Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[otonoh]

hey all, I just got back from Jim's, Chicken ranch. w

w is all I can say. He has a great spread, Lot's of fowl of all kinds, It was great seeing his coops and just shooting the breeze.
I brought my sons, and they enjoyed seeing all the animals, although I think they were more in love with the dog than the birds. I got to see his perches and nestboxes and how everything was set up, I even got to see some week old chicks. We had a great time. Jim's wife is a sweethart too. I found out I work with his nephew. p.s When he mentioned a river of manure from the neighboring pasture, he was exaggerating.

David

 

[jvls1942]

good evening all., Dave came to see me today.. I showed him everything ,,,,except.... I forgot to show him the incubator room. Gotta save something for next time..eh? He had two boys with him,, I don't think they were his,,,,they were very nice looking,,but they might take after their mother,,LOL

I put a ceramic heater in with the house brooder chicks. It heats a little hotter than the light bulb did.. It doesn't seem to run as long per cycle as the light bulb did either.. I know that it stays off much longer per cycle.. I will watch it for a day or so more..
I think I am going to like it..

I put one outside in one of the brooders also.. I did not get out there to check it out, yet..

I tossed 3 eggs today.. all clears. and I candled the goose egg and it looked very promising..

Brent, when are the buckeyes due? I looked into the bator thru the window, but none of the dates are where I can read them.. smack me on the head.. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to open the door.. in fact, maybe I had better,,,,,,,,,,,,, I did due 4,3 there are 36 americauna due on the same day..

I was going to extend the sump drain pipe today, but some jackass mixed two different sizes of pipe and fittings. Oh,wait,,I put that in... nevermind..... I bought new fittings last week, and I couldn't make them work. back to Fleetfarm...

 

[jvls1942]

I noticed an error in Dave's post.. He wrote "from the neighboring pasture, he was exaggerating" I think he meant ",he was awesome"

 

[MustLoveHens]

Good evening everyone! Well, my TSC chicks are getting un-named. Near as I can tell they are either White Cornish Crosses or Amberlinks. I can go for Amberlinks, although I have never heard of them muchless owned any! I'm going to leave them nameless until they can look more adultish. I don't want to name dinner so for now only Super Glue is named. Although Super Glue is looking more and more like a Barnabas but I have to say, Super Glue as a name is kinda growing on me!

The quail are freaking adorable!

Those are gonna be hard to process but I think in 7 weeks I'll be ready. They are tiny but wild. They are also hilarious! They stretsh out from stem to stern and flop boneless until you think they have died. Their friends walk all over them and then they just jump up and scamper to the food dish. The quail hatch is done. Today is day 19 and no more action to hatch so I'll pull the eggs tomorow. We ended up with 24 or 25 out of 55 eggs. Not bad for mailed eggs and my first time hatching quail!

The chicks for the seminar are doing well but we lost two. One unexpectedly on her own and one was either blind or had some neurological issue so we euthanised her.

I have set up two more brooders in preperation for the mail order chicks arrival. I converted my 75 gallon fish tank into a brooder since it has had no fish in it for awhile. It was hard since I know once my fish tank became repurposed as a brooder, it would no longer be fish friendly, but I really like it! It will be fun to see the chicks "on display" and intersting since I've never had a fish tank brooder!! It has no hood on it and so ventilation is no problem. I can't wait for Friday!!!! I'm hoping the rain holds off unitl I get the chicks from the PO.

Oh! Apparently, I have a new type of dog. Our Border Collie is no longer a Border Collie. He is now officially a "Broody Collie". He is guarding the chicks in the brooder room and won't let the other dogs into see his babies. If they cheap a distress call he is there with his head in the brooder checking out the problem. He also counts all his babies after he leaves the room and comes back.

 

[otonoh]

Well after I went to Jim's house, I was pretty ambitious. I tipped over the coop to insulate the bottom and discovered that the bottom is sheathed in metal. There was a small section unsheathed so I insulated it and then sheathed it in aluminum sheathing I had left over from project. Hoprfully this will keep the critters from coming in thru the bottom . Then before the snow melted completely I moved it to where I want it. I figure I will build a 10' x 5'.5" covered run which I think will be plenty big for 8 chickens, then off to the side under the trees, I will make a larger day time pen. I figure since it is a pine plantation, there aren't too many predators during the day and trees will keep them out of the hawks view

 

[WIChookchick]

otonoh- WOW. Great Job!!!

Well I got an email from the landlord, and she said if she gets it rented, how soon can we be out...

. SHE drives me NUTS. 1st she wouldn't let us out of our lease with a 45 day notice, we didn't realize that we couldn't do that. BUT more on that later... She wouldn't let us out of it so couldn't move until the middle of May...
Then she emails about the showing with "if I get it rented.. how soon can you leave??"... grrrr
I found her rental ad on the CL.
She is stating its a ranch style home... uh. um...
Does this look like a "ranch style" to you???

IT is a quansit hut with windows.

I guess Bunker was taken.

But onto the GOOD NEWS... 1st us then Joan..
I talked to our new landlords and explained the situation to them. We don't want to lose the new place.
Knowing how things could go, not being out of our original lease until into May... we offered to pay them a hundred more a month for 5 months basically paying for April
even though we may not be able to move in yet.

Beth, our new landlord had me explain it to her wonderful DH Ken, and they said that if we want to do that.. then why not just move in, in April !!!

Basically move in now, pay later. I love these people...
Still haven't touched base on keeping the remaining flock there, or the horses.
One bombshell at a time.

The other good news is that Joan is in the Rehab section and will be home on Friday!!!

Off to beds, I am tired... and have to get up early to go babysit.

Carol

 

[bantiesrule]

Quote:
Show quality modern game bantams.

 

[Terri O]

Dave that coop looks like it is going to fall and squish you! Who took the pic? One of those "sons" that Jim says arent yours?

You guys crack me up! I am jealous that you got to see Jim's Chicken Ranch!
I think I figured out what I am going to do about breeding pens! I wont even have to build any walls (since that seems to be my downfall...) I am going to section off the bachelor pad in my barn for a breeding area for the summer. Then I can turn it back into a bachelor pad for my roos next fall! Great idea hey? Guess I will see how it works anyway....
SO I want to know how SW and MLH got to hatch quail and I didnt??? What did I do wrong? What kind do you have MLH? I am going to be heading up to Sweet Folly Farm to pick up a few of hers in a week or two--cant wait!
Also, I have a few Border Collies too MLH. I can say that they are NOT Broody Collies though! Seems to me that they would rather the chicks come on out so they can move them around (or maybe eat them) They have spent way too much time with the JRT! I am using a 55 gal tank as my brooder and have a 100W light bulb in there...be careful, mine is getting up to 120* under the bulb!

YUP HOT! I have the fixture as high as it will go and tomorrow I am trying a lower wattage bulb. I also have it insulated on the top with styro--but I have the vents open! Those chicks are growing so fast that they will be out of there by next week I think.
OK time for bed--sweet dreams all! (and repeat after me: "I will NOT dream about eating anything containing gluten tonight!") THere, that should do it! Terri O

 

[otonoh]

WIChookchick, Congratulations, sounds like your landlady is a nut case, tell her you can move out by April 15th, move into the other place and pay half the months rent, she wants you out, go
sounds like the new place is much better

Terry O , where are you? It is worth a trip. My eldest took the picture. Both the boys are better looking than me, of course having a 30+ year advantage helps.

Today I need to lay the vinyl flooring and get the brooder ready. I have to wait until Saturday to get windows, our habitat for humanity store is only open Saturday. Gpnna have a friend help me with putting up the paneling. I can't cut window holes to save my life. I am going to use the melamine board, easy to wipe down. I am a clean freak.
David

 

[dkvart1]

Good morning folks! Hope the weather is getting better for everyone up there, seems like winter doesn't want to leave the north this year. Sunday afternoon I was so elated over learning that the offer we placed on the house was accepted that it wasn't until later or of something... took a minute to put register, and when it did I had a fleeting thought of "Sh**, that's COLD!", followed by a momentary thought of "do you really want to move back up there?" LOL We all realize that from about the first week of November until the last week of May I'll probably only set foot out to tend the critters and go to work...

I hate being locked in the house, but I simply have no tolerance for cold. No matter how I dress, how many layers I have on, I'm never comfortable.

Dave the coop is looking good. Sounds like you and Jim had a nice visit.

Carol glad to hear your soon to be new landlords are such cool people! I think if it were me, I'd tell her, I can be out (whatever the soonest date you could be out in) providing you agree in writing to let me out early and only charge me for the days I'm actually here. She may go for it, you never know. Of course if she's been a pain all along I'd probably just tell her that the day my lease ends is the day I will be out.

Congrats to everyone on their hatches.

Well little Murphy is whinning at the door so I guess I better get motivated and get the boys over to the park for their walk and try to get something done around here before I head off to work.

have a great day all.
Deb