Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[sunshinemartini]

good morning,

I had a few comments but cannot think of them right now..

I have a car that we don't drive very much that I have to move today.. It is blocking my way to the lumber pile that is buried in the snow.. the computer in the car keeps running, so now I am certain the battery will be dead.. there is no less than a foot of snow on top of the car.. after I brush it all off, that will be a whole other plowing job..

this is what I hate about winter projects,, one job creates three other jobs before it..

I have fertile Del eggs, but they are not segregated, so it could be any one of the 5 roosters..

once I get this pen finished, then I will start segregating birds..

I am going to put the peacocks and a trio of red bourbon turkeys in it.. then I think there will be room for my barred rock roo and a few of his hens..

then I will whack about 3 roosters .. and separate the Dels into one of the 4 x 10 pens..

we are still getting a couple of goose eggs per day.. maybe there will be room in the big pen for a pair of them also..

I should go and get another load of these racks.. I could stand to have about 3 of these large pens..

what am I saying ?? I want to cut my flock DOWN !!! somebody shoot me, quick !!!!
(never mind, I think Annie will do it)

I think pancakes for breakfast sounds good..

......jimgoinguptoputhischefshaton..........

good morning,

I had a few comments but cannot think of them right now..

I have a car that we don't drive very much that I have to move today.. It is blocking my way to the lumber pile that is buried in the snow.. the computer in the car keeps running, so now I am certain the battery will be dead.. there is no less than a foot of snow on top of the car.. after I brush it all off, that will be a whole other plowing job..

this is what I hate about winter projects,, one job creates three other jobs before it..

I have fertile Del eggs, but they are not segregated, so it could be any one of the 5 roosters..

once I get this pen finished, then I will start segregating birds..

I am going to put the peacocks and a trio of red bourbon turkeys in it.. then I think there will be room for my barred rock roo and a few of his hens..

then I will whack about 3 roosters .. and separate the Dels into one of the 4 x 10 pens..

we are still getting a couple of goose eggs per day.. maybe there will be room in the big pen for a pair of them also..

I should go and get another load of these racks.. I could stand to have about 3 of these large pens..

what am I saying ?? I want to cut my flock DOWN !!! somebody shoot me, quick !!!!
(never mind, I think Annie will do it)

I think pancakes for breakfast sounds good..

......jimgoinguptoputhischefshaton..........









I so have peacock envy! I really really want some!!

 

[cluckylove]

Hello!
Anyone have suggestions for the type of chicken to start with that is going to survive the cold winters? We are just starting and I wanted to get an order placed for spring chicks to arrive & am not sure if there is a better bird than others, may be a dumb question on my part for being new to this.

the Hubby read someplace that leghorns would not be a good chick if we plan to let them free range, which we would like to do so.

Suggestions?
thanks! Lisa

 

[jvls1942]

this shows the two future doorways opposite each other at mid point of the 24 foot walls.
there's Ollie way in the background..

those big trees are black walnut trees.. and that brushy stuff is one of my black berry patches..

I learned something today, these pictures are taking forever to load, so I just break away and play a game of free cell while I wait..

the loose ends of the walls are waving in the breeze,, but not to worry, they will not fall..

I have to make headers jambs and sills for the doorways next..

 

[cuties]

Wow!! Looks like you had a VERY productive day!!! Nice job! I scooped poop half the day lol the only part I dislike about the chickies!

 

[Terri O]

Oh yes...they DID remember to close that door right? I have a sign somewhere around here that says all the rules like: IF YOU OPEN IT--CLOSE IT! IF YOU BORROW IT--RETURN IT! I am sure you all have seen that...Geez guys--I was just trying to keep the heat in and the dogs OUT of the room where we had chicks. RAIM hasnt been on here in a while....maybe she carries a butcher knife and posts that sign now as well, seeing as it worked?

So I have been a little busy looking for stuff to do with 4 and 5 year olds...I "kinda" told the DH I was going back into daycare...of course he returned with, "why dont you just get a regular job?" SH1T--I give UP!

Clucky--I think you should look for breeds that have short combs. There is a comparison chart somewhere on this site that tells what breeds are good for cold weather and lists all the attributes of the breed as well. Or you could just wait until we all have hatched chicks and go with that! (check out the bash thread in my siggy!)

Since I have read 5 pages and have had 4 glasses of wine (I think) I cant remember anything else...yup...the last night I will be able to partake--good think I am staying home! Oh yeah...one more thing, If you are still needing a home for the rabbit....my daughter's rabbit seems to have gone missing! He was a lop that she had at college and he must have decided he no longer wanted to live the posh life with the chickens...he was around for a while but I havent seen him for about a week--of course she asked about him yesterday....oh yes, why is this my responsibility? LOL--just like her cats that terrorize my inside birds!

Have a great night everyone! What's for supper? TerriOsippinghappilyoneherwinethisafternoon

 

[jvls1942]

Hello!
Anyone have suggestions for the type of chicken to start with that is going to survive the cold winters? We are just starting and I wanted to get an order placed for spring chicks to arrive & am not sure if there is a better bird than others, may be a dumb question on my part for being new to this.

the Hubby read someplace that leghorns would not be a good chick if we plan to let them free range, which we would like to do so.

Suggestions?
thanks! Lisa

don't believe everything you read..

you are going to get oodles of suggestions for winter hardy breeds..

most chickens will survive our winters.. so it boils down to,, what are you looking for from your chickens ? meat ? brown eggs ? white eggs ? multicolored eggs ? just pretty chickens ?
pure breeds ?

I always suggest starting with just one type of chicken,, if you are planning on hatching your own eggs.. If you are not planning on butchering your own chickens, cross breeds are difficult to get rid of,, especially roosters.

then later on, do multi breeds if you can separate them for hatching eggs..

I like buff orpington for multipurpose chickens.. they lay a nice sized egg, light brown.. and they are easy to dress out at butchering time.. the hens are not real big, but the roosters are fair sized..

 

[Terri O]

Nice work Jim! Are you planning a screened top or are you building an actual roof? Those panels look like a blessing! TO

 

[jvls1942]

I have 6 panels that I am going to use for the top.. I am going to kink them in the middle to form a ridge and about a 3/12 pitch.. then I will prolly tarp at least part of the roof and one end of the walls.. I plan on putting lots of nesting boxes in here..

I have another load of racks that I want to build a similar structure for a greenhouse.. or maybe another breeding pen like this one.. or make it multitask for both.. breed early in the spring and then greenhouse afterwards..

we will see how this one works out , first..

maybe someday I can be like Vicki and parade my birds from the coop to the spa..

ETA: everything is taking so long to do today.. pictures take forever, and even submit on a post is slow.. I found that I can play free cell while my post is deciding to go, too..

 

[unkadan]

"everything is taking so long to do today.. pictures take forever, and even submit on a post is slow.. I found that I can play free cell while my post is deciding to go, too.. "

and they say men can't multi-task

Jim,,,you could use that pen/greenhouse for a huge live trap during the fall,,,rig the doors with big springs,,dump corn in the center evening time,,,deer wouldn't stand a chance

 

[Terri O]

OOOOH a deer trap--great idea! LOL! (will you share some venzun with me?) TO