Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[CherMoz]

Hi all! I'm winding down a three day stretch with the now 2-year-old grandson. I pick him up at 8:00 a.m. and he does not get picked up until 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Makes for some long days but totally worth it especially with all the great help he gives me.

Everything is growing well in the garden. We've been eating peas, radishes, broccoli, lettuce, and using onions.

I have a broody hen and am looking for some Buckeye hatching eggs if anyone here has any, hopefully not too far away.

Have a GREAT and safe Independence Day/long weekend (if you're lucky)!

 

[Daethen]

Well, it looks like we will be adding one more goat to the herd. This will be a Nigerian dwarf wether that is about a year old. He is adorable and friendly and old enough to help teach the doelings what they need to know. Going to be trading some hatching eggs for part of the price of him. Then on to a glass project that I will be trading for our next adventure.

 

[jvls1942]

In my head I figure you will be needing about a yard and a third.
they will bring you that much, but you will still have to pay the minimum.

bigZ is correct. that concrete will not set up on you before you mix the next batch.
don't try to trowel it as you go.
just get it mixed, get it in and strike it off as you go.
don't mix it real wet to try to make it not set up.. it doesn't work that way..
measure your water in a pail. make it the same every time once you get the proper mixture..
you won't waste any more time by mixing your own.. once you wait for a couple of hours for the truck to show up late, You could be all finished already.

It might be a bit more pricey, but I buy the ready mix from Menard's.
If you are not familiar with shoveling the sand mixture and cement, bags are more consistant.
and surprising enough, the mix in the bags is super for finish troweling.

I used to pour concrete for a living.
I know all about taking a nap while waiting for concrete trucks to show up
tip: tip your wheelbarrow back so that the handles touch the ground.
now set your butt into the wheelbarrow like a lawn chair.
you will be surprised how comfortable it is.. try it..

 

[speckled6]

Great advice everyone! I didn't get around to leveling the spot for it yesterday, so we won't be pouring until next weekend and the delivery charge for a yard of concrete was more than the concrete itself!
I think we'll mix it ourselves. I'll pass along the tips
I gave our rooster a little hole just big enough for him (I thought!)
Went to check on them yesterday and he was inside his space, but so was another chicken!
They were ignoring each other, so I took it as a good sign that he's starting to be accepted by the flock.
Pole shed isn't getting built this year, so I told Nate we could just build a new chicken coop and he can have his garage back. His dad agreed that may be the most cost effective... here's hoping for a new chicken coop that I can put more windows in!
Daethen that's great about the new goat...love that you barter, such a lost art
Off to make potato salad for the fish fry today...mmmmmmmmm!
Take care all,
jean

 

[jvls1942]

good perfect Saturday morning,
Jean, You guys will have so much fun pouring the slab for the stove, You wil look forward to pouring the slab for the chicken coop.
It sounds like your father in law is willing to help.
when you pour the slab for the chicken coop, make a raised edge all the way around it. about 6 inches high. mine is only 4 inches and that is just adequate.
including where the door will be.
make the door swing into the coop. with it being raised,you will not be bulldozing the bedding when you open it. and if it snows, and it just might, the door will not be hindered by deep snow to open it.

make the door wide enough to fit a real wheelbarrow through.
put the door on either the east or west end. leave the south wall for windows.
and build the coop much larger than you think you will ever need it.
and then it still will not be big enough.
I made my nests to hang off of the wall, the roosts also hand off of opposite walls and removable..
there is nothing in the coop with legs on the floor. this makes the whole floor clear for chickens. it makes it much easier to catch one if it becomes necessary.
my roosts set in slots on the wall so that I can just lift them out when I clean the floor.
I also put the lowest roost closest to the wall and the next higher one farther away from the wall.
that way I can shovel all the way under the roosts right up to the wall without any obstruction.
it also gives both roosts full sunlight in the winter through the windows

when I do a thorough cleaning of the coop, I remove the roosts, and take out a window. put the tractor bucket right outside the window and let nephew Dan pitch away..

If I were young again. I would put an overhead door in so that I could drive the tractor right in and scrape most of the poop and eliminate 90% of the hand shoveling.

I am off my soapbox, now..

.......jiminwisc.......

 

[babylady4]

Morning everyone!

Still house hunting....... have a few potentials but they require a bit if creativity. Hope something irons out soon! I would love to hit up the show in Portage and get my starter flock going!

I do not have much access to internet during the week, so it is a challenge keeping up with all you do!

 

[jvls1942]

give me your phone # and I will call you everyday with a report ..LOL

 

[jvls1942]

what happened ? everybody gone camping for the weekend ?

I mixed up a batch of fish fertilizer and unboxed my new 2 gallon pump sprayer.,
gave all the tomatoes and peppers and onions a squirt.

I weeded all 10 rows of onions by hand.. they are growing nicely.
Oh, the rows are 2 feet long.

It was still too wet to rototill. it rained for about an hour around noon..

I still have not put the strawberry plants into the ground.
Last night I finally decided where to put them.
I am going to take Ollie and the hiller and make a raised bed. cover it with landscaping cloth and poke holes in for the plants.
only one row.. I will keep lawn on both sides of it..
If it works out, I will make a second raised bed next year for the runners.

the puppies have opened their eyes.
getting around on their legs more and more instead of slithering like maggots..
soon the puppy fence will be going up. that should contain them for a couple of weeks.

after that, they will be going into the large fly pen. it is 12ft x 25ft.
I will have to rig up someway for Frankie to go in and out of there.

......jiminwisc.......

 

[GranolaGirl72]

OK , it is raining, so don't try to tell me that you are working outside.

that gives me an idea. I have four too many roosters. I know a couple of places close by where I could dump them off.. hmmm...

How close by.........

 

[GranolaGirl72]

Minnesota on Friday, South Dakota and Nebraska on Saturday, headed to Iowa today for a few days. Sorry could not help with the chicks, Jim. I tore down the brooder a while ago, still would offer the hen but sounds like you don't need her any more. Glad you got those other chicks moved on and the stinky eggs located. I will be out of service again when we leave here, Iowa hick country and all.... Will catch up on Friday when we get home.