Surviving Minnesota!

[lvie]

Ivie if they have their feathers at 6 weeks they'll be fine. Feathers are the bomb for cold nights.

Edited to say I didnt want to sound to brusque there. I know what you are saying now. Most hens in feathers have this cooling down period September/October. And you're talking chicks from heat lamps right into the cold. You could try changing the bulbs -->lessening the wattage of the light bulbs gradually at the end when the feathers are good and in. To try to climatize them.

Thanks and you were sounding just fine. I get it. Feathers - adaptable. There can be nice days in the end of October and beginning of November. I would acclimate them on those days of course. I am sure all will be well. E Gads! This is my second year as a chickener and the change in attitude and knowledge is incredible. Thats not bragging - that should be encouraging for newbies out there. But that brings me up to 22 hens - if they all survive.

Next fall I will have the two year olds. Big talk right now but . . . . they better be laying very well or they will go to freezer camp for soup. I have a year before then but I actually feel like I could do it.

 

[Cebarmlds]

I stopped in on Ralphie and his DW Judy on my way home from the eye doc today, we had orange soda pops and a nice visit. They are wonderful people as you probably know. I got to hold the special roosters that will be going to show next month. They will be rock stars gorgeous young men

 

[duluthralphie]

Good afternoon - I am the first one on in the afternoon!

I read all the threads and Holms - congratulations! I am glad as I did not make two more yesterday and my excuse is that my back hurt! Much better today! Still healing.

Been reading my new Chicken Magazine I received in the mail yesterday. Much good information. Enjoying that while I sit on my butt trying to manipulate which way to turn to get up off zee butt. Very interesting, this growing older stuff.

Okay - gonna run off to Runnings where they will load what I want into the cart for me and then into my vehicle. What I will do when I get home I haven't decided yet. But I can nab a runner going down the highway right? Naw, I have three strong males next door. My DH is in and out. Something will work out. Gotta get some protein into my girls and maybe those few that are not laying will start.

Bye.

Erlibrd was here and we shared her Henry's orange pop!! So good.... She was looking at Bertha and thought I should see if you have one of those jacket things for Bertha. We are guessing Bertha will need a XXXL.

DO you make long johns in that size too?

Sorry, i haven't been able to get on here much, here is an update on things around the farm.

The baby chicks that i got in the spring are now in the new chicken coop that we built, we will be transferring all of the birds in there next spring.

Beekeeping has been going great, we bought new extracting equipment that will decrease the time it takes to extract the honey. There is a beekeeping group on facebook that is based out of Fargo called Beedazzled, we meet every month and talk bees.

News that is not about the farm, I got my instruction permit, so I am able to drive!!!!

Grats to you and good to you for getting a drivers permit, not so good for the rest of the state..

Sounds good. I may drag DS with as well. He's interested in it all, too. He's my partner in crime in alot of my adventures. I hope things hold on a bit as far as rot and mushrooms still popping up. That might be the tail end of things. I've got a few spots we can try. I'm not that good...but I'm getting better...

I might be available too!! Speaking of inviting myself to your party..

 

[duluthralphie]

I stopped in on Ralphie and his DW Judy on my way home from the eye doc today, we had orange soda pops and a nice visit. They are wonderful people as you probably know. I got to hold the special roosters that will be going to show next month. They will be rock stars gorgeous young men

Thanks, it was great seeing you. I have decided I like Henry's orange soda better than I liked Orange Crush as a kid!

I held the roosters again tonight, I brought a "replacement" in for the one that is kind of a PITA. I actually think I like the replacements body and looks better than the PITA. I did tell the replacement he has to gain weight fast.

I also informed the PITA what will happen to him if he does not decide to become "friendlier".

 

[Cebarmlds]

Ralphie here is the recipe I promised to Judy



Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Cream together:
1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
4 Tbsp. cocoa
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Add 1/2 cup oil and mix.

Add the following and mix till smooth:
1/2 cup sour milk
2 1/2 cup flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Stir in 2 cups grated zucchini.

Pour into greased and floured 9x13 glass pan, sprinkle with: 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup nuts.
Bake 30-40 mins. at 350*

 

[duluthralphie]

Ralphie here is the recipe I promised to Judy



Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Cream together:
1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
4 Tbsp. cocoa
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Add 1/2 cup oil and mix.

Add the following and mix till smooth:
1/2 cup sour milk
2 1/2 cup flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Stir in 2 cups grated zucchini.

Pour into greased and floured 9x13 glass pan, sprinkle with: 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup nuts.
Bake 30-40 mins. at 350*

She says thanks..

 

[lvie]

Do you need a turkey saddle? What is Bertha? Wouldn't that be fun? Saddles by Lvie. LOL. We could include stirups. Add a harness and reins and she would be good to go.

 

[Momof3plustwins]

Our chicks we got Aug 4 have been outside for about 10-14 days it did get cold last night 34 degrees they all survived but one Cuckoo Maran hen. She was a bit weird though. Her wings were normal sized her body small her legs short and she just looked like a puff ball. I was thinking she may end up a bantam by default somewhere along the lines but I think there was just some random genetic defects. She was quite tame though. Always the first to be caught. So now we have 25 babies of all sorts of breeds. I do believe we still have one Cuckoo Maran hen to go with the rooster.

We are heading to Wisconsin on Friday most likely through Duluth there and through the cities on the way home. Our God Daughter is getting married Saturday.

Many of our Bovan pullets have begun laying. I would say between 12-15 out of 25. They are 19 weeks now. We are regularly getting 12-15 eggs a day. We have 4 others who lay also but are over a year old and I think are beginning to molt. Well at least one is. One is trying to be broody. We will see what tomorrow brings for her. She stayed in the nest box yesterday, over night, and today. When I checked after school she had gotten up and moved to a new box because there was an egg there. I had removed them all they evening before. Silly bird.

 

[I Love Layers]

 

[duluthralphie]

Our chicks we got Aug 4 have been outside for about 10-14 days it did get cold last night 34 degrees they all survived but one Cuckoo Maran hen. She was a bit weird though. Her wings were normal sized her body small her legs short and she just looked like a puff ball. I was thinking she may end up a bantam by default somewhere along the lines but I think there was just some random genetic defects. She was quite tame though. Always the first to be caught. So now we have 25 babies of all sorts of breeds. I do believe we still have one Cuckoo Maran hen to go with the rooster.

We are heading to Wisconsin on Friday most likely through Duluth there and through the cities on the way home. Our God Daughter is getting married Saturday.

Many of our Bovan pullets have begun laying. I would say between 12-15 out of 25. They are 19 weeks now. We are regularly getting 12-15 eggs a day. We have 4 others who lay also but are over a year old and I think are beginning to molt. Well at least one is. One is trying to be broody. We will see what tomorrow brings for her. She stayed in the nest box yesterday, over night, and today. When I checked after school she had gotten up and moved to a new box because there was an egg there. I had removed them all they evening before. Silly bird.

If you could round up 50-60 ground squirrels and drop them off at EJB's he would be forever grateful, he finds them very entertaining, and would tell us their Latin name in a week or so...




Layers how long will the birds be in transit? I have never shipped adult birds or had it done, I am just curious. What was the cost to ship them again?




Ivie, Bertha is a chicken hen, it's Berts wife.