Minnesota!

[coldupnorth]

Coldupnorth, I was remiss in my duties as Thread Chaplin, in welcoming your new born. Who knew Goats were like rabbits and could have babies at 7 months! Wally is a cute little guy...


It makes me think I should start collecting goats. Again, Please do not tell Judy this. Let her find out on her own, when she goes into the barn and sees them there. I can then deny knowing how they got there.

You should start collecting goats, and they are so cute that Judy can't help but fall in love. Just don't bring a stinky Billie home or you may find yourself living with it!

 

[coldupnorth]

Am conflicted ... Kittens, chicks or both?

But wait - Scottie puppy arriving here soon!

Scottie puppy pictures are a must see! My MIL and FIL had a Scottie and he was just adorable!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Klop I think that temp might due. I also wonder about keeping them dirty. Not washing them. What are others thoughts on that. Does it make a difference if you clean them or not? I remember our root cellar potatoes on the farm were kept in their dirt a bit. But maybe it was just because it was another step that didn't need to happen until we start cooking the potatoes.

 

[KlopKlop]

Klop I think that temp might due. I also wonder about keeping them dirty. Not washing them. What are others thoughts on that. Does it make a difference if you clean them or not? I remember our root cellar potatoes on the farm were kept in their dirt a bit. But maybe it was just because it was another step that didn't need to happen until we start cooking the potatoes.

I did not wash them. I left the dirt clods on them when i laid them out a month ago then gently brushed off large clods with my fingers when i bagged them. My grandma taught me to lay them out like that in a cool dry place to let them 'cure' that is what she always did. Same with squash being saved for the winter.

 

[Minniechickmama]

This is the NPR chicken, the one rescued from the DC streets

Wait, that is a Serama or a D'Uccle??

 

[Minniechickmama]

It stays quite cool in the basement, especially where we keep the canned goods. it is in a corner with 2 outside walls and we dont actively heat down there. i would suspect its upper 50's down there maybe in the cold of winter.

they have been down there since harvest laying out on newspaper drying/curing with all the rest of the taters.

Cool, dark, not to dry. They need moisture to stay well. The ground temp is a constant 55 degrees at 5' below grade, so if you aren't heating, the basement too much. Yes, should be okay, but DARK or they will sprout a lot and that isn't what you want.
Right now, mine are all in the attached, unheated garage. They will stay there until it gets too cold. We don't have a root cellar. That is one of the things on our wish list.
I don't wash if I don't feel like it I don't while stored except if they're are really muddy when we dig, but I got them out just before all this rain. We got 2" Wednesday night!

 

[KlopKlop]

@Minniechickmama I know you have been busy this week. Did you see my post asking about blackhead a day or two ago?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Ok good on keeping dirt on the spuds.

Now isn't that a funky chicken in DC. Poor little thing. Hopefully they'll find a nice farm for it.

The scene in Paris is horrendous. May the wrath of Haides find these terrorists.

I'm glad I live where I live.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Here's a little research for you klop: I know that birds love scratch and a lot of people recommend corn for birds to keep warm while they metabolize it. But I think there's such a thing as too much of it in winter. My birds actually gain weight in the winter and it's because they're not as active and snowbound in the run. But they are also eating more food too. I worry just a tidge about fatty liver and egg laying issues due to hens being overweight. So anyways I know your a well read chicken keeper but just wanted to share my thoughts on over graining birds. Because I think I did our first winter. It took a while for my hens to come back around and they seemed to be more nutritionally sound and started laying eggs again when I restricted the scratch.

 

[Cluckies]

Just mixed up 190 lbs of scratch for this winter. I went heavier on corn than usual (or more like, less other stuff). I usually throw several handfuls on the coop floor each evening as a treat which doubles as them stirring the bedding. I didnt chime in earlier when deep litter came up, but I am trying it. I just keep adding a bale of wood chips on top when it gets fairly dirty, about 1x a month. seems to be working so far. its definitly not composting but it doesnt stink and the girls seem to like digging holes in it. When it gets too deep i will dump it on the garden. I hope it lasts until spring so i dont have to muck out with snow on the ground. i have several inches to go until i reach the threshold of the door, so im doing ok.


Here is my mix:
100 lbs whole corn
50 lbs whole cleaned oats
40 lbs BOSS (it was on clearance at FF, 40 lbs same price as 25 lbs. turns out to be half chaff... now i see why it was clearance)

The last time i did this same mix but also 50 lbs of whole barley. turns out the chickens dont really care for that and its $20 a bag, so i omitted it. it lasted me over 6 months last time.

Do yours eat the corn? There is some cracked corn in the mix I get at the tractor supply, but they pick around the corn and eat the other items in there. I mix the scratch with boss as well. I may have to start making scratch without corn as they just seem to waste it... could others post their scratch recipes as well?