Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

Where do you get this? I was looking to get a quarter or so. Thought I should split up a half or whole among friends though. For a cheaper proce. Wanted a steer that had a happy life and a good hang time. Do you have a good contact? When you get 1/8th do you get is that split equally? Do you save much buying more?

I will save over the grocery store price. I don't know if she has any more left. I know there were others who were supposed to get back to her today. If you want me to, I can ask. This is a place called Squash Blossom Farm in Douglas. It is a steer they raised from their crossbred cow, the only one they have one on the property, LaFonda. It is a husband and wife set up that do a CSA and they have a certified kitchen with a wood fired oven they do breads in and are now selling at the People's Co-op in Rochester.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I know I am on a tiny scale compared to you. But others may find it helpful too.
I was tired of thawing out my water all the time so i broke down and bought one of those expensive heaters you put under the fount. I had a metal fount that started rusting so i got a couple cheap plastic ones from menards last summer. They have been working great on this thing and it keeps it up away from their feet. 50 bucks for the heater. I consider it a good buy considering how well it works. Free of worries.

I break my pens into 5-8 birds per pen and each pen gets a heated dog bowl except the ones in the outer coops, they get rubber pans since there is no electric to them. The breeds I have the most concern for getting frostbite are the New Hampshires and the Welsummers with their big combs and wattles. The Buckeyes and Cornish have very slight wattles and pea combs, most of the EEs and the Ameraucanas have pea combs and small wattles too. The Cochins get hit only when they get very wet out in the cold, but they are in under cover for the winter now too. I have less problem with frostbite each year, but I may still see a little nipping of the tips on those two single comb breeds and the edges of the wattles.

 

[lalaland]

Ralphie's Roo, finally named Amos, has some bad frostbite on his combs - I couldn't get a close look at it yesterday but when I was closing the coop up it looked like it was shiny wet and draining. Not good! Previously he just had the frostbit tips, which with his big beautiful comb was inevitable.

I'll plan to be around when he usually roosts (which is like 3:30 or 4 pm these days) and see if I can get a better look. I've never had a rooster comb drain before. Not exactly sure what is going on.

 

[scandiafowl]

Morning everyone.

I've come down from my Star Wars high and can talk about chickens again.

If I wanted to sell eggs are there any rules to follow?

 

[Cluckies]

Quote: The other thing I did was put a sand filled, 1 gallon jug in the middle of the heated dog dish, as a mote, this doesn't allow them to reach too far in. I raised this one off the ground just after this photo was taken, when my husband made a wooden platform. (these photos are from last year) I took the rubber dog dish insert out when it got colder.

 

[KlopKlop]

Morning everyone.

I've come down from my Star Wars high and can talk about chickens again.

If I wanted to sell eggs are there any rules to follow?

All eggs must be sold unwashed and must be labeled with your full name and address. You are supposed to candle them all too, but I will admit I'm not the best at it. We pick eggs so frequently.

The eggs must be mechanically refrigerated under 45 degrees after you pick them up until the point of sale. You can store them in a cooler for transport with ice but for no longer than 4 hours.
As an unlicensed/uninspected seller You aren't allowed to grade them, size them, or call them 'fresh'. The loophole is to call them 'farm fresh'. You also can't sell to restraints or sell you eggs in a store.

I think that is pretty much it. Technically egg sales are income but I will let you decide if you care about the tax man.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Ralphie's Roo, finally named Amos, has some bad frostbite on his combs - I couldn't get a close look at it yesterday but when I was closing the coop up it looked like it was shiny wet and draining. Not good! Previously he just had the frostbit tips, which with his big beautiful comb was inevitable.

I'll plan to be around when he usually roosts (which is like 3:30 or 4 pm these days) and see if I can get a better look. I've never had a rooster comb drain before. Not exactly sure what is going on.

I haven't seen frostbitten combs that drain. They usually turn purple, then a whitish where the damage is, then black and scabby looking. I have never even seen their wattles drain when they blow up after frostbite. Maybe something else is going on?

 

[scandiafowl]

All eggs must be sold unwashed and must be labeled with your full name and address. You are supposed to candle them all too, but I will admit I'm not the best at it. We pick eggs so frequently.

The eggs must be mechanically refrigerated under 45 degrees after you pick them up until the point of sale. You can store them in a cooler for transport with ice but for no longer than 4 hours.
As an unlicensed/uninspected seller You aren't allowed to grade them, size them, or call them 'fresh'. The loophole is to call them 'farm fresh'. You also can't sell to restraints or sell you eggs in a store.

I think that is pretty much it. Technically egg sales are income but I will let you decide if you care about the tax man.

Thank you!

 

[KlopKlop]

Thank you!

Check this site for more details. I learned from that and my local extension office. Your local usda/fsa office should be able to answer questions too
http://www.misa.umn.edu/FarmFoodResources/LocalFood/EggSales/

 

[scandiafowl]

From a breeder at a chicken FB page.

"Use wheat bran as bedding but b4 using it or any other grain based bedding, microwave it for 1 min 45 secs to kill any grain mite eggs. Grain mites flourish in a mealworm environment and will feed on the mealworms for the moisture. Almost microscopic, once they hatch out you pretty much have to throw everything out and start over."