currently am using the dryer and washer as plant stands.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Been a busy day here getting ready for the cold. I added another component to Bert Jr and his girls run. I made a real coop with a roost in it for them. I put two nest boxes I can access from the outside.  I put it on the end of the run. 

The girls went in to check it as soon as I opened it for them. But I went to check tonight and they were back in the old brooder part.  I wanted them in the new coop. It is off the ground has a real floor and lots of cozy chips. They rejected it. 12 hours of work for nothing.


I am thinking of forcing them to go into it tomorrow and lock them out of the old part.   

Good looking new coop for the girls. They say about a week to retrain the girls to a new home/coop. Yes you'll probably need to lock them in but this will be better for their feet.

I plan to work in the basement a bit. I am building more storage space (shelves) and making an area for incubating and brooding small feathered friends.

I am not get any of it done, my Nieces are here so I will have to spend some time  with them entertaining and re-educating them to remove the harmful effects of a really liberal arts college.   I might have to have them shoot a few rounds just to remind them what fun it is. 

I am going to commandeer some plastic containers she just bought (still in a pack) and turn them into a fodder farm.....( however, she is still snippy about my simple breakfast request,) so I might wait to borrow and drill holes in them.

You need to spring for some Tannerite for the nieces conversion I'd say!

I am trying to think what I'll do today. Have to do some laundry other than that I think I'll make some oatmeal for the girls. Maybe bake another loaf of that beer bread. Stay in and keep warm sounds best, it's still -2.

Oh man! I am so going to break out the beer bread recipe!

I have done some housework already and am planning on sewing on a quilt square - yea! and then we are meeting another couple for dinner at 5 at D Michael B's. I hate to go out! But life does go on. Tomorrow after church and breakfast I am not leaving the nest!

Put the heat lamp on last night. So far so good but its gonna get cold for the next week and I am observing what happens.  Have upped the grains, making sure their water has the extra stuff in it. That font was the best idea Ralph - thanks for that tip! They are happy (spoiled).

Double triple attach that heat lamp. Yikes those things scare me. Have fun on your night out.

This morning I got up at 5:30 and got DS over to the school to go to a BB tournament. Was fun to watch him out there. They took 3rd. His coach has such a great way with those boys.

Had some Mexican food for lunch then home to check on my birds.

A few birds out in the run, a few in the coop. I decided to throw scratch grains and apple slices in the coop shavings so they could stir those up. I then closed the pop door. Turned on the flat panel heater. -4 for a high today. I'm assuming after they scratched and turned their litter they'd roost up. They usually do on negative days. Time to put them to bed.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Nothing like going to the church lady cook book for the good stuff!

I've made notes for those with only all purpose flour in the house on the bottom there.
Also note the melted stick of butter that goes on top after it's out of the oven.... Omgosh! Not beach diet food.

2 degrees in the coop. Colder than hades outside! ( or -10 with -27 windchill)