Minnesota!

[cmom]

Quote: I have never seen a mouse in my coop. I have seen rats. Can't stand rats so I do put decon out where the birds can't get to it. Don't think the birds eat rats.

 

[Cluckies]

I got two eggs today, one was from one of my EE. The one hadn't start laying yet, the other one quit about 6 weeks ago. I think this may be the first one from the one that hadn't started laying yet. Both of the eggs were frozen and cracked when I got home from work though

 

[Minniechickmama]

Wow, I have never seen that. When my chickens kill a mouse they eat the whole thing fast!. I have a Delaware that is better than a cat at digging out mice. If she gets into the grain shed she is digging for mice in everything. When she sees one she runs it down, then takes it out to show off to the other birds. Of Course that sets off the chase to get the mouse.

I only had a couple chickens in the run today. I thought they might stay inside but as soon as I opened the door they ran out to do their thing. Even now three hours later they seem to be outside.

This reminds me...
Two days ago, I lifted the heated water bowl to dump out the nasties and clean it out and refill. There was a mouse underneath and it went running. It took a few seconds but one of the Cochin hens caught it and began running around, even though no one was chasing her. I ignored what she was doing with it since I am happy to let them have some extra protein. I turned around to leave the pen and here she is standing with the mouse half-way down, head first with that look of, "I think I bit off more than I could chew (choke down)." and its butt sticking out of her beak. She must have shook her head and got it worked back out, because next thing I saw of her, she was holding it in her beak again with head and tail dangling. People think I am crazy because I like chickens, but where else do you get such comedy?

 

[duluthralphie]

I had one frozen egg yesterday and 2 today. I am feeling lucky, may even buy a lottery ticket this week!

I have gotten around 18 eggs a day so production is down in the cold, but at least I did not freeze them all!


The bad side is I have to go out and check the nest 4 times a day....

 

[Chickenchick11]

Wow, I have never seen that. When my chickens kill a mouse they eat the whole thing fast!.  I have a Delaware that is better than a cat at digging out mice. If she gets into the grain shed she is digging for mice in everything.  When she sees one she runs it down, then takes it out to show off to the other birds.  Of Course that sets off the chase to get the mouse.

I only had a couple chickens in the run today. I thought they might stay inside but as soon as I opened the door they ran out to do their thing. Even now three hours later they seem to be outside.

My birds oddly refuse to eat mice but will gladly scarf down any insect, frog, toad, or snake they find.

 

[Chickenchick11]

I had one frozen egg yesterday and 2 today. I am feeling lucky, may even buy a lottery ticket this week!

I have gotten around 18 eggs a day so production is down in the cold, but at least I did not freeze them all!


The bad side is I have to go out and check the nest 4 times a day....

Wow, that is very lucky. I had one frozen egg out of four eggs today.

 

[lalaland]

bummer. 3 out of 3 frozen yesterday. I expect a repeat for the next few days. I'll scramble them all up and feed them back to the flock on saturday, when I am home when the sun rises.

I'm having trouble keeping the water from freezing even when in the heated pet bowl and with a ping pong ball floater to help keep it open. the ice cream bucket liners make it easier for the top to freeze a crust. When I got home last night, the one waterer I had put in the coop to see them thru the cold blast had a hole in the ice crust - looked like a mini ice fishing hole.

 

[thePluckyChick]

must be a bit warmer here in the Shakopee area. Got two eggs yesterday and both cold but not yet frozen. Chickens (and lone duck) were not impressed with the new snow and cold when I opened the coop door this morning.

 

[Chickenchick11]

Parts of the north here are supposed to have windchill values of -50. Ugh.

 

[jailerjoe]

bummer.  3 out of 3 frozen yesterday.  I expect a repeat for the next few days.  I'll scramble them all up and feed them back to the flock on saturday, when I am home when the sun rises.

I'm having trouble keeping the water from freezing even when in the heated pet bowl and with a ping pong ball floater to help keep it open.  the ice cream bucket liners make it easier for the top to freeze a crust.  When I got home last night, the one waterer I had put in the coop to see them thru the cold blast had a hole in the ice crust - looked like a mini ice fishing hole.  

I bought one of these at L & M (for $39 I think), put it in a 5 gallon bucket fitted with some horizontal nipples and I've yet to have water freeze. It works really well and has a built in thermometer so it's not running all the time. I fill the bucket like once or twice a week. It's awesome and well worth the money.

http://www.amazon.com/API-250D-200-Watt-Birdbath-De-icer/dp/B000HHLIXY