Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Terri O]

Just a quick hi for me...taking a lady shopping today--I feel like I LIVE in grocery stores! Gotta run to the feed mill too--out of chicken food! Cant let that happen! I hope FEMA does something for you DRH! They sure had to dump a bunch of $$$ down on the island where one of my clients lives. Her house was totally rebuilt on the inside but her BIL did it. She did get some money though...definitely not enough to pay for the repairs though! Watch for that nasty black mold! You guys could get really sick....

Off to work for me...everything fed but the chickens (and me!) Have a fantastic day...like the good Dr says--take a look at those trees! Terri O

 

[WIChookchick]

Well...hard decision time The frizzle chick just isn't getting better with her legs...

Any one have a frizzle chick they want to sell?
Calling the ins to see about a second opinion today...
Then laundry, and some raking.

 

[AccioSarah]

Hello one again Wisconsinites. Once again I have vanished under the pressure of schoolwork, but return for a short time.

But today I'm here with very sad news... my lovely girl Rosie passed away this morning from unknown causes.
My mom called me this morning to tell me what happened.
She was apparently lethargic yesterday, because when they let the flock out to graze in the yard she didn't want to follow. My mom immediately came on the forum to see if anyone knew what was wrong or if there were any previous postings about this kind of behavior. When she didn't find anything, they called a couple of veterinarian, who were all already home for the day. My sister remembered me saying that sometimes the lowest in the flock won't get as much food, so they put her in the temporary coop I made last weekend with extra food, heat, water and love. This morning they went to check on her, and she had already passed away in the night.
They didn't call me yesterday, they knew it would just worry me when I couldn't drive home to help. That, and I had 5 classes yesterday and one this morning.

I'm absolutely devastated. I love all my Chickens, but Rosie was such a sweet girl...
If anyone knows anything about what this could have been- it would be a real comfort. I just hope it isn't something the rest of the flock could catch...

This is the last picture I got of her.

 

[abrehmer]

I was wondering if you guys could post pictures of your chickens coops... what is the best design to build for the Wisconsin climate, and what is the approximate cost for your desgn?

AccioSarah- sorry to hear about your bird.. she looked like a real beauty..

 

[AccioSarah]

Quote:
Thanks Abrehmer. It was just such a shock- when I saw her this weekend she was acting perfectly healthy...

Here's a couple of photos of my coop at home, although we have made a few changes.

This is the front view, we've added a tarp to the top to keep out Rain and snow. Since it's on the top of our hill- the water drains very well.

This is the inside of the run and back of the coop.

And here is a (crooked) shot of the inside.

 

[beckyschicks]

sorry to hear about your loss AccioSarah.
Hello everybody! Terri I completely understand living at the grocery store. I have two clients that make me take them every week. Sometimes I just want to say "can I just go?" but don't. DrHa Glad to hear you guys are on your way. In door plumbing, I understand L's issue without having it. Although my girls and I are the first ones to pee outside if we are down in the barn. We've found that the stalls are a great place to go real quick.

Bigzio- I hate people who come onto my land. Nothing will get me going in a rant then that. Hunting season is horrible here. The local farm boys come out with like 10 to 15 guys and "drive" the field behind us. It's only like 10acres! I always feel bad for the deer. They don't even stand a chance with those numbers. Don't get me wrong I come from a hunting family and at one time did, but where the sport in that. I also hate it when they shot the geese out of the fields. Again where the challenge? After last year I don't forsee any hunters walking through the pasture to get back to that field. I let the dogs out and the horses out. That poor hunter running like a mad man to get out. Made sure the fences were on too. I have a mare that hates things in her area and that man in orange didn't look right.

My dad has gotten into bow hunting these past couple years and I think that is great. Still gun hunts but likes the bow better.
Well here are a couple of picture of my coop. The coop only cost nails, rubber flooring (pond liner), and caulk. DH is a contractor so the materials are all from jobs. The walls are 6 inchs thick with ceiling tile insulation inbetween. The metal roof is left over from the barn. The windows are from the dump and my parents place. We are putting siding on it this weekend. He has some pieces left over that the client didn't want and he couldn't return. The coop is 10x6. The windows face south, so in winter it can get up to 60 easily in there. I actually have to open the side window to keep it cool. Last year it worked great. I last picture is my "summer" mother and chick coop. They have a little house inside a dog kennel. I put the tarp over it to block the wind because the nights have gotten colder. They are moving out this weekend and I take everything down until next hatching season. I use this to help introduce the mother and chicks into the flock, that way they are safe and everyone can see each other. Oh and it's behind a fence because my horses suck!

Have a great day everyone. It's beautiful out there!

 

[bigzio]

Gentle Afternoon Everyone... Yep I agree with Terri to watch out for the black mold...it does kill, or cause terrible health problems....keep the wood burner fired to make sure things are really dry. Nothing but the best for you Doc. Glad things are improving for you. I haven't forgot about seeds for you and Terri....plenty of time to send them out. Just want you guys to know that I did'nt forget.

Me and suzie cut some grass today. It was prolly 10" or so...hope the weather stays dry enough to be able to rake and use in the coop. It works good in the nest boxes too! The hens can snack while they lay an egg...

Anyone familiar with the workings of the American Poultry Association? I haven't received my standard yet. I sent them a email a week ago that wasen't answered. It was paid for when ordered. If they are waiting to send out the new version...that would be cool!

Have Fun... ~ bigzio

 

[GothChick]

Hi everybody,

I got my first set of BCM eggs to day and I still have 1 more order of BCMs and 1 order of Olive Eggers on the way. I'm soooo excited! Also it was pretty neat, I planned to start the eggs really late thursday night or early friday morning. I didn't realize until I counted the days, that they will be 21 days (hatch day) on October 29th. The cool thing is that my 21st birthday is the 29th so some of the chicks will be born the same day as me! I didn't even plan it, so it's pretty cool.

Also any opinions, would I be better off waiting to put both sets in at the same time and dragging out the waiting time for the first set OR should I start one set the first day and then the next set the next day? I wanna make sure each set has time to rest.

 

[Susie"J"]

AccioSarah, Sorry for the loss of your Rosie she sure was a beauty. Keep up the good work at school, it's hard to be away from home sometimes.

 

[Dr HaHa]

Good Morning Everyone!!! AccioSarah it's always hard to lose a bird especially one that's real close to you.

Hope you have a bird that at least comes close. Special ones can never be replaced. GC hope your hatch goes well! Don't see any reason you can't put them all in together. I just marked mine with a hatch date to know which were which. My wyandottes and I also share the same B'day. Bigz using a lot of bleach water to scrub everything with to avoid the dreaded mold. Thanks for remembering the dill seed, going to do several plantings next year for dills. Man are they good!

Hope you can get some time to get back in the woods undisturbed! Been firing the wood stove everyday to dry things out but am worried that the insulation in the walls won't dry in time for the cold weather. Even with no inner wall covering on the back porch by the stove the stuff is still really wet. Bad news is I blew celulose insulation in the living and bedroom walls so if I cut the bottom off the inner walls it's all coming out. I pulled all the mop boards to aid in drying. Just thought of cutting a slot in the drywall and sliding a piece of sheet metal in above to hold most of it in the walls. Might work! Better get started! Enjoy the sun today!