Minnesota!

[Cebarmlds]

Guess what??????

went to count heads and close up the coop door. My missing hen, Seaquist, was on the roost. This isn't possible. She is very distinctive, being that she is the only white chicken except for a silkie. I could not have mixed her with someone else. I had 23 hens last night and tonight I have 24. I looked last night high and low. I looked this morning. I checked on the chickens a couple of times today and didn't see her.

even stranger, I have snow everywhere. There are no chicken tracks in the snow to the run and I checked all 4 sides.

I have no explanation for this at all. But I am incredibly happy, so low today thinking she might be wounded somewhere out in the snow. I looked her over via headlamp and there are no wounds or anything! Her crop was empty, so she wasn't feeding today with the hens. I can't explain this.

must be my christmas miracle!

Great she's ok!! weird but good

 

[Cebarmlds]

Hay. Every time I go to the coop I feel like I have shards of hay in my throat. Occasionally I cough until almost throwing up. It's horrible. Also, my chest feels quite heavy all the time, like I just cried for 5 hours, but I don't really feel sick. It's so bad today I fear I won't be able to keep the goats and chickens. I'm giving it the rest of winter to see if its some weird cold. I could live with the shards of hay on my throat. The heavy chest is worrying me. Thoughts?

Asthma? get some masks to wear and see if that helps.

 

[The BlanchRanch]

I think I need a game cam.  I also think I could add some fencing to keep the dog out - and I wouldn't have to add a lot, maybe 200 feet in one area, and maybe 100 in another would end up enclosing the area around the run.  But, that would mean putting in a gate and messing with it when I wanted to drive the truck up for unloading feed and hay.  And, it would not keep the dog out if it wanted to dig.  But it would provide another layer of defense.   **** dog and **** neighbor.

edited to add: interesting, I can say hell, but not d    a    m    n    

How about that steel fencing I gave you?

Guess what??????

went to count heads and close up the coop door.  My missing hen, Seaquist, was on the roost.  This isn't possible.  She is very distinctive, being that she is the only white chicken except for a silkie. I could not have mixed her with someone else.  I had 23 hens last night and tonight I have 24.   I looked last night high and low.  I looked this morning.  I checked on the chickens a couple of times today and didn't see her.  

even stranger, I have snow everywhere.  There are no chicken tracks in the snow to the run and I checked all 4 sides.  

I have no explanation for this at all.  But I am incredibly happy, so low today thinking she might be wounded somewhere out in the snow.  I looked her over via headlamp and there are no wounds or anything!  Her crop was empty, so she wasn't feeding today with the hens.  I can't explain this.

must be my christmas miracle!

So happy to hear this!!!!

hey all-
Been a while since I have been around.   2000+ posts to be honest.  
I have been super busy here.  Always something to get done and never enough time to do it all.  We are currently working on the cattle shelter.  Just in time with the new storm.  
My youngest set of pullets are coming into lay.  I love it!  I have 4 EEs in that group.  Love getting those colored eggs to add to the carton!
Hope everyone is safe and sound!

Welcome back!!!


Welcome 71chickens. I agree with the rest of tjem.

 

[lalaland]

Cottonlouie, I hope you have health insurance and can get it checked out! Are you sure it is the hay and not something else going on?

You can keep chickens without hay. Not sure about goats.

 

[lalaland]

How about that steel fencing I gave you?
So happy to hear this!!!!
Welcome back!!!

Welcome 71chickens. I agree with the rest of tjem.

that steel fencing is gold! I couldn't waste it on fencing to keep the dog out. I think some regular fencing would work fine. I definitely want to use the steel grid stuff for a coop or run.

I know, I am so excited she's back!

 

[Cluckies]

Quote: That is wonderful news that your mama kitty is back minnie! Cotton Louie that is neat that you were able to give the kitties a home

Hi Everyone! I am new to chickens and BYC. I live in Elk River. I'm trying to plan for the spring already (maybe just wishing it was spring instead) by figuring out what chickens to add to my flock. Dang chicken math has already caught up with me. Anybody know or have, day old Blue Laced Red Wyandotte and Gold Laced Wyandotte day old chicks? I am looking to purchase in Februaryish. Any leads would be helpful. I just don't want to worry about shipping if I can find it local. Thanks!

71 chickens would be a little overkill for me.

I have 4 lavender orpingtons 3 hens and one roo, one jubilee Orpington hen, and to SLW hens. I am really enjoying the wyandottes and would like to continue with them, only a little color variation would be nice. Does anybody use supplemental heat in their coop? I know it can be a heavily debated topic, just wondering what you fellow Minnesotans do.

Hi 71chickens

I'm in Nowrhen. I heat my coop with a cozy legs radiant flat panel heater,It hangs on the wall. I have it plugged into a thermo cube to turn on at zero and off at 10 degrees. I was under the impression you could not have roos in Elk River? has that changed? or are you being sneaky

Guess what??????

went to count heads and close up the coop door. My missing hen, Seaquist, was on the roost. This isn't possible. She is very distinctive, being that she is the only white chicken except for a silkie. I could not have mixed her with someone else. I had 23 hens last night and tonight I have 24. I looked last night high and low. I looked this morning. I checked on the chickens a couple of times today and didn't see her.

even stranger, I have snow everywhere. There are no chicken tracks in the snow to the run and I checked all 4 sides.

I have no explanation for this at all. But I am incredibly happy, so low today thinking she might be wounded somewhere out in the snow. I looked her over via headlamp and there are no wounds or anything! Her crop was empty, so she wasn't feeding today with the hens. I can't explain this.

must be my christmas miracle!

Oh my gosh, that little seaquist is a Christmas miracle! maybe you didn't see her against the backdrop of the plastic against the snow? maybe give her some special treats! how wonderful!

Hay. Every time I go to the coop I feel like I have shards of hay in my throat. Occasionally I cough until almost throwing up. It's horrible. Also, my chest feels quite heavy all the time, like I just cried for 5 hours, but I don't really feel sick. It's so bad today I fear I won't be able to keep the goats and chickens. I'm giving it the rest of winter to see if its some weird cold. I could live with the shards of hay on my throat. The heavy chest is worrying me. Thoughts?

maybe it is farmers lung? I would wear a mask when I go in the area. I wear one when I clean my coop and run everyday...

 

[Minniechickmama]

hey all-
Been a while since I have been around. 2000+ posts to be honest.
I have been super busy here. Always something to get done and never enough time to do it all. We are currently working on the cattle shelter. Just in time with the new storm.
My youngest set of pullets are coming into lay. I love it! I have 4 EEs in that group. Love getting those colored eggs to add to the carton!
Hope everyone is safe and sound!

I was thinking about you today and wondering about that canine problem you had.
I hope all is well then. Thanks for checking in!

 

[scandiafowl]

Guess what??????

went to count heads and close up the coop door.  My missing hen, Seaquist, was on the roost.  This isn't possible.  She is very distinctive, being that she is the only white chicken except for a silkie. I could not have mixed her with someone else.  I had 23 hens last night and tonight I have 24.   I looked last night high and low.  I looked this morning.  I checked on the chickens a couple of times today and didn't see her.  

even stranger, I have snow everywhere.  There are no chicken tracks in the snow to the run and I checked all 4 sides.  

I have no explanation for this at all.  But I am incredibly happy, so low today thinking she might be wounded somewhere out in the snow.  I looked her over via headlamp and there are no wounds or anything!  Her crop was empty, so she wasn't feeding today with the hens.  I can't explain this.

must be my christmas miracle!

So bloody happy for you!!!!!!

 

[Cluckies]

@lalaland I would definitely put up a fence and a game cam! we actually fenced in our whole yard due to a neighbors dog that they wouldn't keep in their yard...I agree with MInnie, some pet owners are terrible and should not have pets!.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Quote: Idina was the original Elfaba in the Broadway production of Wicked, then her most recent role was the voice of Frozen's Elsa and sang the song EVERYone loves so, "Let It Go!" from Frozen. She was on Glee and has done other stuff too, and my daughter really likes her. I like her music, but her concert was a huge letdown.

Does anyone have feed mills mix layer feed for you? My BIL is looking into getting feed by the bulk. He is talking to the guy about different mixes. I am currently getting feed from that mill that I like a lot. Problem is BIL doesn't like that fish meal is used for protein and wants to take it out completely and just up the linseed meal. I don't agree and think that could be bad for the hens but I need the facts to back it up. Can anyone point me to where I can learn about the nutritional needs for chickens and the percents and all that stuff?

Why wouldn't he want fish meal??? Fish is an excellent protein source! You also don't want to have too much around that it can spoil before you get it used. I know the elevators I have dealt with in the past I would have had to ordered a ton to get it mixed. I never had storage for that much so I have always bought by the bag. I do a weekly run and my feed is never over a month old. What is the feed you are using right now? I have an old book (republished) about feeding poultry, but I doubt you want to read that. You can find formulas for chicken feeds on a Google search, I think. Protein is really important but you need all the 'little' things like the vitamins and other supplements that keep their systems balanced. For instance, I was using feed that wasn't high enough in Vitamin E/selenium and it effected the chicks when they hatched and had a deficiency. Because the parents weren't getting enough to pass on to them. If you are going to mix, make sure you got everything covered. Some people thought I was crazy for using a vegetarian formula because they believe that animal protein is better. However, sometimes 'animal protein' means feather meal, and to me that is just wrong, but it has a scientific reason for not using it. Feather meal only provides 2 of the 7 essential amino acids for a chickens diet, but combining corn and soy covers all 7, so in my book vegetarian wins on that. Now, if I had fish meal or pork by product in it, I wouldn't mind that either. I like the Blue Seal feed I have because it is a lock formula and I know what I get is the same every time. I use crumbles, and I will likely stay with it. Getting mash is okay but sometimes that means a combination of dust and whole grain, which is not good and chickens don't like it. I used to buy a local mixed mash that was more like a corn meal consistency, and I liked it until they jacked the price on it $3 per bag, which is when I switched to Blue Seal.

Hay. Every time I go to the coop I feel like I have shards of hay in my throat. Occasionally I cough until almost throwing up. It's horrible. Also, my chest feels quite heavy all the time, like I just cried for 5 hours, but I don't really feel sick. It's so bad today I fear I won't be able to keep the goats and chickens. I'm giving it the rest of winter to see if its some weird cold. I could live with the shards of hay on my throat. The heavy chest is worrying me. Thoughts?

I am thinking you may have asthma or allergies that you need to get checked out. Is it possible you have recently had a cold and the dust from the hay is just making it worse? Don't let it go, get checked. I have had pneumonia a few times and it is nothing to mess around with.

Asthma? get some masks to wear and see if that helps.

I thought the same thing. I have had respiratory issues for a few years, on and off. When I am sick now, i wear a mask, the white ones that is for doing sheetrock.