Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Terri O]

Thanks for the feedback on the coop thus far! I need all the help I can get! Any other opinions?

The only other opinion I can give is, "when can you come and make me a coop like that?"
How's that? T

 

[babylady4]

Just finished making the 2nd batch of soap...... I thought I would try to mimic a scent that is at the place where I get my massages; Eucalyptus Mint. I know it sounds strange but is smells really good! Well, I tried it and now I know what they put in Ricola cough drops! My whole house smells like Ricola! LOL! I know it will calm down as the soap ages, but it is still funny to me. Just part of the learning process!

EL you should PM Tatters, he makes his own caustic leaching ashes and makes soap as well. As far as chemicals go, that is the only 'chemical' you need. Just like regular household cleaners just keep it someplace where the kiddos can't get to it.

MxM, I'm with Terri. You guys can build me a coop too!

 

[raimnel]

Hi all! its been awhile lol
we've been working on the upstairs. moving FOUR kids up there! YAY! lol DD gets her own room down stairs. we are going to combined the 2 rooms, it will be 9.5 x 20ish lol I'm gonna make her a loft type bed so her bed don't take up floor space. lol
the upstairs room will be about 2-3X the space they had down here. lol lots of work. time for bed
night all

 

[Hens and Roos]

chilly evening here! we were spoiled for sure....

enjoying a piece of cherry pie while I read here- my parents made it and brought it for Easter along with a second cherry pie and a pumpkin pie dessert- all yummy! My kids tell me that I make good pie but Grandma's pie crust is great- I have to agree with them! My parents are always asked to bring the dessert for gatherings. Only time we don't ask is when it's the kids b-day parties.

thinking we have an egg eater in the hen pen- two eggs tonight had dried yellow on them, now to figure out who

can never find any shell left.....

off to watch a little TV with the kids

 

[Bigfamily4me]

It's almost there folks! My hubby put on the absolute last necessary things for me to move chickens into the new coop. I have some more small paint projects, then clean it up of all scraps and nals etc. if I get up early, paint some trim before school, paint after Pikles speech appt, that leaves me to clean up during nap time. I could have the chickens, big and small, moved in by dinner time!!!!! YAHOO! Get those stinky chickens out of my basement! (At least for two and a half weeks until he next hatch.) but it won't be 26 chickens down there again anyway!

Then I guess it will be big clean up and air out time down there... Can't wait!

 

[Amyable]

Slow night on the boards. I've been chipping away at that flower bed for the last week. Have all the border rock placed, and redigging the earth to loosen. In doing, I have discovered yet another dumping ground from the previous owner that is slowing me down. The side closest to the house is more rock and asphalt than dirt. Of course it is always where I want to grow things...we are still finding chunks of road asphalt in our garden, 3 years later.

EL, too bad we don't live close...would love to split some grassfed beef! Yum! We get grassfed ground beef from the farm where we get our milk...no pink slime, and boy is it good.

Have learned another interesting chicken tidbit...given the chance, hens much prefer to lay eggs in the feedbin. Maybe the grains feel nice on their little bottoms?? Some of them lie in wait at the door to sneak in to lay an egg in the food.

 

[mazojoe]

I lit the oven early because we ran out of fuel oil as you all know...I NEEDED some heat in the house! Didnt want to waste the propane so I baked some potatoes! It helped that I started on the counter and got warmed up...but then I went out to do chores....then we ate some baked potatoes for lunch! Lol--I will make the rest with mushrooms to have with steaks on the grill tonight! MMMMM!

do you really still heat with fuel oil? I know it is a great BTU per gallon, but its cost is crazy! When you look into replacing please talk to me. I am on LP but have a 95% efficient with a air source heat pump! best investment I have made, it has made the break even mark with a conventional LP and air conditioner in 2 years, and is getting close to paying for itself.

 

[Amyable]

Forgot to say, hey Terri, so that was you I heard honking the other day??

 

[Celtic Chick]

Put the chicks on shredded paper yesterday...they are very funny picking at it and carrying it around. When I cam down during the night I realized something wasnt right...their lightbulb had gone out. Jim I think you jinxed it by saying you changed yours! They were huddled pretty good but seem like no harm was done...good think the 2 day old guinea was in the middle! I am considering putting the babies downstairs with my modern games and Tommy and Tina after this cold snap is done. They need more room badly! Their tails are developing now and they are starting to run and try to fly in the limited space they have. It is funny how much further along the ones are that hatched first compared to the end of the hatching....and I set them all at the same time!

Must be the day for bulbs to burn out. One of our heat bulbs looks like it burned out out in the carport by the lavs. Good thing it was above the roost they weren't using. There is another bulb lower down that they are all under. And peace has once again finally returned to the coop. For the time being, anyway.

Moose's kids really, really want to be up on the top roost with Jack, but the old biddies keep chasing them down. DH caved & put another perch up out there the same height as the other one, so at least for tonight, everyone is happy. Last night was another story.............. Sometimes I think it would be better not knowing what was going on out there.

Raiq,

on the house sitch.

mxm, awesome job on the tractor so far. And Jim is the one to listen to. He has gazillions of years of chicken experience under his belt.

I think windows hinged on the top are a good idea too.

Kris, sorry the one chick didn't make it, but at least you have more.

Bl4, that soap scent sounds wonderful.

Bf4, where's the coop pics already, woman?????

Quiet evening, but that's ok. Haven't felt much like reading or posting lately. Sinus issues have been acting up since last week. This crazy weather not knowing what it wants to do doesn't help matters much. I'm definitely sick of the cold temps, though. Bring on spring already. I hope everyones critters & plants will be ok.

Past my bedtime, again. Sweet dreams, all!

 

[Cindlady]

Hi all!

BBP... thanks about the Freedom Rangers. I'll look into them but I thought they took longer.

raim... bet the kids will love their new digs!

H&R... I just found out an anti-egg eater trick from one of the guys I sold a rooster to. Sprinkle some baking soda on their feed. I tried it and it dose work! Must be something in it that they need.

Bf4... Congrats on getting the coop done!

mazo.... We have oil too to heat a boiler for radiant heat. Oil is up so much we heated all winter with wood! (Different system)

Bad news on the chicken front! When I went out to feed and water this afternoon Lacy was dead!

She was laying under the roost cold and stiff. She had no signs of illness, seemed just fine last night, DH said she seemed fine when he let them out this morning. She just ...died.

She was the hen that hatched the last batch of chicks.
Speaking of hatching... as of 5pm... nothing from Storky's nest,

Well, still have stuff to do... night all!