Surviving Minnesota!

[lvie]

Good Morning Chickeners . . . . . . Have a nice day - the weather in the banana belt should be nice today. The next two or three days will be rainy - supposedly.

 

[MNChickMom]

Hutch was an amazing adventure. My 12 year old and I spent most of the day on Saturday, then Sunday we drove back because we purchased a trio of buff orpington that were on lock down until 9. I can't thank ralphie and Judy enough for taking us under the wing. I did give ralphie a little jab for not introducing us to Minnie but all is well.

 

[Cebarmlds]

Good morning All.

It was nice to read about the poultry show, I will never show but I'd like to go to a show or two sometime. Thanks for posting pictures Minnie.

 

[Momof3plustwins]

I have to laugh every time I think about Ralphie and his mean birds getting ready for Hutch, because every time I go out to feed the chickens I have one of my little Dominique pullets, who I named Miss Dom, she is the dark of the two pullets, anyway she flies onto my back whenever I bend over to pour the feed into the feeder. Then she just sits there. Scares me every time too! But at least she loves me!

Anyway, so with our baby chicks that we hatched out now 3 weeks ago tomorrow, I have been taking weekly pictures to show my preschool class and my daughter's 4th grade class. I thought I would share with you guys also. If I go by feathering I have 4 pullets and 5 cockerels. My husband wants to try his hand at caponizing them! I just shake my head at him some days, oh well he can have his fun they are just backyard mixes and I don't need extra boys around anyway. Here are the two comparison pictures of my favorite and the biggest chick so far. I call her Miss Black Nose right now because she has a black stripe on her beak and Miss because she is by far the most feathered!


2 weeks old



Same bird is the one ducking under the brooder. I think the other four around her are boys. We all love the black one but sadly I believe it is a boy also. 3 weeks old here.

 

[Siggie]

Good morning all! Sounds like the weekend was exciting for some of you! We finally took care of six more roosters over the weekend. I will be eating chicken soup all winter! We tried baking one and it was too stringy so soup it is.

We now only have 2 roosters...we actually couldn't find the last Barred Rock when it was his turn...later on Sunday night I found him crouched in one of the horse stalls? I think he knew what was going on...he hasn't been right since? I had a talk with him and told him we will let him live IF he behaves. He still wouldn't leave the coop this morning??? I think I am going to have a rooster with PTSD!

My Cochin Rooster just struts around like nothing happened...I told him a few days ago he was staying. The hens seem happier, they can come out and eat without getting pecked and sent running by the roosters.

Do you think I will still have problems having two roosters for 11 hens? If the roosters start to fight or if the hens are being harassed by him, he will go into the soup pot but for now, I will leave him hiding in the coop.

Got all the windows on the south side of my greenhouse installed and the north and west wall are now covered with plywood and tar paper (my husbands idea) I will be siding it with pallet board for a rustic look.

Well back to work.....

 

[I Love Layers]

Good morning all!  Sounds like the weekend was exciting for some of you!  We finally took care of six more roosters over the weekend.   I will be eating chicken soup all winter!  We tried baking one and it was too stringy so soup it is.  

We now only have 2 roosters...we actually couldn't find the last Barred Rock when it was his turn...later on Sunday night I found him crouched in one of the horse stalls?   I think he knew what was going on...he hasn't been right since?  I had a talk with him and told him we will let him live IF he behaves.   He still wouldn't leave the coop this morning???  I think I am going to have a rooster with PTSD!  

My Cochin Rooster just struts around like nothing happened...I told him a few days ago he was staying.   The hens seem happier, they can come out and eat without getting pecked and sent running by the roosters.  

Do you think I will still have problems having two roosters for 11 hens?  If the roosters start to fight or if the hens are being harassed by him, he will go into the soup pot but for now, I will leave him hiding in the coop.

Got all the windows on the south side of my greenhouse installed and the north and west wall are now covered with plywood and tar paper (my husbands idea) I will be siding it with pallet board for a rustic look. 

Well back to work.....

My rule is 1 rooster for 10 hens. I could see problems arising in the future. It depends on the rooster though.

 

[I Love Layers]

I still have to call my mom about the hatching eggs! I completely forgot this morning

 

[duluthralphie]

Ralphie, what did Mike show? Ameraucana bantams? I am glad you did so well, as it is motivation to go forward. It is always nice to get pointers and education from the seasoned vets.
I wish I had been there to see all the birds and help out.
I can appreciate the asthma problem, as my wife and boys all have it. I only have Avian Pulmonary Disease, which can be very troubling. I am really not supposed to have the birds anymore, but I take precautions to keep from having problems. My wife can attest to the fact that I have difficulty heeding good advice, and she says that I am stubborn due to the fact that I am 50% the good Scandinavian (Norwegian).

He had bantam Chanticler and a few others I have no idea what they were.


I would of course take issue with your thoughts which Scandinavian is good. I do know Swedes would not go to an Auction to buy Squab for $1500 or more.


BTW How many did you get?

 

[I Love Layers]

Rooster #1 is caught. 2 more to go

 

[I Love Layers]

Rooster #2 is caught