Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

I am procrastinating at the moment. I got my CRX chicks today, this batch came from Welp, even though I ordered from Stromberg's I hope they measure up to what I usually get out of New Mexico.
I need to get them set up in their brooder, but it is cold and rainy out. I caught 30+ culls to take to town to meet with a guy picking them up this morning. That went well, but now this rain has me hesitating to go back out since I know I will be soaked when I am done with all the work I must do out there. I do have a spot for some of the birds in the brooder house though since I culled a few bantams and can move things around just right to have more space. I should clean a couple of pens, but we will see how it goes once I get some shuffling done, I may wait to do cleaning tomorrow when the sun shines again. It is 64-degrees right now, and after the last few hot days, it feels downright chilly.

Need to correct, they came from Hoover, not Welp. I am not as old as Ralphie, but my brain is not what it once was either. I AM the mother here, so maybe it is just something that happens to us females after being tormented by our men and children for too long

 

[scandiafowl]

I get algae in my waterers and need to clean them weekly, or just add a tad of vinegar to them.

I must be in a primitive place I have well water with no filter and no softener.   I doubt the algae would hurt the birds it is just unsightly.

We have well water, get the slime. It normal bacteria in our ecosystem. Considering our chickens peck and dust themselves in the same dirt, I'm not too worried. I'd rather have chickens that build up resistance.

 

[duluthralphie]

It's 68 here and real muggy. No rain but feels like it could explode into rain anytime.


It was nice this AM but the humidity came in.

I am trying to do nothing in the hopes my knee will "heal" and I am not going to need surgery.

I have to set up brooders and tractor next to the pen I have reserved for the CX's.

 

[KlopKlop]

For you guys getting in CX now, is this your second batch or do you just wait until later to do them? I usually start early to try and beat the heat. I feel bad seeing them pant in this heat and can't imagine what they would be like in august
If this rain lets up I'm butchering tonight.

 

[Minniechickmama]

We normally get them about the first week of June so the kids can show in 4-H, with a second batch two weeks later, but this year with no shows, I pushed mine back. However, I got the first batch last week and they were all dead but two when I got them from the PO. That batch shipped from Texas and were in a box I had not seen the likes of before with larger air holes. However, I am certain that someone in Rochester didn't tend to the properly and they were left on a truck overnight on one of those nights our temp dropped down to the upper 40s. So, I was told I should get them next week, but got a call yesterday they were on their way. I picked them up this morning and they came from Rudd, Iowa (Hoover's), which disappointed me a bit since the ones I have gotten from down south were much better for being calm and for being consistent in size. I can feel a difference with these already and they aren't as heavy feeling as day- olds as those last week were before they croaked. We will see. I will keep them 9-weeks and then get them processed.
I have raised them in fall, but that was the first year we had them and haven't tried that late again.

 

[lalaland]

Maybe its just my water but I seem to get that slime build up fairly quickly in the waterers. I scrub every week always and then as needed. Some weeks one time a week is fine other times it is like 4 days later I need to scrub. So am I doing something wrong? Am I missing something? Or is my water just that bad that the slime builds up super fast? What do you guys do for it?

I get slime I can't see but can for sure feel it when I am cleaning the waterer out, or red algae in the ice cream buckets, or green algae in the metal waterers. I am not great at keeping them clean all the time, esp during the work week and hot weather. I think it would be best to have fresh, clean water every single darned day, but that isn't my life. maybe when I retire!

I just read that a copper penny (that means before 1980 something because sometime in the 80's the pennies turned into zinc or something with just a little copper) will keep the algae from forming in birdbaths. I have a couple copper pennies in my jeans that I am trying to remember to put in the danged waterers, but would you believe that for a whole week I can't remember when I am out at the coop and come back in with the pennies in my pocket INSTEAD of the waterer?

anyway, I'm going to try it. if I can get the pennies into the water. I'll report back if I get the pennies where they belong before it is winter


And Ralphie, I totally agree about seeing what those chickens will drink and eat - mine love the muddy puddles full of chicken s#$*@.

 

[duluthralphie]

I had pressing things to do in Florida so I am late on mine this year, I would have gotten mine in May but, poop happens...

Mine are 8 days old now, I am happy with them, Mine also came from Rudd. I have been happy with them, However, I have lost my packing peanuts. (3) out of 73.

I bought some last year on July 30th and they did fine in August. These will be larger but in August they will be free ranging most of the time and have lots of space.

Because I raise mine for 13 weeks I was more concerned about camp day. I did not want it in November again. Camp day is tentatively set for Oct 9th.


Mine have calmed down a lot in the week, they were skittish to start, now they run to me, and my feed trays.

By the time they really start to put on weight it will be Sept 1st. I hope.

 

[Rhetts]

I get slime I can't see but can for sure feel it when I am cleaning the waterer out, or red algae in the ice cream buckets, or green algae in the metal waterers. I am not great at keeping them clean all the time, esp during the work week and hot weather. I think it would be best to have fresh, clean water every single darned day, but that isn't my life. maybe when I retire!

I just read that a copper penny (that means before 1980 something because sometime in the 80's the pennies turned into zinc or something with just a little copper) will keep the algae from forming in birdbaths. I have a couple copper pennies in my jeans that I am trying to remember to put in the danged waterers, but would you believe that for a whole week I can't remember when I am out at the coop and come back in with the pennies in my pocket INSTEAD of the waterer?

anyway, I'm going to try it. if I can get the pennies into the water. I'll report back if I get the pennies where they belong before it is winter


And Ralphie, I totally agree about seeing what those chickens will drink and eat - mine love the muddy puddles full of chicken s#$*@.

Yeah, I am getting the slime I can feel but not see. Interesting on the pennies theory. Is that for plastic or metal water dishes?

 

[lalaland]

Rhett, I don't know, but am going to try pennies in everything . can't hurt!

 

[holm25]

Sad news. I am afraid my poultry adventure is over

. I dont get people. There is nothing I love more than these birds and I hope my grandpa knows that if I didnt have these guys I would be just like him and do nothing! I'm just sad because he doesnt care if he never sees us again. So I packed everything I owned out there and left. I have a home for 12 chickens so far but have a "few" more to sell. Luckily my other grandpa knows these poultry r my life and is going to let me keep some at his place. Now I just have to sell my geese and pekins and muscovys. I am doing my best to find good homes where they can live out their lives. Please keep us in your prayers and if u know anyone who might be interested in geese or ducks let me know