Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

Thanks! I am super stoked about keeping my Cochins. Out of all the breeds I studied and looked into they stole my heart and I do t know what I would do without them. I noticed tonight that my splash roos white feathers r turning yellow!! I feel so stupid for giving him so much scratch as a treat. The corn really does make them look dirty once they turn yellow from it. I might get a breeder mash for them and see if I dont get better hatch rates. Because if a hen doesn't have proper nutrition her yokes wont and I guess that has an effect on life or death with eggs.



I am going to set a GIANT batch of eggs for my last hatch of the year. All will be Cochin and CochinX. Oh and who doesn't want to see fluff butt pictures?? Look how cute they r!! Cochin and Cochin brahmaX. I hope the cross is a pullet. She will be kept if it is a she.

Honey, the yellow in the feathers is either 1.) brassiness from genetics, or 2.) being in the sun too much, and I am guess it is number 2. Sun can do that on those Splash and mine get that way too. Now, if you see that in Blues, it is not a good thing. Sun dries the feathers and then they bleach out. If I leave my New Hampshire roosters out all summer, they get it bad and you can really see it against birds that were kept in shady places.
I am glad you got to keep your Cochins though!! Yipee!!!!!

 

[aussiegal318]

So much has happened with everyone! I think I live a relatively quiet existence. Welcome to all the new chicken addicts. Ralphie gives lessons in chicken math the first of each month.

My pullets from Stromberg's have all migrated into the big coop and only 2 have disappeared. Momma Summer has been a wonderful mother & still has all 7 chicks, (I had 5 blue eggs, 1 buckeye & 1 unknown) they are also in the big coop. In fact, the big coop is mighty full. I'm going to have to do something before winter. We were down at the chickens with the grand sons when DH noticed that 1 of the hatchlings had some feathered legs, a remnant of the cochin that wouldn't leave the coop. I'm hoping to see some puffy cheeks & beards.

 

[aussiegal318]

Another round of storms is coming in. I've got Zadie in her Thundershirt. It looks like we are only get clipped by the north side of the storm. I've got some trees that really should get taken down & every storm I worry which one will fall. The first 3 years we were here we lost 10 big oaks, but haven't really lost anything since.

 

[holm25]

Holm, I heard that you are selling off some of your flock. Do you have any other chickens available?

Well I have the Welsummers and thats about all I am selling other than abunch of roosters.

 

[ejb3810]

Some observations from a highly opinionated chicken keeping member of the Mensa Society.
Most people keep too many chickens and hatch too many chickens. If there is not some specific purpose for having or producing them, what is the point?
If God had intended for chickens to have the lights on he would have given them fingers. It is his plan that they slow egg production during the winter months? If you want eggs all winter then keep a breed that has the ability to produce them naturally.
If Ralphie is able to effect this trade of Creamettes for cattle, I am hoping he gets some cattle that produce diamond encrusted bovine schieze.

 

[bantiesrule]

Honey, the yellow in the feathers is either 1.) brassiness from genetics, or 2.) being in the sun too much, and I am guess it is number 2. Sun can do that on those Splash and mine get that way too. Now, if you see that in Blues, it is not a good thing. Sun dries the feathers and then they bleach out. If I leave my New Hampshire roosters out all summer, they get it bad and you can really see it against birds that were kept in shady places.
I am glad you got to keep your Cochins though!! Yipee!!!!!

I have a chocolate oegb hen that really fades during the summer months and then gets looking real nice again in the winter, I'm assuming after her molt. She is so pretty in the winter but really looks washed out right now. My chickens free range so she can go in the shade as much as she wants.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Bogtown - Love to see more pictures of your cute little Sadie! Puppies are such an adjustment after having mature dogs. Our Wattson is now 20 weeks old is basically all teeth! Not sure if he gets called Wattson as often as other names that are not so enduring. The last couple of weeks he has slowed down slightly on gnawing on his family. He used to be scared of the chickens but now has become "birdy" and very interested in a bit of chase or "flush" the bird. He is never alone with them and we keep verbalizing that they are off limits. Here is a more recent picture him.

Hi ColdUpNorth and Watson!

This morning we are making tooth picks.



and learning who is the boss of who.



I'm the boss by the way regardless of what this photo is showing. Sadie Mae is coming along. We still have some accidents in the house when I'm not around and the couch surfers cannot be bothered by a pup who doesn't speak up and just finds a nice quite spot on the linoleum. She is also flushing Black Australorps and New Hampshires from my hydrangeas and hostas. Bad bad bad.... Working on it. Working on it.

What kind of waterers do you guys use? I have a combination of bells, metal double walls, and drinker cups but I know I will need to find a winter safe solution before the end of 'road construction season'
I think the drinker cups will do ok with a de-icer and maybe a blanket wrap

I use the plastic founts all year round with cookie tin heater in the winter. -15 F. I'm breaking ice out of the little red ring (a swoop of my gloved fingers). -25 I've got block ice and am alternating two founts. every other day. One comes to the house for thawing. One is taken down to the coop thawed. And I recheck in the evening of course too. Chickens learn when to get their drinking in too. When the water's open. I shoot for checking that water 2-3 x daily. Metal Founts break down so badly. They're beautiful and I really really wish they made one that was chemically stable. But I had a yellow lab before I had chickens drinking out of a galvanized bucket....because it looked cute in my house and she ended up sick for 4 days. I threw out that bucket and she was better. Needless to say when I read that metal waterers for chickens were not the best I believed them. And then when I read that I couldn't add ACV to water in metal waterers...I wasn't so sentimental about the neat looking galvanized waterer. Chicken health first.

And maybe this isn't exactly what you're looking for...maybe it's more about water cups and such. My understanding is that flow and pressure to cups/nipple waterers is unreliable for winter. IDK much about it...so probably shouldn't post much about it either. Ha.

I have a new "Mom" story. I know these get old and I should stop posting them but I can't help myself....

Always ALWAYS! Leave your Mom stories here on the Minnesota thread of BYC.

I have never heard then called a fart egg, I have always called them Ooops...

I am betting it is yolkless. BUT maybe it is one of Bert's babies, Bert having been a super rooster could have super chicks....

I think that fart egg will make an excellent White omelet with veggies.

I usually see those at the end of my Black Australorps cycle. She goes on break for a little bit right after one of those.

How many of you use supplemental light for egg laying in the winter and how many of you do not? I was just told today that I should be starting the lights to keep the girls laying because the days are already getting shorter. That seems a little extreme. I was tossing the idea around of NOT doing any light this winter and let them be. If they lay great and if not, that is OK too. What do you all think?

My first year I did, Rhetts. But probably didn't need to with pullets in the coop. The second year I thought I would again...but then I had two birds with internal laying and shut the lights off again. Now I just Let Mother Nature ebb and flow her light with them. And give them their cycles. Usually with the addition of young pullets here and there I have a layer or two in the winter that keeps our family in eggs nonetheless. I understand people that do it for business and preparation like Minnie. and those who have a demanding egg selling business....and those who cannot afford free loading pets. I get it and respect it. I just let mine do their thing. Sometimes on the -25 or -35 F nights I'll throw a heat lamp in the coop and that triggers the girls for a spell too.

Our DInner party last Monday was a hit and we enjoyed the Young adults we had in our home. ( Mid twenties to Thirty) New ears to hear our BS stories and impress.

. Speaking of Long Island Teas...and the hangover lessons. Wine is so much more enjoyable the night before. And then DH brought out his mason jars of apple pie....Sweet Mother of God. How old am I you ask?! Old enough to know better. Old enough to know I needed a pint jar of good cold water at 5 am so I could feel good at 7 to make it to work. That big glass of water works like a charm everytime.

Then just to sweat it out a little more Tuesday night after work I bought 2 pallets for 2 bucks. And My son and I took on a Pinterest project.



Good thing I got two pallets because about $1 worth was broken boards getting the things apart. That part my son wasn't the happiest about helping. But the cutting, sanding, electric screwdriver part he was all over. He essentially put it together for me with a little direction from dear mother. So that was fun. And Apple Pie adequately dissipated into sweat equity.

Holm: I'm going to tell you a little farm history about me and families. It's harder for you because it sounds like Grandpa and your family shared the same land. But this holds true with just about every farm family I've ever heard of. My Husband's Father and Grandfather would tango over farm matters as well. My good friend in Montana....her husband and Dad, Grandpa would mix words on their Montana Ranch. I watched my own father tell his Dad (grandpa) to get off his land. When Grandpa helped Dad acquire the said farm which sat right next to his. Grandpa lived on my uncle's farm. And He got involved in my uncle's divorce which probably didn't help my Uncle out too much in the long run. And my Grandpa was a Good Man. Things get said. Things get taken personally and working that hard on something that doesn't make much money any more is a hard proposition to make work. Ideas can be different, and because we're family we sometimes don't keep our mouths shut when we should. But in the long run you'll get back together again and make peace. I hope you do any way. My dad sold the farm and bought a fishing resort and the first year there Grandpa bought a 10 acre piece from Dad and built a retirement home right next to the resort. And ticked my Dad off now and again...all over again. LOL. But I don't think Dad will trade those times for anything.

And as for your flock selling --good for you finding good homes. I would keep your numbers manageable that's for sure. Especially during this hectic/unsure time. I'm with ejb on this. Think of those birds and the stresses of moving. Emotions are high and just keep in check with your animal numbers. Don't make things more difficult for yourself.

Welcome KlopKlop to the Minnesota realm of diamond encrusted eggs. Rough chicken math. Minnie's co-dependents. John Deere vs. Red something or other fights. Humble Minnesotan know it all or don't know a dang thing opinions. It's a Minnesota nice thread.

 

[duluthralphie]

24 posts to read is a lot for me..

Rhetts Still waiting on the 2 for 1 deal.....

EJB.. I agree with whatever you said, I forget. (another senior moment and it was 20 posts ago)

Klop...I did not start the name Creamettes.. BC did, I just plagiarized it. But you are not the first one to look up creamettes to see which chicken breed I am talking about and find macaroni...

Holm.. I am glad things are working out. As BC said families living in close proximity can cause "feuds". Even with my Mom here on the same property it is stressful, she is always trying to help ( read take control) everything.. But she along with us and my brothers know she could not live here if we did not live here to help her, and I would rather have the irritation than her living in a home or assisted living.

I used lights last year I will not this year, over winter the longer they are on the roost the better. I will just take whatever eggs I get. I have thought about giving the creamettes lights in weak moment so I could hatch some in January.. BUT then I get rational and think nope...


Lets see what else do we have ,,,hmmmm

Oh my Meatballs!

The CX are doing great I lost the three packing peanuts and that was all. the rest are doing fine. I do see some difference in size emerging now (10 days) but I assume that is male vs female. I am limiting them to 20-30 minutes morning and night of feed. I have given them gravel and sand to play in and scratch through. I will be weighing them at 2 weeks. I am happy with them again. I have not went through the first bag of feed yet.

The heat and humidity the last few days has been rough on the "toads" they are breathing heavy and panting. I was hoping they would pick up the Dixie rainbow/ red ranger genes for heat tolerance, it appears they have the CX gene. I have avoided stressing them just letting them lay in the shade and drink lots of water. It is curious they have heat problems as they do not eat 24 hours a day like a CX would.

I have 3 more chicks hatch, one is creamette I do not know what the other 2 are, they come from blue eggs so they are either EE. creamettes or a cross. They lack the Creamette sex link traits. and the stripes on the backs are blurry. They may be roosters. I did get one creamette girl out of the three. also 4 days between first to hatch and the last,,, I wonder what I am doing to cause that..


My last hatch should be next week I have 3 dozen Guinea eggs set for the 22nd.

BC I luv your tooth pick factory, reminds me how much I like my old dogs!

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Well that storm hit the cities pretty square. Chickens are all fine and only a few trees down here and there and some power outages.
The light show was phenomenal. There was so many flashes that I thought an ambulance had it's strobes on at first. The house has really heavy insulation so you don't hear to much unless it is a house shaker. We had lots of those too. I love storms like that.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Blanch Ranch glad you are safe in urbia. I saw some photos of downed trees in Eden Prairie.

did you ever find that fancy mayonnaise pizza sandwich? It did sound delicious....

I'm pretty sure duluthralphie you coined Creamettes. And when you think of it...how nice it is to roll of the tongue vs. Crested Cream Legbars. Yup. Don't ever underestimate the good space a mature Labrador inhabits in the home. I'm over it....the puppy phase. complete PITA.

I need to go mow the lawn and lay down guilt trip to a 13 year old boy with brand new polarized fishing sunglasses. (my secret weapon) I've been asking for lawn mowing for the last 4 days.