Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Terri O]

Good morning all...the sun has just popped out. When I went out to check the traps earlier it was cloudy still--maybe we will get up to the temps they are predicting?
Decided I had to set the traps...heard quite the commotion yesterday at about 5AM. I could NOT get out of bed to check it out. I should have; one of my cuckoo marans was dead in the little coop with her ***** end eaten out (gross!) Any idea what would do that? They are in a chain link pen and I have never had pred probs in there! I am thinking a rat? But how could that kill her?
Then I was walking about (still picking up winter trash) and found one of my female calls! She was lying under the pines--no trace of injuries. One guinea has a swollen head that looks like it was fighting something off and the white guinea seems to be missing. Two mornings ago my Barred Rock roo was not looking great and he was dead in the nest box the next day! When it rains it pours around here I guess.

I cut up my seed potatoes yesterday--I am hoping to get them in this week...if I can till that part of the garden. It looks to be pretty dry. Also cleaned up the salad garden raised bed. I think I need some more dirt/compost in there...the chickens have turned it into a dust bath raised bed! They are so funny laying in that dirt! I hope the fence can keep them out now that they have discovered the joy of being inside!
Speaking of gardening: I put my seedlings outside yesterday and they got all wilty! They dont look as good as they have today either. What did I do wrong? It was getting pretty steamy under the cover so I took it off. Then a few hours later the leaves looked dark and a little dry. I know they were warm enough...any ideas welcome!
Oh, the peppers came up! Very tiny little plants right now but I am hopeful. The Zinnias and Coreopsis that the kids planted all damped off...I am not a very good seed started I fear. I guess I will be buying plants again....

BL4 if you bring Patchouli soap for Dooner wrap it tight! I hate that smell since that was the only scent I made in my one attempt at soap. Gave it all to a (Hippy) friend and she LOVED it! My entire bathroom closet smelled like that for years.

I dont know what I was thinking! It sounds like you had a wonderful SUnday! Full of family like it should be!

I guess I should get to doing something...spring always makes me feel more behind than I usually feel! (if that is even possible)
Have a great day! TErriO

 

[JustJohn]

Good morning all...the sun has just popped out. When I went out to check the traps earlier it was cloudy still--maybe we will get up to the temps they are predicting?
Decided I had to set the traps...heard quite the commotion yesterday at about 5AM. I could NOT get out of bed to check it out. I should have; one of my cuckoo marans was dead in the little coop with her ***** end eaten out (gross!) Any idea what would do that? They are in a chain link pen and I have never had pred probs in there! I am thinking a rat? But how could that kill her?
Then I was walking about (still picking up winter trash) and found one of my female calls! She was lying under the pines--no trace of injuries. One guinea has a swollen head that looks like it was fighting something off and the white guinea seems to be missing. Two mornings ago my Barred Rock roo was not looking great and he was dead in the nest box the next day! When it rains it pours around here I guess.
TErriO

Do your pens have covers on top?

I had a coon climb my chain link and carry a rooster back over the fence, judging by the trail of feathers going into the woods. 2 nights in a row.

I think preditors will chew on whichever end of a chicken that is towards them and bleeding.

 

[JustJohn]

I have to bow out of the dare table when it comes to hot and spicy food. If I wanted to be tortured and in pain, I would have kept the first wife.

 

[Terri O]

 

[vickiw]

WOW Terri!!! keep us posted what you get in the traps!!! What a tragedy!!!

As for the transplants. You should always put them out on a cloudy day whenever possible. A full day of bright sun is too much for them to usually take. If no choice but put them out in full sun, then you need to shade them with CLOTH not plastic. I've even gotten away with burying them in straw in a pinch and then uncovering late in the day. don't leave the straw on tho or you will have the tiny critters chewing on them.

 

[irishrovr]

Good morning all...the sun has just popped out. When I went out to check the traps earlier it was cloudy still--maybe we will get up to the temps they are predicting?
Decided I had to set the traps...heard quite the commotion yesterday at about 5AM. I could NOT get out of bed to check it out. I should have; one of my cuckoo marans was dead in the little coop with her ***** end eaten out (gross!) Any idea what would do that? They are in a chain link pen and I have never had pred probs in there! I am thinking a rat? But how could that kill her?
Then I was walking about (still picking up winter trash) and found one of my female calls! She was lying under the pines--no trace of injuries. One guinea has a swollen head that looks like it was fighting something off and the white guinea seems to be missing. Two mornings ago my Barred Rock roo was not looking great and he was dead in the nest box the next day! When it rains it pours around here I guess.

I cut up my seed potatoes yesterday--I am hoping to get them in this week...if I can till that part of the garden. It looks to be pretty dry. Also cleaned up the salad garden raised bed. I think I need some more dirt/compost in there...the chickens have turned it into a dust bath raised bed! They are so funny laying in that dirt! I hope the fence can keep them out now that they have discovered the joy of being inside!
Speaking of gardening: I put my seedlings outside yesterday and they got all wilty! They dont look as good as they have today either. What did I do wrong? It was getting pretty steamy under the cover so I took it off. Then a few hours later the leaves looked dark and a little dry. I know they were warm enough...any ideas welcome!
Oh, the peppers came up! Very tiny little plants right now but I am hopeful. The Zinnias and Coreopsis that the kids planted all damped off...I am not a very good seed started I fear. I guess I will be buying plants again....

BL4 if you bring Patchouli soap for Dooner wrap it tight! I hate that smell since that was the only scent I made in my one attempt at soap. Gave it all to a (Hippy) friend and she LOVED it! My entire bathroom closet smelled like that for years.

I dont know what I was thinking! It sounds like you had a wonderful SUnday! Full of family like it should be!

I guess I should get to doing something...spring always makes me feel more behind than I usually feel! (if that is even possible)
Have a great day! TErriO

I hope you get the buggars that have been raiding your flock!!

I, too, had my seedlings out yesterday and had some wilting. I intended to bring them back in after awhile in the sun but got caught up in other stuff and forgot to pull them back in the shade. Today I'm going to put them out again under the clouds - maybe a little rain will revive them.

My zinnias are really struggling - I always have better luck just planting the seed directly into the ground with those.

Keep the patchouli far away from me! It gives me violent headaches! (Put it with the brussels sprouts!!)

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Of course I'd try haggis. But I won't eat anything that can taste me back...

 

[JustJohn]

Of course I'd try haggis. But I won't eat anything that can taste me back...

that sounds like a challenge to me.

 

[dkvart1]

Greetings! I got a phone call from Terri a week or so ago (time flies when you're waiting for the sun to shine, you know) telling me in the most polite way to get my tail feathers back here and let everyone know I'm alive and well... I AM! Been busy as a bee for... forever it seems... started a small house cleaning business, then went to a real job, still looking for one that doesn't want me 48 hours a week. Just had an interview this morning, they are making their decision today, so sitting here with fingers crossed.

My SO is moving out and taking his daughter with him... for my sanity! We will eventually live together again, once she's grown and out... if she ever decides to grow up! Sheesh!!! Of course now he wants to move to another state again and I told him NO! He promised this would be our last move and I'm sticking to it with or without him.... I just like you Wisconsinites to dang much to move! LOL

He wants to sign the house over to me, which is great except I still can't have chickens!! Neighbor offered to sell me 2/3 of an acre for $10,000.00, might as well be a million!! Might see if she'll "rent" it to me so I can get a few birds this summer... everytime I pass a farm and see their chickens I ache...

Been working on my photography and painting in my spare time (which hasn't been much) and actually sold 3 photos... working toward getting more sold, tough market.

Missed you all, but am staying warm, thanks to some lovely sweaters I was given Hoping if I get this job things will settle down and I'll be able to be around a bit more (which wouldn't be hard since I haven't been here forever). And maybe get a chance to do a little roaming around the state and see some folks and meet some others.

Hope everyone is well, gonna peruse some of the postings and see what everyone has been up to....

Nice to see you all again!

Deb

 

[irishrovr]

I believe I just scored a free chicken tractor - only used one year for a homeschool project! Waiting for the hubs to get home and put the trailer on the car so we can go get it!