Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Terri O]

BBP--your cat kills chicks? BAD kitty! (I only have dogs that kill chickens-

) Last year there were a mess of feral cats that went into my coop at night to eat mice. I loved not having to use the poison! But they I trapped them and got them all fixed and I never saw them again! Figures...I really wanted them to stick around. I have one feral that lives in my barn, maybe she chased them away?
DH just left to go to Madison...I didnt have to go!!!

So I guess I have to do something here to make it worth while staying home...or I am sure to hear about it...guess I should stat with getting dressed....
Hurley--where ya been? What's going on in your corner of the county? My BFF told me that their dogs did awesome at Jefferson a few weeks back. Were you there and how did you do?
Terri O

 

[otonoh]

morning all

Donner looks like you are making progress
ha ha, spanish rice mmm
good luck on the finals, so glad I am no longer have to take them

went to fleet farm today to buy a winter waterer, some green garden fence and looked at sprout chicken food

thinking about not going the purina way because I read and got a pm that Purina isn't very good and has no animal protein and also has soy and lower calcium that causes thin shells

Tried to find Kent feeds but the stores listed don't sell chicken food, anyone use sprout from fleet farm? any thoughts on it.
I could use the stuff from tsc dumor or something like that but heard it is made by purina and it is an hour away. I have a 30 pound bag left so thought soon i should start mixing it too make the transition easier on the birds

my netting for the summer run came today, it won't stop anything major but may deter the hawks and owls from trying. My run is 10 x 25' , I wanted to give them the free range freedom in a safe area

too cold to plant today although I picked up some iris from my neighbors garage sale so will plant them today

have a good afterenoon, I see a nap in my future

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
Do you have a feed mill close by- we started out with using Farm & Fleet food but than switched because we had problems with it but it wasn't the sprout brand. We changed to using feed from Landmark and have had good luck with it.

 

[otonoh]

Do you have a feed mill close by- we started out with using Farm & Fleet food but than switched because we had problems with it but it wasn't the sprout brand. We changed to using feed from Landmark and have had good luck with it.

We do about 10 miles away. I imagine I could always have mine mixed up​

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
We do about 10 miles away. I imagine I could always have mine mixed up

I know with our mill they do carry bags of feed- starter and such and I can go in a buy off the shelf so to speak a couple bags at a time-I started using 23% w/ amproline for the babies and then switch them as they get around 3 months or so to a 20 % and that is what all the older ones get to- easier that way for the kids to help with feeding- even our youngest DS whose 6 years old!

 

[Hurley]

Nothing huge to report, trying to get dogs bathed, groomed, and the van packed up for nationals this week down in St. Louis. A little uneasy leaving DH alone to tend the flock. Kids he does great with, worried how many chickens I'll lose by the time I get back. Taking most of the dogs with me, so that shouldn't be a huge issue.

Jefferson was a fun show. I just showed Charlie, who did well, getting to be a real show dog, won a tough bred by class and showed nicely. Showed his sister, VooDoo, for a friend and put a 4 point major on her, so that was fun. She just needs 2 points to finish her championship, has all her majors. Was a good weekend with friends.

The chicks are getting big, feathering in on their necks now and starting to look like big chicks. Need to get this brooder/broodie hutch out to the grow-out building. Got a black Am with a bald chest trying to brood in the laying pen, may bunk her down in the hutch and let her go nuts. Would like to get these chicks outside and into bigger quarters this weekend, so better get on it!

 

[shantibirdy]

You were mentioning cats and birds.....time for my cat story.

This is Mitch, my BC, and Krish, my barn cat. He got to be ours because I found his mom's litter in our hogshed, and I picked him up to play with him. Kittens are irresistible, right? In the time I played with him, Momcat moved the other kittens out, and never came back. Of course, at that point I had to feed the little guy since it was my fault mom took off. (We did find her later, but he wouldn't stay with her.)

I discovered a short time later that he was bunking with the ducks in the granary. Since he wasn't bothering them, I thought it could be a nice arrangement, which is exactly how it has turned out. I have not seen a single rodent in that granary since Krish moved in (equals no traps and no feed-thieving rats!!!!) And not only is he great rodent control, but he has learned to herd the ducks when it's time to bring them in for the night. Wish I could post a video! And the final miracle is that somehow my BC learned how to herd the ducks without nipping at them (like he does with the horses). I think he watched Krish!!!

TO...son at Madison is graduating with majors in Economics, Geography and Business. Apparently he has some job offers that I will find out about tomorrow at the party; I think they'll all be in the financial field. I can't see how anyone is getting hired these days in finance. And I hear you with those college kids and their plans! DS19 (also at Madison) does that to me all the time. They think nothing of making arrangements for mom!

I found a real nice feed, but it's pretty pricey unless you can get it out of your customers: It's Nature's Grown Organics. A very nice poultry layer that I switched to when my organic duck feed source dried up.

I said this morning I was going to have to buy some eggs so I could supply my customers with their duck egg orders and I could get my baking done for the party. Well, I stood there in front of the egg case. For a LONG time. I couldn't do it!!! If the ladies don't produce enough tomorrow morning, one of my orders will just have to be one dozen short. Phooey on store-bought!

It's time to get to that baking and cooking for the party. Wish I had bought an adult beverage, but then I'd have to sit a beer up for the dog so I wouldn't be drinking alone. Oh well. Have a good evening everyone. Hope we don't get frost!

 

[Terri O]

It's OK SHanti...I am sure several others here are having an afternoon cocktail...I need to go out to the car and get the coke and then I am having one! I even bought ice yesterday! Whooo-Hoooo...I am not having sherry; rum and coke today.

Turns out that the pair of Wellsummers I got from H&R are both boys! She is trying to figure out the "mystery feather gene" that has made them look like girls when they are young but then they turn out to be boys with the wrong colors! And all I wanted was a terra cotta egg! LOL!

There are WAAAYY too many people in my house again! All the young adults are standing in my galley kitchen making lots of noise. THey seem to be trying to plan summer activities...no one can agree on anything. I would kind of like to start making dinner...
Finally some of them are leaving for the Dells...the dogs want to eat, they are all barking--I think I am going to start working weekends!

Shanti--I had a BC that loved one of my cats too. Everyone was amazed. They slept together and everything. The cat was very sad when Chip died.

I think I should nave taken a nap today! Terri O

(PS) Hurley thanks for checking in...was starting to worry...glad you did well at the show!

 

[Dooner]

Quote:
I do, but don't know enough to compare it. They sell a lot of it and the hens seem to like it. I augment with oyster shell which they also sell. I just picked up some DE to sprinkle in their sand box and nests from fleet farm as well.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Boy, if you miss reading even a day here, you'll be reading for two! Quite the industrious group.

MustLoveHens, I love your pheasant chick. He is adorable! Your reds look almost identical to my TSC production reds.
Raiquee, I am so sorry about your grandmother too.
And French, I am also so sorry about your parents too, and the baby chick. That is so hard. Good luck with your Dutch Bantam. I left some replies on your post. Hope it helps. Where in the NE are you? Anywhere near Townsend?

Good luck, SF, with everything.
shantibirdy, yes, chickens lay almost NO eggs when they molt. All their protein gets tied up making new feathers.
BlackBrookPoultry, wow, those were some lucky eggs! I am happy for your mom. You have lavender orps? I absolutely love those birds. I hope to get a couple of them one of these years.

otonoh, Purina makes Du-mor? You've got to be kidding........In any case, the Du-mor does have a higher calcium % than the Layena. And I didn't have any shell problems when my girls were on it, if that helps any. Meyer Hatchery carries a vitamin D3 supplement that cured the soft-shell problems for one BYCer, so I ordered a bottle. I'll keep you posted on how that goes, if you want.
It was a good day for a nap. I wish I would have taken one. What lousy weather we've been having this "spring".
I wanted to get my new girls out into the "critter compound" this weekend, but it has been too cold and damp. Hopefully next weekend will be better.
Enjoy your evening, everyone!