Surviving Minnesota!

[lvie]

Good Morning! I am sorry for all the loses this weekend. My loses weekend were all intentional. We butchered 9 extra roosters that were growing out so there was enough meat for soup birds. Now when I go out it seems like I have a much smaller flock! Which I guess I did cut it by probably 20% butchering those 9 birds. Hopefully my hens will be much less stressed and start lying more again. I did charge my light battery too so that should help also.

I have to call in for feed today. We order 500lbs at a time from the local feed mill. When we are raising CX we order 1000 lbs at a time. 500lbs is I think about $105.00. So not bad. Plus the manager lives out by us and usually delivers it to our house also. I also have to get out the incubator and wash it out and get it set up to start setting eggs. I am heading down to St. Cloud this weekend and am going to Ralphie's to get some eggs. I will flood his farmyard with 5 children who will love up on those kittens for him and at least 2-3 that may be found catching chickens when our backs are turned. LOL So if you need something caught on Sunday Ralphie we can help with that!

Hope everyone has a good week!

You have a good week also. Stay safe and healthy.

 

[lvie]

Good Morning Chickeners . . . .

 

[lvie]

Hi R2elk. Come join us!

 

[I Love Layers]

I can't remember where in Northern Minnesota you are located but over here on the western side of North we are at 40% chance and it says a chance of flurries or snow showers. I don't think it will be much if at all. Unless someone starts a snow dance and we DO NOT need that. 30 for a high today. High 20s and melting again by the weekend. My year old daughter is lamentating that she doesn't want more snow because she wants to ride her dirtbike. I just don't want to be cold anymore!

hopefully all the flurries left us that's all its been here for the last week. Flurries every other hour

 

[jerryse]

Morning . Think I broke my middle toe left foot yesterday while adding a second railing on the ramp . Dumb move . Put the new 2 x 4 rail and cut to length after it was up . Of course the hardwood is heavier than pine . Fell right on my toe . Ouch . Put in a load of my laundry . Running out of socks . Woke up grumpy while doing this . I usually let her sleep .

DW is taking WW to a DR appointment today . I have to buy feed . Rain coming tonight .

 

[ejb3810]

Mom of Many, I am in Hermantown which you know is on top of the hill at W tip of Lake Superior. We had 4+ inches on Sat/Sun and forecast is flurries today with 3 to 5 inches tomorrow.

I used to say I did not mind the snow as it could be moved out of the way. Now I say I hate snow and I hate cold. Ice fishing is for people with serious mental issues, as are most life activities including Chicken keeping ?!
Having said that, I would add that I believe it keeps many from more serious tension relieving activities. The old question of note " is it goal achieving or tension relieving" ?

I think my next goal achieving activity will be to have another cup of coffee. Perhaps that will result in enough ambition to achieve a goal ?

 

[Momof3plustwins]

Just came in from chicken chores and I think my eggs may just be on the up swing. I already had one in the box. I have not had any this early in quite awhile. Here is for a full doz day! Small steps because I was only getting 6 a day. Yesterday was 9. I have 25 ISA browns that lay and are not yet 1 year old. I then have 3 mix hens that lay but I don't know their age. A bantam hen who gave me one yesterday. Then a whole mix of pullets (14 I think) that started to lay in January and then quit. I figure in full swing I should be getting almost 3 doz a day. Then I have a handful 4-5 hens that hatched in October who are not laying yet.

 

[Momof3plustwins]

Up to 5 eggs now with 6&7 being worked on right now. I am checking often to see if anyone is eating their eggs and steal them away before someone comes in to try and eat it.

 

[holm25]

Good morning... Had my only chick out for a little while today... I feel bad he's the only one...

ETA I am pretty sure this is a pullet. Such tiny legs on it compared to my Buckeye influenced babies. Well I suppose I should finish homework... Thos little brat keeps hopping on my phone screen and screwing everything up

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Looks like she's going to be your little buddy holm! Look at that face!

It's been a busy rush to the end of the BB seasons. But this week will be the last for DS. DD is done... 15th Birthday tomorrow for the twins. Debating on doing cake after the game tomorrow for his teammates and DD or just a nice little dinner at home with us 4/gifts. Probably the latter as the boys are busy running and doing stuff.

Ralphie, please accept my condolences on JJ. You know my desire for Turkeys and it has a lot to do with their friendly demeanor and character, and JJ embodied that. Lots of memories with that Boy. How old was he? That's rough. He was a main character down there on the Orrock Acres.

I did not get to my soap orders so I need to get that a-going yet after work. BUT I did make home-made ice cream yesterday with the kids and that stuff is to DIE for!



It takes 4 egg yolks and some patience and preparation. But yesterday I'd hear the freezer door open and close. Open and close. Then a whole bunch of OMG's.... There's nothing like it. It is so good. Especially with your own Eggs.

JERRY! you and DW Take care of yourselves! Glad you are getting the ramp on.
I broke my middle toe on my Right foot last Memorial weekend. In the RV. The couch was in the wrong spot apparently as I was running in for something. Too fast and harsh on my feet. It took a good 2 months for it to be right again. I remember hearing it click in and out of place for a while. Ew Gross, I know. And then finally I just buddy taped it when I knew it was clicked in the right place for a good week or two so it would start knitting together.

The chickens are doing fine. Clean digs. No Cooties. They are back to being in the run again thanks to Mom Nature rectifying the fact that it's still winter with a couple inches of snow. We had 1 degree predicted this morning.
It felt like it...sure enough.

I'm itching for gardens and working with apple trees with my good advice...etc...etc. Ralphie and Jerry you'll have to let me know how it goes with the scions. The tree sounds cool.
An apple variety I want to Try Jerry is Keepsake. I may have already mentioned this to you. I want to say I got advice on this that this may be a Banana Belter variety though. I have not done further research on it.

I had a Keepsake once. A doctor I was working with had visited an Orchard a bit south of us. He handed me one. It was the best apple I had ever tasted. Firm. Crisp. Sweet. Hint of tart. I think trying a Keepsake would be worth a try in the Tundra.