Recent content by DaveMN

I knew that we had a fox around here but i got lazy. the chickens were out the other day and i fell asleep early in the evening. went out after dark to close the coop, went it to check for any late eggs and noticed that i was missing chickens. I have a 12x12 dog kennel on the front of the coop...

It was generally something the young guys did around here to earn some money during the winter. There are not many trappers around here anymore, between the people who think it is cruel and inhumane to kill animals for skins giving everyone grief and the low prices a few years ago for pelts...

Up here south of Duluth, cool to see that there are more Minnesotans on here all the time. now if we could get the Guinea owners from around the state to join we could really network. just think, soon the snow and ice will be gone and we can get down to serious chicken business:D

I will charge more when the economy picks up but for now am content to just break even. it is more a hobby for me and a way of helping others for now. they do like my eggs and all of them sell other than those i use for barter (homemade cinnamon rolls, finnish flat bread, wild blueberry pie)...

I had thought about going organic but the cost of feed was prohibitive. i buy layer feed from Fleet Farm for $11 per #50 bag. I was using Homestead layer because it does not contain rendered animal protein but the price last time i purchased was at $16 per #50 bag and was suppose to be going...

i sell the ones i sort so that the cartons have only larges in them for $2 a dozen and the ones that contain medium and larges mixed for $1.50. i am only clearing a buck or two a week. i could charge more but so many people are feeling the pinch these days - some have grandchildren living with...

it is not medication such as an antibiotic, it is to prevent coccidosis which is caused by a tiny parasite (if i remember correctly) and what it does is keep them in check until the chick is able to resist them and build natural immunity.

In the winter i always fill the feeder in the evening. but then again it is a bit cold outside right now - and i don't mean california cold either;) it is currently -13F (yes below zero) and will probably be close to -20F by morning. inside the coop it will be around zero so that is why i...

wow lots of replys in just a day! i have been researching since i posted this. I have come across a few articles that mention dye. there is one red dye that has been tested that makes the yolks darker but cannot be used since it is a carcinogen (probably used in china though but did find...

there is a family in town and the mother has found that when she buys regular eggs from the store that her kids get sick/ill feeling but if she buys farm eggs they do not. she was buying farm eggs and the kids were doing fine so she thought to test it out so she put a regular white egg from...

i use the metal double wall founts because i found that plastic founts were not as durable at sub-zero temps in the winter I use the 5 gallon fount on a heated base. it is the metal base like this one http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/product/no_freeze_heater_base.html and even when the temps...

for us it has been -15 farenheit with a high of 5 above zero. good thing is the temp seems to stay above the zero mark but i have a 250w heat lamp along with a 125w ceramic bulb to keep the temp up a bit in the coop. the waterer never freezes but it is a 5 gallon fount on a heating base. i...

cooler weather yes but not winter. i would like to get a couple of tomatoes fromt the garden before the first frost. but winter has to wait for a bit because i need to get the lights fixed on one of the sleds (snowmobiles) and it is easier if the weather is warm. then come on snow, this...

WOW! you grew up in such a beautiful area and the mountains look so nice. how the heck did you end up living in the flatlands of minnesota? it is the one thing that this part of minnesota is lacking.

if you are allergic to DEET there are a couple of others that work. not as good but better than nothing. OFF makes one using piperazine or pepperasin or something like that and there is also one called Bullfrog. I thing the Bullfrog works better and i think it also has sunblock in it too.