Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

-9 in the Northland of Minnesota. Have I told anyone lately that I am ready for Summer? I hate the cold. 8/10 of my toes were completely white last night by the time I got home from teaching Wednesday School at church. Church was cold, outside was cold, and it was only a 5 mile drive home. Glad today is my Friday.

For all my great laying success earlier in the winter I am only getting a handful of eggs from my ISAs and my Aug chicks have begun laying so a few pullet eggs. About 10-12 eggs a day. I "should" be getting closer to 3 doz a day. I even have lights on them. No one seems sick either so I am stumped.

Please to not mention any temps below Zero, They depress me, I am done with winter.


@erlibrd Please take note of above.......



And @ejb3810 You have also violated the Below zero discussion rule!



MY girls decided to take a break yesterday too. I assume that will be a running theme today.

My turkey with the ad eyes is official listed as missing today. That will teach that little female dog to play games and run off at dusk.

I did not lose any of the chicks after the heat failure on them. I am happy about that.


Jerry is the 16ft bed standard? or did you need add a section? Is yours on wheels? I don't think mine takes 36 inch logs, I think 32 is the max.

I have quite a few eggs to set this week. but I am low on the egg eater breeds. The PC started using (or one of them did) my rollaway nest yesterday. I am hoping the other one does soon. Also the PC pullets are laying some now too. I am trying to not get overly optimistic about them hatching. I need to find Ed a place to live now, I am not happy with him in the cage. He does not seem to mind as long as I spend a few minutes talking to him.

I do not think the marans are eating eggs. but I have only 2 of them this week. I might have to talk to them. It could be the change in roosters upset them.

A Sussex with a different comb would be cool. It is too bad there is not a mechanism in the APA to change or add a variation to a breed without that 5 year, 5 breeder rule. Or if they could put out a desired change and have several people do the same crosses at once. For some of us 5 years is a lifetime.

 

[I Love Layers]

Thank you everyone.


Cold here this morning to below zero. I had to turn the heat lamp on today. I have 2 Red sex links who are molting pretty bad and thry were cold. I had to put them under it though because the 2 mean EEs wouldn't let them go to it.

Was looking at entries for county this year. So far I should be taking at least 8 birds, all cochins except 3 which are going to be a market trio of NNs

 

[duluthralphie]

Thank you everyone.


Cold here this morning to below zero. I had to turn the heat lamp on today. I have 2 Red sex links who are molting pretty bad and thry were cold. I had to put them under it though because the 2 mean EEs wouldn't let them go to it.

Was looking at entries for county this year. So far I should be taking at least 8 birds, all cochins except 3 which are going to be a market trio of NNs

Being the finally authority of everything,,,,,, I hereby decree naked neck will only be permitted on two birds, Vultures and Turkeys, on any other bird they are declared a crime against nature..........








Now that I am almost done with coffee for the day, I think I will collect eggs that have not froze and work on my incubators today. Too cold to be in the barn.

 

[jerryse]

• duluthralphie
• 
• Chicken Wrangler

​

Jerry is the 16ft bed standard? or did you need add a section? Is yours on wheels? I don't think mine takes 36 inch logs, I think 32 is the max.

No I bought a 4 foot extension so I could do 16 foot . Yes it is on wheels . Needed for moving it north . Already getting inquiry about milling . My ex neighbor and sometime coffee table chit chat was observed backing out of my driveway this morning . So the cat is out of the bag . Everyone will know now . Kept it secret for 2 months . Then had to move it out to get ready to work . I did not need to hear you not done yet . Plus I did not need work requests before I had it assembled . I only shared with nice people during the long assembly time . Did not need BS .

 

[duluthralphie]

• duluthralphie
• 
• Chicken Wrangler

​

Jerry is the 16ft bed standard? or did you need add a section? Is yours on wheels? I don't think mine takes 36 inch logs, I think 32 is the max.

No I bought a 4 foot extension so I could do 16 foot . Yes it is on wheels . Needed for moving it north . Already getting inquiry about milling . My ex neighbor and sometime coffee table chit chat was observed backing out of my driveway this morning . So the cat is out of the bag . Everyone will know now . Kept it secret for 2 months . Then had to move it out to get ready to work . I did not need to hear you not done yet . Plus I did not need work requests before I had it assembled . I only shared with nice people during the long assembly time . Did not need BS .​

I wish I had gotten an extension for mine.

Mine is on wheels, but had no lights, I use those temporary trailer lights on it. then I do not have to worry about the wires while milling.



Did I tell you about the welding shop in Rice? They make saw blades and are cheaper than having the old ones sharpened.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Hey! For the low price of driving over here we could teach you! We make a lot of it and my mom actually helps make it at the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag MN.

That's awesome! Careful, I may consider it when I'm up your way this Summer. I'm definitely a hands on learner and appreciate learning from others.

Your glasses look nice, by the way! And yes, everything is incredibly expensive. It almost feels wrong. After having the baby, my vision has changed a bit. I need to get my eyes checked and get some new glasses. CHA CHING! My Grandpa actually drives to Mexico (He's in AZ half the year) and gets his prescription/glasses there. He said it's 1/10th the price. It's sad that a WWII veteran and man who put in 70 years of hard work, thinks his more affordable eye care option is to drive to Mexico. In regards to healthcare, I don't understand why we don't prioritize our elderly population and veterans here in America.

Those interested in bees, but don't want to deal with honey may want to consider mason bees or leaf cutter bees. They are indigenous, don't sting and their little houses are adorable. I made my own houses.

I've seen their little houses for sale here and there! So dang cute.

Yes if you get one tiny granule of that lye on your skin...it will go right down to the muscle in a real hurry. SOooo... You need to wear long sleeves, pants, socks, rubber gloves and eye protection.

If you think about driving a car and how dangerous that actually can be....well you get used to it right? You get skills on how to handle that car. Same goes with lye and making soap. Right now I'm sort of naughty I dont wear the gloves and goggles like I should.

Thinking about one bad splash in the eye though...maybe I'll dig out the gloves & goggles for the next batch.

I have to rein myself in too when I get too many ideas. Although I made 5 loaves of soap and I've sold them all for pete sake.

Now I have to make a loaf just so we have some for our shower!

Do you make your own lye?

 

[destiny_56085]

http://vid35.photobucket.com/albums/d196/destiny_56085/20170201_130412_zpsghxoq0cc.mp4

I can't get the video to upload to watch directly so had to upload it to photo bucket. This is just a portion of the starlings flooding out of the barn every time I drive out. There is another group of them still in the barn that waits til I shoo them out. I just cleaned pens on Tuesday. Ughhhh so much for that.

 

[MNChickMom]

I wish I had gotten an extension for mine.

Mine is on wheels, but had no lights, I use those temporary trailer lights on it. then I do not have to worry about the wires while milling.



Did I tell you about the welding shop in Rice? They make saw blades and are cheaper than having the old ones sharpened

http://wjon.com/frozen-in-time-blacksmith-shop-video/

Above is a cool little article about the Rice Blacksmith Shop. The Fiedlers/Voigts are a great home town sorta people and a keep it local shop. Rice is only about 6 miles from our home and we frequent the shop even for lawn mower blades and small engine stuff. Just don't wear your Sunday Best when visiting.

For a small investment....say a free chick or 2 I would be happy to pick up blades if the hours don't work for someone.

 

[EMorical]

Three Eggs Monday - Zero eggs Tuesday - 4 Eggs Yesterday! (Technicalllllly - 3.5; one being an itty bitty pink egg. But it still counts!) Waiting in anticipation for today's results.

Also - side note - who brought up the initial "cold cure" topic

Germs were shared.

Layers; condolences....

 

[duluthralphie]

http://vid35.photobucket.com/albums/d196/destiny_56085/20170201_130412_zpsghxoq0cc.mp4

I can't get the video to upload to watch directly so had to upload it to photo bucket. This is just a portion of the starlings flooding out of the barn every time I drive out. There is another group of them still in the barn that waits til I shoo them out. I just cleaned pens on Tuesday. Ughhhh so much for that.

I cannot get it to load, I can hear the chickens but nothing opens up..Weird