April 20th, 2006

ain, Rain, Rain what was all dry yesterday and looked pretty promising for getting more of the heavy work done around here has now turned into a River Otters dream vacation.

The press never showed up today…………….

Because I was sick this week, I have been banned to the house and the guys are putting in 7 ft tall fence posts for the poultry fencing. They did get the tractor stuck against a tree and it was not a hope the trucks could get in there and not get stuck. It would have been an echo of the Corb Lund Band song I am sure, only less prairie and more fir trees. I did sneak out to watch them get the tractor out.

The chicks are all alive and doing great, other than a handful of them getting Pasty Rear Ends”. Evidently this often occurs due to chilling during transportation or in the brooder house. But no one is crowding in my brooder, so I think it is not that. If this happens to you and it does not clear within a few days, assess your environment, it may be too hot or too cold or too wet. If you are growing your birds organically your temperature control is even more critical and electrolytes and vitamins in the water will help. I found that none but the feather footed breeds had Pasty Bums”.

RECIPE for Electrolytes for chicks:
1 teaspoon of Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tablespoon of Sugar
Mix it all in a quart of water (keep ratio if making a gallon for a fountain) and make fresh daily.

It is supposed to snow tonight, so I am going to drop the lights down a little more.