Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[irishrovr]

Good Morning, Sunshine! Up before the chickens today? *yawn*

 

[PsycoPeep]

Yeah - I was up at 5 again, as usual. Dog always barks between 5 & 5:30 to be taken out. Kinda annoying. Now that it's summer, it'd be nice if I could sleep till 7, seeing as how I don't get to sleep before 1AM. And sometimes even later b/c I have to stay late and work overtime in the middle of the night. Meh.


Anywho - I tried looking up an extended weather forecast and this one gave me 1 month (I have serious doubts that they can predict THAT far ahead seeing as how 1/2 their dang reports are off for current days! BUT! According to that particular website, it looks like there will be a lot of rain and a lot of thunderstorms in the upcoming month. There are no more than 2 or 3 days between raining until the end of the month. So if I want to wait to plan until there will be more than just 2-3 days between storms, then I can't plant until June 22nd! What the?? GRR! I think I'm just going to start the seeds in the house again, that way by the time it takes the 10-14 days for most of the seeds to sprout and then another week for them to get bigger and stronger, then it'll be the perfect time to plant them. Then they'll have a whole whopping week outside before another storm hits and by then their roots should be good and set.

This is driving me crazy. I really don't want to use up all my egg cartons, again. I ended up using 13-14 saved cartons to plant my last seeds and they all got thrown out. I don't want to use up all the cartons I've saved thus far...however...I suppose since my chicks are so young it'll be some time yet before they start laying. So I guess I'll have plenty of time between now and the fall to start collecting cartons, again. Maybe I will just break down and do it. I'm jonesing for some fresh veggies and can't wait to have fresh stuff to feed to the chickens and rabbits. Plus make some homemade salsa and other etc... I remember last yr I didn't plant until mid or late June and even tho our pumpkins grew VERY well, they were still only "so big" by the time Halloween came around. I really wanted to get my garden planted in early May this year. Nope! It was still frosting late May!

 

[kristip]

I guess it is officially broody season at my house. My beautiful mutt went broody and carol brought me a couple days old chick and momma took that just fine. My speckled Sussex has a couple guinea eggs under her and then I have been finding my chanticleer curled up with her in the nest box trying to help her with those eggs....normally I would to mind, but this is three girls not laying eggs....gotta keep up with my one regular customer and then our consumption! Silly girls. So pretty sure there are two roosters from our batch of teens. One rock and one gorgeous olive egger mix. No crowing, but some sickle looking feathers coming in.
Otherwise watching an extra kiddo for the morning, going to the library to sign up for their reading program and then working on my garage since we have a garage sale coming up this weekend. It is polka fest and beer, bacon and cheese fest in new glarus so should be a bunch of people around. Lets hope they want my junk!

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

My roosters got into it yesterday. Two of then sound like they have blood in their lungs and can't even crow. Had anyone ever had this happen? Will they survive with fluid in their lungs? This is the first time this group has fought. One rooster in particular was the instigator and he is separated and if not rehomed will have to go to the appointment the meat birds have in a few weeks.
As for the horses, the gelding has been let out to graze in the yard for 4 years. The person who had him before me did the same thing. He will be going back to training and so will the filly. And we are clearing an area for a round pen to work with her. I am going to try to sell him though, he's too much horse for us, and I knew that when I got him. But he was going to a meat buyer otherwise.

 

[babylady4]

BPP, your horse issues make me sad..... I wish I could come help you. I look at it this way, you would not allow a dog to behave improperly, so why would you allow a horse to behave that way? I bet underneath all the bad is a gentle giant..... ponies seem to be the snots since people spoil them.... Take LM's advice, she knows what she is talking about.

I have to say I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed! Anyway, time to motivate!

 

[vickiw]

GOOD BEAUTIFUL MORNING EVERYONE!!!!

FRENCHY- those seeds should be fine as long as they are not parsnip. I have been a seed saver for more years then I can remember. Once upon a time I even did my own "genetic engineering" and created a new variety of tomato. (That all went byebye after I was diagnosed with CML~you know all too well how that goes I am sure) anyway many of your commercially sold seed has been treated to retain their viability and if stored properly can be kept for many years and even longer if they are not hybrids. Those package dates only serve to let you know what year they were harvested. An easy way to test your seeds is to dampen a paper towel, put 10 seeds on it, place the towel in a baggy and put it in a warm dark spot. Check it in 48 hours or so for sprouting. Using 10 seeds just makes it simple to get your germination % without the math.

JIM-clay plus sand equals brick. Only way to lighten clay soil and improve tilth is with compost which with all those critters of yours you must have a TON of!!!!

Ok, I need to outside now and check on my babies. Big drama in the coop yesterday evening but a story for later. Now, out to enjoy this gorgeous morning!!!!

BBL!!!!

 

[FrenchToast]

I just want to add that with a little work on the owner's part, horses are amazing companions and friends. It's definitely worth the effort. They are amazing animals that have helped humans immeasurably throughout history as war horses, work horses, transportation, and as friends. They are worth it.

Lisa

 

[judge]

Quote: Thanks for the info! I know this was for Bbp, but you answered a lot of my questions too. I only have a mini, but he is stronger than the kids, and he needs to learn respect. Also- I was trying to talk my DH into letting me have a "real" horse, but after reading this, I think not. I never realized how much work a horse needs to be trained. I kind of thought you could just get on it and ride. Make sure he was fed,watered, pet, etc. Maybe someday when the kiddos are grown I will pester him again.

 

[FrenchToast]

Quote: Thanks for the info! I know this was for Bbp, but you answered a lot of my questions too. I only have a mini, but he is stronger than the kids, and he needs to learn respect. Also- I was trying to talk my DH into letting me have a "real" horse, but after reading this, I think not. I never realized how much work a horse needs to be trained. I kind of thought you could just get on it and ride. Make sure he was fed,watered, pet, etc. Maybe someday when the kiddos are grown I will pester him again.
Nothing is stopping you from taking lessons and hanging at the barn with the horses to see just exactly what all need to be done. People make the mistake all the time getting a young horse to "grow" up with there children..... Wrong Idea. What you need to start out with is a old horse that's been there, done that.... what they call a bombproof (really no such thing) Grandma horse or husband safe horse. (although what they say and what you get are often not the same thing) (speaking from experience here !! )
They are always looking for help at the theraputic riding stables.... Learn about horses and volunteer for a good cause too... double bonus !!
Before I bought my first horse I rode a huge old Percheron named Kelly at a theraputic riding stable in Lake Geneva. She was a sweet heart !!! Wish I could have adopted her. She was great. I think the owner that free leased her took her back for retirement now !!!!

I have a percheron/paint (aka spotted draft.. although he doesn't look drafty like he should) named Striker. He is georgous, but despite two additional months of training when we got him he is predictively unpredictable. Were totally lied to when we bought him from a Milw Sherif Dept officer who trains their mounted patrol horses.... He will spook at butterflys and can not be tied.... almost killed me once he got so freaked out tied up. The one and only thing that was true is they said he is the kind of horse that needs to be worked several times a week.....
Sad part is that the seller knew we were beginners and I'm disabled and ET is on blood thinners... so a spooky horse and a beginner on blood thinners don't mix. He needs an owner that would love his challenge BUT I will not sell him for fear that he would end up at the meat market... Plus he loves ET and trusts him and ET would never give him up... He loves our disfunctional hoofed kid Strike Man.......
I love my draft horses !!! And my ponies and my donkeys .... well I love all my animals....Oh and the PIGS !!! They are so GD cute I can't take it !!!!!
Ok, gonna have another cup, take some more tylenol and then try to find some motivation but I think bl4 may have found it first !!! lol

 

[delisha]

I had a great cook out with cuties and the kids last night. She left with only three birds..no ducks..whats up with that?

How is everyone's birds doing from the camp out? I have a few that seem a bit off. I did bring home a ton of ticks. I would think the birds would have eaten them off each other and themselves. The dogs were loaded too. I probably spent an hour looking and pulling them off each dog. I wonder if chickens can get infections from ticks.