Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[babylady4]

Since I needed them by 5:30 tomorrow morning I did not even bother going to Waupaca. I left this morning at 9:30 and I was home by 6:45. Too pooped out to do any more driving!

 

[Amyable]

Babylady, join my club. I don't have chicks yet either! We can be the Cheesehead Chickenless Duo.

I joined BYC to learn, and learn I have. And I found all you great people to boot!

Happy Saturday to all

 

[Dr HaHa]

Boy do I feel sorry for you 2. When you are finally able to have chickens your going to be sleeping in the coop with them.

But now that I typed that I guess that isn't so far fetched.

I could just scream! The stove got a total tear down and clean out today and it's still doing the same crap. Definitely drafting better but still drippin creosote.

Today I was sitting here and the girls were out by the coop and Peaches was about 20 feet from the house I couldn't figure out why he was up here so I walked out to the porch. Here was Bob sitting by the back door wanting in. Peaches was keeping a close eye on him. What a good boy!

 

[bigzio]

Good Evening...
Dr H... In regards to your drafting problem. If you are starting a roaring fire with the damper or the ash door open a couple of inches allowing it to burn a while, and if you are burning dry wood. Then the problem is your chimney set up.

For some reason, your smoke leaving it's last chance to escape is too cold.

In my opinion, without seeing your set-up. You either are burning green wood, or your chiminey, which should actually be the engine, isn't drawing like it needs to be.

Maybe it's taller than necessary, or if you have a rain cap it's too close to the top?

Just trying to help in some way. Should draw to almost sucking the smoke out, once a fire is going.

Hope this helps some.

~ bigzio

 

[Nemo]

Quote:
And don't forget week 22 when you don't have any eggs, yet. You'll be looking at the chickens thinking, 'If I squeeze them like a tube of toothpaste...."

Speaking of which, I have 11 not-quite 18-week-old Red Stars, and got seven eggs from them today. This is the second day this week they laid more eggs than our 16 Buff Orps, who will be two years old at the beginning of May. Of course, they are still laying small eggs.

( Click for big image. )

Yes, I've been keeping track. The Orps (the gold bars) really punked out in November and December. After Christmas, I started mixing in some Meat Maker feed to raise the amount of protein they were getting. Of course, the weather warmed up at the beginning of the year, so I don't know for sure if it worked, but I'm assuming it helped. They're back up to an average of almost six a day.

 

[Hens and Roos]

our 7 hens have been averaging 5 eggs/day-we do have light in the coop for them.

was wondering if anyone know of someone in the WI or Northern IL area that sells Blue Rocks? We saw some pictures on other threads and think they would be a great addition to our flock.

 

[Dr HaHa]

Thanks Bigzio for the input! I've been burning wood for close to 20 years in different homes and I've never had this problem before. At least not to this degree. I agree it's the chimney. I still think it's the weather. When I installed it I set set it up for optimum performance, not too tall but enough to to draft well. The odd thing is that if I give it too much air it smokes out of every possible place that it can. That comes back to the chimney draft. It's the weather, It's the weather look behind you it's the weather! [Woodstock] Hopefully with it cooling of next week it'll burn. Nemo; Love your humor! I never thought of squeezing them[liar liar liar] Well maybe just today. And then there's the soft pry stick approach. Sick! Like your graph but like pie charts better actually just pies. H&R's sounds like B'fast tomorrow is covered. I gave some eggs to a guy at work and I couldn't get away from him. He just kept going on and on about how good they were as opposed to store bought that he's been eating his whole life. Another convert!

 

[fordmommy]

Just before my girls started laying, I posted this. A week later I got my first eggs. I, too, was wanting to "gently sqeeze" for eggs.

Quote:
Every night,after they are up on the roost,read them a chicken recipe that sounds so good. After you're done, say,"That sounds soooo delicious,doesn't it? Makes me wanna bareecue some chicken.

Well, goodnight."Your hens will have a meeting and your scardey-cat hen

will say,"She's going to barbecue us!

!
"No,she's not,"says your bravest

hen."Why don't we start laying?Then she wont want to."
"Great!"says your most agreeable

hen.
"I have a better idea

says your most difficult

hen.
"We tell her if she barbecues us we'll come back as zombies and hold her captive in a cave without food or water.Then she'll be scared."
"Let's take a poll,"the brave hen says."All in favor of telling her we'll become zombies,raise a wing!"
The difficult hen raises her wing.
"All in favor of starting to lay?"
The brave,scared,and agreeable hens raise thier wings.

The next morning,you'll come and find eggs!

 

[cedar post]

Fordmommy that first egg is a welcome suprise.

my son said the fog is as thick as peanut butter out there. Well at least it's not -30 out there!!.

 

[fordmommy]

I do have something kinda sad to share. I thought that all my chickens that survived the dog attack were fine. Little scratches on a couple combs, that it's it. I was wrong! I've been watching everyone since and I noticed that my BA has stopped laying and wouldn't go outside. I thought it was all just stress related. I checked over everybody as best I could and didn't see anything.

Well- today I picked her up and noticed what I thought was a bump on her back. I moved her feathers and looked closer and found a gash on her back. About 2" long, a 1/2" wide, and deep! It has a decent scab on it, but it was caked in dirt. I took her in the house and rinced it with peroxide and cleaned it as best I could. Then I filled the whole (really that's what it is) with triple antibiotic ointment. I then covered it all back up with her feathers. I would have never noticed if I hadn't pet her on the back. It's right were a bald spot would be from a roo.

Poor girl. I wish I would have noticed sooner.

But there was no way I would have. Her feathers covered it. Just gonna keep my eye on it to make sure it doesn't get infected. It's not pussy. Just a big scab filling the whole. But one edge is a little pinky.

Stupid dog!