Surviving Minnesota!

A nieghbor of ours is proof to show that calving later may actually be better which is why we are pushing out dates back. A month ago or so my dad hauled calves in for our neighbor, Charles. Charles calves in May, tshirt weather, nice weather. He doesn't have monster cows or monster bulls(bigger isn't always better), he doesn't use creep or minerals, and in December his steers averaged over 700 pounds. And his heifers around 600. They also looked good, they weren't shaggy and no froze off ears.
Some may disagree but his calves turn out good every year
 
One of the yard rabbits decided he should live in the chicken coop
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We calve out our commercial calves starting about March 20th and done April 20th. This year we have two late ones with end of May calves. By the time May calves are grazing heavy our best grass will have been grazed by the older calves and cows.

Next year we will have some AI show calves in February but the rest will be in March again.
 
I'm down to 1 Cochin pullet....those did not work out. I'm sticking to ducks. I did give in and order some layer chicks the other day. I'm down to about 7 layers now, in March that number will more than double. 2 Faverolles, 2 Welsummer, 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Anconas and a Meyer Meal Maker. Hoping to place an order for a giant mob of ducklings soon too. Raccoon killed off all my breeding ducks this fall so I don't have much to work with...
 
I'm down to 1 Cochin pullet....those did not work out. I'm sticking to ducks. I did give in and order some layer chicks the other day. I'm down to about 7 layers now, in March that number will more than double. 2 Faverolles, 2 Welsummer, 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Anconas and a Meyer Meal Maker. Hoping to place an order for a giant mob of ducklings soon too. Raccoon killed off all my breeding ducks this fall so I don't have much to work with...
:hitstupid raccoons.
 
Makes sense from a production side Ralphie. Thought it out after I posted and maybe should have said it sooner and know that I’m far from bright on all things farm. I think dad was sensitive about the calves and just liked seeing them on straw on nice spring days bedded down. When I lived out west I thought maybe it was their warm chinooks too that allowed for that. But I think it was about getting to market early too maybe? Before it flooded with spring babies. Idk... I like what your saying layers about the shape of the cattle calved in the spring.

I once read on here from a respected BYCer that the spring sunshine fortified and makes for stronger healthier free range chicks/chickens. Like the vitality is different/better. I suppose it’s Vitamin D at a critical growth period for birds. So I’ve since felt or it was reinforced (for me) spring is farm baby time.
And no judgement on anybody that does different. I understand there are different goals.
 
Out of the 36 Cochin eggs I set there is somewhere between 6-8 developing. 2 should hatch on February 1, the others on Feb 4. The other day I candled snd took everything that wasn't developing out, there were probably 10 that were infertile and most of those were the pullets eggs, I have not plucked them as much. Everything else was frozen or didn't start developing.
After this hatch I am planning on setting as many as I can on Feb 8th. I am ordering another incubator to do this as I should have 8 dozen eggs by then.
 

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