Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

Good morning everybody! Hopefully everyone's schedules are slowing down now that the holiday has passed!

 

[Minniechickmama]

Good morning to you too Klop! and everyone else!
Well, I will be heading out to move some things like my lawn tractor I was using to clean pens who's battery died. I need to get it moved before the 12-18" of snow drops on us. I am supposed to go pick up the 1/8 of beef I ordered, but with the storm and our van in need of a new tire that shredded on Saturday on the van, I may not make it before the storm blows in.
So, for those who wondered where the winter weather has been, it was stockpiling to hit us hard all at once. How awful for those folks in Texas and the SW states who got hit so hard. Was it crazy that the first thing I thought was, "I wonder how many chicken coops collapsed?"
That is some crazy stuff. I think we are in for more crazy with weather.

Klop, I was thinking about your sprouting stuff. My husband likes doing sprouts in the house for himself. The one thing that we do with them is not just rinsing, but turning. We do them in mason jars with special lids with screens so they get drained well, but also so their is air going across them. I think if you had some opening to help them dry a little, or you had a screened bottom to let them drain and have a little air under them?
I think one could even do sprouting on something like burlap, or another loose weaved fabric.

 

[Coffee 1st]

Thanks all for the comments on the new house... It is in Isanti county, and i think i will make the shed with windows my coop,the little red shed into goat shed i have to make run for them, the 3 sided i will split in half and make half for pig and add a long run to it and the other half for now make for turkeys and leave open for them.

 

[KlopKlop]

Good morning to you too Klop!  and everyone else!

Well, I will be heading out to move some things like my lawn tractor I was using to clean pens who's battery died.  I need to get it moved before the 12-18" of snow drops on us.  I am supposed to go pick up the 1/8 of beef I ordered, but with the storm and our van in need of a new tire that shredded on Saturday on the van, I may not make it before the storm blows in.

So, for those who wondered where the winter weather has been, it was stockpiling to hit us hard all at once.  How awful for those folks in Texas and the SW states who got hit so hard.  Was it crazy that the first thing I thought was, "I wonder how many chicken coops collapsed?"  

That is some crazy stuff.  I think we are in for more crazy with weather.  


Klop, I was thinking about your sprouting stuff.  My husband likes doing sprouts in the house for himself.  The one thing that we do with them is not just rinsing, but turning.  We do them in mason jars with special lids with screens so they get drained well, but also so their is air going across them.  I think if you had some opening to help them dry a little, or you had a screened bottom to let them drain and have a little air under them? 
I think one could even do sprouting on something like burlap, or another loose weaved fabric. 

I was looking for more ideas and have seen people make wood frames then stretch window screen across them and sprout in that. Would definitely allow airflow. My current plan is to get some scrap wood screwed together to allow me to set the current tubs at a steeper angle to encourage draining and leave the lid off. Based on your thoughts I may gently stir them daily too, at least before the sprouts get bigger.

 

[KlopKlop]

Thanks all for the comments on the new house... It is in Isanti county, and i think i will make the shed with windows my coop,the little red shed into goat shed i have to make run for them, the 3 sided i will split in half and make half for pig and add a long run to it and the other half for now make for turkeys and leave open for them. 

Wow you've really got this thought out! Good for you!

 

[lalaland]

Thanks all for the comments on the new house... It is in Isanti county, and i think i will make the shed with windows my coop,the little red shed into goat shed i have to make run for them, the 3 sided i will split in half and make half for pig and add a long run to it and the other half for now make for turkeys and leave open for them.

Lol Coffee, you know they say chickens are the gateway critter to livestock! Looks like it is true in your case. Wow, goats and pigs and turkeys too!

I think we are all so excited for you. The house looks gorgeous and well maintained from the pics, but it is the outbuildings that really make me jealous. So glad for you.

Minniechickmama, ooff to all the snow coming. I'm thinking of taking a vacation day tomorrow so I don' t have to drive down to the cities - seems like the wiser course of action. Hate to waste a vacation day, but I hate white knuckling it more, and there are sooo many crazy drivers out there.

Be safe everyone tonight and tomorrow!

 

[cottonlouie]

Coffee, that is my ideal house. Perfect.

All, I have a broody hen sitting on two eggs. Do the chicks have a chance at hatching and living if I just let things be out there in the coop?

 

[lalaland]

its possible. But definitely not optimal. with the cold, a chick that is separated temporarily from the mother will be at risk of freezing to death. Brooding and raising chicks can go perfectly or be disastrous. Not all broodies will take care of the chicks til they are old enough to be on their own, can abandon the chicks in which case you would have to get a brooder set up and care for them yourself, which is harder obviously in winter. Harder to deal with chick waterers in winter. Sometimes the mother hen is great at fending off other chickens, sometimes not and you have to separate them. that will mean figuring out how to keep water from freezing in the temporary quarters for the mother and chicks. Sometimes other chickens join in on the mothering, sometimes not.

Personally, I would remove those eggs and wouldn't let her hatch them now.

 

[lalaland]

Is everyone ready for the snow????

 

[scandiafowl]

Is anyone getting snow? Nothing in Scandia.

I was hoping for a foot at least, the ladies have plenty of food and water, my two wayward hens are in the coop, we are ready!