Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

Anyone on here raise bantam EEs? Or any bantams with the muffs and/or beards but not feather-footed? Would prefer a straight comb to a rose comb. Anyone know of any breeds that fit that desciption?

They aren't pure but I have some fun little crosses this year. I have a Barred bantam hen that looks like a Barred Rock except white legs. I bought eggs a couple of years ago from someone through the mail that they were supposed to be LF Easter Eggers with some Olive Eggers in the mix. Anyway, for lack of a mate for her, I stuck her in with a White Silkie for starters. I hatched some of those eggs for the fun of it. It was a Sex Link, all the males are Barred and all the females (all 2 of them) are Black. The oldest roosters became some real anuses, so I sold them as culls to be made into dinner. They had the black skin like Silkies, feathered feet, muffs, crests. Then I have two that were younger that aren't quite as bad acting, but I don't need them, but they do have the feathered feet, and red walnut combs. I would like to keep the one that fits the type of the Silkies most to breed to a white Silkie hen and see if I can generate some Barred Silkies.
Then, I stuck a Salmon Faverolle in the pen, and the result is some that are Barred, white legs, single combs, beards and some muff. Some have feathers on their legs, others do not. I can post pics later if you want. The pullets are the cutest! I am keeping those for the fun of it.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Happy rainy Saturday All. Not too bad of a day here. It was overcast here and really didn't start raining until 3 or 4 o'clock. Lawn got hayed, raked and hauled into the run to add to my pile. It's amazing how fast it starts compressing and leafing out of the garbage can almost immediately. I'll fork it and fluff it every so often to get the most out of it for the birds this winter. But it's in a corner in the covered and run and unless there's a sideways slant rain from the southeast and through brush and woods it shouldn't get wet.

I got my herb, perreniel garden weeded today after collecting lawn trimmings. I've been following a popular blogger about using beneficial plants for chickens and so I've picked some herbs, flowers for some nest boxes today. Dixie's getting broody again and spending lots of time on the nest...so a little mint and lemongrass to help keep pests away wont hurt and she can snack on some marigold petals to keep her egg yolks bright orange while she's at it and still giving me eggs. I also added bee balm petals, yarrow, oregano, a sprig of lavender and a straw flower for her straw nest. Ha!





That bird is so good. she never pecks my hand when I reach for eggs even when she uncontrollably growls with her broody brain.

Then I made some Camo Cold Process soap for the men in my house. I scented it with Earth (smells like dirt) and Oak Leaves & Acorns. So it will be a cover scent or/and attracting scent. I don't know. The Dirt smells like dirt I guess. not the best smell...but apparently hunters want this in soap. I like the Oak leaves and Acorn myself. Smells super good.
I'll cut the bars tomorrow night or day after next. Once it's hardened enough.



After getting the soap done. I took my American birds down some Venison Goulash that was left over and we had some time together in the covered run while it rained. It's the only time they are in there in the summer. If it's raining. I hadn't spent time like that with them for a while. Interesting and fun to see who's at the top of the order. The little creamette likes Roger. She really hangs by him. But the other hens run her off often. She's a little squeamish road runner anyways.



After they had their fill of goulash...they all ran outside for drinks, I had the waterer outside the coop and run. They all ran back in and started preening, then napping.

Roger nestled down with me there and took a rest. I don't often see him like this, he's always so alert. But I think he trusts his food lady enough I suppose and felt it okay to shut those eyes for a bit. He's a hard working man keeping 9 girls in check and fed well and dancing and....whatever else . Ahh the life of a lucky rooster....








Klop Klop be safe in your RV. Kind of envious with you there and enjoying time away from home. I wish we were back up at Fall Lake. ...sigh....

Welcome Phoenix. Sconnie folks always add nicely to the fray here.
Ralphie. So sorry about the loss of your prolapse hen. That's gotta be tough to see. I haven't had that one happen yet. fingers crossed I don't get to. Something wrong in the oviduct/cloaca I suppose. With that odd throwing of the immature yolk...IDK what the heck might have happened. Did you do an autopsy on her yet?

I priced ishy white grocery store eggs. The cheapest dozen at our little local store is 3.89 for a dozen mediums. We are fools for selling less than $4 a dozen at this time. Just saying. IDK what I'm going to do. I have an egg customer that has moved back into the area. And come spring I'm hoping we'll have those extra dozens available for her. I think I'll say $4 and just keep with the general market value. What the hey...

I remember vividly going to our neighbor's dairy farm and Mom ladling out raw milk, ice cold, out of the bulk tank. Oh God was it good. Mom had two large Tupperware buckets she scooped with a large stainless ladle. Nothing like it. And I survived it. Thrived on it.

Speaking of surviving. We ate the chicken of the woods. And it was........................................FANTASTIC!
It did not taste like mushroom much at all. It mostly gets it's name for it's texture. And if you ever find one just harvest the outside ring and leave the stem like structure to the tree. It's gets courser and not as tender closer to the tree. The outer ring cooks up the best. We enjoyed it with steaks and rice pilaf and garden cucs, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. It was a great feast.
We have dinner company again on this coming Wednesday so I'm going to try to save the lobster mushrooms I found for the venison we'll be serving that night. I think they'll go over well.

 

[Cluckies]

Yup, that would be me!

Same here today. I have been getting fewer eggs of late, but today there was about a 75% drop.

Me too!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

found my 1st feather today...

@Coffee 1st I love how you are enjoying the details and the small wonders of chickening already. You will be good at this I'm sure. Looks like a little "Teen age Feather" Making room for big girl feathers. Sitting watching them you learn so much about their hierarchy, behaviors, health behaviors, there's a ton to know and you'll love every bit of it. Thanks for posting this picture and making me remember small wonders of chickening.

There should be fan fare!!!

One of my favorite Looney Toon guys.

"Hello my Darling, Hello my Baby, Hello my ragtime gal...."


"Ribbbbbettt..."

 

[Cluckies]

Anyone relate to this here?

KlopKlop, you and your family make it through the storms ok?


I guess i'm lucky too, mine have always laid in the nesting box, even from the first egg. I had them blocked off, and just happened to be in there and Cluck-Cluck was yelling at me and pecking at the board covering the box. (I had taken it off a couple of days before to show them some golf balls in there, then I didn't want them to poo in there, so I covered them back up). well she must have remembered, so I took the board off, she went right in and laid an egg.

All eggs were laid in the nesting boxes from there on out, outside of a rubber egg here and there on the roost, and a surprise egg here and there in the coop. don't know why they go in there, but glad they do.

 

[duluthralphie]

I got back from Duluth, When I went through Moose lake ( about where the park is) it was pouring rain, I was driving about 40 MPH and could see all of 40 ft. I am sure the people in the tent across from KlopKlop were not enjoying it.

Klop Klop, if you have time go to the park and boat ramp in Two Harbors and see if there are any ore boats in. I tis a nice peaceful place and fun to watch the boats move around.


I could not find the barred rock this morning, I am thinking she went off to die. I checked her nest and the coop. I will check under and around things tomorrow. I had to leave fairly early for Duluth.

That is interesting about the "bleeding" Minnie. The mothers were Dixie Rainbows so the red is from them. It is funny how different birds with the same mother and father can look. Even the bodies are different. Unfortunately for them, they are not what I want and will spend the winter in Freezer camp.

 

[Cluckies]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogtown Chick

Happy rainy Saturday All. Not too bad of a day here. It was overcast here and really didn't start raining until 3 or 4 o'clock. Lawn got hayed, raked and hauled into the run to add to my pile. It's amazing how fast it starts compressing and leafing out of the garbage can almost immediately. I'll fork it and fluff it every so often to get the most out of it for the birds this winter. But it's in a corner in the covered and run and unless there's a sideways slant rain from the southeast and through brush and woods it shouldn't get wet.

I got my herb, perreniel garden weeded today after collecting lawn trimmings. I've been following a popular blogger about using beneficial plants for chickens and so I've picked some herbs, flowers for some nest boxes today. Dixie's getting broody again and spending lots of time on the nest...so a little mint and lemongrass to help keep pests away wont hurt and she can snack on some marigold petals to keep her egg yolks bright orange while she's at it and still giving me eggs. I also added bee balm petals, yarrow, oregano, a sprig of lavender and a straw flower for her straw nest. Ha!

That bird is so good. she never pecks my hand when I reach for eggs even when she uncontrollably growls with her broody brain.

Then I made some Camo Cold Process soap for the men in my house. I scented it with Earth (smells like dirt) and Oak Leaves & Acorns. So it will be a cover scent or/and attracting scent. I don't know. The Dirt smells like dirt I guess. not the best smell...but apparently hunters want this in soap. I like the Oak leaves and Acorn myself. Smells super good.
I'll cut the bars tomorrow night or day after next. Once it's hardened enough.

After getting the soap done. I took my American birds down some Venison Goulash that was left over and we had some time together in the covered run while it rained. It's the only time they are in there in the summer. If it's raining. I hadn't spent time like that with them for a while. Interesting and fun to see who's at the top of the order. The little creamette likes Roger. She really hangs by him. But the other hens run her off often. She's a little squeamish road runner anyways.

After they had their fill of goulash...they all ran outside for drinks, I had the waterer outside the coop and run. They all ran back in and started preening, then napping.

Roger nestled down with me there and took a rest. I don't often see him like this, he's always so alert. But I think he trusts his food lady enough I suppose and felt it okay to shut those eyes for a bit. He's a hard working man keeping 9 girls in check and fed well and dancing and....whatever else . Ahh the life of a lucky rooster....

Klop Klop be safe in your RV. Kind of envious with you there and enjoying time away from home. I wish we were back up at Fall Lake. ...sigh....

Welcome Phoenix. Sconnie folks always add nicely to the fray here.
Ralphie. So sorry about the loss of your prolapse hen. That's gotta be tough to see. I haven't had that one happen yet. fingers crossed I don't get to. Something wrong in the oviduct/cloaca I suppose. With that odd throwing of the immature yolk...IDK what the heck might have happened. Did you do an autopsy on her yet?

I priced ishy white grocery store eggs. The cheapest dozen at our little local store is 3.89 for a dozen mediums. We are fools for selling less than $4 a dozen at this time. Just saying. IDK what I'm going to do. I have an egg customer that has moved back into the area. And come spring I'm hoping we'll have those extra dozens available for her. I think I'll say $4 and just keep with the general market value. What the hey...

I remember vividly going to our neighbor's dairy farm and Mom ladling out raw milk, ice cold, out of the bulk tank. Oh God was it good. Mom had two large Tupperware buckets she scooped with a large stainless ladle. Nothing like it. And I survived it. Thrived on it.

Speaking of surviving. We ate the chicken of the woods. And it was........................................FANTASTIC!
It did not taste like mushroom much at all. It mostly gets it's name for it's texture. And if you ever find one just harvest the outside ring and leave the stem like structure to the tree. It's gets courser and not as tender closer to the tree. The outer ring cooks up the best. We enjoyed it with steaks and rice pilaf and garden cucs, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. It was a great feast.
We have dinner company again on this coming Wednesday so I'm going to try to save the lobster mushrooms I found for the venison we'll be serving that night. I think they'll go over well.


Thanks for sharing your day, and your photos, how wonderful! I'd love to make soap, right now I buy mine from a lady in buffalo "Meg" from Modernroots but she does do classes on soap making and fermentation and such. She sells soaps, lotions, shampoo, cream rinse, magnesium balm, etc... For those looking for pigs, she also sells herigtage piglets. Not sure whatelse she has... I'm planning on taking a few of her classes come winter when I have more time in evening when the ladies go to bed earlier. Nite all!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I follow meg (modern roots) on Facebook. I think she's doing good with her store front too now.
Making soap is a fun and satisfying project. You can watch some YouTube videos to learn how. There's 4 basic videos for understanding the process and safety with lye. Soapqueen.com.

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Quote:
The ship and trains in Duluth down on Rices Point in Duluth ar always fun to visit. The ship is a very very old one but you can go inside and it is really interesting.
Two harbors also has a lighthouse. I have never toured it. They also have a cool breaker near the lighthouse you can walk out on. But like Ralphy mention the ships on the docks are very cool. One was tied off in Duluth and I went down to see it with the DW. Shortly after we got there semi tankers started showing up one after another and started lining up. Found out it was fueling up. They make you feel really small. I forget the name of the ship. But it was so large it has to stay in the lakes because it was too big to make it through the locks.

Just past gooseberry a ways is Splitrock Lighthouse. Now that one is a big favorite of mine. Even if it is just to take pictures. But do the tour. The history of the place is fascinating. Hope you didn't know all this so I just bored you.

Kind of jealous of you tonight, though. My folks had a camper and I loved the sound of rain hitting the roof. Especially when I was falling asleep. Had a tornado go by the camper during one trip. I slept right through it. Folks didn't even know about it till the next day. It was at night.

 

[bantiesrule]

They aren't pure but I have some fun little crosses this year. I have a Barred bantam hen that looks like a Barred Rock except white legs. I bought eggs a couple of years ago from someone through the mail that they were supposed to be LF Easter Eggers with some Olive Eggers in the mix. Anyway, for lack of a mate for her, I stuck her in with a White Silkie for starters. I hatched some of those eggs for the fun of it. It was a Sex Link, all the males are Barred and all the females (all 2 of them) are Black. The oldest roosters became some real anuses, so I sold them as culls to be made into dinner. They had the black skin like Silkies, feathered feet, muffs, crests. Then I have two that were younger that aren't quite as bad acting, but I don't need them, but they do have the feathered feet, and red walnut combs. I would like to keep the one that fits the type of the Silkies most to breed to a white Silkie hen and see if I can generate some Barred Silkies.
Then, I stuck a Salmon Faverolle in the pen, and the result is some that are Barred, white legs, single combs, beards and some muff. Some have feathers on their legs, others do not. I can post pics later if you want. The pullets are the cutest! I am keeping those for the fun of it.

I would love to see pics of them. I have Old English Game bantams and thought I would like to try to get muffs on them. Are your birds close to the size of the OEGs or are they alot bigger?