Surviving Minnesota!

[I Love Layers]

I'm surprised I still have chickens with how close I live to the creek. We have it all over our land, but it's only about 200 feet from my coop. I only had 2 attacks ever with coons. Our dog scares most everything away, yotes, coons, skunks, wild cats, she can tell the difference and pesky neighbor dogs. My roosters are amazing at watching for our bald eagles and hawks.

 

[holm25]

Good morning everybody. -17 below here.... burrrrr.....



Bantiesrule I get where you're coming from. They are enjoyable for a lot of people and make really good pets for people in the city or even way out in the sticks. I just have bad luck with them. Never lost one to a predator. I have only lost guineas and an extra rooster to coons here. And that was in the coop too. I love my standard chooks and I don't think my mind will ever change about that! The swap is for only game breeds right?

 

[jerryse]

Well yesterday I found a stash 6 of eggs . Crafty hen was hiding them . This is new to me . I found out they make front hitches for trucks . So I ordered one for my truck . Should make parking trailers in sheds easier . I can no longer crank my neck far enough for backing into tight spots . Mirrors and backup camera help some . I do have a ball on my loader bucket here at home . I really need a utility tractor with loader bucket at the lake .

 

[duluthralphie]

Well yesterday I found a stash 6 of eggs . Crafty hen was hiding them . This is new to me . I found out they make front hitches for trucks . So I ordered one for my truck . Should make parking trailers in sheds easier . I can no longer crank my neck far enough for backing into tight spots . Mirrors and backup camera help some . I do have a ball on my loader bucket here at home . I really need a utility tractor with loader bucket at the lake .

You need a bobcat!!!


Front hitches for backing is so nice, I have one on my bobcat.

 

[jerryse]

You need a bobcat!!!


Front hitches for backing is so nice, I have one on my bobcat.

Yes I have considered that also . Need to slowly prep DW for that purchase .

 

[duluthralphie]

Yes I have considered that also . Need to slowly prep DW for that purchase .

I can understand that, maybe you could buy one in a box and put it together,,,

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Jerry those front hitches are pretty nifty. Saw one working this summer at a fishing resort and thought....even I could back in a trailer straight with those things.

I agree with all the statements on the bantams. Our Bantam Blue Cochin Rooster, Duke was a hoot. He could be a little son of a gun though...but we would just laugh at his little Napoleon Complexes. And Dixie ...my sweet Dixie. Well even though she "didn't belong" with my standards she held her own and SO much character, and so lovely when she was doing her magic brooding eggs. I think when I did have some extra eggs and egg customers they did turn their nose up at the little eggs. Even though I found them adequate in yolk portion for baking and such. It's just the small temptingness of a smaller bird to the birds of prey. They really are the 'right' size. Whereas a big red rooster looks a little bit more formidable out there on the lawn.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

-15 out there. -5 in the coop. Waterer frozen up. Chooks were glad to see a fresh fount this morning. I have shelf chickens today, for the day. Poop on Lucy's back. That's the only problem with Shelf chickens. The Shelf chickens poop on the Floor Chickens.

 

[ejb3810]

I hate to write it and probably will regret it, but the winter thus far has been quite mild. Not enough bitter cold weather to properly eliminate all the vermin which usually perish ?

Bantams are for fun and not really for agricultural production, but 2 or 3 bantam eggs will equal a full size egg. The bantams don't eat much and most seem very resilient ?

Ducks and Geese are messy and a pain in the posterior !!

Those in the Minnesota Banana Belt are not the only complainers regarding this winter, as I have friend in Central Oregon who is going through a season with cold and snow. He does not understand how this is happening, as it never has before there. He is convinced it has something to do with Global Warming !!

As W. C. Fields said, " I love small children. Lightly roasted they are best."

 

[duluthralphie]

I hate to write it and probably will regret it, but the winter thus far has been quite mild. Not enough bitter cold weather to properly eliminate all the vermin which usually perish ?

Bantams are for fun and not really for agricultural production, but 2 or 3 bantam eggs will equal a full size egg. The bantams don't eat much and most seem very resilient ?

Ducks and Geese are messy and a pain in the posterior !!

Those in the Minnesota Banana Belt are not the only complainers regarding this winter, as I have friend in Central Oregon who is going through a season with cold and snow. He does not understand how this is happening, as it never has before there. He is convinced it has something to do with Global Warming !!

As W. C. Fields said, " I love small children. Lightly roasted they are best."

Feel free to tell your friend I am the cause of his winter. All those tires and the Freon I have been releasing for the last 60 years to help my Coconuts is finally working. I am proud to do my part to speed global warming..