Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Question, I tucked some eggs under my broody hen on the first of the month, I haven't checked them or anything. They should be hatching Sunday or Monday right? I'm also wondering if I should have checked them? I made her own space in the coop that the other girls won't bother her & is safe. I guess life will happen or not. Keeping my fingers crossed because I put 5 EE, 2 buckeyes, & I think a 1 SFH eggs.

Minnie, it's the Wellie I got from you.

I consider broodies to be set em and leave em.

I check mine everyday,. I peek in see that she still has water and feed, and she gives me the evil eye until I leave. I sure hope she hatches some guineas, otherwise I am goingto have to find her some chicks as she really wants to be a mommy.

 

[Rhetts]

Does anyone go to the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion or easier and quicker to say Rollag??

My sister does. Takes my dad to it. She says it is pretty awesome. We used to just go to the local one when we were kids in Dalton.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Sorry to post twice in a row, but I lost a 6 week old poult last night from inside the brooder.

I do not think I have a weasel problem. I am thinking possum, now.

This brooder is the first one I made. It is made out of 1 inch chicken netting which a weasel would go through. I had 20 chicks in the brooder a weasel would have went in and had a heyday. This bird was up tight against the wire netting with its head removed and a wing gnawed on and partially missing. It appears whatever it was could not get into the tractor/brooder. The birds think they are too big to sleep inside the brooder part, so they sleep next to the wire.


It explains a lot to me. The first Cochin that was attacked was in the creamettes run, which is about 60'x10' of 1 inch chicken netting. I am guessing now she was next to the netting and something attacked her taking the top of her head and could not get in to finish her off. Which explains why she did not die in that attack.

The second cochin was in a different run that a possum could have gotten into. I am guessing she refused to roost and sat next to Bert on the ground when she was attacked. Why Bert was not killed is beyond me.

I will be setting traps tonight Live traps and jaw traps. I will still set a weasel trap in my new box with a mouse for bait, just in case.

If not a Possum I suppose a mink, or skunk could be it, I doubt a fox could reach through 1 inch netting. I have no fishers here I am too far south, same as martin. Any other Ideas?

First, y'all are killing me! 45 posts since this morning???? Really, folks, we need to get lives! LOL!!!

Ralphie, don't discount coon, they can reach through chicken wire and pull them through and injure them so badly they die or just injure them terrible and they don't die, which is worse. I would get a coon trap with marshmallows in it too. Who knows? You might catch the mother load!

 

[Minniechickmama]

Lena is a great name! Overnight a nameless hen has become one of enough importance to get a name. I am glad you did not change Ole's name it would just confuse him.




Cyrus I am preparing a 55 gallon swimming pool for whatever it is. I think it will be a possum. My Elderly mother just told me (10 minutes ago) after al the problems I have had with something killing my birds.... "oh, I kicked a dead possum into the ditch from down by the mailboxes"....


I said " Couldn't you have mentioned that on say...The day you did it?"


"I s'pose but I forgot"

"you forgot during all the discussion we have had about what is killing the birds?"

Well, You know I am old and us old people forget things"

"Have you ever forgotten one of your square dances?"

"no, but they are more important to remember than your chickens are".





This is a glimpse into my life.....sigh

Well, you told me she hated you. So it only stands to reason.

 

[Minniechickmama]

@holm25

Oh my stars! How horrible! Did you catch her in the act?

Who? Ralphie's mother?

 

[Minniechickmama]

I am not sure what to say, and I am by no means an expert. I would try probiotics and de-worming.

Are you sure the shell-less eggs are related to the sickness? Does she have oyster shells?






I set the traps, tied a live trap into the senior high schoolers chicken door. I put 1/2' hardware cloth all around their tractor. I set a live trap near Bert and his Kids house, right along side it incase a critter is looking for a way in. I screwed the covers shut so nothing can lift them. I think I am ready.


I baited a trap with the dead turkey from last night and another with eggs.


After all this my DW and I were standing back finishing a Corona and congratulating each other on a job well done. The white rock hussy was standing by us. She decided to check out the traps and got caught in the live trap inside the Senior High schoolers pen...SO We un-screwed the cover, got her out reset the trap and screwed the cover down again...

She is such a pain in the rear, she refuses to let us hold or pet her, but she always is right next to us, if we are in a chair and get up, she jumps into it. I hope she stays out of the traps the rest the night.

I just about choked on the food I was eating when I read that!!!
It SO totally figures. Chickens are seriously retarded sometimes. LMBO!!!

 

[duluthralphie]

Huge decision made today!

I am putting the last eggs into the incubator. A barnyard mix for replacement hens. It was pointed out to me how late in the summer it already is for hatching.

Now it is time to brave the weather and check my traps......



BTW as evidenced by this post:

Well, you told me she hated you. So it only stands to reason.

Minnie has a good long memory! Beware of things you tell her.....

roflmbo... (BTW I Did tell her that)





And now for the PS(edit) After opening the door and seeing the rain, I have made an executive decision to have a cup of coffee and check the traps later. Poor turkeys are looking drenched!

 

[The BlanchRanch]

I am not sure what to say, and I am by no means an expert. I would try probiotics and de-worming.

Are you sure the shell-less eggs are related to the sickness? Does she have oyster shells?

Thanks Ralph. I will most likely try this. It is very hard to find medicines like Probiotics or things for worming around here.
I just went to a Tractor Supply Store for my first time on my way back from Red Wing. I was surprised to see all the things you could buy!! Always thought you would need a prescription for most of those drugs.
I heard you mention TSC and Runnings? Any other stores? I can google them on maps but I have a feeling most of these will be miles from me too. Mills fleet farms are even miles from me. Inner city chicken raising is proving to be a challenge as far as stores are concerned. Thank you.

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Sorry Ralph. I forgot to mention. I do have a dish of oyster shell and I mix it with their food. I also get food that says it makes harder shells. I add vitamins to the water as well. The rest seem very healthy besides dumplings weepy eye and I think that is getting better now.

 

[holm25]

Scandia I did catch her. She did get the crap beat out of her by a broody BA. She tried getting her close to month old babies and the screech of the chick released the ugly in that hen. At least I know to watch for her claws when handling her chicks.







Tody one of my cockerels got his toes stepped on by a cow. He has a little limp but seems fine.