Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[cuties]

Funny you guys should bring that up. I have a red that looks like she is starting over with a molt!
Jim, I have often wished we had running water in the barn! I know there was at one time. But I would have no idea how to tell where it came from or how to get it again. It does get old carrying all those milk jugs! Maybe you could brain storm a better way for me. Ya know, next time your just layin around ;-)
Sucks working durring the holiday time! Hubby and kiddos are in clintonville for family get together. And he will come back to get me when I am done working. Talk about a lot of running!

Bigz, I will give a shout out when I arrive. Maybe you will hear ;-)

 

[bigzio]

Afternoon All....Welcome to the new cheeseheads. Hope you enjoy it here!

Maybe check for depluming mites for those losing feathers. The neck area can be affected. Just sayin.

I'm gonna dust the buckeye hen again and she how she does back in the coop. She is eating, drinking and doing a little talking. I really don't want to keep her in the warm basement any longer than I have to. She is going to have to get use to the cold again. She looks pretty happy keeping a eye on us. We are down there all the time stoking the fire and stacking wood and listning to tunes.

The northern fowl mites live on the birds, so it's important to dust every bird....unlike the red mites that can live in the coop hiding in cracks and such.

I didn't know Scott had family in C-ville, did you ever mention that?.....what the heck cuties....maybe I know your family? I went to school and grew up there. Then moved North of there LOL!

Just went to the feed mill....18% layer mash is $9 per 50 lbs...still the best deal around. The guys at the mill are folks that really like their jobs. Makes the customers feel good to deal with them.

Later...bigz

 

[chikenscratch]

Hey, finally got the hens out. I put out egg shells and grit with spent grains. This kept them out a good hour. They were gobbling up the egg shells, so I hope this means that their egg production is increasing! I've already gotten 2 today, but when they went back in, one went straight to the box.

I've got to get more shavings in the coop over the next few (warm) days and shovel out some of the crappy stuff. DH said he'd bring some home after work today.

 

[jvls1942]

good afternoon, I am home alone.. went out and plowed the driveway and the yard where the geese hang out.. I lit all of the coop doors open for the first time in weeks.. some of the guineas made a bee line into the pine tree.. a few of the chickens came out.. I hope everything finds their way back into the coops at dusk ..

I filled the goose's bath tub .. they seemed to enjoy it for awhile.. the white Sebs were looking gray.. I modified a hose (cut it shorter) so now I can fill the tub every day..

I mixed up a batch of beer batter for a fish fry this afternoon.. Annie is bringing some coleslaw and potato salad from the deli .. my nephew gave me 8 ten inch crappies .. he fishes, doesn't eat fish.

the sun is not out here.. but it was nice and warm out there , relatively speaking..

Niece is having a party tonight,, I have had enough parties and good things to eat and drink to hold me for awhile, so I don't think I will be going ..

.......jiminwiscjustbuildinguphisappetiteforfishfrylater.............

 

[babylady4]

Morning all!

I get to run to the UW today and fix aquariums..... Yay!

Watched the documentary Garbage Warrior this morning. Awesome film!!

Kitties are settling in well, Fonzie is not happy with them but I think one introduction to their claws will be enough to get him to leave them alone.

 

[Celtic Chick]

I checked that hen this morning for mites....none. Then I noticed some neck feathers missing so I checked for injury but was shocked to find that she's molting....again!! She's already had a full blown molt this fall. Anyone else ever have a chicken molt twice like that?? Could she be sick or lacking some vitamins? And then I have a light Brahma hen that is just starting her first molt ever...she's almost 2 years old. Crazy mixed up chickens.

I'm not sure about the chickens, but I know my doves will molt when they have inadequate vitamin/mineral intake. It might be your feed? They possibly had a faulty batch. The company sure as heck won't fess up to it these days, I assume.

Might cut into their profits, but I would check into it if you have no other avenues to explore (parasites, mites, etc.). What brand of feed are you using? Send them an e-mail & tell them you are having issues. Maybe they will do something? Wouldn't hurt to try.

Well, I survived having the in-laws & fam here on the Eve and my fam on the Day.

And then I rested.

After a ton of dishes............... I hope everyone had a great holiday. I think I will be eating leftovers for at least a week.

Terri, aren't you feeling better yet?

Welcome to the newbies! As Bigz said, we're happy to have you join us. I love the Brinseas for incubators. Easy to clean, easy to use. I've always had 95 to 100% hatch rate with them. But if you need any hatching advice at all whatsoever, Jim is your man. He is the knowledge fairy of hatching.

Ok, after many hours spent here reading & catching up, my eyes have officially crossed. Time for a beer.

Tis the season!

 

[delisha]

delisha, will you be selling any orpington eggs or chickens this spring?

Always..
I will be starting to sell Cuckoos later spring and Gold Laced. I always have BBS in off Hawk season..

Good morning everyone and welcome to the newbies!

It's sunny out today. We just passed through a fog but if the sun stays out, I might be able to convince the hens to venture out!

Deli-I put out the FF and it's frozen. Will it be good when it thaws? I figure that it would be but thought I'd ask.

Yes it will..

I checked that hen this morning for mites....none. Then I noticed some neck feathers missing so I checked for injury but was shocked to find that she's molting....again!! She's already had a full blown molt this fall. Anyone else ever have a chicken molt twice like that?? Could she be sick or lacking some vitamins? And then I have a light Brahma hen that is just starting her first molt ever...she's almost 2 years old. Crazy mixed up chickens.

Some mites and lice you do not see on the birds..some of them live off the birds and only come out at night..you will need a flash light to see them in pitch dark and even then they are tiny red or brown.

Quote: Glad you had a good one..

I hope TO is recovering too..she is burning her candle in the middle and on the ends.

 

[Terri O]

Here is a article from Backyard Chickens that is worth sharing. The Northern Fowl Mites really come on fast and can be killers if not treated.

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/2-5/laura_e_john/

Hope this helps.

5% sevin dust works better than anything I know of. Trying things that don't work are a waste of money and time...in my opinion.

bigz

Very good article. I think I may have read it in the past. Now I am feeling itchy after looking at those pictures!

I checked that hen this morning for mites....none. Then I noticed some neck feathers missing so I checked for injury but was shocked to find that she's molting....again!! She's already had a full blown molt this fall. Anyone else ever have a chicken molt twice like that?? Could she be sick or lacking some vitamins? And then I have a light Brahma hen that is just starting her first molt ever...she's almost 2 years old. Crazy mixed up chickens.

Did you add any heat to your coop? After I brought Tommy in for the winter he molted all over again. My living room was a sea of feathers for a while! I think all of the shafts are now normal because I havent been seeing as much dust as when he first came in.

I hope TO is recovering too..she is burning her candle in the middle and on the ends.

Yes that is the case I fear...the main reason I decided to stay home today. Family Christmas is at DD27s place tomorrow...did the same as you and Suze, Brent! Brought over the ham in the Nesco and the cranberry dips tonight. At least I didnt have to clean my house!

Enjoying a glass of home made Bailey's and then I am heading off to bed. Hopefully to sleep ALL night!

Have a great weekend and get outside before the big freeze is back on Monday!
TerriO

 

[babylady4]

So I find out that the power to the fishtanks has been off since Tuesday (both SW and FW) so we have tropical fish in VERY cold water with no current whatsoever and no lighting. Nice. The messages I was getting yesterday told me the power strips were tripping the GFCI outlet...... I thought it was great that I did not get any messages until yesterday about this, and I said as much when I showed up today.

We ended up losing one Pajama Cardinal, and I am concerned about the Royal Gamma...... otherwise everyone else just seemed a little sluggish. Even the frogspawn coral survived.

I ended up taking about 12 gallons out and giving the tank a good cleaning (something I was planning on doing anyway....). I plugged everything in and found no issues with any connections or the GFCI outlet,...... so we just wait and see I guess.

I have been watching documentaries on Earthships....... very cool, I would LOVE to live in one!

That's about it here.

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All!!

Been sick and "foggy" myself.

Hi to the new people!

Lost one hen due to cold.


Back to bed..... night all!