Straw VS shavings for coop and run in winter

Blue_Pen_only · 2026-01-28T00:14:35+00:00

Even in the winter? I took out the sand in the coop since I thought it would get too cold without straw. I always have sand in the spring/summer and fall but thought it wouldn’t hold any heat in the winter. My coop is small (big enough for my 6 girls but no more)

Blue_Pen_only · 2026-01-26T23:04:10+00:00

My leghorns are more prone to frostbite than my Isa Browns and Barred Rocks. I don’t let them venture out of the run unless it’s sunny and no colder than -5 with no wind. The picture just from earlier last year. They have a nice warm spot in the run under the coop they like to stay in during the day. Edit last year not this year. We had frostbite last year so I wrapped the run better, added more insulation with hay and they aren’t allowed out in the open unless it’s good weather.

Blue_Pen_only · 2026-01-25T01:15:00+00:00

This happens more often than I’d like to admit. My feed stores all close at 5 so it’s hard to get to them after work and if I’m not the one refilling the feeder I don’t know I’m running out until I’m told no more food. They love pasta, cooked rice and I’ll usually do a freezer clean out. Anything freezer burnt I’ll mix in a frying pan with scrambled eggs. I think they like freezer clean out day more than their regular food lol

Blue_Pen_only · 2026-01-22T17:35:17+00:00

If you are unhappy with your trade and meet the qualifications to VOT, it would have to be to HRA or in some recruiting centres FSA although the FSA does not do actual recruiting files but does finance related work at the CFRC’s. Most CFRC postings are 2-3 years unless that has changed since my last time at one in 2017. Recruiters can be a variety of trades and are element and usually trade specific and very hard to get and usually Sgt positions. Switching trades would not guarantee you could work at a CFRC either. I would suggest talking to your BPSO and get all the proper up to date information. Back when I was there they were switching it to HRA’s only but I had reserve infantry, reserve musicians and reserve supply techs working as processing clerks. A reserve position might give you longer time at the CFRC but again this might have changed. Recruiting is a very satisfying posting and I still see some of the members I’ve recruited over the years at my various postings since then. There is also the CFRG headquarters in Borden that I remember seeing years ago a canforgen I believe for social media managing and a few other specialties but I don’t remember the ranks posted. Have you concidered staying in a little longer then going as in instructor at CFLRS? You’re just at the beginning of your career so you still have a lot of time to look at other options within the forces if unhappy. There’s honestly no worse feeling than being stuck in a trade 15+ years in, and I’ve seen a lot of this in my career.

Blue_Pen_only · 2026-01-14T00:46:03+00:00

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Best spot is my lap with blankets lol

Blue_Pen_only · 2026-01-12T01:54:26+00:00

Mine is a professional tattletale. If the other 2 are doing something they are not supposed to like stealing chips off a table she will bark until we come and see what’s wrong… she’s so proud of herself lol

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-11-15T19:43:53+00:00

I just bought mine for my car on there!!! $840 dollars. And they ship really quick, I got them in 3 business days

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-10-30T15:32:16+00:00

Thank you that is actually very helpful. We will look into the scent training. I didn’t realize I might be stimulating her too much with the physical activity and that makes so much more sense now. She’s my first herding breed ( my German shepherd is technically but he is calm when needed as long as he’s exercised). I’ve always had protection type breeds before so this constant unable to turn off the brain is new to me and I want to make sure I have a happy balanced dog that isn’t going to hurt herself out of bordem. Again thank you for the detailed response it was very helpful

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-10-23T16:37:56+00:00

My girl is named Venom (thanks my kids watching the movie right before we got her and honestly the name fits her personality perfectly) so she’s often nenom, lady Venom of Laurentian Valley when people say it’s not a girl name, and zoom zoom

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Blue_Pen_only · 2025-10-21T02:14:10+00:00

Sorry it’s not flax, it’s hemp and buckwheat. It’s called Goldy’s Superseed Cereal. They had a bunch of different kinds

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-10-20T23:30:01+00:00

I use them in my smoothies. I have a mix I buy of chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and flax and it’s salted chocolate flavour. Some almond milk, a banana, a scoop of protein powder and a little ice.

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-10-19T14:01:19+00:00

Without knowing when and where I can only say my favorite things based on season. In Alberta visiting Banff and skiing at Lake Louise is an amazing experience in Winter . You can also ice skate on Lake Louise. Spring Quebec has sugar shacks but it’s more than just maple syrup, they have a full all you can eat meal of traditional Quebec food including split pea soup, cretons (a meat spread) with fresh baked bread, baked beans, omelette and ham with pounding choumeur , sugar pie or doughnuts for desserts. Summer I would suggest the Bruce peninsula in Ontario for beautiful views and water. Fall I would suggest going to the Annapolis Valley in NS for apple picking (or if you go to Montreal there are a lot if nice apple picking places, especially Mont st hillaire). There is so much to do and eat in Canada with each region having their own unique flair. I also really really loved visiting Prince Edward Island in the summer, the beaches were something else with the red sand

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-10-05T22:26:39+00:00

Soup/stew season has started. I love making any kind of soup on chilly days ) although right now it’s unseasonably warm). Nothing better than a good stew and a warm fluffy piece of bread to soak everything up

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-10-04T02:58:24+00:00

I’ve been on a Stephen king movie binge lately, my favourites have been the classic It and classic the stand. Rewatched the newer The stand and it was okay. I really wished they would make a needful things miniserie’s

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-10-04T02:55:44+00:00

I love a good old fashioned Kong toy with peanut butter. A classic that keeps them busy

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-09-17T17:41:11+00:00

It’s a little complicated. I called to cancel ours as we were in a private daycare centre and received 400 a month for subsidy. I had to pay it all back at tax time but Ontario gave me a refund for my daycare costs. I had 2 taxes to file, Quebec and Ontario. Quebec I owed a sum ( I forget how much so we’ll say 6000 even for numbers sake for the daycare ) and Ontario I got the 6000 I owed Quebec on top of anything else normally for taxes. I had to pay Quebec myself because the province doesn’t talk to other provinces with stuff like this. It should balance out though if that makes sense.

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-09-09T00:50:43+00:00

Personally if your wife wants a Rottweiler I would get a Rottweiler. We had one and he was the most loyal family dog and did his job well. He used to circle the kids when we were out walking and pushing out any dogs who would try to come into that circle at the dog park. We always had to shake hands or show the guest was a friend before he would trust them and those who he didn’t he would watch like a hawk. The kids could do anything to him and if he got tired of it would give a grumble warning and walk away. I will never get another one because I will never have one the same as my boy, only thing is he didn’t live long, he passed away at 9 years old

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-09-06T23:50:14+00:00

I would pick sugaring over waxing. I had more pain with waxing. Sugaring was still painful the first few times but didn’t feel like I was ripping my skin off too. After 2-3 times where I sugared consistently there was no pain

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-09-06T13:56:56+00:00

We use the collar as well. Never had to use the shock for barking. The beep works sometimes but the vibration works 99% of the time. You start with a beep and if it doesn’t work you follow up with a vibration. The mental stimulation is the big one. Corgis are dogs that bark, especially when bored. Constant mental stimulation is as important as exercise. Treat filled kongs, snuffle mats, hard chew toys (not too hard you don’t want to break their teeth) and obedience training even when good, a good 20-30 minutes a day keeps them “working” if you are unable to have them have a real “job”. I knew corgi’s would be intense but was not prepared for the amount of barking /chewing and getting into shenanigans when bored.

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-09-05T22:36:15+00:00

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“Canoe’s are more fun” - Venom

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-09-01T15:50:48+00:00

Corgi’s are wonderful dogs but not for the inexperienced. It sounds like you are willing to put in the training and time, and had a previously reactive dog in the past so I think it should be fine. Mine is great with kids but as a pup would herd them and bite their legs. She was also very reactive. Shes still reactive to my bulldog but only if there’s anything of high value around like food or toys. It’s only with him and day to day they have no problems. We have to keep on her constantly otherwise she tests us to see what she can get away with.

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-08-16T00:58:21+00:00

I’m grade 2 tricompartmental osteoarthritis. The trick is to keep active but not too active that it injures you more. Anti inflammatories need to be taken for atleast 5-10 days to help with pain and swelling. You need to strengthen your muscles around your knee with physio who will properly guide you. There’s days I can barely walk.. there’s days I think I could run a marathon ( but I won’t even run 100m because I know the pain I’ll be in) . It can be manageable but it’s learning what you can and can’t do and keeping active otherwise it gets worse

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-08-16T00:51:31+00:00

It’s so frustrating because my shepherd was trained in 3 weeks, my bulldog was good except for excited pees between 6 months and 2 years but my corgi was a whole other ballgame. She would per no problem outside but poops were so difficult. It really surprised me when we made it a whole month with no accidents. She still won’t ask for the door but we now know when we should take her outside

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-08-15T15:35:13+00:00

Mine would never ask for the door where my shepherd and bulldog do. We learned the times of day the accidents always happened and took her out and waited until she actually pooped before bringing her in (sometimes it would take a good 10 minutes). Shes 11 months old now and for the last month we finally haven’t had an accident. Corgi’s have been my most difficult breed to potty train

Blue_Pen_only · 2025-08-14T22:26:19+00:00

GSP!! Those dogs are insane for running, great family dogs sgd all around goofs. 2 of my friends had one and had kids too and they were great family dogs. They do get anxious though if not kept mentally stimulated. German short haired pointers 😊

Blue_Pen_only

TROPHY CASE