Minnesota!

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I think the price of feed is deterring people from getting extra chickens too.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I think the price of feed is deterring people from getting extra chickens too.

I haven't noticed as big of a change in feed prices. Then again, I am buying enough for 200 birds most of the time or more, so with fluctuating flock size this time of year, it isn't as noticeable until I start going through the slips to compare.

I have had more first time chicken owners coming out than veteran owners this year.

As more towns and cities allow people to keep a few pullets/hens, I think I will see more of that for my market. I don't care who buys them, I just need people to get out her and do it
I had my hatchery inspection this morning too so I can start taking birds to swaps and sales soon.

 

[Triplell]

I have been hatching out my Rouens since march with a hatch rate of %90. This has been my best year so far. I am feeding a layer feed with Flock Raiser. I mix these at 50% each. Everyone is looking good, fertile, and laying like crazy.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I have been hatching out my Rouens since march with a hatch rate of %90. This has been my best year so far. I am feeding a layer feed with Flock Raiser. I mix these at 50% each. Everyone is looking good, fertile, and laying like crazy.

Maybe I will try to do a mix for them. I am sure their diet is part of this equation. I keep them outside year-around too. They have a little house to go in, but are out about 350 days of the year. The Calls are in a hutch though with an indoor out door set-up.

So, Heidi, how are those lovelies you got from me? I have some January hatch birds that my kids are going to show from, and they are looking gorgeous now! I can't wait to get them outside on grass soon. Do you think we will see grass before June?

 

[Bantymama]

They are tolerating the weather well. There is still 4 foot drifts in the run.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Beautiful picture, Banty!
I mine are surviving, but the young ones just are NOT happy with me, I am sure. They are getting a harsh lesson in life outdoors. And more snow the next 2 days? This is CRAZY!

 

[AlezaJ]

They are tolerating the weather well. There is still 4 foot drifts in the run.

 

[AlezaJ]

What a beautiful chicken, what kind is it??

 

[destiny_56085]

Lots of cayuga and exhibition rouen ducklings out of the shell already. Got my first lil snowy mallard duckling yesterday. My oldest ducklings are over a month old already and still in the garage pen due to the weather. The muscovies just started laying... Fertility and hatchability has been great on them this year.

The goslings are another story though. I'm getting 2-4 eggs a day from our africans and sebastopols, but I only have 1 gosling out of the shell so far. Fertility is about 60% roughly but they just don't seem to be able to get out of the shell. Same incubator as all the ducks so I don't think its a humidity issue.

I've already kicked all the waterfowl out of the breeding pens and they are running loose all together for now. My huge acre pen for them is still under snow and the water lines back to there are still froze. It will be a while before the farmer next to us starts planting so I have time... The 600 egg redwood incubator is FULL. The 400 egger has 2 full trays in there... My brooders are just about full of chicks and ducklings. The weather isn't cooperating to be able to move any of the older babies out to the barn yet. Not planning on selling much other than the PQ culls this spring... I just got started with a few new breeds and narrowed down on varieties on the old breeds. I'm at the point that I need to grow out babies this year and expand a few of the breeding pens this year.

I also had my hatchery permit inspection on monday... I literally had a half hours notice from him calling to showing up on my doorstep. I keep things really clean so didn't have much to worry about there. I had just crawled out of bed though and didn't even have time for a shower.

There are swaps coming up this sunday in New Ulm and on May 11th in Hutchinson..... I have to work on sunday, but am hoping to make the Hutch swap.

 

[Timbertoes]

Our power has been out since 5 this am. I brought all of the chicks in to try to keep th warm, but my incubator eggs are toast. Soooo sad.