Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

No clue @MNChickMomjust got them at tsc figured a gamble wouldn't be bad they were just labeled as special blacks.at worst I'll have 3 weird chickens laying.

My money is on black sex link for the black ones and the 'stars' one you mention is a red star aka red sex link

 

[Minniechickmama]

My money is on black sex link for the black ones and the 'stars' one you mention is a red star aka red sex link

Yes, either Black Sex Link or Black Australorp. Most TSC or Runnings or feed stores use Hoover or Welp, or possibly one other hatchery in Michigan, and they all carry the same thing. Oh, or Barred Rocks. The good thing is that if they are Rocks, you don't have cockerels, they have a big white spot on their heads.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I finally got to do some gardening today. I planted the cabbage family with seed. We shall see if they sprout. We did a pretty fancy, shmancy deal this time, made a raise row, covered with landscape fabric, layered wood chip mulch, then cut holes through for the seeds then topped with a thin layer of peat moss. I didn't get all the cabbage in but enough to get it started. I still want to plant about 10 more spots for that, then I need to do the kohlrabi and some onions in that garden.

I need to get cracking on how I am going to do a coop or hoop down there for the chickens I will let forage in half of one big garden for the Summer. First we are going to till and level it, then plant oats on the half they will be on, and maybe something like red clover too. Next year they will have the other half and we will rotate back and forth. It is a good place to either put the older gals or the pullets for growing out. It will be a fun new thing to try with them.

 

[lalaland]

minniechickmama, I really like that idea! Thought about trying it here, but one end of the garden is lower and every other year is under water for a bit in the spring. works fine for potatoes, squashes, etc but not for chickens!

I have an abandoned garden, but that would need to be leveled as it has raised beds and dug down paths from back when I worked only a half hour away and could do a bigger garden. these days....just tomatoes kale strawberries peas beans basil squash brussel sprouts and a few cabbages. the asparagus and rhubarb. sometimes a few potatoes. I kind of miss the days of the big big garden. would have family come help harvest and they would go home with a trunk load of veggies.

but it was give up so much gardening or give up chickens...and that was an easy decision!


Perfect day with the rain, boy do we need it.
Enjoy the day everyone

 

[Minniechickmama]

I spent a while transplanting tomatoes into bigger pots. I still have half a tray to do though. I can't just pluck good healthy extras and toss them, so I divide multiples and pot them too. I will have a bunch of extras and just sell them on a FB page our town has going. I am sure some people will want to snatch them up cheap.
I need to set up the little greenhouse type rack I bought last year and never used, it has a plastic cover over it. I need to divide and move all the succulents out that I overwintered and have exploded babies everywhere. Hens and chicks at Prairie Chick and they aren't all the feathered kind LOL!

I am getting really flooded with eggs right now. I am not setting like I used to and they get backed up fast. Time to push harder to sell them for eating.

It is starting out a lovely day but I think we are supposed to have rain again later. You all enjoy the birds singing and sun shining and I will do the same!

 

[lilmynx13]

As promised profile pic of baby "special blacks" one of them is a very calm one who so far is content to sit in my hand.the paper work tsc had says they arnt easily sexable thus straight run.cute little fluffers though

 

[cottonlouie]

As promised profile pic of baby "special blacks" one of them is a very calm one who so far is content to sit in my hand.the paper work tsc had says they arnt easily sexable thus straight run.cute little fluffed though

If they are Asian Blue you will be happy. At least I was. I got 5 last year. 3 ended up being roosters. Of the 2 hens one remains and she is a good forager, sensible, friendly, good egg layer, wintered well, and pretty. The other hen was taken by a wolf. Of the 5 I had, the 3 that had a lot of white on them ended up being the roosters. Both hens were totally black except for some wing tips.

 

[lilmynx13]

If they are Asian Blue you will be happy. At least I was. I got 5 last year. 3 ended up being roosters. Of the 2 hens one remains and she is a good forager, sensible, friendly, good egg layer, wintered well, and pretty. The other hen was taken by a wolf. Of the 5 I had, the 3 that had a lot of white on them ended up being the roosters. Both hens were totally black except for some wing tips.

The girl at tsc asked if I knew what a straight run meant. I laughed and said you get either breakfast or supper. I got a intresting look for that remark

 

[lalaland]

The girl at tsc asked if I knew what a straight run meant. I laughed and said you get either breakfast or supper. I got a intresting look for that remark

lol, never heard it explained like that!

 

[lalaland]

minniechickmama, I know I would be snatching up those tomato seedlings at a sale! There is no room literally in my house for seedlings. I do basil every year in my office window, but here there is no safe place from the cats.

I gave Seaquist 3 eggs to set on today, she was broody much of last summer and I didn't let her set. Popped her in the little coop and she seems quite happy. Bad news is I wasn't thinking and 21 days ends up smack dab in the middle of a work week. duh!

love this spring weather!