Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

You forgot modest there Ralph LOL

That goes without saying...

 

[lalaland]

I was cruising around some blogs at lunch and found this pen that I thought was neat. They said they used it for meat rabbits but I suspect it could be good for quail too.

https://flic.kr/p/bD4Rk4

Edit: sorry, wouldn't let me insert directly so here is the link

looks nifty. A little small for my taste for bobs both in floor space and in height. I know people pack them in 2x2 cages, but I've seen them enjoy flying up and running around, just the way chickens do - you know, when they flap their wings and run like they are going to take off?

always remind of kids pretending they are airplanes - I almost expect the sound effects. zoom zoom

 

[KlopKlop]

looks nifty.  A little small for my taste for bobs both in floor space and in height. I know people pack them in 2x2 cages, but I've seen them enjoy flying up and running around, just the way chickens do - you know, when they flap their wings and run like they are going to take off?

always remind of kids pretending they are airplanes - I almost expect the sound effects. zoom zoom

I think it is meant as a tractor so they could move around but I know what you mean. It's interesting that yours come back to the coop at night. Everything I've read says they NEVER come back which means I must take the word as law haha

 

[NathanZee]

the bag balm to occlude the Chlorhexidine to the skin. (cover and keep the chlorhexidine close to the skin) Bag Balm is $4 or $6 for the little green square tin with clovers on it. It also has a sulfa in that ointment that will help with any bacterial breakout (act as an antibiotic too) that may be occuring there.

Thank you! I have ordered both of them, they will come tomorrow or the next day.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

These photos are for those thinking about making the cookie tin heater to keep plastic founts open.

It was very simple and inexpensive. 50 cents at a garage sale or thrift store for a nice round tin. Under $10 for the lamp bulb kit at Walmart. If you shop your local hardware they may try to get close to $20 for it. And you'll need a simple drill to put one hole in the side of the tin for the screw piece of the bulb set. While at Walmart or the hardware store try to rummage up an old fashioned 40 watt bulb. If you go 60 watt the tin gets too hot for the birds and you risk burns. 25 watt may work but at 15 degrees the water froze up and we all know that there are not that many nice 15 degree winter days in Minnesota. Most of them have been colder. You could plug this into a thermocube so it goes off on 33 degree days. It's all up to you how fancy smancy you want to make it. At about -15 the water does start to freeze on this and that's when I take out my other $5 fount and alternate thawing one at night and bringing down new open water each day of those cold spells. I do set this upon bricks to keep out of the shavings and the shavings out of the water.

Hope this helps anybody wanting to do this.

 

[Rich55016]

I figured this would be a great place to ask this because I am from MN. Do any of you use horizontal water nipples in the winter here? If so what does yours look like or what are you using for a heater? This is my first winter with chickens. Sorry if this is not the correct place to ask. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Minniechickmama]

287 new posts...done! Welcome to all of the new and returning MN folks!

I went up to Grand Rapids this weekend to get my deer stand ready. I built an evergreen blind on my platform - we'll see how that goes. If there's any rain or snow, I'll be inside the house watching TV

I came home to a broody hen that I have had to continuously kick out of the nest box. She may have to go into a separate cage soon if she doesn't get off of her imaginary eggs. When I go in to boot her out, she lets out this little growl. Poor thing. Lol

@Minniechickmama , I think that little silkie chick may end up being white. That's how the feathering is coming in right now. I'll have to post some pictures later. All of the chicks are growing up so quickly!

Could very well be. You know white Cochins start out black and white as chicks? I think you have a recessive white like we were talking about then.

 

[duluthralphie]

Thanks BC.

Do you use that inside the coop?

It is kind of what I thought it would look like. I am trying to make outdoor waterers so I can have 30 gallons of water in them at a time. This is to help facilitate our going to Alabama. With a stop in Nashville, the home of Americas real music.

I am working on 55 gallon feeders, which I now have perfected. I only lost a little feed trying to get them working.

I made a new coop for the three Chicken Poxed Sussex's.. I had a Production Red trying it out before it was even done. I also had a CX in it, but she was just throwing the wood chips out.

I got 4 blue diamond encrusted eggs today! I have locked the creamettes up for breeding season and got the 4 eggs. At the rate they lay eggs, I should get 4 more next month too!. I know it is early but I want to make sure they are pure in December when I start collecting to hatch them. I moved the Creamer back in with the Creamettes. That went well.

I removed Ed and the unnamed BA rooster into their hens areas. They will be further separated in the spring. Now I have to decide which one of the two remaining Creamers I will be keeping. It is a hard choice they are both so perfect. The loser will be taking a ride in the famous plastic lined trunk with the Nice Asian lady from St Paul.
Ed is looking pretty rough right now. He is still in molt, but I have a couple hens molting too, still.

The Toms were complete butt heads about the roosters being free again. I actually had to separate them for the night. The young Toms are maladjusted juvenile delinquents, I had hoped to keep them over winter, but there is lots of room in that trunk going to St Paul if they keep it up. I am thinking of putting the Toms in the guinea Gulag but I hate locking them up.

 

[duluthralphie]

I figured this would be a great place to ask this because I am from MN. Do any of you use horizontal water nipples in the winter here? If so what does yours look like or what are you using for a heater? This is my first winter with chickens. Sorry if this is not the correct place to ask. Any help would be appreciated.

Welcome to the thread, this is the right place to ask, But I do not like nipples so I don't use them.

How many chickens? What kind? What part of the state are you from?

 

[Minniechickmama]

I do not worry about getting a big head, because even though I am always right, I am so humble my head could not get big. My humbleness is refreshing to myself and others. I want to thank you for worrying about me Cluckies, but I assure you I shall remain perfect and error free in the future.

I don't think I have ever met one so humble as you! Have you ever read Wind in the Willows? I think I shall call you, Thadeous J. Toad! LMBO!!!!

I can always count on you for a good laugh, big guy!