Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[babylady4]

I am the dirtiest because I rolled through the mud pit instead of army crawling or going through on my hands and knees. MUCH faster that way and kinder to the knees!

Nah Frenchie, no energy drinks here, I did not even have a cup of coffee today! I am really not as busy as you all think I am...... if I was I would be a rail! LOL! My house would be clean ALL the time too!

Hmmmm picking strawberries on Tuesday or dragging all my kids to Terri's and make them work unloading hay........ tempting to put them to work!

Tyler is standing over my right shoulder in both pics. The other guy on our team is our intern; he completely kicked our butts! He was the first one back with 10 min to spare on the next wave of our group! He used to be a cross country runner so he had the experience doing this, he probably ran the entire thing too (some of us were doing a LOT of walking).

 

[judge]

TO, nice picture of your daughter and horse btw.... she looks a lot like Derrick ! What does he do btw? I thought he was into computers?

ET just went to get hay. We are getting it for $.25 cheaper ($3.00 a bale) cause our supplier ran out. This is from his neighbor but I think is must be last years hay.... It is very very brown.... His hay was still nice and green. I think we've bought hay from this woman before....Never went back.
Hopefully ET can help this guy bale (drive the tractor) and we can get a discount. Problem is we used to get hay for $1.75 but had to drive 60 miles one way. This is 32 miles. Decisions decisions !!! Should call the $1.75 guy and get my hands on some of his first crop when it's baled. Just wish we had a place to store it.

Not doing to much today.... have to volunteer at the spay clinic in Rhinelander tomorrow..... don't want to be to tired.......

Last night I was in such pain when we got home from dinner (mexican resturant in Rhinelander) my neck was so painful..... I was trying to feed and water the chicks and ducklings and had to stop and rest, stretch my neck.... didn't know why, it was some of the worst pain I've had in my neck......

Then had an Ah Ha moment and remembered..... I took that "CLAW" gardening tool around my garden yesterday. The thing that has the claws on the bottom and handle bars on the top. Then you give it a big turn..... geez.... it's not like I did the whole garden... If that's what the pain is from I think I'm in big trouble.

So on that note, anybody know if the "Claw" or the "Stirup" tool is any easier to use or easier on your back or neck ????? (no comment about hoes on your back guys !!! LOL )

WC Wonder who the Rhinelander chicken buyer is ? Chicken world is a small world.

Ok, gonna go plant some stuff in some 5 gallon pails.

Oh, I bought 3 sweet potato plants. The vines are really full right now. The label says they will get 3 feet..... Never planted sweets before..... Any advice. Yuck it is sticky outside too up here !!

I think the stirup hoe is easier but the claw one hurts IMO

Went to Brown Co Breakfast on the Farm today, it was hosted by our neighbors just a mile away. We biked there and man was it packed. A huge breakfast, ham and egg scramble, yogurt, sausage, cheese curds (fresh & fried), coffee cake, ice cream; we were stuffed! DH volunteered to drive one of the tractors and trams for the tours. Boys got to climb on some huge equipment and a fire truck, pet some calves and goats, got cow spots painted on them. The lines were too long for the horse-drawn wagon rides, Cartman was starting to lose it (had been there 3 hours) and it was getting hot. If your county does this, I highly recommend it.

Carol,

I hope you get the guy's name and number. It wouldn't be too hard for me to get up there for babies/eggs.

These are the 2 turkeys I hatched last week. They're doing good. Had to put a boot and spraddle on the light one for crooked toes and legs, its almost normal now. I know the yellow one is a Royal Palm, anyone know what the other could be? Both came from eggs marked RP.

Cute! We went to the one in Reedsville, but couldn't make it out to Natzke's. They had it once before there and it was so nice!

Proud Momma! 2 of TO's Buckeyes and one Langshan out from under her so far!

Lisa

Adorable!

Alrighty... Get ready for a Frenchie size post.

It's all about Friday June 21st. The day that Deli and her Joe and her doggies came to help me save my flock (what's left!)

Those two poor folks had to drive through crappy black skies and torrential rain. Luckily it cleared up for the afternoon! I lost one of my favorite chicks that morning, so I was really pretty down. I had been pretty tough about all the losses so far, but after so much loss you just don't know what to do and want to throw in the towel.

Vicki went and looked over my birds. Yes my flock got cocci. Lots of chicks were lost to it. But it also turns out some of my birds have an URI and some have yeast infections. And some of them are horribly skinny, which you don't know till you pick them up, so we were betting that the adults were bullying babies from getting food. Hard for a baby to get over cocci if its starving to death. Or if it has one of those other ailments. It was just horrible. I thought the cocci was gone, but sure enough Vicki spots a baby that had it. I was spending my time treating for one thing, not knowing all this other stuff was going on as well. The long and the short of Friday was a New beginning for my flock.

The coop was already cleared out down to concrete. All the caked on poop left was scraped and removed. Then we sprayed LABS all over and layed straw down. We picked up most birds and gave them direct drops of corid. We started ACV in the waterer. She also got them started on fermented feed.

A new rule: no more food or water in the coop. Right now I do have some food and water in the run, and food on the lawn. I can lock out the big birds if it looks like they are pestering babies while they're eating. They will get fed once a day. In winter time, when theyncant forage as well, they'll veggies as well. They will not get to sit in the coop or my back shed all day. They are not allowed to be lazy chicken butts anymore. Part of the problem too was food and water being contaminated by bedding. Birds not getting out to have fresh air and sunshine. All chicks hiding in the coop where all the germs were. Those baby immune systems didn't stand a chance.

The birds made a terrible mess all winter in my back shed because they wouldn't go outside for nothing. I was really not enjoying my chickens in the winter. I enjoyed the ducks much more because at least they went out and walked around and came and saw me. Vicki explained to me I was helping the chickens be lazy by feeding them food and water in the coop. If they're made to go outside to get food and water, they will learn to play outside again. They need to be chickens and look and hunt and peck and scratch. I didn't know how to fix that, but the super smart Deli knew how!

This also solves all my messy duck problems. My messy ducks will be fed food and water outside as well. They will not be making a horrific mess in the coop. The can sleep with the chickens ( and the goose) and they will go outside to play. The most awesome thing EVER. I'm almost as excited about my flock again as I was when I first got them. The coop will stay cleaner. There will be less chance of diseases and rodents. There will be more joy for me watching the birds, and quality of life for the birds.

Vicki also helped me utilize a storage space and turn it into a brooder/isolation area so we got the ducklings and George the gosling, his chick Martha and the Buffies out of my basement. Joe used an old puppy gate as a doorway, and used wire as hinges, so it actually opens and closes.I was so happy to get those babies out of my basement! With the illnesses still cycling, we wanted to be careful where we put them so as the keep them healthy. They have also been switched to fermented feed. They really seem to like their new digs and appear to be getting more curious about me when I bring the food.

That is the overview of the day. We finished it off with a cookout and Rice Krispie treats. Very nice indeed! It was absolutely the most wonderful thing to hear what I WAS doing wrong and how to fix it. While this fermented feed is way messier, and my chores take way longer right now, it will get faster, and the birds will be healthy and happy. They are already looking perkier (not all, but a lot) and are totally flocking around my feet when they see me thinking I'm handing out new food. Now I just have to get burning the wood so I have the wood ash dust bath for them, and they will be the happy chooks I want them to be.e

So good to hear. Glad things are getting better for you. How do you know if a chicken has a yeast infection? What is URI and what do you do with the wood ash? Put it on the ground to bathe in? Maybe Deli wants to take a loooong road trip up here? lol

Quote: Cute chicks, but at first glance I thought they were mice! EEEEK

Wow Heather, I had no idea...... I am so sorry you had so many issues but I am GLAD things are looking up!

Busy day, I did a 5K this morning.......... and I am very TIRED. I think I need to do a little more prep work before I do another race..... like perhaps I should start training for the Tri NOW....

Thankfully I have a massage tomorrow...... and I NEED it!

Let's see if I can get some pics on here....

These are my co-workers plus Tyler from Purely Poultry.



And here we are all done, filthy, tired, but we had a LOT of fun!

Awesome!

When I went out to lock up the chickens tonight there was a huge black bear walking into the woods near my one run. Now, the dog was outside hanging out with the goose and didn't smell the bear? I had to take him into the woods and sent him after it. I can't have that big guy destroying the bee hives. This is the biggest one I've seen here yet. By far. I think my donations of dead chickens and eggs to the crows and raccoons may be going to him. Maybe I'll have to put the trail camera out by my dumping area and see what comes in. I have a couple of duck eggs that didn't develop that I can use tomorrow. Gosh, I should pull my bird feeder in . . .

Oh my gosh. I would have freaked out I think. I hope to see a bear every time we go up north, near Ashland, but only from the car!

Oh heather I am so happy that you are back,on track with everything. Glad deli wasmablemto giv some fresh ideas. Rberry...feel free to come over and hug one of my chickens! They love it. Wemrehomed both roosters over the weekend. So our only rooster we think is a young silkie. Sorry cant help you heather. Just waiting on my guineas to hatch and when candled only a few looked viable so cross some fingers!
Had a friend say they had a wierd thing happen with a broody hen and I thought I would ask our guys thoughts. She had similar eggs, some in incubator and some under broody. They were shipped so same age...she said that her broody hatched like 4 days early compared to the incubated ones. Anyone had this happen before? Warmer temps and warm momma???fluke?

Had my twentieth hs reunion today. Nice to see old friends and some ..well you know... Hubby was bored stiff. Kids just ran and ran and were seaty muddy messes when we left for my moms house.mnow just tired.

I have my hs reunion this year too. Not sure if I will be going though..
Hope you all had a great day. I am having a bunch of injections tomorrow. Trigger point injection in my neck, and an epidural steroid injection in my lower back. I hope it works. I will be sedated so hopefully it won't be too bad. I have had 4 c-sections so I have had my share of epidurals/spinals, so you would think I would be used to it? Or maybe that is why I am so nervous? My parents are keeping the kids for the night and for Tuesday since I guess it is pretty painful until your body starts to absorb the medication.
Hot day today but everyone seemed to do ok.
Good night all!

 

[FrenchToast]

Now I wanna be there for coffee too !!!!! Don't mind me I just took my sleeping pill.... have to be at the spay clinic by 10am,,,,, very early for me !!!
Hope there aren't to many there tomorrow... I'm beat with this heat, and I hope the fire department where this is taking place is air conditioned..... And Jim quit your complaining.... We have central air.... but it isn't working... and no window units......and the windows in the truck don't work and the fan in my van doesn't blow (no comment there you pigs)
Guess I'll just have to have coffee alone Tuesday !!!

I saw on pet finder that Onieda humane society has a few female doxies.... wonder if they will be at the clinic tomorrow... all shelter animals tomorrow..... I think I could talk my sister into a doxie.. My dog dolly grew up with a doxie but after Auntie died Fritz only lived about 6 months. He had lymphoma. My niece Addie always goes to my sisters (her Grandma) and asks where Fritz is. My niece said we should always have a doxie in the family in honor of Auntie Esther. Now to just talk my BIL into it.....

ok, night all

Oh and one more thing ...... LOL...... Heather !!!!! I want to see pictures of your poodle.... AND I want to hear all about it.... is it a toy, min, standard? Color? Age? Come on spill the beans !!!! You know I love poodles !!

 

[JustJohn]

stop hiding out all the time and come hang out with the cool kids! I could give you your special plugs then

bring em along and pass them to TO if I don't show.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Geez, I take a few days off and Jimbo starts rattling everyone elses cages. I can't leave you alone for a minute, can I, Jim?

So glad to hear Joe & Vicki helped you out so much, Heather. And I'm really glad you took the time for the Frenchie post. That was a boatload of work you guys crammed into a few hours.

Great job and kudos to Joe & Vicki for being such great people.

So sorry to hear about everyones medical issues. Docs can be frustrating nowadays, that is for sure. I've had chronic pains for decades & still have no idea why. Frenchie, I'm sure your back/neck pain was from that garden claw & the twisting action you were doing. It was a looooong winter, and it doesn't take much effort to be reminded just how easy it is to get out of shape in that time. I know the feeling all too well myself. DH was out of town all last week so I decided to get caught up on weeding out my flower beds and my "river". And like other stubborn Irish people, when I start a project, I bust my keester to get it finished, then pay for it the next few days. Needless to say, I'm still sore, and this wet, muggy weather doesn't help matters any. Pain killers are my friend this week.

Ghost, I am so, so terribly sorry to hear about your hatching troubles.

I would say that if you followed the manufacturers instructions to the letter every time & still kept having bad hatches, then tell Brinsea that you want a replacement. I do not have much experience with hatching other than with my Brin mini, but every hatch I've had with it was almost perfect. I have always had 6 of the 7 hatch every time, so I really love mine. It is the digital one but it doesn't have the extra humidity do-hickey. That was a really good idea you had to ask others how your eggs hatched for them. I hope you can get some answers.

Speaking of hatching eggs, Zeke texted me this morning & said all the eggs that I sold him were fertile, and all but 1 hatched. He was very excited. He even got a couple Hershey squirts.

So that made my day.

The chickens are all doing well and the cats are taking their meds with little to no resistance, thankfully. Jonesy has even started playing again, so he must be feeling better. I had to take him to the vet on Thursday for another heart ultrasound, and the fluid they drained from around his heart has not reaccumulated.

He does have some fluid around his lungs, though, so we're working on upping his meds a little, but all in all, not too bad. Now we just have to see how the kidneys are holding up on Socks.

Other than that, not much else is new. Guess I better get to bed before this turns into a "Frenchie post".

Sweet dreams, all!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Stupid double posts still!

Hey Terri, could I come for coffee too? I don't think I'll be too much help unloading hay, and no, you can't use me for a dolly!

I have eggs for Heather's broodies.

 

[FrenchToast]

OUCH Judge !!!! What are the injections for? Fibro Pain ? I had one spinal/epidural or whatever you call it when I had my hysterectomy...... Best surgery ever had. I was so afraid of puking like I always do with surgery and having a slice in my belly that I asked for the spinal.
I guess I talked to the doctor the whole time ..... believe it or not..... LOL
Kept asking if the uterus was out yet.... is the ovary out yet !!!!

Then right after surgery the doctor came up to me and showed me my innards in what looked like an ice cream tub !! LOL

Couple of hours after surgery I was in horrific pain... they didn't know why until they had figured out that the spinal was leaking and thus no pain control !!! Now that hurt.... Then had to wait to get orders for them to take out the spinal and start iv pain meds.... Doc said next time she ever does it that way they will order pain meds starting iv right away..... glad I could help them learn from my painful experience !!! NOT

Good luck with that..... Please check in and hope all goes well for you.

 

[FrenchToast]

CC, by double posting you are getting pretty dang close to being a "Frenchie Post" !!!

Yeah, that Claw tool didn't help matters.... I told ET, there is just some weird sort of satisfaction using that thing on the big weeds, clawing them and ripping them out by the roots !!! Aspirin is my best friend these days.

 

[Sclark73]

Seems like everyone had a busy weekend. In checking sick coop, 2 days in a row showing little to no more respiratory symptoms. I can only hope for good news early this week. So I decided to keep mya mind off the bad, to build a "lock down" (not sure what you call it). Thankfully I come from a long line of hoarding and found I had kept the fridge out if a pop-up we tore apart and give to a friend for a trailer. Its just a cooler type and after watching many videos on YouTube about home made incubators figured it was worth a try. Theirs a tray midway that will work perfect for setting eggs. In process of wiring lights for heat then checking if it will hold right temps and humidity without a thermostat. Anythings worth a try I figure.
I feel bad for those of you having chicken and health problems. Hope things get better for you.
I had those nerve deadening injections in my back this Feb but didn't work due to arthritis and degeneration being so bad. I sure shots work for you.
Stacy

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All!
Man it was a long day filled with a bunch of little stuff getting done. Got more fish cleaned and in the freezer too. Didn't finish the freezer I cleaned out. Hubby shut the door on it before he went to work and I didn't realize it 'till I went to finish it. So, it didn't dry out. Moved on to other projects.

Glad there doesn't seem to be anymore sick critters, at least not newly sick. Jim, hope you can figure out what's up with Dora!

All chicks still accounted for

Oh, young son was digging through some of his stuff and found a "quick sight" for my .22! He calibrated for me so all I need now is some practice.

Night All!