Surviving Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

So we had our first thunderstorm last night and I was just curious, do any of you all know if chicks or chickens are scared of the thunder? I have 6 little peeps, and I know they get freaked out when our dogs bark (which makes sense since the natural reaction to a loud alert would be fear), but what about natural noises like storms?

I havent noticed thunderstorms really bothering them. But sharpish harsh loud noises do make them shake their heads which indicates it hurts their ears. Sometimes at roost time when I count heads, I've sang to them....they shake their heads. I'm thinking they don't like my singing.

Either that their shaking their heads, that I shouldn't even be trying to sing.

Actually, I put up a tin roof for them on the coop but my Dad told me that a shingled roof would be less harsh sounding during a rain or hail storm. So I split the difference and put down Board to help with the noise, and then tin on top of that. The ceiling is now insulated too, and I'm sure that helps with the pinging noise during the storms.

 

[lvie]

Well, it still before noon so good morning. Finished the Work Comp audit. Another year gone by. Now to follow up with the General liability due this friday and I am good to go on being a chicken lady again.

kind of gloomy today and that is nice once in a while. Specially when doing audits. Hope everyone is well and happy and I will be reading your posts.

 

[I Love Layers]

Look what I just sold!!!


Ok so you want the pekin drake, Indian runner ducks, Rouen duck, black star hens, a rooster, and guineas

 

[lvie]

Look what I just sold!!!


Ok so you want the pekin drake, Indian runner ducks, Rouen duck, black star hens, a rooster, and guineas

ALL of those!? Fantastic and good for you.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I havent noticed thunderstorms really bothering them. But sharpish harsh loud noises do make them shake their heads which indicates it hurts their ears. Sometimes at roost time when I count heads, I've sang to them....they shake their heads. I'm thinking they don't like my singing.

Either that their shaking their heads, that I shouldn't even be trying to sing.

Actually, I put up a tin roof for them on the coop but my Dad told me that a shingled roof would be less harsh sounding during a rain or hail storm. So I split the difference and put down Board to help with the noise, and then tin on top of that. The ceiling is now insulated too, and I'm sure that helps with the pinging noise during the storms.

We live right by where the tornado siren goes off. I hate it....the chickens really hate it. They shake their heads the entire time. Poor things.

 

[duluthralphie]

I put a bunch of chickens together yesterday, I picked the larger ones out and moved them into the main layer coop kind of. I have a tractor inside the coop that attaches to an outside covered fence/run. One of them I moved is a larger girl (I think) she is extremely meek and mellow. She refused to join in all the chicken games.

Yesterday, she just sat by me and shook when I was inside the run with them. This morning she was in the corner of the tractor butt to the group head buried in the corner. So I gave in and moved her back to the smaller chicks. She was crying to whole time I carried her back and had her head squished into me. I practiced tough love though and told her before long she would have to join the others. She is such a cutie and sweet heart. I have no idea what I will do with her.


I have a neighbor that wants chickens so I might give him to them. She would do ok in a group of 5-6 chickens, a group of 30 scars her. Any of you (IVIE) need a cute little EE?

 

[ejb3810]

Jerry, in reference to your posts regarding the trees. The Black Walnut should do ok, although they will be slow growing this far North. I have grown Bali cherry and have been somewhat disappointed with it's performance.
I may try it again now that the globe is warming, as I am very fond of cherry pie.
No chickens tales here. My hens are laying well, with no broodys. Thus far I have resisted the temptation to expand the flock, but that might not last much longer.

 

[duluthralphie]

Jerry, in reference to your posts regarding the trees. The Black Walnut should do ok, although they will be slow growing this far North. I have grown Bali cherry and have been somewhat disappointed with it's performance.
I may try it again now that the globe is warming, as I am very fond of cherry pie.
No chickens tales here. My hens are laying well, with no broodys. Thus far I have resisted the temptation to expand the flock, but that might not last much longer.

Is there a 'sweet" cherry that will grow in our areas?


I want "bing" type cherries, but the trees seem to not grow well here.

 

[ejb3810]

Closest thing to a sweet cherry which will grow for you Ralphie is the Carmine Jewel. I don't know much about it, but it is claimed to be sweet?

Regarding the previous post by Jerry referencing the trials and tribulations of the Legbar group to come to consensus on SOP definition. Good luck to them. It is a blue egg laying breed with little other than egg color to offer as I see it. Other than the auto sexing characteristic, a person may as well have EE. The auto sexing is only of use to those who would immediately dispose of the male chicks, and it would seem not many in the Legbar enthusiast group have that inclination.

 

[duluthralphie]

Closest thing to a sweet cherry which will grow for you Ralphie is the Carmine Jewel. I don't know much about it, but it is claimed to be sweet?

Regarding the previous post by Jerry referencing the trials and tribulations of the Legbar group to come to consensus on SOP definition. Good luck to them. It is a blue egg laying breed with little other than egg color to offer as I see it. Other than the auto sexing characteristic, a person may as well have EE. The auto sexing is only of use to those who would immediately dispose of the male chicks, and it would seem not many in the Legbar enthusiast group have that inclination.

I have to agree,,,,,The New Ralphie hatchery hates the autosexing. It has me loaded with roosters. However, the Ralphie Soup company will do well with them...

The ridiculousness of having a proposed SOP that completely disregards what the birds really are is nutso.....

Having to have two sets of parents for a winning birds is also weird. One set of parents for a hen the other for a rooster, because no one set can produce both birds.....

I will look for a carmine jewel..Thanks