Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

I also feel you on the CX topic Ralphie. Having Betty white around has been a blast. She has been really skittish since she got all pecked back when but is slowly coming around to us. She eats out of my hand but refuses to let me touch her. I've also seen her berate buck for trying to make a move haha
If I get any pullets next year I think they will live on too

I don't know if I would keep a roo or not though... mine were so big and heavy at camp day I can't imagine they would have survived well. Maybe if I kept them separate from the broilers with the laying flock so they didn't grow so quick?

 

[duluthralphie]

You are to be commended on your dedication to the kittens. I bet you will be happy in a couple weeks when you can just leave them a bowl of milk.

This getting ready for winter feels like it will never end.

Have fun at work.

 

[duluthralphie]

I also feel you on the CX topic Ralphie. Having Betty white around has been a blast. She has been really skittish since she got all pecked back when but is slowly coming around to us. She eats out of my hand but refuses to let me touch her. I've also seen her berate buck for trying to make a move haha
If I get any pullets next year I think they will live on too

I don't know if I would keep a roo or not though... mine were so big and heavy at camp day I can't imagine they would have survived well. Maybe if I kept them separate from the broilers with the laying flock so they didn't grow so quick?

I picked a smaller rooster when I picked Bert. I want the CX body style in my future chicks. Bert made it 11 months. I think Bert Jr may be my answer. He has the large breast on a taller frame. Breeding him back to the CX hens could give me the meat birds I want on a larger frame and huge dark meat areas.

I am hoping I can keep 3 of the 6 hens alive to lay in the spring. I will be cutting back on feed even more next week. I will take them off the 15% grower. Not sure what I will use.

I am setting up for CX's in March next year now. I think I will buy all roosters and order a handful of hens only.

 

[KlopKlop]

I picked a smaller rooster when I picked Bert.  I want the CX  body style in my future chicks. Bert made it 11 months. I think Bert Jr may be my answer. He has the large breast on a taller frame. Breeding him back to the CX hens could give me the meat birds I want on a larger frame and huge dark meat areas.

I am hoping I can keep 3 of the 6 hens alive to lay in the spring.  I will be cutting back on feed even more next week. I will take them off the 15% grower. Not sure what I will use.   

I am setting up for CX's in March next year now. I think I will buy all roosters and order a handful of hens only.

Maybe an 'all flock' type feed? I was in that same predicament with my pullets. Not quite old enough for layer ration but I did it anyways since I didn't want to keep them segregated until they were close to laying.

 

[KlopKlop]

I picked up my CX on May 11 this year which was a good time for me time wise for when they were camp ready but I learned my lesson trying to brood so many chicks while it was that cool. I couldn't keep a large enough area at a steady temp while day and night temperatures swung so wildly.

I may try to do a small earlier batch too next year. Two smallish batches of CX then one good batch of whatever I can hatch from my breed mixing.

 

[duluthralphie]

I will be visiting the feed stores to see what I can get.

The problem is when I get a low protein feed it means the carbs are at a higher ratio, I have to watch the carbs on them too. I keep my CX's separate from my layers. I am thinking of making a hoop coop/run for the CX's over the winter. I have learned you cannot free will feed a CX and get a long life from it. Even with the meaties I am only feeding a little over a half pound of feed per bird per day. BUT I do free range them so it is hard to tell what they really eat.


I have an insulated shed I can use heat lamps in and it does have a propane furnace in it, if need be. I am thinking around 20 -25 roosters earl and 5 hens. I suppose I will have to buy them from Runnings or TSC in March as that is too early to mail them.

 

[lvie]

yesterday started out good, I heard from an old friend i haven't talked to in ages, Mailman delivered a check to me from someone that owed me money from couple years ago, That was a nice surprise thought for sure i was out that money. So i was happy i could go to Menards and get the metal roofing for the chicken run that i wanted. I'm there so much this summer I'm starting to learn some of their names.. so I was unloading it and my little 5 lbs 10 yr old dog with 3 legs,no teeth bad eyes bad joints was so happy Mama was home he came running out to see me. ~~~ well they are doing road construction in our alley so I cant drive into my back yard I have to park in alley and drag things into my yard because they made this big ditch~~~ he got to the end of the grass and he tripped and slipped in the sand and rolled down into the ditch and landed on a broken stake they used to mark something but never removed, well the stake went into his chest and i had to pull him off of it and rush him to the emergency vet. He was in surgery for 2 hours. it was horrible.. but he is home now safe and sound and we spent the whole day snuggling in bed. my daughter in law brought us lamb because that is ButterFluffin`s favorite thing to eat. He is sore,stitched and has drain tubes BUT he is alive and on Pain meds. he has to wear baby onesies for couple wks but he looks cute in them. I have to say I was thankful to my neighbors not sure who did it i will find out and Thank Them but i left everything in the alley wood,metal roofing and bag of stuff when i went out back today to see if anything was still there someone had put it all in my backyard. didnt think anyone noticed anything because when i was outside screaming yesterday no one came out or said anything or maybe they did and i didnt notice..

Oh those precious 'pack family' members. I am sorry to read this and hope his healing is quick. Thank heavens he was repairable!

 

[gofeedthegirls]

Does anyone bowhunt? I have been out twice so far...with these warmer temps and crazy work hours its been hard to do any serious hunting yet. I have a couple bucks on my "watch" list and a few "grower" bucks caught on my TC. Hopefully I will get a good look at the one buck we named hercules!

 

[Cyrus83]

Does anyone bowhunt? I have been out twice so far...with these warmer temps and crazy work hours its been hard to do any serious hunting yet. I have a couple bucks on my "watch" list and a few "grower" bucks caught on my TC. Hopefully I will get a good look at the one buck we named hercules!

I bowhunt, but I've been chasing ducks and geese for the past week now. I dont know if I am going to bother bowhunting this year. Since I can only shoot one deer, I may as well just pick that one off in the backyard.

 

[lvie]

Just learning about the get ready - winters coming chores. I love working outside but the inside needs to be taken care of at some time also. Then there is the DH business office work I MUST get done. I am looking forward to winter as I may have time to quilt. LOVE being home. So much to do! LOVE having chickens and dogs. My DH suggested that I ask if anyone out there has tried to cinder block heating method to keep water from freezing. Its putting a light bulb into a cinder block, topping it with the flat finisher and then putting the water on top. This is what I am planning to try over the cold months. Have you tried it?