Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Oh, I forgot...

Morning Ivie..... I tried to hold back posting for you. Sorry...

I drove past twice yesterday, I did not see the DH out doing Pom-pom practice either time... Did he come to an understanding with Tom?

 

[duluthralphie]

The dogs were doing "time" yesterday for not listening when the UPS guy came. I was in the shed so instead of the deck or kennel, they got locked in a pen I have.

They sat by the fence looking out all sad faced. When I came around the corner Bert was sitting outside the fence "visiting" with the inmates. He got up when I went for my IPhone. But I still thought it was cute and snapped a few pictures, I wish I had gotten to one of him sitting looking in at them.

 

[duluthralphie]

Hi all. I ended up getting 12 healthy chicks, but 10 eggs didn't hatch. They were definitely alive at lockdown, so I am sure it was my incubation skills (or lack of..) Temp and humidity staying great, until they started hatching, and it went super high. I am guessing they drowned? I did not open them. I was busy, and just couldn't bring myself to make the time. I did candle them on day 23, and there was no movement.
The good news, I do have 12 new chicks to enjoy! 4 of Ralpie's EE and 8 bantam cochins.

So,, I am still talking to myself and drinking coffee..

& Beings Sleepy mentioned my EE's. I still have hens protesting my removal of their favorite nest. Yesterday I picked 6 eggs out of the nest on the floor (they made) under where they think the nest box belongs.

I got 3 brown eggs in the morning and 3 blue in the afternoon. I assume these were laid by Ole's daughters (Ole is blue egg gene Roo I got from EJB, who is probably mourning having ever gave him up)

When I went into the coop and saw them I thought they deserved a picture, and it will give those of you wanting his egg gene an idea of the color...

 

[KlopKlop]

Good morning ralphie. Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to drop my truck for an oil change this morning then put out a few fires at work... Darn work cutting into my BYC habit

 

[duluthralphie]

Good morning ralphie. Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to drop my truck for an oil change this morning then put out a few fires at work... Darn work cutting into my BYC habit

I hate that!

If it was not so cold, I would be outside working already.

My old truck, that I spent hours on last week putting new brakes on now needs a wheel bearing. I hate working on vehicles. But I hate paying someone to do something I can do myself worse. I would like a new truck, but I cannot justify spending 75K for a new truck. So I will drive my old one and keep working on it.


I have not told the WWD this, so "Shhhhhhhh" I am thinking of putting a hoist in the shed so I can lift the vehicles to work on them instead of crawling around under them. It would be good on my knees, but it could be rough on our perfect marriage.....

 

[chickenlover292]

Morning Ralphie, Hey Guess what. NEVER MIND, I want to tell you instead of having you guess.
You know my science teacher that hatched eggs in his room and I helped him take care of them,
He doesn't think he has enough room at his farm so he said I could take them if he doesn't have room.

 

[I Love Layers]

Good morning everyone!
This is what it looks like outside my window

So my dads going to take care of the birds for me this morning.
Day #2 for the eggs I set!

Yesterday Dakota had a little bit of afterbirth on her butt, not enough to show that she's going to valve before May 3 though

 

[KlopKlop]

I hate that!

If it was not so cold, I would be outside working already.

My old truck, that I spent hours on last week putting new brakes on now needs a wheel bearing. I hate working on vehicles. But I hate paying someone to do something I can do myself worse.  I would like a new truck, but I cannot justify spending 75K for a new truck.  So I will drive my old one and keep working on it.


I have not told the WWD this, so "Shhhhhhhh"   I am thinking of putting a hoist in the shed so I can lift the vehicles to work on them instead of crawling around under them. It would be good on my knees, but it could be rough on our perfect marriage.....

I know what you mean and usually it is because it is at a bad time. I would rather spend several hours making progress on other projects than just getting back to status quo on my vehicle.

I would loooove a lift but I don't do enough auto mechanics to justify it. Once I get my new garage built this fall it will already be a huge improvement. Working on cars/tractors on gravel is the worst.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Good morning all. We do not have that white stuff on our lawns but it feels cold enough for it! We have sunshine.

My layers are starting to not lay as much already.

. I egg here and there. Or maybe it's my egg eater. Idk... I guess I've already complained about this ...as it coincided with Dixie's move to the broody coop.

Great. I'm starting to repeat myself.

 

[lvie]

The dogs were doing "time" yesterday for not listening when the UPS guy came. I was in the shed so instead of the deck or kennel, they got locked in a pen I have.

They sat by the fence looking out all sad faced. When I came around the corner Bert was sitting outside the fence "visiting" with the inmates. He got up when I went for my IPhone. But I still thought it was cute and snapped a few pictures, I wish I had gotten to one of him sitting looking in at them.

Bert is a Handsome Roo. I don't believe I have met him but then there were so many to meet. Good picture.

With DH threat of dispensing Tom Hanks to Never-Never land I have kept Tom locked down. With lock down in my mind, I went to Home Depot and bought an 4x8 finishing plywood yesterday and cut a replacement for the HEAVY piece of pressed wood that flips up so the coop and nest boxes can be accessed on the chicken tractor (small coop) I am also going to replace the front flip down door that is used to access the run. That should lighten up that chicken tractor quite a bit. I am going to make a minor change in hinging the nest box access instead of having to open that whole top of the coop. Then cover it with ice and water and a few shingles. Next I want a retractable wheel. They are just over $100 on amazon. Do any of you have a set you want to sell? THEN I should be able to move that chicken tractor around and Tom Hanks will no longer bother the DH. Its either that or set up movable fences to pen the free rangers in during the day.

That tractor was made originally for six birds to free range and no eagles carrying them off for their dinner. I never ever intended to have roosters. Tom Hanks came with Gilda Radner and I did not want to split up the couple. I like Tom alot except he can be a pita but as roosters go he is really a good one. Gotta take care of him. So I will be out working on that coop this morning.