Surviving Minnesota!

[MinnesotaNice]

Had 4 cords of wood cut yesterday that needed to be stacked in the woodshed today by the kids. They got it down in 2 hours. The stipulations were that if the worked together and no one came in to tattle they could open one present when they came in. Worked well! Now they are off to check the snare line with Dad. One on his own snowmobile and the other riding with Dad. Three others in the house busy doing all the right things. We have some pretty awesome kids!

I use that same trick! It works like a charm. And when I was a kid, my parents did the same to me.

Hello all you crazy Minnesota Chickeners!
Lots of family stuff has been going on and just couldn't catch up and join back in over the last few weeks.
I hope you are all doing well and your birds are too.
I just want to take a moment now to say Happy Holidays to you all and may your New Year bring good health and good hatches!

Merry Christmas, Minnie!

Hey new to the site and fellow Minnesotant. I haven't gotten my chicks yet and am actually curious where are the best places to get chicks here in Minnesota. I work at Tractor Supply Co but our location is up in the air if we get chickens in and I don't know what breeds we will get. I am mostly looking for egg layers. I am also getting some Polish and silkies down the line from breeders.

Yup, I work at the Cambridge location. As for the polish and silkies they are just going to be for pets I think more than anything. Since we really only need 6 real egg layers. If they lay an egg every now and again that would just be a bonus from them. xD And it seems people everywhere are having trouble with birds not laying right now. On a Facebook group I am on that's that talk of the week, the lack of birds laying. Not sure what it is about this year. Maybe in Minnesota it's the drastic changing weather? It's pretty warm out now but a few days ago in was bellow 0. I know the weather change is rough on my horse. Going to have to get the vet out for one of them.

Welcome! A lot of folks here have some really great birds. I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for. I only advise against getting silkies from TSC. Not necessarily because of their quality, but because they will more than likely all be males.

I only get around 7 eggs a day from 23 layers. I have lights in there for them as well. Definitely could be the weather change. Upside is at least I'm not collecting them frozen anymore! What other livestock do you have?

Copied from facebook... I know a bunch of fish houses and trailers have been getting stolen around central MN. I had my trailer stolen yesterday in Palmer and the stupid 3 thiefs came back today trying for more but our neighbor came out and they hauled ***** outta there. We are looking for a black 4 door truck with the license plate JYD-921 North Dakota plates

Looks like if you are missing your fish house, trailer, ice castle, head to North Dakota and look around... may be living in it on the north Dakota oil field. This makes sense now as most of these thefts are along hwy 10... fishermen don't steal.

There's something wrong with people. If I come across anyone trying to take off with any of my stuff, they better be faster than my shotgun. I have zero tolerance for thievery. I hope folks get their stuff back.

A friend of mine had their cabin and pole barn cleaned out not too long ago. It was very calculated. The thieves made many trips. What they did was line some stuff up out front and then came back the next day. They figured if the stuff was put back or moved, someone found out and they moved on. They had things lined up in the house, garage, etc. It's unsettling to know how much time they spent there.

 

[LadyVictorian]

I'm getting my silkies from a local beeder here that I really like. I have met people who got chicks from her at my work and have heard nothing put praises. She even lets your trade in roo's for hens of the same age if you can't have or don't want roo's and her chickens are phenomenal.

I have in the past had turkey's, ducks, chickens (bantam mutts, red star hen, and a polish hen), a Barbados sheep ram who was amazing, pygmy goats who didn't last long after he decided to start playing on the cars, and I currently still have horses, Arabian's and Saddelbreds since I show Saddelbreds and my parents use to breed and show Arabian halter horses. I was raised on what I would call an old school Arabian breeding farm where 90% of our horses were straight from the motherland or second generation Americans (like myself).

I'm Hungarian, my grandmother was straight from Hungary and grew up on a self sustained dairy/pork farm. She's raised everything under the sun. Some time after my parents divorce we cut our farm down due to cost but I am starting it up again by getting chickens first. Eventually hopping to get ducks, quail, maybe some geese, and maybe a few other poultry.

Also use to have rabbits but as pets, one mini rex, one Holland Lop/Lionhead mix, and one Flemish Giant. Also have the cats and dogs, use to keep finches around the same time we had our bantam mixes. Had a green iguana, gecko's, green anole, tiger salamanders, box turtles, painted turtles, mice, rats, and I was a betta fish breeder though I retired due to space and time (caring for over 300 fish at a time every day you don't have time to eat sometimes.), snails, guppies, and an endless supply of wild critters I have rescued and rehabbed on the farm over the years. XD yeah...I live on a zoo.

 

[holm25]

LadyVictorian welcome! Are you betting them from VJPpoultry? I heard they have nice birds!

 

[LadyVictorian]

You bet I am xD

Had about three customers in our store now with nothing but positive reviews on the health of the birds and how nice they look and how much they were given help. One lady started with 3 silkies, she now has 7 xD I'm looking to get one blue and one buff hopefully. I say 2 for now but if I am anything like my customer 2 means 5.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I got my silkies from VJP and have always been very happy with them as well. If you follow her on Facebook, you can get frequent updates on what she currently has hatched. All of her silkies are bearded/muffed, which I prefer. Very nice lady. She actually has a few splash right now that I might pick up since I already have the brooder going. An owl took my splash silkie a few weeks back and I have to admit I miss her being under foot every time I go out to the coop.

Your home sounds like mine! You have a barbados ram???? That is so cool. A farmer next to my family farm always had a bunch of them. I've honestly never heard of anyone else having them until you. They always scared me a bit as a kiddo because they're so big. That's pretty funny about your pygmy goats! Lol! We had frogs and various lizards (Bearded Dragon, Anoles, Chameleon) once upon a time, but my oldest boy started hockey and we just don't have the time anymore. I kept my fish - I have a 70 gallon aquarium with african cichlids. We did have a sulcata tortoise for a period of time, but we rehomed him to a very nice couple who actually travel with the renaissance festival with their reptiles. We found it in our yard roaming around. My guess is someone dumped it off. Anyways, we also have a holland lop, chickens, ducks (muscovy and khaki campbells), and peacocks. Oh, and a cat and dog somewhere in there as well. I think it's great you're digging back into your roots! You still live on the family farm?

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I need to go start some baking! Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[memphis]

Merry Christmas ya'll!

 

[I Love Layers]

Wind is upon us now. Heading home

 

[holm25]

This is what happens when cousins make the farm sweatshirts.

 

[holm25]

This is what happens when cousins make the farm sweatshirts.