Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

I made a roasted chicken, mashed potatoes (that are still doing great that we grew last year!), and Peas with bacon and creme fraiche (which neither of our kids would eat), and brownies for dessert. Oh, and deviled eggs. I have the carcass on the stove to make some stock right now.

Yum.

We went to my in-laws for ham Easter lunch. I brought deviled eggs (made a few with buffalo sauce in them, which was a yummy twist) and butternut squash rolls which I always have to make 2x as many as i needed as everyone wants to take the extras home.

 

[bantiesrule]

Additional coops: for me it is for the red rangers I'm trying out for meat (all pullets so odds are I might keep a layer or two and trade off roosters that will hatch with broodies this spring). And I wouldn't mind having an alternate coop to give the ground a chance to recover around the current coop.

Something tried hard to get into the quail run/coop last night! I thought I heard a noise, but it was all quiet for a while until I fell asleep. THis morning found the corrugated tin roof panels on the run torn off and on the ground. I laid them on top of the hardware cloth roof to provide snow protection for the quail. They were staggered and weighed down with cement blocks, so whatever tore them off had some strenght to it. Its all grass around that run, so no tracks to be seen.

Think a coon could pull the panels out from under the cement blocks? The wind sure can't.

Yes, a coon can tear alot apart. They are much stonger than you would think.

DW and I have been spending lots of time sitting in the basement watching Chick TV. THey are so fun to watch! I swear you can see them growing if you watch close enough!

We had a discussion tonight about what would happen if we had put one of our BA hens in with them when they were day old. She is right on the cusp of wanting to be broody (sits on the nest all day but still goes to roost at night). we were thinking it would be fun to watch her be a mama but had concerns about her being a disease vector for the fragile chicks as well as what if she didnt like them and injured them on accident. Plus the brooder isnt quite set up to house a hen with them. it is a cardboard box with the top cut off she would have no issues hopping out and roaming the basement

If she decided to broody them, she would stay in the box with them. Well she might hop out but she would hop back in again when the chicks didn't come out with her. I don't think she would take to them though if she hasn't been sitting for at least a little while. You could always try it but keep a good watch on her. I would probably put her in the box and cover it with something to start with. Put them in the dark and hope her mother instinct takes over. Listen for any distressed cheeping or the hen growling. If she clucks at them or just quietly lets them crawl under her, they should be ok.

 

[scandiafowl]

This handsome fella and I took a walk together around part of the base.

 

[scandiafowl]

Yes, a coon can tear alot apart. They are much stonger than you would think.
If she decided to broody them, she would stay in the box with them. Well she might hop out but she would hop back in again when the chicks didn't come out with her. I don't think she would take to them though if she hasn't been sitting for at least a little while. You could always try it but keep a good watch on her. I would probably put her in the box and cover it with something to start with. Put them in the dark and hope her mother instinct takes over. Listen for any distressed cheeping or the hen growling. If she clucks at them or just quietly lets them crawl under her, they should be ok.

What if I took incubating eggs at day 20 and stuck them under a broody?

 

[NathanZee]

This handsome fella and I took a walk together around part of the base.

He looks great! Is he a Eastern Wild turkey?

 

[Minniechickmama]

What if I took incubating eggs at day 20 and stuck them under a broody?

If she will take them, go for it!

 

[KlopKlop]

My little chicks are growing like weeds! They are putting on feathers like mad and guzzling food and water! They are still so cute!

Minnie you have me a little worried with your comments about them looking like welsummers... They are putting on brown feathers! I thought Sussex hens were black!

 

[mnbrewdude]

Do they look too hot? None are panting or anything, and the pic was taken during a nap. They just seem to be all equally away from the light

 

[NathanZee]

Do they look too hot? None are panting or anything, and the pic was taken during a nap. They just seem to be all equally away from the light

They look like they are doing fine! They can go even farther away from it can't they? What kind are they?

 

[mnbrewdude]

They sure can go farther! The brooder is 2 foot by 4 foot, tons of room for 2-3 week olds. I have 5 buckeye pullets (MCM line) and 6 mutt Easter eggers. Love them all the same!